To All Vietnam Veterans,
What a time in our life it was for most of us. It was a time for those who service for this country no matter what branch of service you were in proved to be something that will be forever emblazoned in our minds. A time that brought out the strength and forebearance of every individual that had served during Vietnam, to include those of us that had went to Vietnam, a time that will be forever remembered by so many,from the losses this country had suffered, the courage of all to face and stand up for their belief and dedication for the freedoms we enjoy, and the chance to show the world, the United States, and our family just how far we would go to defend, and perhaps give the same to others who for all intensive pruposes, who could not, then did not, and eventually lost the freedoms we enjoy in a democracy. It is with extreme regret that I am speaking about and coming forward with such resolve to protect, endure, and stand up for not only the USA, but the troops, the soldiers,the lost souls, and perhaps the most significant part, of which, comes at a time when we probably all thought would come to light in such a manner that tarnishes the soul of the ones who gave it all, and wants and deserves to walk so proudly without strife and turmoil that we endured after most of us came back. The hopes and dreams of having a significant place in the United states role in the exercise of giving and living in a peaceful co-existance wiht our fellow veterans and soldiers thorughout the many years thereafter has again come up in our life. In particular this has to do with the awards and medals that were given during tht period of time, and of which has set a precedent for those who have followed. There are many of us thst don't share the manner in which these awards and medals were awarded or given because of the few who have seriously damaged and abused the very system, and souls, of not only the ones who paid the ultimate price, but the ones who are here today to speak out. Did the system fail or did the individual who saw a way for selfish gain and intent see how to usurp the system, and saw a away to abuse the system because of the very trust that had been given them within the military to fully adhere to the demands of what it really takes, I don't really think so! I do think the very few that found that avenue to gain the notoriety if you will by abusing the very morality of which is so commonly talked about when it comes to politcal venues, and for that matter even palcing it on the same road, platform, or belief is despictable. The wounds of battle are not defined by the ones who have intentional interests in obtaining them prior to them happening. The differance is that, although this may be personal, is if I had the belief for one moment that if it was a reward I was looking for I would of turned down what I was awarded. For the path that I went down didn't tell me to do this because it would mean I would become a hero, it was a moment in time, that deserved every bit of strength, every bit of training, every bit of reason for the other, besides myself, that I could muster up, coupled with the fear that I was able to overcome and ride with, rather than run away from, because simply put it was the right thing to do for myself, for the other, and for my beliefs. These are the characteristics, that I think I had, of the teachings, and support I had been given, and the collecive demeanor we had to "get the job done, mission accomplished, with no one left behind", and every effort of the heat of the moment was given by all with the full grace and respect of those before me who had displayed the same.
There is no definition for what we could of done, it was done, and whatever it was we did it, and the observations of others who did the same are the collective observations of the loyalty to others in the heat of the moment. When that collective moment is stripped out of it, then it is the trust that must prevail for awards are given and not taken. Tht trust on the surface is given to every officer that I have met, and have had the pleasure of being one myself, is called integrity, and it is for that reason that I am speaking, for the buck stops here to quote some famous inidividual who brought more fun and enjoyment out of the dollar as a result of our efforts to uphold that integrity and trust, that integrity is that exist amongst us officers, and the trust I am talking about is the trust that the enlisted man has for us. Although this may sound like it is getting political because of the upcoming election, it is this trust and integrity that goes with every officer that must be upheld in the highest office the US Military has,with no exceptions, that being the Commander in Chief of all miltary, and because it has been allowed to prevail for so many years it is the position of Commander in Chief that is seriously being diminished because of one of our very own, and that buck has to stop only now with a vote for the highest postion in the democracy that we have given our all for to flourish, and maintain the highest respect and admiration. I am not General, and I am certainly not anyone famous, but I do have a fruit salad of the same, those of you who were in the miltary will know what I am talking about, that deserves the true recognition and not some facade that others may have put them up to be, and the personal side of this whole issue comes into play for me. It has to do with a personal e-mail that I got from a friend and comrade whom I have the utmost respect for who saw combat and saw the facades that many got their awards. He had said to me all of his hopes and dreams are being shattered, for everything he had given in terms of his loyalty and dedication of service to this country, and his fellow "Band of Brothers" was all in vain, because of this abuse in system by the officers. This broke my heart and diminished every bit of character, and touched the very soul of the person I am, and brought back the pain for the ones who paid the ultimate price. He is a disabled veteran of combat, and the Vietnam War. Collectively speaking it is this "Band of Brothers" that most couldn't even hold a candle up to for what these men have given of themselves for others to walk with the freedoms we paid so dearly for. The awards and medals go a lot further than with presentation of them, but they carry a moral and ethical responsibility to uphold the integrity and trust that they were given, that is the belief in what it takes to get the job done and carry on the precedent that was set long before me, and this "Band of Brothers", and the bond that was given by the good Lord himself to recognize the value of the differance between right and wrong. It was earned wihtout any fantsy of selfish intents at all, except being the very best this country had to offer with the total respect we had for the soldier we have of yesterday and today. Today, the very present, was to them and myself, was the tomorrow of the service this country has to offer to every American little boy, and girl has to look up to. It is truly a shame when the integrity and trust has been violated and abused to the point that the emotions , and feelings, towards the very aspect the awards and medals were given in the first place, is now in the hands of a very few who have found that avenue of notoriety and political pedestals that have brought the memories and losses of a time that brought this country to dam near it very knees from within, has to come back in such a manner to haunt and subject these people thru the same again. This is the the despictable part of our system that has prevailed, and probably one of the greatest failure of all about Vietnam. It is with this I bring out the integrity of the officer corps, and the respect of the enlisted ranks of the system of how they percieved it with the abuse in the manner of which awards were done and given, and to think that it can prevail is beyond belief if it is allowed to reach rank of Commander in Chief, and personally feel it should not be an issue today. I personally have no vengence with the system or any one individual but I do have a lot of resolve and conviction to not tolerate it to ever happen again, and unfortunately it is going to take a vote to change that because of the degreee that it has been allowed to progress, because one position compliments the other. This is our time, the officer corps, it is not the the enlisted, and this is what it is going to take to maintain the honest integrity and trust that was given to us, and we were empowered with to maintain that the rest of our life along with that commission and uphold the standards of our predecessors and lost souls who paid that ultimate price. It is never too late for change, for those of you who say why now, and not then, in no way justifes the prepetution of the wrongs. The integrity and trust of the officer corps and the senior non-commsssioned is being threatened here, and it up to us to see that the threat is done away with today, for yesterday is dead and gone. This is my voice and some respect I don't speak alone, but this has got to stop, and perhaps the belief of my fellow brother can be restored, and the divide that has been created as a result of Vietnam, and perpetuated by this very campaign can be diminished and done away with, and the last battle, the last ultimate price, and the last camp over run. This is our country and not the ones who have abused it with selfish intentions coupled with negtive manipulation fo feelings, emotions, and abuse of the system. I would rather not say how long a life would last on the battlefield today. This is not a threat but a fact it is clearly evident by the amount of turmoil with the voices that speak out with everything they can muster for the very tomorrow of soldier today depends upon it. God Bless America, and every soldier and veteran that knows the difference between right and wrong, and most of all perhaps the last loss in one of the most trying wars in America's history can be put to rest, and that divide be bridged, and the colors of such can wave proudly with reverance and respect of our children of tomorrow, and the soldier fighting the same today.

Welcome home and welcome back

Ed Yarbrough
Captain, Infantry
Special Forces Retired