My experience as an American returning from war has been a good one

Dear Editor,

America is not a perfect country, but if you have to go to war and if you get injured, you want to go with America because America takes care of its veterans. I can’t speak for other veterans or of their war experiences, but my own experience after returning from the war has been a good one.

Long before I went to the war, I was confident that if I got injured or died on the battlefield, my family would always be taken care of. After being injured, I’m proud to say that the government and military officials have taken good care of me and my family.

Upon returning from combat, I wanted to give my wife a present since I had been away from home for over a year. I told her to choose anything for her present; so she chose for us to go to Hawaii. If you have never been to Hawaii, I have to tell you that it’s the closest thing on earth to paradise. We stayed at a beautiful military hotel on the beach, and for serving in Iraq, we were given many special treatments.

I remembered telling my wife that even though serving in Iraq felt liked being in hell, I was willing to go back to Iraq just to be in Hawaii. Even though the war was painstakingly difficult, a trip to Hawaii was worth it. Iraq was hell but Hawaii was heaven. To go from a place where you see death, dying and destruction, to a place of serenity, it was the best thing to ever happen to me.

After retiring from the military because of injuries sustained in combat, my family was given many benefits; one of those benefits were my five children’s college education would be paid ($200,000 US) for by the government. I can’t think of many countries that have done this for their veterans. Because of these benefits and others and a grateful heart, I have encouraged all of my children to serve in the military for at least four years.

When it comes to taking care of its veterans, I believe that America is the best country in the world. For example, in the U.S. Armed Forces, we don’t leave anyone behind. It’s one of the basic pillars of what the Army calls the Warrior Ethos: “I will never leave a fallen comrade.”

Editor, to give you a practical example of the Warrior Ethos being carried out by the military and to prove to you that America is the greatest government when it comes to taking care of soldiers, I want to share with you a true story that happened.

During the Vietnam War, an American plane was shot down, and an American soldier was left stranded for 22 days in the jungle and in enemy territory. To rescue one man, it took 100 US planes and a couple hundred military personnel. But the planes sent to rescue him came under fire, and the US military responded by pulverizing the Vietnamese. The soldier evaded the enemy and was successfully rescued by US forces.

Editor, how many governments are willing to risk over 200 hundred lives to rescue one man? This is one of the reasons why I said that if you have to go to war you want to go with America and that’s why I was willing to go. I’ll tell you that the American government isn’t flawless, but it’s the best when it comes to taking care of its people.

Now I want to make a suggestion to the business leaders, opposition politicians and government of Guyana, if you want your people to serve you, work hard, fight and even die for you learn from the Americans and take care of your people. Take care of your people and they’ll take care of you. Vice versa if you don’t take care of your people they wouldn’t take care of you.

Yours faithfully,

Anthony Pantlitz