OPEN LETTER TO ALL VETERANS

I am a member of the American GI Forum, El Camino Real Chapter and am currently working as a private contractor in Iraq.  Thank you American GI Forum veterans and all veterans for the service to our country and for making the United States of America a better country to live in.  I highly respect your efforts in the work you have done for veterans, such as in education and also in the area of civil rights.  My dad, AGIF Past National commander, served in the United States Marine Corps as well several cousins and uncles, who served in different branches of the Armed Forces, including one uncle who was killed in action, during WWII, in Okinawa. 

For the last two years I have been working in Baghdad, Iraq, with occasional travel to the southern region of Iraq and have been able to witness our young men and women, from different backgrounds and different cultures, serving unselfishly in the Armed Services.  They have distinguished themselves as heroes.  I have always held the military family in high respect, but being here has even raised my respect and sentiment that I have for them, especially those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Before I came to Iraq, I had a steady job with a good career and benefits ahead of me. I came to Iraq because I felt I needed a change in my life and I felt I had to have more of a purpose.  I had an obligation to give back to my country.  Regardless of ones political association or views as to the reasoning to invade Iraq, we are in Iraq. I believe that if our troops are in Harms-Way, we should do every thing we can to support them while deployed and help them when they are back home.

War is a terrible thing and nobody wins, all suffer casualties.  Innocent women and children, too many times, are the casualties.  In Iraq, today, the infrastructure is almost non-existent.  Roads, buildings, homes, bridges, schools and essential sites have not been repaired en mass.  Local residents have only a few hours of electricity per day, sometimes no water, and they must wait in long lines for fuel spending hours there sometimes.  Sometimes we can not shower or use the bathroom because there is no water, or the electrical power is interrupted.  Some things you take for-granted at home are not readily available such as a bath, real eggs, shopping malls, or even a day off.  There is the danger associated with being in a war zone, at times there are rocket/mortar attacks sometimes on a daily basis.  If one is driving there is always the threat of IED’s, VIED’s, and suicide bombers.  The noise from constant helicopters traffic 24/7, alarms, loud speaker alerts, and sirens do not make it a good place to have a deep sound sleep.

 More important are the casualties being borne by our troops on a daily basis.  Unfortunately more of our troops will become casualties as the war continues.  Besides those killed in action, those that are wounded will suffer the effects of this war for the rest of their lives along with their families.  Contractors on a smaller scale also have been killed, wounded, and they too suffer PTSD.  I have visited our Combat Support Hospital (CSH) and seen these victims myself.  The staff and doctors at CSH are incredible.  On every visit to CSH I have also seen Iraqi citizens being treated and cared for by our American medical team.  On every visit I have also seen children there.  I worry about our wounded when they return to the States as I have heard horror stories about the rehabilitation or lack of it made readily available for them.

Once again thank you American GI Forum veterans for you service to country and for setting the foundation for future veterans to follow.  Thank you to those of you members of the AGIF who are not veterans, for you support veterans.  When you meet a veteran thank him or her for their service.

There is a greeting we sometimes use here to end emails but I will use it to close this open letter.

Peace in the Middle East

Elaine Alarid