RAMPAGE: Accused soldier is our responsibility
The headlines refer to a “JBLM soldier.” This is not correct. The accused soldier may be based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, but he is an American soldier. We recruited, trained and sent him to war...
View ArticleWAR: Time to pull out of Afghanistan
A 22-year-old Marine is shot in the back of the head by an Afghan military “ally” (TNT, 3-17). That (according to the article) is “at least the seventh killing of an American military member by his...
View ArticleJBLM: 9th Infantry would be a better fit
It was great news to read (TNT, 4-27) that a division headquarters will once again be assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Veterans of the 7th Infantry Division should be pleased. However, I think a...
View ArticleMILITARY: Training needed to prevent suicide
Re: “JBLM committee working to prevent soldier suicides” (TNT, 6-22). I retired from the Navy as the command chaplain at Submarine Group 9/NSSC Bangor in 2007. Shortly thereafter I was asked to help...
View ArticleJBLM: Command change ceremony lacked spit and polish
I read about the change of command at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (TNT, 7-4). I was disappointed to see a picture of two lieutenant generals in a vehicle with a headlight out, and they were dressed in the...
View ArticleBRIDGE: Army has experience in fixing fallen bridges
The bridge collapse situation takes me back. During World War II, a U.S. Army Engineer Combat Bridge Company would have quick fixed a fallen bridge within a maximum of 24 hours so tanks could move...
View ArticleMILITARY: Our soldiers deserve better process
Re: “Soldier can’t go forward, can’t go back” (TNT, 4-13). I know all too well the delays that Sgt. Chris Peden is talking about. I am an Army Reserve soldier and have been in the Integrated Disability...
View ArticleJBLM: Pierce County gets left behind again
Re: “500 make case against troop cuts” (TNT, 1-22). I attended the public forum Wednesday at Clover Park Technical College on the Army proposal to cut back 11,000 civilian and military jobs at Joint...
View ArticleMILITARY: VIP culture isn’t anything new
Re: “‘VIP culture’ raised in officer’s chute death” (TNT, 4-13). As tragic as the death of Col. Darron Wright was, this kind of VIP mindset has always been part of military activities and should...
View ArticleVIETNAM: No defense for My Lai massacre
PBS’s “American Experience” recently presented the story of one of the most abysmally heinous incidents in American military history: the murder of approximately 500 innocent old men, women, young...
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