Rev. Sharon Kufeldt is a veteran member of VFP Chapter 19 in the Riverside/ San Bernardino Cty area of CA.
Way back in my family
Served in the Revolutionary War
Served in the Civil War
Served in the western war against the First Nations
Served in WWI
The war to end all wars, right?
My Dad served as Marine in WWII in the South Pacific
Lost 9 out of 10 when his unit landed on a beach
He’s alive so feels he must live well for his guys
Called up again to serve as a Marine in Korea too
Chosin Frozen they call them overrun by Chinese soldiers
The Chosin Few that survived with frostbite and shell shock
After fighting their way out from that Reservoir on the N Korea/Chinese border
Bad intel or General’s hubris?
One uncle was a POW in Germany for several years
Another served as a Marine in South Pacific like my Dad
He had “anger issues” to put it mildly
A couple of others served in WWII in the Navy and Army
At least one served in Europe
One suicided on the front lawn with a “saturday night special”
All my uncles that served became alcoholics
Most of the men at the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) post too
Why is that?
I served during Vietnam as did several cousins.
My ex-husband served during Vietnam became an alcoholic
One cousin staged a sailing accident went to Canada
Another served in the USAF
My friend’s son served in the first Iraq War
He suicided
My cousin served in that same Gulf War
He suicided with a crossbow
Is there a pattern here?
I know too many young men and women
Served too many times in Iraq and AfghanistanToo many have suicided
Are going to suicide
Too many struggle with moral injury sometimes called PTSD
Normal reaction to abnormal stress
Still dying from radiation and asbestosis
Still dying from Agent Orange
Still suffering from Gulf War Syndrome - though the VA denies its existence
Why are we still not funding VA?
Traumatic Brain Injury
Seems like the new kid on the block
Has been happening in all wars
Even happens in football and soccer
Imagine dropping a glass on the floor
Then saying “sorry” to it’s shattered pieces
Like that’s going to make it better
Now surviving horrific injury due to better medical first aid
Is this better?
One of my friends who served in Vietnam
Suicided last fall leaving a wife and two young children
The costs of that war continue to this day
The costs of damaged veterans, families, lives
Children and grandchildren suffering from Agent Orange
The costs to the people of Vietnam suffering
Suffering from Gulf War illness and genetic defects
No one mentions the Depleted Uranium munitions we’ve used
In so any places in the world - especially Fallujah
Generations more birth defects, okay?
War is not romantic!
Kills more civilians than “participants”.
It wastes our youth and our resources!
War destroys the environment.
Collateral damage?
Have we had enough yet?
When does it end?
How do we end it?
Sgt, USAF HQ PACAF, in theater
A Woman Veteran For Peace