James_Key

One of my favorite albums is, What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye. The politically charged lyrics tell a story from the point of view of a Vietnam War veteran, who returns to the country he had been fighting for, and seeing nothing but injustice, suffering and hatred.

With introspective lyrics about political and social concerns and the Vietnam War, the album is arguably Gaye’s finest work. Although the album was released in 1971 the timeless message found in the songs such as, What’s Happening Brother, is still relevant today: War is hell, when will it end, when will people start gettin’ together again...can’t find no work, can’t find no job...money is tighter than it’s ever been. Say man, I just don’t understand what’s going on across this land.

On Good Friday, April 14, 2006, my Army battalion returned to the USA after a year deployment in Baghdad. Upon my return I realized that while some things remained the same, many things had changed, too. And like Marvin Gaye, I wanted to know what’s going on?

While Congress continues to debate the Iraq war, the uncertainty of life goes on for our troops on the battlefield and those who have returned home. Fortunately, unlike many Vietnam veterans, today’s servicemen and women have come home to a hero’s welcome. When my unit returned, hundreds of family members, friends and even strangers greeted us with cheers. Spouses were holding "Welcome Home" signs. Excited children could barely be contained and the military band played a medley of patriotic songs that made us all feel like true American heroes.

A year later, however, the reality of being home has settled in. The crowds have faded away. The signs and the sounds of the band are long gone. Although we received a better welcome than our Vietnam War comrades, many Iraq war soldiers are facing similar hardships of transition back to life in the USA.

Even today, I find myself taking mental flights back to Iraq, thinking of the soldiers I counseled, the wounded troops I visited, and the prayers I directed for the safety of many military operations. And I wonder how those men and women who are still serving in Iraq are holding up? How is their morale?

Finally, I also think about the injured troops at military hospitals, such as Walter Reed in Washington, D.C. What will life be like for these brave young souls? Will they be able to bounce back from injury or be forced to live with a lifelong physical disability?

Make no mistake, we are living in a critical time period and we must demand the best from our political leaders and ourselves. It is true, in the words of Ecclesiastes 3:8, To every thing there is a season...a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.