Enlightened by the National Guard

At first we were appalled at Peter S.T. Taber’s letter of June 19, but after due consideration we … now feel a little sorry. Some of the wonderful and courageous accomplishments of the National Guard over the years have completely escaped him.

The historical roots of the National Guard go back over 300 years. Entire units, as well as individual members of the Guard, have served in every major war this country has fought since its beginning. True, sometimes the units were called “militia,” but the missions, and the effect, were always the same.

Taber should review some recent numbers. During the late Vietnam War, which many citizens of Maine were opposed to, these “weekend warriors,” as individual Mainers, collected one Distinguished Flying Cross, six Legions of Merit, 16 Distinguished Service Medals, and 55 Silver Stars. They also earned 681 Purple Hearts, and one has to bleed for his country to get that medal. Additionally, the entire 151st Infantry of the Indiana National Guard served in Vietnam….

True, after almost every conflict, our citizen Congress, tired of war and yearning for peace, has decimated the armed services. Today, that same feeling is called the peace dividend. However, this is an imperfect world, and even if the threat of nuclear annihilation is eliminated, there will always be other Vietnams, Grenadas, and Nicaraguas to contend with. Would you care to envision a “coke war” in South America or a peace-keeping mission in the Middle East?

These conflicts, should they ever occur, will not be fought with ballistic missile submarines, super carriers, ICBMs or strategic bombers. They will be fought much the same as the land war in Vietnam, with good, old-fashioned foot soldiers and a little air support.

Fortunately, wiser heads in Washington have found a way to fund and preserve a strong, well-trained Army. The new way, actually an ancient one resurrected, is a strong, well-trained cadre of citizen soldiers — “weekend warriors,” if you will — a National Guard.

Publicity conscious? You bet! Publicity is a great recruitment tool, and it always has been. Bunglers? Perhaps. But wouldn’t you rather have them bungle here, in front of your watchful eyes on a training exercise, than in combat where mistakes would earn them more Purple Hearts, and their widows (and widowers) more folded flags?

Compare the National Guard to the Mafia? For shame, Mr. Taber. That remark was childish, and is not even worthy of a reply. Leighton N. Mishou Captain, U.S. Air Force, retired Peter C. Mishou Staff sergeant Maine Army National Guard, Bangor