this one’s for you, Eddie
As my friends and family in the U.S. celebrate Memorial Day today, I’d appreciate
it if they would hoist one in the memory of Eddie Weekfall. We went through the
well-structured hell of Marine Corps boot camp together.
Eddie was from the mean streets of East St. Louis, Illinois, a strapping soul brother
whose anger and passion blazed like searchlights in his eyes. After a rough start in
the roughest of environments, we became friends.
Just before we left boot camp, a drill instructor told us our basic MOS’s (Military
Occupational Specialty). These assignments determined where we went after we
all did one more month of tutelage called Infantry Training Regiment (ITR). I
knew I would be an 0100 (administrative clerk) because I had extended my
enlistment one year to guarantee it. I figured it was the best way to increase my
chances of getting back alive.
Eddie’s assignment was 0300, infantry. I remember the look on his face, a quick
wince as he realized what that meant. Eddie and I went to different units for ITR.
I never saw him again. I believe he went on to Vietnam. I went to another month
of training, then to my first duty station in Georgia. I left there in August ’67 for
my overseas tour.
In Okinawa I had access to a list of all Marine casualties, which I checked daily.
In early December, I found out that Eddie had been killed by an explosive device.
What I would like you to consider today if you will honor Eddie is this: are the wars
that the U.S. so readily enmeshes itself in worth the loss of blood and treasure that
inevitably ensues? Do those who perish really die “for freedom” or “not in vain”?
What do those phrases even mean?
I implore you to look bey0nd emotional rhetoric created by calculating corporate
hacks to promote sales. How many rich kids go into combat? I have no idea what
Eddie’s last thoughts were, but if they were like those that still haunt me, I’m proud
to ask them for him as well.
This one’s for you, Eddie.
Comments are closed.
Anchor Struck 
when i think of the loss of life/etc since ww2 i wonder how the people who send these kids to war can live with themselves. i really do not think there has been a war since ww2 that was worth fighting. i mean no disrespect for those who went and died or came home…i just think we were all sold a bill of goods. after the vietnam disaster i thought at least it had taught us something. at least we would not fight in a war that we could not win and had no real point… i guess i was wrong. here’s to you eddie…and to all that followed and are still following..
You’re spot on, kris. Because I was honouring Eddie, I hopped off my soapbox as soon as I could. But I was tempted to add that a nation that underfunds education but gives the Pentagon anything it wants is primed for perpetual war.
well they are really getting into class warfare now… that seems to be on going these days.. i think the rich are winning but i think they should never count out the middle class…
The increasing polarization of left and right really worries me.
I agree with all anti-war sentiment, while knowing that sometimes countries do have to go to war if they don’t want to be invaded or stand idly by while neighbours and friends are. No matter the reasons, the loss of life is horrible and I can’t argue with the fact that if the old men who make the decisions had to go themselves, or send their own children, they’d be less quick to engage in warfare.
That said, have you seen this documentary? You might find it of interest:
http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/doczone/video.html?ID=1815694494
-Kate
Thanks for the link, Kate. I watched some of it, will likely watch it all with Jude. The electronic distancing of enemies is extremely troubling. I know that those who participated only in the air war in Vietnam had a different view than those of us who actually looked in the faces of the enemy, the civilians and our own dead or wounded troops. And there’s a separate concern. “Winning” in this new type of warfare would only require the neutralizing of one side’s computers. Hackers would be the new warriors.