America's Heroes

During my undercover career in the FBI, I often reflected on a verse from the “Original Testament,” as Ron Silver liked to call it. Moses told Joshua, “The Lord himself will go before and be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be discouraged, do not be afraid.” Those words gave me strength as I prepared many times to enter the belly of the beast. In fact, while standing at a Times Square urinal preparing for my first NAMBLA meet, I repeated the verse to myself…not sure that’s a scene for the Big Screen regardless of your religious beliefs.

In the New Testament, Paul admonishes us to “pray without ceasing.” I never understood that verse until I had a son deployed to a combat zone. Now I find myself praying for my son, his men, and their families almost constantly. Our Marine son is at a Forward Operating Base in Afghanistan. They have no running water, no heat, and only on occasion, electricity. The other evening I received a short email from him. His battalion lost three more men over the weekend. It was difficult for me to sleep that night, knowing somewhere in this nation mothers and fathers, wives, and children were mourning the death of a loved one.

Obviously, my interest in what used to be called the “Global War on Terror” and now is apparently just an “Overseas Contingency Operation” is more than a historical fancy. I’ve tried to read as much as I can about the decision to launch the war, our efforts on all fronts, and our successes and failures to date. I’ve read the good, the bad, and the ugly. Trained as an attorney, I expect there to be at least two sides to every issue, but as a twenty-six year veteran of the FBI, I’ve also learned facts speak for themselves. Depending upon the author, I can find hope or discouragement. What I have found are heroes. Today’s young people (and even many adults) are as likely to find their heroes among athletes, actors, or rock stars. I guess that is the luxury of youth and a celebrity-worshipping culture. But I like Oliver North’s definition in his latest book, “American Heroes.” He says heroes “place themselves at risk for the benefit of others.”

I’ve been fortunate to meet real heroes. Several weeks ago I attended “A Celebration of Freedom” at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. I shook hands with more than thirty Medal of Honor recipients. It was truly one of the most memorable nights of my life. But a few days later during a visit to the doctor, I told him of my experience at the reception. Professing to be a history buff, his questions caught me by surprise. “Is the Medal of Honor for military and civilians?” “Aren’t there higher medals or is that the highest?” This doctor was educated at one of our most prestigious universities yet seemed clueless to the sacrifices others have made in order for him to live in a free society.

Since my book was released in the fall, I’ve been able to share it with Marines wounded in this current war. I met a Marine who lost the use of his legs and is confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He can maneuver pretty well, but he will never chase his children around the yard or at the beach the way you and I can. I met a Marine blinded by an RPG who will never see his children again. He can hear them and he can hold them but will never see them the way we see our children. I know a serviceman who was “present” for the birth of his child. He was deployed to a combat zone and listened over the phone as his wife give birth. I’ve spent time with children who pray every night for their daddy to come home safely. I’ve met the spouses of those deployed and watched them cope with not only managing a family but living with the constant worry the next phone call will bring tragic news.

What is so remarkable is not one Marine, not one serviceman, not one spouse I met asked for your pity or even your thanks. No one claimed victim status. All are volunteers and all believe they are part of a team who answered the call. They are proud and they are strong. Maybe, they too, have found comfort in the words of Moses. They are all my heroes.

Before you go to sleep tonight take a few moments to thank God for your spouse, your children, your home, a comfortable bed, and the servicemen and women who allow you to sleep under the blanket of freedom. I fear too many have forgotten or have never learned the real price of freedom.

Semper Fi.