yourviews
MILITARY OFFICER
MAY 2011 $4.75 THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF MOAA | ONE POWERFUL VOICE®
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MOAA URGES CAP ON FEE HIKES DoD’s proposed index
doesn’t fairly recognize service and sacrifice 31
A SPOUSE’S STORY Get a glimpse into their diverse lives 60
never asked so much of these [military] families [as] during this historically long period of constant warfare.
“ —Lt. Col. Sid Howard, USAF-Ret. ”
Ovation We have
Today, we treat our troops differently than we did during the Vietnam era 50
PLUS: BROWSE MOAA’S CAREER GUIDE INSERT
Changing Views of Veterans In reference to … “Attitude Adjustment,” in the May 2011 issue of Military Officer, I reflect back when I was serving on active duty during the Vietnam era. During part of my active duty [service], I was serving in West Germany during the “other war” — the Cold War — when the Berlin Wall was up. Upon returning to the U.S., I was appalled by the apathy and outright hostil- ity toward our soldiers. We serve upon orders from our com- mander in chief and Congress. If some Americans have disagreements with the conflict in Vietnam, they should take their anger out on our elected representatives and not soldiers doing their duty. It is my hope that the American people will, at some date in the future, give the soldiers, Marines, sailors, and airmen serving dur- ing the Vietnam era an appreciative home- coming. They deserve it! —Capt. Louis R.F. Preysz III, USA-Ret. via email
[“Attitude Adjustment”] vividly contrasts how combat veterans returning to the U.S. from the current wars are received with the treatment of [Vietnam-war] return- ees while warning of a possibly different future. How World War II veterans tran- sitioned is remembered. Those who came home from the Korean War are forgotten, again — this time by MOAA. —Col. Bill Wilkins, USAFR-Ret. via email
Spouses’ Stories I found “A Spouse’s Story” [May 2011] a great addition to your monthly magazine. Hearing from these families, the loved ones, helped me to share in their anxieties and struggles. I feel we have never asked so much of these families [as] during this historically long period of constant war- fare. Be assured dear families, you are in
our daily prayers in our church, in our veterans’ organization, and in our home. —Lt. Col. Sid Howard, USAF-Ret. via email
Morale Booster Thanks loads for the excellent article and pictures about the contributions of cartoon animators who supported both morale sustainment and military education efforts during World War II [“Wartoons,” May 2011]. And a double thanks for publishing a
“clean” first page for that article. Because it featured a smiling and uniformed Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck with no labels or other writing on it, I am taking it to my local Hobby Lobby and getting it matted and framed. It will be a perpetual remind- er of a time when Hollywood supported our troops and our nation’s war efforts. —Lt. Col. Dan Ward, USA-Ret. Oklahoma City
Uniform Dismay In the “Your Views” of the May issue, a re- tired Marine [Capt. Verle E. Burch] makes a very valid point about our Army uni- forms [“Dress With Respect,” May 2011]. I, too, am embarrassed about the way our senior Army officers present themselves in public. While other services wear their service uniforms, our senior officers rou- tinely dress in the Army combat uniform (ACUs). I think the Army has shot itself in the foot by adopting the blue uniform as the new service uniform. First, there was nothing [wrong] with
the Army green uniform. … Second, the Army no longer has a dress uniform. The blue uniform will soon become the stan- dard service uniform. The white shirt, worn as an outer garment, makes our sol- diers look like the [U.S. Capitol Police]. The ACUs have, sadly, become our class B uni- form because no one likes the alternative. I
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