“You have four seconds for the primary chute to open, four seconds for the reserve chute to open, and, if neither one opens, then you can spend the rest of your Airborne career deciding what to do next.” My son was laughing about this line from one of his instructors we as we returned from Fort Benning, where he had just graduated from Airborne School, but we agreed that his mother would probably not be amused. He’s halfway through college, and ROTC, and two years from now will be commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army. His parachute wings are proudly displayed on our wall, and we are almost indecently proud of our son.

The army is being greatly stressed by the conflict in Iraq, and the Wall Street Journal reports much disagreement between the younger officers on the ground in Iraq and their superiors. The majority in Congress has no trouble finding retired General officers to criticize our present policy, and of course Americans are tired of the war. Republican officeholders will desert the President in droves if the situation does not improve before the ’08 elections. A recent conversation with a retired army colonel, still teaching at the War College, leaves little doubt that at least some of the army is in almost open revolt. It’s not a happy time in our armed forces, and that thought was always in my mind as I watched Ben and 300 odd classmates complete their final parachute jump and receive their wings in the next day’s graduation ceremony.

But the soldiers in airborne school, many of whom had already completed at least one tour in Iraq, and who represented all the branches of the Armed Forces, are too junior to have much of an opinion about the conduct of the war. They are where they are for financial reasons, and for the challenge of doing difficult and risky things, and because they love their country. They just want to avoid embarrassing themselves in front of their mates, get their parachute wings, and hopefully be posted somewhere not quite as hot and humid as Fort Benning in late June. At the graduation ceremony, several were second or third generation graduates of jump school.

On this Fourth of July, my prayers are for our country, as we slog through a war that is increasingly unpopular, but one we must win. God grant us the faith and patience to continue doing what is right, and the wisdom to do it better.

My prayers are also with those young men with their new parachute wings. We thank them for their service, and hope they always return safely to their families.

And may God go with Ben, and help him always to do what is right, and to come home safe to his Mother and me.

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