United States Veterans - Essay Example

340702 - I Want United States Veterans History Of The World War II War is considered as one of the most ill fated result of any disagreement between or among two or more parties involve. War, as mostly use, may refer to the destructive way of countries or tribe to conquer the territory of the other and to expand their own powers and leadership. In almost all types of war, two of the most essentials for its success are the leader and its army, composed of the soldiers. One of the most disparaging wars of all time is the World War II. This war started in the year of 1939 with the alliance of three of the most powerful countries in terms of military tactics, strategies, and technology. These are the countries of Germany, Italy, and Japan.1 The Allied Countries and Their Strategies Germany, as we all know, is headed by the famous Adolf Hitler2. Germany in that time is known for its powerful military offenses and defenses. Autocratic government ruled by the military runs the country. The military holds the highest position and power in their country, among others. One of the reasons they retaliated and formed the coalition behind the World War II is that they are not satisfied with the result of the preceding war. The treaties that were signed for the restoration of their region was said to be insufficient as compared to the damages it incurred. Italy, on the other hand, is the one responsible for supplying most of the funds for the said war. Because of their expanded territories that have reached even in Asia, they were able to handle the costs that the war has used up. Italy as the books have said, wanted to increase their conquered land as the reason for joining the said coalition for the formation of the World War II. Lastly, Japan is known for its excellent and advanced technology for machines and even for military equipments. Their failure to conquer China in the preceding wars is the principal reason why the country joined the coalition towards the destruction of other countries. Germany and Italy has conquered, destroyed, and killed thousands of people in the European part while Japan exercised its controlling power in the countries in South East Asia like the Philippines, where the famous “Death March” happened. Peace efforts like the Washington Conference and Paris Peace Pact was established to prevent the said war to take place. But, the three countries take their stand to pursue their own goals and promote fascism. Fascism is the belief that military autocracy should be the one leading and governing the country. With this belief, the people behind fascism assumed that total nationalism would happen and in return would be the way for the country to be successful on its goals. Benito Mussolini in Italy started this belief. This belief was used by the allied countries in their own way to pursue their own goals. Germany, headed by Adolf Hitler, used fascism with racism. He believed that their nation and race is the most superior among all the countries in the world especially in their part in Europe. This belief has caused for the death of millions of Jews in their country and their conquered lands. This has long been a practice in Italy as it was first started in their country. Japan, on the other hand, had not widely used fascism. But because of the status and position that their military has occupied, the army holds the highest and powerful force in their country that made its way for a totalitarian kind of government. Strategies like conquering useful and rich-resources countries have provided for the needs of the allied countries that made their defeat almost impossible. Also, military tactics have been used for soldiers to enter and fought the defenses of the other countries. War tanks, bombs, and air strike are some of the weapons and strategies that they used for their country to expand and triumph over other powerful nations that hinder for them to achieve their goals. Anti-Coalition Countries Alternatively, anti-coalition countries have been secretly formed to defeat the three allied countries, with United States as one of its proponents. Their strategy was to defeat Germany and Italy first. British troops mostly took over in overcoming Germany and Italy. And since most of the American troops are in Asia, they are the ones who took over in Japan and helped their conquered countries. Also, the United States is very eager to crush Japan in their own hands because of the incident that happened in the Pearl Harbor, one of the military bases of the United States in the Pacific. (Win 1972, 65-67) The British soldiers first attack Normandy, a German territory by that time, by launching paratroopers. Key bridges in the enemy terrains are incarcerated and destroyed to prevent the German soldiers to perform counter defenses against them. (Win 1972, 65-67) The United States had seen their advantage against Japan because of their military bases all over Asia. Before the nuclear bombing that took place in Japan, American troops and soldiers had been sent among countries in Asia to established their forces. General Douglas Mac Arthur is one of the famous leaders who fought and saved the lives of people in the hands of the Japanese soldiers, especially in the Philippines. (Win 1972, 65-67) Number of US Troops Sent to Battle When the Japanese government turned down the efforts of the United States to make peace and leave the ambitions of the coalition after the countries of Germany and Italy have already surrendered, the government of the United States opted to use nuclear bombs to scare the people and government of Japan. (Win 1972, 92) The end of the World War II in 1949 is not the last battle that happened in the history of the world. New goals and objective had paved the way for new conflicts and clashes. More destructive weapons are used and much more improved military tactics and strategies are employed for the succeeding fights and wars. Succeeding Wars After World War II and Military Tactics Vietnam war is one of the succeeding wars that happened in history. It mainly started as a retaliation of the Vietnamese people regarding the issue of increasing the number of American advisers deployed in Vietnam. Many Vietnamese people have seen this as the United States’ strategy to conquer their country. Many did not favor the stay of the American soldiers in their country. (History Central 1999, 1) With the attacks of the Vietnamese people, the American troops launched air strike assaults in the Northern part of Vietnam. Also, ground missiles and bombs are used to damage the cities of Vietnam. (History Central 1999, 5) Another strategy used by the military of the United States is the Operation Starlite. This operation is composed of the marines, ground soldiers and enormous number of air strikes and artillery offenses. Air bombings are also used to neutralize the power of the Vietnamese troops. The United States declared to offer peace talks in formulating just settlements between the Vietnamese people and the Americans. But the Northern part of Vietnam does not comply with the resolution so that the bombings and attacks were continued but eventually the Vietnamese surrendered and the war came to an end. (History Central 1999, 5) Another example of the war that took place is the Iraq War. Once again, the United States sent its troops in the Middle East to help defeat and tone down the authority and control of the Iraqi forces in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The American multitude used the Operation Desert Storm to neutralize and drive away the Iraqi troops in the said countries. Additional troops from France, Egypt, and Syria, with the approval of UN Security Council, have been requested to help the forces against the Iraqi government. (History Central 2005, 1) The allied forces against Iraq started to destroy the key borders of the country and proceeded to obliterate the communication equipments, aircraft systems, power stations, the prime minister’s palace and the main cities and downtowns of the country. Military Strategies With the formation of wars, plans on how to defeat the other party are always an important issue in any events of a combat. It is one of factors that may contribute to the victory or to the failure of the war, among others. Military strategy refers to the over all packaging of planning for carrying out fighting and combat. The word strategy is derived from the Greek word strategos, which means the art of the general. Strategies, especially in the military, deal with the mobility of the deployed forces and troops, its campaigns, and ways on how to defeat the enemies. (Wikipedia 2002, 3) Carl von Clausewitzis the father of modern strategic study. He is the first one to see and recognized the importance of strategies in winning to any endeavors that any individual may enter into. Hence, he defined military strategies as investments to win at the end of the war. For him, military strategies govern the implementation of devices and the direction of the soldiers, the upholding and welfare of the army, and the logistics. (Wikipedia 2002, 4) Fundamentals Of Military Tactics And Strategies The words of Sun Tzu1, a Chinese philosopher, says that a way to end a war in victory is to formulate line of attacks different from the ones used in the past. This is one of the most important principles to remember that the army needs to recognize. Because once a former strategy was used, the opposing forces may predict the steps one would be conducting for they based it in a pattern used in the past. Fundamental to this principle is the recognition of peacekeeping among nations. This principle always acknowledges the fact of achieving victory without choosing war or a conflict as the way to solve a disagreement or to solve own goals.1 Another fundamental to the principle is the idea of formulating strategies not only to achieve victory in a war but also to have the peace and victory maintaining and existing in the long run. The most common notions that a strategist considers are the following: the objective of the project, offense to used, cooperation, concentration, its economy, maneuvers to use, the element of surprise, security, and the simplicity of the problem. And most importantly, strategies must be developed in terms of the technical progresses of the opposing forces. These strategies must be coherent with the current trend in the art of war. New and advanced weapons must be invented and used to have a greater advantage as compared to the other. Although advances in technology are not the main key to success, these may cause for a better progress and chance in winning. (Wikipedia 2002, 5-6) But always remember that advances in technology are not on the positive side all of the times. Sometimes, these advances and evolution on strategies, especially in weapons, cause a greater destruction and consequences not only in the concerned and involved parties. They can also affect those innocent individuals who do not have anything to do with their issues. Soldiers Serving The Army In a war, I said a while ago that, two factors are the most important for the war itself to succeed. One is the leader and second is the army or the soldiers. I would like to focus my discussion with the soldiers, since they are the ones who faced the battle with their courage and perform their duties for their country, their countrymen, and for the goals of their country. Amidst all the pain, injury, and being departed to their family, they must continue to fight up to the extent of killing just to save their country and to save their own lives. A soldier may be defined as a person who committed himself to the fortified forces of their country, often called as the military. They are often the people who serve only in the army and in the military units. Superiority and ranking among comrades are very well recognized. The word “soldier” comes from a French word solidarius, which means someone who serves, acts, and performs his duties for a considerable sum of money as a payment for his work. In history, the soldiers, particularly the Romans, were paid in solid gold coins, which is part of the monetary system of Rome. The word soldier is very much visible to other languages beside French and Latin. Germany, Spain, and Denmark have the same translation of the word soldier as soldat, soldado, and soldaat respectively. (Webster’s Dictionary 1998, 1845) . Soldiers are usually considered as the lowest rank and position in an army. In some countries soldiers are those people do not have an officer’s commission. And most often, they are the ones usually subjected to dangerous and harsh one on one battles. Also, they do not exercise their own will in fighting. They do as what they are commanded to do. They only performed their actions as to what their superiors told them to do. Although soldiers are usually pictured handling guns, tanks, or firing missiles, there a re a lot of categories and classification of the works of a soldier. In the army, soldiers may be in the ground fighting, in the planes conducting air strikes, and in the naval ships firing underwater bombs and missiles to the opponents. But besides all of these, some soldiers hold managerial positions and some hold office. Some soldiers are assigned to combat in different countries while others are used as strategist, and even researchers for the upcoming plans of their military unit. Duties and Skills of a soldier To be a soldier, one must have the necessary skills and sufficient training to be ready for a combat. The following are the levels of training and specialization one must surpass to be assigned in military tasks. First, one must be able to assist in inspection assignments. They have to know how to detect land mines and bombs in an area. They also need to learn to handle weapons. The use of war tanks, missile tanks, and different kinds of guns must be thoroughly learned and handled. They must also learn to engage and launch missiles and bombs directly to the target. They must be well equipped and conversed with the different kinds of communication equipments and technology. And most of all, in this first level of skill that they must possess, learning to defend themselves is usually the most important thing to learn, among others. (Hackworth 2002, 68) Second level includes the skill of leadership. Here, a soldier must provide tactical ways in directing his troops and at the same time work in accordance with the orders of his superiors in any assignments they are asked to accomplish. They also examine the enemies’ territories and the corresponding weapons to destroy the defenses of the adversaries. And lastly, they must know how to repair and maintain the quality of the tanks and weapons that they use. (Hackworth 2002, 68) Lastly, they must be able to handle and supervise an infantry battalion in an actual fighting. They must be able to participate and coordinate on actions to organize, plan, and strategize during battle operations. And most importantly, they must be able to handle over all maneuvers in actual battle. (Hackworth 2002, 68) These are among one of the hardships that soldiers have to take in order to survive in the battle. They are forced to learn without understanding anything. Even without the will to fight and kill others, they still have to follow the orders of their state that compels them to be on the military training. The Veterans of War There will come a time that these soldiers would resign and go back to the confines of their home and country. They are often referred to as the veterans. Veterans possessed different benefits for serving their country. But, usually others forget to acknowledge their heroic deeds just to pursue the ambitions of their country and for the safety of their fellowmen. Health care, housing, and pensions are given to these veterans. These are sort of incentives for their courage and valor in serving the country. But are these benefits enough and sufficient to pay for all the hardships they encountered when they were in duties? I have interviewed some of the veterans of war in the country; others are so open to relate their stories and experiences, while others are very traumatized in the past that they refuse to go into the details. A man that we interviewed joined the military way back 1942. He told how he was drafted to serve the military without knowing the basics of being a literate person. He told us that he rarely had friends for the men assigned are either wounded or killed. He also said that the greatest day that happened to him was when he woke up in his own house. Although he only served for 18 months, barely 2 years, those years maybe considered as the darkest days of his life. He witnessed different killings, bombings, and tortures. Some of his friends were hung and was shoot to death. So you see, from being a student he was forced to become a soldier. Although a soldier maybe considered an honorable profession, men during the world war do not think so. They do not have the will and the right to deny the duties that were assigned to them. And since they are away from their families, they have no one to share their experiences with; they do not have someone to cry with when things are going on tough. They cannot even write to their own loved ones for they are assigned to different places. Lucky are those who can receive replies from their families for a month or two. And at the end when we asked him regarding men joining the military, he said that boys on school should not be forced to train and kill. He said that they were just starting to learn the basics of education, and they have a lot more to learn to be able to handle the pressure once they entered the military.2 Another person we interviewed, on the other h2and, is very vocal in recollecting his experiences, this time during the Vietnam War. The person we interviewed started his basic training handling rifles. He was only 23 and among the oldest in their squad in that time. He was what he called a “duster battalion”. He said that a duster is a tank. In contrast with most the persons that we had interviewed, this one said that joining the war made him appreciate the normal life. He realized that more things are important than money. He appreciated the peace and harmony that he had experienced when he came back. He appreciated his wife for sending different tapes to fight off his boredom at times. And most of all he gained friends both Vietnamese and his fellow American soldiers. They had bonded despite their situation. We’ve got to interview a lot more others and almost all shared to experiences and us more or less the same stories that one felt when they were away and in the battle site. May it be a soldier, an officer, or a photographer witnessing a combat they have one thing in common to share, and that is that although they have put their own lives just to fulfilled the goals of the state war is not one of the solutions. Killing is never an option to gain and to win. Because the people who are involved in the war are first and foremost the victims. Nothing can compensate all the pains that they endured and the lost of respect to humanity that they have learned just to save their own lives. I just think that these veterans have received most of what they deserve in return, but I think we the people who have comfort lives, a safe environment, and a humanitarian surroundings must recognize the heroism of those soldiers who go into the battle grounds just to ensure the safety of their own family, countrymen, and country. Our fellow citizens must distinguish the bravery and boldness of these people. And lastly, we must thank them endlessly for all the sufferings and hardship that they have endured in their line of duty just to protect the country. Remember that in a war, way before it ends victims are already there in the presence of these soldiers who are trained and somewhat forced to kill just to accomplish their task, duties and commitments to the country. That before killings and destruction happened, there are those soldiers who died inside, with the thought that they may never return to their own families. That in performing their duties for the country, they may not be able to supervise the growth of their children and the happenings in their family. Just think how important the soldiers and veterans are. They saved the country and saved all of us. As to my end, let me use the poem of Guy to thank and recognize the unselfish heroism of all the soldiers, veterans, and the people who gave their life for a good cause. A TEAR FOR THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR ALL I stand before the WALL with a tear running down my face, it reflects the sorrow and pain of the heart. As another tear rolls down my cheek it reflects the cold hard glare of black stone whose face has a chisel look. With the falling of another tear you can see the boyish fun of old friends who are no more. As I fight to hold back the tears their gentle hands reach out to my heart saying we are here for you. With there touch my tears say I’m sorry that I came home and that you stayed behind. As the tears flow I know that the boy I was then is no longer for only a man can cry for lost friends. For I cry A Tear For Those Who gave Their All. BIBLIOGRAPHY Hackworth, David. Steel My Soldiers’ Heart. California: Broadway Books, 2002 Newman, William L. The Narrative of William L. Newman Michigan: University of Michigan Press, 1945 History Central. “Desert Storm” 20 July 2005. Available from History Central. http://www.historycentral.org/desert_storm/offensive.html Accessed November 30, 2006 History Central. “Vietnam War”. 2 January 1999. Available from History Central. http://www.historycentral.org/vietnam/index.html. Accessed November 30, 2006 Wikipedia. “Military Strategies and Principles”. 18 June 2002. Available from Wikipedia Encyclopedia. http://En.Wikipedia.Org/Wiki/Military_Strategy. Accessed November 30, 2006 Win, Mac. The Sixties America 1960-1970. New York: Macmillan, 1972 Note to the customer: Yes, the bibliography was done in Turabian Style. Some paragraphs need not to have footnotes since most have in text citations and also, most that I have written are stock knowledge way back my class in the world history. I incorporated some of the interviews that you have conducted. This will compensate for the task of including the job description and experiences of war soldiers. This will be more realistic as compared to searching the “real” experiences of war soldiers and veterans from the net. Accept my deepest condolences to your grandfather. And Happy Holidays. Read More