"It just makes me mad because a lot of people don't understand. They don't see this stuff. They just go about their daily lives while there are still people dying every day for them. It upsets me a lot." These are the tearful words of U.S. CPL Steven Cornford, an Iraq War veteran, who on Easter Sunday, 2007, suffered a severe shoulder wound during a blazing gun battle. These were among his comments about the American people, for since coming home he has learned that despite the enormous sacrifices of his comrades and him, many of them know little about these wars nor care.
CPL Cornford was just 18-years-old during that firefight. And despite the severity of his wounded shoulder and bullets blistering the air all around him, he raced out to lift up his Lieutenant who was bleeding profusely from a leg wound, put him on his shoulders and carried him to safety.
But that Lieutenant still died from that wound. CPL Cornford suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, often reliving the battles in Iraq and all the horrors he witnessed, has trouble sleeping and snaps at his wife and other people. Given the price he and so many others have paid in the U.S.'s wars, he is taken aback by the lack of awareness of the American people. To see his story and that of some other deeply troubled U.S. soldiers, please visit "60 Minutes" (11/6/11), "Operation Proper Exit: A return to the war zone." http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7387332n&tag=cbsnewsMainColumnArea.9
Last night's vigil, as all of these vigils are, was held on behalf of everyone who has been killed or severely wounded in the Iraq and Afghan Wars and on behalf of their families. In holding this vigil, John Fortier and I received numerous horn honks and waves of support. The vigil was joined midway by my son Kyle, who shares our compassion for all those who have paid so severe a price in these wars.
Kyle, who is a successful real estate investor, syndicater and property manager discussed the Los Angeles County homeless problem, where it is estimated 50,000 people are homeless 10,000 of which are military veterans. Kyle is organizing a new investment housing venture in another state, which also has thousands of homeless veterans and if this venture comes together successfully, he hopes to set aside homes for a period of time to house some of these veterans while they hopefully put their lives back together again.
The U.S. is incurring staggering human and monetary costs to fight its wars and these costs will be paid not just right now but for generations to come, as we saw from the Vietnam War and all the wars that preceded it. Worse yet, most of the financial costs of these wars are being but put on the U.S. credit card as our nation's debts continue to mount. And every day all of those costs rise, as the causalities grow. This is madness! In hosting this vigil and in participating in John's peace vigil each Friday at a nearby street corner, I hope we appeal to the consciences of the American people to bring enormous pressure to stop these wars, which the U.S. government and its military industrial complex that so benefits by them, refuse to do.
Dick
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