An American Lion

Of course it’s a good idea to surge more troops into Afghanistan and keep fighting an endless war. We have no shortage of men and women who are ready to go seven, eight, nine times if necessary, right?

It was an emotional night for a local hero who will soon serve his seventh tour of duty.

Friends and family hosted a farewell party for Staff Sergeant Gary Hartman Saturday night.

Hartman will leave for Afghanistan at the beginning of December.

Staff Sergeant Hartman said he will certainly miss his family during the upcoming holiday season.

“You’ve just got to focus on the task at hand. Obviously it stinks a little bit, that you know it’s the holiday time, you’re gonna be away from family, but I enjoy serving and if I didn’t enjoy serving, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing.”

Staff Sergeant Hartman expects to spend the next six months in Afghanistan.

SSG Hartman is likely already in Afghanistan, since this is an older news item, but I thought it was worth putting up. Where are we getting such men and women? Where do we find people who are willing to re-enlist and stay in the military, despite the state of permanent war we find ourselves in due to the fact that the civilian leadership of this country prefers to politicize every single aspect of that part of our foreign policy? Be you Democrat or Republican, nothing is off the table now. It is indecent to politicize war, but that’s exactly what both parties are happy to do, year in, year out.

If you break the military, you cannot be surprised when men and women like SSG Hartman say that enough is enough. They are strong, brave, capable people but they should not have to shoulder the burden and go overseas seven times. Others need to step up. And the civilian leadership needs to be told that there are other options out there and that politics should not be the first consideration.