Letter from Iraq: U.S. soldier remains symbol of good
Letter from Iraq: U.S. soldier remains symbol of good
June 4, 2004
A UMNS Report
By Kathy L. Gilbert*
United
Methodist Army Chaplain (Maj.) Matt Woodbery, 2nd Brigade 1st Armored
Division, Baghdad, Iraq, wrote a letter home expressing his frustration
with the news surrounding the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.
He
shared the letter with the United Methodist Endorsing Agency, Board of
Higher Education and Ministry, and United Methodist News Service.
His letter follows.
May 20, 2004
Dear family like friends and friends like family,
The
Iraqi summer is just over the horizon, as is our time to depart from
here. We have no more detailed information about our redeployment to
Germany, but we hope to hear more detailed plans/orders in the next week
or 10 days.
Since
my last update, we have had another soldier killed: Staff Sgt. Erickson
Petty. He was married and had a son. Sgt. Petty was an excellent
soldier, a consummate non-commissioned officer who was loved by all his
troopers in his scout platoon.
On
Thursday night last week (May 13), a young man was severely wounded in a
mortar attack near where Petty was killed. The young specialist is now a
double amputee.
In
the past when I’ve shared these stories of loss and suffering, I’ve
done so to solicit your prayers for the survivors of these soldiers, and
for strength to face the challenges for the many seriously wounded
soldiers. I also share these soldiers’ stories to impress upon you that
we are very much at war with all the horrors and tragedies of war. But
in this letter, I share them for another reason all together: to remind
you that the American soldier is still the symbol of all that is good in
America and an inspiration to me and those with whom I serve.
The
media hype around the dastardly and perverted acts of a handful of men
and women does not describe the men and women with whom it has been my
solemn honor to serve.If
you agree that the vast majority of soldiers are worthy of consideration
as upstanding citizens and all that is noble and honorable, and have
comported themselves in the highest traditions of the American military,
then I would argue that it is because the leadership has successfully
created a climate of excellence and selfless service; of compassion and
commitment.
You
have seen pictures and read the reports of the notorious demented
deeds. But you haven’t heard how the young troopers the day Petty was
shot — two of whom had been shot themselves — returned fire on the
enemy, killing one and capturing two, while rendering first aid to
Petty. Young men, who are in their late teens and early twenties, with
the swiftness and skill of men much older and more experienced, remained
calm and engaged a determined enemy with skill and courage. Each man
attributed his ability to respond in such a way to the leadership and
mentoring of Petty.
You’ve
heard the rabid media all slobbered up over how this reprehensible
series of criminal acts points directly to the highest offices. But you
haven’t heard how a Forward Surgical Team successfully reattached the
arm of a soldier severely wounded in a roadside bomb attack, saving the
arm and the soldier’s life. I believe that the surgical team consisted
of about 7-10 people. But there are no pictures of what they did and all
the other medical miracles that have been done more times than they can
count.
So
why doesn’t the leadership at any echelon get the credit for all the
good that takes place? All the good that is so much more powerful, more
meaningful and is contributing so much more to achieve our goals here
than all the bad acts will do to diminish what we are doing here?
Yes,
try and punish the guilty. (I’ve heard many creative suggestions about
the forms of punishment.) But do not allow anyone to sully the
magnificent story of how our young men and women of our great nation are
bringing great credit to you, their families, the nation, and the
United States Army.
Thanks
as always for your support with kind words of encouragement and your
prayers before our Lord. It makes all the difference in the world.
Blessings,
Matt
*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer.
News media contact: Kathy Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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