Fighting in the interest of our nation

This is in response to the debate between Mr. John DelRosario and J.T. Quitugua’s “I was in the Arena.” I am simply not trying to interfere with the actual debate in of itself. Rather, I am however, disturbed about the comments that Mr. DelRosario argued when he states: “Evidently, I started writing while you were out shooting innocent people in Vietnam—an undefined war that was never won—and I humbly ask: What solution did you provide the ignorant of the host country other than death, hardship and lifetime displacement? What sterling service, sir!”

I am not one to usually express my concerns and reactions, especially if it’s an issue between two professional individuals who are debating their grounds in the hopes of trying to educate the rest of the audience.

However, I was very displeased with the statement as quoted above… for the simple reason that it may perhaps misconstrue the true passion within the context of what was really meant in that particular statement. I am a soldier; in fact, as an officer in the United States Army, I am a leader of soldiers. Therefore, in this—our time of war, I am concerned that when we display such words or verbage, the readers may perhaps be given the latitude to apply what happened back then in Vietnam to what is going on today in Iraq, etc.

Let it be known, that I and the rest of the many troopers, like those who are from our very own islands, have fought to protect and defend ONLY what the citizens of our country has imposed on us to fight. Soldiers like J.T. Quitugua back then did not go to Vietnam because that is what the Army wanted.

He did his duty because that is what the citizens, through the President at the time, wanted or ordered of him. The Army does what the nation calls for it to do. The Army does not fight unless the citizens of this country orders it. That has always been George Washington’s vision.

In the early days, there was once a rebellion, and someone actually came up to Washington and tried to convince him to use “his loyal Army” to control the rebellion and run the country with such fist. As a result, Washington then made sure that the Constitution clearly states that the country’s military exists to serve the people and that a civilian authority runs the military, not necessarily a general, etc. In other words, no dictatorship.

So, in essence, J.T. Quitugua, like many of us today, has fought on the battlefields of our own country’s choosing, whether we like it or not. After all, we are soldiers and we exist to serve the citizens of our nation. Again, I am only writing this piece in hopes of making sure that I clarify that when soldiers are deployed to fight, it is indeed the choosing of our country’s leaders. I just want to make all of those who do not clearly understand, that we are fighting today, similarly, like the Vietnam and Cold War Era, in the interests of our nation; which by the way, is run by the civilian authority/citizens. To Mr. DelRosario, I applaud and respect your service in writing/journalism. To Mr. J.T. Quitugua, I salute your dedicated service and I thank you for the freedom I and my family enjoy today. In fact, if one was to witness the state of affairs today in those former communist/fascist/socialist countries, one would appreciate everything you and the thousands have stood ground for back then during the Cold War. I hope that one day, our grandchildren will thank the many who have sacrificed and are still doing so in this new era of ISM we call TerrorISM today.

You have defeated the ISMs of yesterday, it is up to the brave of today to defeat TerrorISM and shape tomorrow’s future. Furthermore, in the balance of response to the debate, I would like to end by stating that I however, did not appreciate J.T. Quitugua’s argument about green card status, etc. from the yesteryears, like trying to get into Guam, etc. The American citizens of the CNMI today, especially the forefathers of our new territory, have also fought long and hard to achieve our democratic/free enterprise lifestyle and freedom. Therein lies the fact that we should all work together to not only enjoy it, but to figure out and come up with solutions to fix the issues that we are now facing. It is tough, but true leadership is inherently present when the challenge is imposed upon those with conviction.

Lawrence F. Camacho
Assistant Professor of Military Science and Leadership Georgia Institute of Technology