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vol. 50, no. 8 / MAR. 5, 2012
Letter to the Editor Veteran takes issue with student comments Dear Editor, As I was gathering with several alumni of South Alabama seeking to establish a new Alumni Chapter here in Los Angeles this last week, we were all given copies of the Vanguard. This, of course, brought me back to my days at South. I was very happy (and amused) to see that the value of the SGA is still being debated as was the value of general education classes, and that you devote considerable space to the updates on the sports teams. It seems that some things never change! I was, however, taken aback by the editorial concerning mandatory military service. The comments made by Matthew Cooper are particularly dis-
turbing as they are contradictory and reflect a remarkable lack of sensitivity and understanding. Mr. Cooper states that “no mentally sane person would sign up as an infantry man to get shot at”. Further he says that “there are only two reasons for it: either they are mentally messed up and need psychiatric help or they have an entirely wrong idea of what war is like and join for the wrong reasons”. Perhaps he should share those thoughts with the family of Pat Tillman. He gave up a successful pro football career to enlist after Sept. 11. He died serving our country, protecting the rights of people like Mr. Cooper. I don’t believe that he was ei-
ther insane or confused about what war was like. Neither do I believe that he joined to “prove his manhood, have adventures, get medals or make money”. I have several close friends whose sons have also enlisted. One gave up a very lucrative career on Wall Street to enlist in the Marine Corps. He is now a captain and has served four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Another postponed college to enlist in the Army because he felt this burden on his heart to serve and protect his fellow citizens. Both have seen things that people shouldn’t have to see… all in an effort to give me (and Mr. Cooper) the security to live our lives in comfort and safety. Millions more serve for the very same reasons. I’ve had the privilege to spend time on The USS Abraham Lincoln (a nuclear aircraft carrier) and onboard the USS Portsmouth (a Los Angeles class nuclear submarine).
I met quite a few 19-, 20- and 21- year-old sailors. They were articulate, dedicated and committed to the protection of our Country and our way of life. None were putting their life on the line for the meager pay, months away from family and long, dangerous hours in foreign places that they are subjected to. And I think they would reject the argument that they “are scrapped off the bottom of the melting pot”. To even say that shows a remarkable lack of knowledge and an incredible amount of disrespect. To Mr. Cooper: Son, please continue to say things like God bless America, believe in and enjoy the freedoms guaranteed by the volunteers you look down on. And as the old saying goes, “It’s easy to be wise. Think of something stupid to say… and then don’t”. Michael Wojciechowski BS ‘ 78/MBA ‘81
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