Forced Service?

During the years of the Bush regime’s invasion and continuing occupation of Iraq we have seen a consistent disrespect for those who wear the nation’s military uniforms. From excessive tours of duty in Iraq to the legally questionable deployment of the National Guard without any formal declaration of war to the unprecedented implementation of the “ready reserve” clause of military service that prohibits those who have served honorably from returning to their families and neighborhoods at the completion of their active service obligation, George W. Bush and Donald Rumsnamara have shown nothing but contempt for those who have chosen to serve in uniform. Add to the already mentioned abuses the following from the Associated Press:
(Emphasis added – TLS)

Soldier called back to duty on day before retirement

Sunday October 15, 2006
”LINDENHURST, Ill. (AP) An Army staff sergeant was days away from retirement after a 20-year military career when he was ordered to return to his unit, which will be deployed to Iraq at the end of the month.
James Engle applied for retirement in January and later received a retirement award from the Army during a ceremony in Texas. On Sept. 20 he was told paperwork was missing and he should report to his unit, the 1st Cavalry Division…
…``I feel like I'm twisting in the wind,'' Engle said. ``I keep being told that there has been a big, huge mistake. Well, this big, huge mistake has turned my life completely around.''…
…Engle, 38, of Lindenhurst joined the Army in August 1986. During his two decades with the military he spent nine years in combat zones, including Somalia, Bosnia and Afghanistan…
…``If they would have said two months ago, we need you, I would have understood,'' Engle said. ``But to do this to me and my family one day before I was going to move home is especially cruel.''”

And so the next time you hear, “No one forced them the serve.” ask them if they have met Staff Sergeant James Engle of Lindenhurst, Illinois.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue