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Dear America,

by on October 20th, 2010

If you are a member of the US military services or a veteran, please consider participating in the Dear America project. You’ll find all the info you need to tell your fellow Americans how you feel about your military experience. Do read the first local entry we’ve received–from Walter J. Relling, Former Petty Officer 2nd Class, United States Navy. We’ll continue to post your letters and some of them may be used for broadcast on NCPR and nationally. Thank you.

3 Comments on “Dear America,”

  1. Pete Klein says:
    October 20, 2010 at 4:36 pm

    While I was a Corpsman in the Navy and was tempted to write something, I decided against it because I don’t see the point.
    I was in. So what? I regard it as one of the many jobs I have had. Nothing more and nothing less. No big deal considering I was lucky enough to never see any action other than the normal you see in a hospital.

  2. Ellen Rocco says:
    October 20, 2010 at 5:16 pm

    Pete,
    I can understand your point on this. However, I think many people who are currently in the military or who are veterans may have something they’d like to say about their service and are rarely given a public opportunity to do so. Particularly in the context of a long drawn out war, and in a region that hosts the 10th Mtn Division which has been repeatedly deployed, it may be of interest to some–not all–people in the service.

    This is only one instance of the station reaching out to segments of our community for their observations — we’ve focused on farmers, troubled youth, and other groups in the past. Only a small percentage of any group responds. However, for those who respond–and those who read or hear those responses–it can be a important experience.

  3. Pete Klein says:
    October 20, 2010 at 9:06 pm

    Thanks, Ellen
    I do think it is a worthy idea and the next time we should meet, and if I remember, I would love to further explain my feelings. The last thing I would ever want to do is to make anyone think being in the military is anything less than an important job.
    I remember all too well how those who were in during the Viet Nam era did not receive the respect they deserved.
    Having been a Corpsman, I often wonder if any of the guys I knew didn’t make it back when they were attached to the Fleet Marines. I do know Corpsmen had a very high casualty rate and still do. I often tell people that when they hear about a Navy guy getting killed in Iraq or Afghanistan, the odds are high it was a Corpsman serving with the Marines.

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