Randy Cassingham's Blog

Christopher, with the 21st Air Force in New Jersey: "I just wanted you to know that when I was serving with Operation Deep Freeze (the ongoing Air National Guard operation that supports the National Science Foundation) at McMurdo Station on Ross Island in Antarctica, 'This is True' was part of a weekly ritual. There are a number of people in 'Mac Town' that still read you through their Internet mail there. I guess that means you're popular on all 7 continents."

I knew that I had readers at various Antarctica bases, but I haven't heard from anyone there in a while. Thanks for the update -- I love hearing about readers getting True in interesting spots.

I have very often mentioned military readers over the years, including more recently those aboard ships at sea, thanks to their satellite mail connections. So I was a tad surprised to get this from Stan in Texas: "Please, Sir, will you do a special issue for the men & women, my siblings, that are about to go to conventional war and those now serving in the war on terrorism? Many of them have 'net access, even while deployed. I feel that something especially for them would be especially appreciated. I know from personal experience that every little bit of encouragement helps after you kiss the spouse good-bye and get 'in country'. I'm sure that my wife (disabled Viet Nam era US Army veteran) and my Dad (WWII US Navy combat veteran) would agree."

I reminded Stan that I have often featured military units in the past, and "if I have any 'reason' to do so again (e.g., a letter from someone in the field), I'll do so" again. Sound good? Not to Stan it didn't. He replied: "Perhaps when the jack-booted hordes invade your personal space you will understand that you owe a debt to those that interpose their personal being between you and those who think that the expression of free thought is a bad thing. I understand that you have the typical civilian's appreciation for those that volunteer to protect your ungrateful buttocks. Had you a fiber of civility you would have responded appropriately. Good morrow to you. I shall not trouble your tiny mind further. It is my fervent desire that you rot in an hell appropriate to your lack of humane feelings."

To be sure, I don't consider Stan, who bragged that he was "TSgt, USAF (retired from active duty at 20 years and 13 days of service in the greatest Air Force in the world I am eligible for recall to active duty for the balance of 30 years service, until 1 March 2008. I don't want any more campaign medals.)", to be ANY way representative of our great military. Rather, he is one of those "bad apples" that spoil the image of our armed forces not only at home, but abroad. What a sad example he sets for our all-volunteer servicemen and -women. But I don't want to sit here and rag on him -- I'd rather active military readers respond to Stan. Please drop me a note, preferably from your .mil address. (There has been a tremendous response so far after publishing this in the Free edition on Friday. So much that I compiled them on a separate page, rather than take up huge amounts of space here.)

Update

A denouement on the military guy who berated me for not doing a special issue of True on the anti-terrorism troops. Lew, a Premium subscriber in Massachusetts, read the special page on my site about "Sgt Stan in Texas" and wrote:

"Thanks so much for the milbrat web page. It was a great enlightenment for me to read the comments by an entire class of people who I've never had the opportunity to interact with in my life. As a draft-eligible 17-year-old in 1973, I was terrified of both Vietnam and the military establishment, which I only saw as the instrument of my imminent death. Because of that, I abhorred the entire concept of the military in any form. It's taken decades for me to come to realize the incredible dedication and sacrifice that so many young have given and still give for our country. You have provided some of them a voice that they might not have otherwise had. And that is also a small part of what they are committed to protect. It was just so much fun to read their letters to you! Yours is a voice of freedom and clarity of thoughtfulness which is sorely lacking in our country today."

It's just that sort of "you opened my eyes" response that makes getting irate letters, and collecting, formatting and posting the responses to the web, completely worthwhile. Thanks, Lew.