Through the eyes of our veterans

  • Published
  • 60th Operations Group

Recently, I had the good fortune to share a meal with a gentleman who had been a prisoner of war as a child during World War II, and went on to serve as an Airman here at Travis Air Force Base. Soon after this meeting, Ken Burn’s latest documentary, Vietnam, was released telling the story of that long, controversial war amidst the backdrop of the great societal changes and civil unrest our country experienced on the home front.


Interestingly, Travis was featured in that series as a major stop for Americans transiting to and from the Pacific theater, as a site of anti-war protests outside the main gates and as the first stop on U.S. soil for the returning POWs. This led to finding archival film footage of the formal transfer of the Hanoi Hilton POWs from their captors’ control back to the care of U.S. Airmen at an airfield with a 60th Air Mobility Wing C-141 taxiing into its spot to bring these men home.


Every September, we remember Americans who sacrificed their lives or endured captivity during previous wars, and we follow that in November with Veterans Day to acknowledge the service of all who have served in the defense of our nation and our Constitution. But this year, perhaps because of the lunch with a former POW and watching the documentary, the relevance and similarities between our service today and that of the Vietnam era stood out to me in a way it never had before.


What stood out the most were the faces of the men and women who served then. They look like us. I see their faces in the Airmen I work with every day. They are the same faces of the Soldiers and Marines our crews transport around the globe. They are the faces of our parents, grandparents and of all Americans. The first American shot down and held prisoner during Vietnam was Latino. The crew that brought him home was made up of African Americans and women.


Despite the many differences between the drafted force of Vietnam and today’s all-volunteer force, all of us come from the great mixture of the American people. The wonderful diversity of our force – from our backgrounds, our personal histories, our perspectives – is what makes our force so powerful and unique in the world. Our diversity is what’s led us to break barriers – both technical and social – since our beginnings. Our diversity is what will lead us over and through our current challenges. Our diversity is what will make us a better force for the future.


What also stood out to me during this remembrance season, is the steadfast service our military has provided throughout our history. This was never more apparent than during the final years of the Vietnam War. The men and women who risk their lives carrying out their duties – just as we carry out our duties today – came home to sneers, insults and great unrest and uncertainty. They didn’t quit; they didn’t back away from the commitment they made to serve our nation and uphold our Constitution. They put their heads down, got to work and tried to make things better for their brothers and sisters-at-arms. Afterwards, they did the same in their communities, and it is through their example and their experience that we enjoy the wide support of the American public and our actions in the line of duty are separated from the shifting politics and policies of the country.


Finally, the common thread between the military of previous eras and today is the commitment of ordinary Americans to defend and serve our country and the respect we share for each other, our service and our citizens. Through the stories of veterans and former POWs, we witness what it means to live life and serve according to integrity, service before self and excellence. Through them, we witness the power of a nation built on mutual respect and the constant commitment to live up to its ideals and becoming better every day. Through them, we see ourselves and have the confidence that we can make a difference through our own service.