One of my favorite albums is ‘‘What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye. Some of the politically charged lyrics tell a story from the viewpoint of a Vietnam War veteran, who returns to the country he had been fighting for and sees nothing but injustice, suffering and hatred.
With introspective lyrics about political and social concerns and the Vietnam War, the album is arguably Gaye’s finest work. Although the album was released in 1971, the timeless message in songs such as ‘‘What’s Happening Brother” is still relevant today: ‘‘War is hell, when will it end, when will people start gettin’ together again ... can’t find no work, can’t find no job ... money is tighter than it’s ever been. Say man, I just don’t understand what’s going on across this land.”
On Good Friday, April 14, 2006, my Army battalion returned to the USA after a year deployment in Baghdad. Upon my return I realized that while some things remained the same, many things had changed, too. And like Marvin Gaye, I wanted to know what’s going on?
While Congress continues to debate the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the uncertainty of life goes on for our troops on the battlefield and those who have returned home. Fortunately, unlike many Vietnam veterans, today’s servicemen and women have come home to a hero’s welcome. When my unit returned, hundreds of Family members, friends and even strangers greeted us with cheers. The military band played a melody of patriotic songs that made us all feel like true American heroes.
A year later, however, the reality of being home settled in. The crowds were long gone. Although we received a better welcome than our Vietnam War veterans, many Iraq war Soldiers are facing similar hardships of transition back to life in the USA.
Even today, I find myself taking mental flights back to Iraq, thinking of the Soldiers I counseled, the wounded troops I visited, and the prayers I directed for the safety of many military operations. And I wonder how those men and women who are still serving in the combat zone are holding up? How is their morale?
Finally, I also think about the injured troops at military hospitals, such as Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. What will life be like for these brave young souls? Will they be able to bounce back from injury or be forced to live with a lifelong physical disability?
Make no mistake, we are living in a critical touch-and-go time period, and we must demand the best from our political leaders and ourselves. It is true. To cite Ecclesiastes 3:8: ‘‘To every thing there is a season ... a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”
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