Dear Editor:
Kraft
I appreciated the sentiment and wording of Janet Hart Leonard’s column, “Thoughts from the second row.” For those of us who served in the US Military, it is shameful and depressing to see multi-millionaire athletes fail to stand and properly observe our National Anthem.
The article also touched a nerve with me regarding the treatment some of my generation’s soldiers received upon returning from serving in Vietnam. It was an awful time. But, I am one of the lucky ones. I served. I survived. I came home and got on with my life. I have been very fortunate. After I returned from Vietnam and my service as a US Naval Officer, I went to graduate school, traveled the world under the auspices of several international fellowships and found rewarding employment. Today I am the proud father of two very successful grown children.
I’m fiercely patriotic and very proud to be a Military Veteran. When I returned from Vietnam, my ship glided into port on a cold, rainy December evening (1970) in San Diego. A few wives and families met us, along with port personnel to hook up the fresh water and electrical services. We were thrilled to be home. But that was it. The first time I was ever thanked for serving was when I was with my son at an Atlanta Braves baseball game in 2002 and the security guard at the entrance gate and I ventured into small talk. It lead to a discussion of our age and later that we were both Vietnam vets. As I went on to enter the stadium, he turned to me while at stiff attention and said, “Welcome home, sir.” I stopped and froze in my tracks, and managed to reply: “Thank you, sergeant. Welcome home, soldier.”
But (again) I am one of the lucky ones. The lump in my throat now is not because we were forgotten, we just were not remembered. I often think about all the soldiers, sailors and fellow Naval Officers who did not make it back, never had a chance at a decent life and they are still forgotten. Those are the brave souls I remember and shall always respect. I just wish one of those pro athletes who takes a knee could have spent one day with these guys in country to see the sacrifice they made which allows them to protest today. I truly believe they would remain standing.
John Kraft
Former US Navy Diver and Vietnam Veteran
NHS 1963
Tallahassee, Fla.