Comments on: US Military Lt. Col. Joe Repya’s “I’m tired” message.

By: Brian Rich

Brian Rich — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 01:21:32 +0000

thank you Colfo your thought, your duty and your love for this country an its people. If it is ok woth you I’d like to add your blog to mine which honors Cpl lee.

Thank you
and Semper Fi

Brian Rich

By: Kysa

Kysa — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 02:41:25 +0000

Hi Dave,
Thank you for serving and defending my liberty by your actions.

I mean no offence, but I disagree that the nation and the politicians are “spineless” We were dragged into the “was on Terror” by the events of 9/11, we entered a new phase of life as a nation. The leadership during this time I believe was short sighted and egotistical. We can not do it alone, we can not rid the whole world of terror by the shear might of the United States military force. After 9/11 we should have defined what we were looking for, found the group that brought terror to our shores and destroyed that group. Instead we are now in Iraq trying to build a Nation. What they think is Holy we do not, we try to respect what we do not understand, we try to go good works and we are loved by some and hated by others.

I think if we had gone in with a “plan” that was focused at the people, to bring prosperity and security immediately we would have been greeted as “liberators” but we fumbled the ball and by the time we were providing services, jobs, and respect we were the occupiers, the ones that caused all the death and destruction, even if it was not our fault. When we were not there was a life, now we are there and there is death everyday on the news; it is a small group but they are fighting against an occupier, just as you would if someone was occupying our country.

In the end Iraq does not have anything to do with the war on terror, the reasons that we entered the country was found not to exist, we are trying to make the best of a bad decision but the longer we are there the less true help we can be. With us there the political solution that is needed will not happen. We have no choice but to leave and allow them to work out there life as they wish, not as we wish it to be.

Kysa

By: Carolyn Taylor

Carolyn Taylor — Thu, 31 May 2007 02:05:53 +0000

Dear Dave,
You would have been so proud if you could have seen the way a town of less that 1600 welcomed home a fallen hero. Every light pole, power pole, and phone pole displayed a US Flag. Every front porch proudly flew the red, white and blue. Streets were line with young and old. Small town America never fell asleep nor have we waivered in our support of our Military. We may not agree with war but we support our troops. We love our men and women in uniform. The town of Stonewall Mississippi has lost two very fine young men in this war on terror. I grew up with both of their mothers and my children grew up with them. We miss Sgt Robert Shane Pugh and Cpl Dustin Jerome Lee. We recently honored them in a Memorial Day Celebration and hope to keep honoring them with a flag chain we have established. As stated, we are a very small community but we would like to get the word out that we have thousands of flags packed and ready for shipment to any community that wishes to display them for a fallen hero. There is no charge for the flags or the shipping we simply ask that the next town does the same.(packs and passes on the flags)
Thank you for your I’m tired letter and we would very much appreciate any help you can give in passing the word along on our flag chain.
Carolyn Taylor
President “Citizens for Stonewall Fallen Soldiers Memorial”
P.o. box 53
Stonewall, Ms 39363
ctaylor@hnrsupply.com

By: dave rapaya

dave rapaya — Thu, 10 May 2007 18:32:57 +0000

“I’m Tired”
Two weeks ago, as I was starting my sixth month of duty in Iraq, I was forced to return to the USA for surgery for an injury I sustained while in Iraq. When I recuperate they will want me to return to Iraq to finish my tour. I left Baghdad and a war that has every indication that we are losing, to return to a demoralized country much like the one I returned to in 1971 after my tour in Vietnam. Maybe it’s because I’ll turn 60 years old in just four months, but I’m tired:

I’m tired of spineless politicians, both Democrat and Republican who lack the courage, fortitude, and character to see anything but shallow solutions that are based on waging war.

I’m tired of the hypocrisy of politicians who want to rewrite history by rushing to war when the going gets tough.

I’m tired of the disingenuous clamor from those that claim they ‘Support the Troops’ by forcing them to re-enlist while not supporting them when they return home.

I’m tired of a mainstream media that can only focus on car bombs and casualty reports because they are too afraid to show the real story of civilian deaths and atrocities at the hands of our military.

I’m tired that so many Americans think you can enforce democracy through war.

I’m tired that so many ignore the bravery of the Iraqi people to go about their daily lives.

I’m tired of the so called ‘Elite Right’ that prolongs this war by justifying it with lies.

I’m tired that my generation, the Baby Boom-Vietnam generation, have such a weak backbone that they can’t or won’t stand up and protest war as a course they no longer support.

Mostly, I’m tired that the people of this great nation didn’t learn from history that war does not solve problems, it creates problems.

Sincerely,

Dave Rapya,
Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Army
101st Airborne Division