Every writer worth his ink knows a good idea when he copies it. And, these days, EVERYONE is copying David Letterman's popular Top Ten list. I don't want the bandwagon to leave me behind, so I'll see Dave's ten, and raise him one...
11. T Sgt John Healy
10. Cpl Jeff Afflerbach USMC
9. L Cpl Kevin Fretz USMC
8. L Cpl Frank Skojka Jr. USMC
7. L Cpl Russell J. Lentz USMC
6. L Cpl Brian Aikey USMC
5. Spc Grant Horn III
4. PFC Samuel Lynch USMC
3. Cpl Ryan Wagner USMC
2. Chaplain Nicholas Cucchiaro
1. Maj Kennet Jones
Who are these guys? Most of us don't recognize the names, although the alphabet soup before and after may be a giveaway. Let me introduce our Hometown Heroes; the sons, fathers, brothers, and husbands of local families, who are risking their lives in the Middle East as members of our armed forces.
We are all grateful that, so far, these names are read here, not as an epitaph on Nightline . They didn't ask if President Bush was right. They didn't ask what the Gallop Poll showed. They voluntarily gave up hot showers, cold beer, real food, and a warm bed for certain hardship, and uncertain survival. We hear about the unusual soldiers, like Pat Tillman, who walked away from a multi-million dollar professional football contract to become an Army Ranger. When he died in Afghanistan, it was news.
But we have Pat Tillmans around here, too. No, they aren't big-time athletes, or Hollywood celebrities, or the sons of politicians. They are eleven men who left their families, their friends, and the comforts we take for granted to fight for their country.
Now they horde Visine to wash the sand out of their eyes. A Tastykake is a treat. Bathing is a body-wipe with a wetnap. Every day brings the fear that the next roadside bomb, or sniper behind a building, will be aimed at them. And back home, every day brings the fear of that dreaded phone call from the Pentagon, "Mrs. ___, I regret to inform you....".
There are many parallels between our involvements in Iraq and Vietnam, both in terms of how we got in, and how we can't seem to get out. But the biggest difference is that most of the combatants in Vietnam were drafted. They were concerned with staying alive and coming home. Soldiers didn't see themselves as heroes, but helpless pawns. Families took little pride in having their men dragged off to combat on the far side of the world.
Not so today. All of our personnel in Iraq are volunteers. Whether or not you agree with the war, you have to respect and admire the men and women who are over there. For whatever personal reasons, they joined the military. To pay for an education. Opportunity to travel outside Upper Bucks County. Family tradition. A ready-made job. Patriotism.
And they left behind families in Quakertown and Sellersville and Milford and Richland. Families who are proud of their men, although some of those men were still referred to as boys not too long ago.
Frank Skojka wanted to be a Marine since the 9 th grade, when he saw an advertisement on TV, and actually joined as a senior in high school. He celebrated his 19 th and 20 th birthdays in Iraq, constructing metal bridges for vehicles, and building personal bridges with Iraqis. His family's favorite picture shows him shaking hands with a little boy. After Frank's first tour, he was awarded a commendation from the Corps for his outstanding work.
Nineteen year old Brian Aikey is a 2002 Quakertown HS grad who became interested in the Marines at age 15. His activities ran the gamut from the marching band to bodybuilding to creating the school district's first website. Brian is with the 22 nd Marine Expeditionary Force in Afghanistan. His subscription to Arnold Schwarzenagger muscle magazines doesn't deliver over there.
Russ Lentz was on the football team at Quakertown HS, but somehow went astray and became a Dallas Cowboys fan. In his community of Milford Township he was a fireman, and is now a fireteam leader of eight Marines. His hobbies of horseback riding, hunting, fishing, and television wrestling are temporarily on hold.
Fast cars, both on the street and in video games, are Kevin Fretz's passion. He is only 20, so hopefully there will be plenty of time for both, someday. His family says that he really misses Philly cheesesteaks, and he takes great comfort in knowing that people back home are praying for him.
Ground Radio Communications Craftsman John Healy, age 41, is stationed in Mosul, Iraq. Instead of running in triathalons, he is keeping Humvees and power generators running. He probably won't be joining his family in Stone Harbor this summer, or watching his Eagles.
Jeff Afflerbach just bought a new home for his wife, stepdaughter, and two cats. He likes skiing and snowboarding, but the weather report for Iraq isn't promising. Jeff is fluent in Arabic, which makes you wonder where he might be if he had just majored in Hawaiian.
Grant Horn III enlisted in the army right after graduation from QCHS in 2000. He was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, for more than three years before being sent to Iraq in March.
Ryan Wagner of Sellersville was called back for a second tour of duty last December. Few of us ever did a first.
If you know the families of these men, take a moment to express your support. If you don't, maybe one extra prayer will make the difference. Our Hometown Heroes redefine "sacrifice", and all of the oil in Iraq isn't worth one of them.