He knew I was running for the US Congress when he looked me in the eye
and made his plea, right before we walked into the ceremony that marked
his son's death five years ago. But he didn't know that our son is
serving in Iraq right now. My husband and I understand his very real
fear that his son's death will have been meaningless.
The town came together to dedicate a statue and plaque to his son
- the first American soldier killed in Afghanistan after the September
11th attacks. He spoke of his son through his tears. The professional
and patriotic soldier who had told his young wife he might not return
from that fatal mission. Yet, while mortally wounded, he laid down
suppressing fire that saved the lives of the soldiers in his charge.
I'm the Democratic challenger so I had to watch the Republican incumbent,
John
Carter, speak at this dead soldier's ceremony even though he played
no part in securing the honor. Carter's 62 years old yet he never
served in the Army, and neither has anyone in his family.
My husband served for 23 years in the Army and listened to Carter
in stunned silence. Carter awkwardly shuffled through some papers he'd just been handed in an attempt to learn the bios of the two men he'd been tasked to
introduce, a full-bird Colonel and a two-star General - both highly
decorated combat veterans. Carter stumbled then quickly gave up and
handed it off to the "Special Ops" Colonel.
The Colonel felt compelled to correct Carter and point out that he
- along with the dead soldier and the General - served in the Special
Forces. The Colonel firmly but gently explained the difference between
Special Ops and Special Forces to the incumbent Congressman. Carter
later tried to pass off his gaffe with a joke. Yes, a joke.
Our boy is deployed to Iraq with the 4th Infantry Division from Fort
Hood, Texas, and Carter is his Congressman.
We're very proud of our son's voluntary service to our country, and
there's no doubt in my mind that
Carter
and this Congress could care less about our son and our military.
Carter will continue to get away with it because there is no draft
and only one percent of our country serves in the Armed Forces.
That's why I'm running for Congress.
And
without your help, Carter will surely win re-election to
send
more young men and women to die in vain because he will continue
to rubberstamp more failed policies, and once again lose Afghanistan
to the Taliban and Al Qaida.
How long can you let this go on?
# # #
Mary Beth
Harrell
is the Democratic Congressional Nominee in District 31 - home to Fort
Hood. Harrell, a Killeen attorney and former city prosecutor, is married
to a retired Army warrant officer. They have two sons serving on active
duty - the oldest is in Iraq.