Snow Plow News Editorial comments from our editor.

November 2006

“GOOD NEIGHBORS DON’T BUILD WALLS”
The Tijuana / Juarez Wall

    During my time spent in the U.S. Army, I was sent to Berlin, Germany. I was there for eight months. I was with a Combat Engineer Company. We were quartered in an old S.S. barracks. I spent no time being a guard on our side of the “Wall”. I never broke one brick loose from that “Wall”. I don’t even think I ever touched it. Later the Army thought that I was more needed in Viet Nam as part of the post “Tet” invasion forces.
    While in Berlin, I did see the “Wall” on an almost daily basis. I did visit “Wall” related museums. I did travel into East Berlin. I did see the poverty and despair on the East German side. I like most Americans, had a deep hatred of that “Wall” and the lack of freedom it represented.
    Years later, the Pentagon sent me a “letter of commendation” for my part in tearing down the “Berlin Wall” and putting an end to the “Cold War”. They told me I was entitled to medals for my part in the occupying force in East Germany, all I had to do is to submit a letter in triplicate accompimed by my “DD214” form. Needles to say , I never did. I know my time in service had none or very little to do with either goal, but it looked nice, so I hung it in my office. I remember how happy America and the World was when the World tore that “Wall” down. I am still waiting on a letter telling me why I was in Viet Nam.
    Here it is almost 40 years later, and our government wants to build a “Wall” (they say fence, but I think it will be closer to a “Wall”). The cost of this “Wall” will be billions of dollars, and untold human suffering. This “Wall” will extend from Tijuana to Juarez . They say it is needed to protect our jobs and our economy. Who will our government blame their short comings on, after they build a “Wall”?

    What our we going to name our “Berlin Wall”?

    Writing this letter will do far more to tear down the U.S. Wall than my stay in Berlin did to tear down that “Wall”. Who will send me a commendation recognizing my part in destroying the “U.S. Wall”?

    Why don’t we spend the money helping our neighbors to the South in creating jobs and improving their economy. Why not do something positive, instead of building another “Wall”? Why not reduce the need to run away to “America” to be free from hunger and despair? After all, there is hunger and despair in America. We just do not show it on television commercials and on billboards. It is America’s dirty little secret. There are not many families in America, who’s ancestors did not migrate to America, in hope of food and a better life. Even native American ancestors crossed the land bridge in hope of food and a better life.

I think that the world might have enough Walls already.

Written by:
Tom Edgman
Resident of Sierra City, CA.
Veteran of both the Berlin and Viet Nam campaigns
Berlin, Germany 1968
Viet Nam 1968 / 1970

May 12, 2006

    Yesterday Keri posted (on our web site) some photos that I had taken of the Viet Nam Memorial in Sacramento. On that day, I remember seeing three returnees sitting on a bench trying to inject their way home. I thought about how few of us actually made it back to real homes and real families.
    Today is a week before my 58^th birthday. (May 19^th) Ten days later it will be Memorial Day.
    My Father’s family came to America in 1730. My family fought in Revolutionary War, the Civil War, (lost that one) and almost every war since then. I went to Viet Nam in late 68 and returned in February 1970. Not a day goes by that I do not remember the 58,479 souls, we left behind, and countless thousands of Viet Nam souls that were lost there. I am not sure why we fought that war. My country said “go” – so I went.
    A few years ago the Traveling Viet Nam Wall was in Carson City, Nevada. That is about 80 miles from were I was living. I drove there once, and could not make myself go see it. I drove myself there a second time, and yet a third time. Finally on the forth trip, I managed to go see it. I don’t know how longed I stayed, but it was dark when I left.
    It was the most powerful experience of my life. I can not even begin to describe it, for I do not even understand the emotions I was feeling. I remember leaning my head against it and crying. I remember seeing people coming and leaving flowers, letters, metals, and other offerings. I remember hearing that no one talked, I could almost hear the people’s tears hitting the ground, but no one talked.
    America can send troops to war for any reason, some good, and some bad. You might agree or disagree with the reason. However the individual soldier only fights for you, your family, their safety, and his home. I can only hope that we never again not give an American fighting man a home to come home to.
    Remember to welcome home the American fighting man, and thank them all for all they gave up for you.

Tom Edgman
Sergeant
572^nd Light Equipment Company
Republic of Viet Nam
1968 / 1970
Editor: Snow Plow News

**To see the new content and the pictures that Tom has mentioned please click this link: Virtual Wall

I can only speak for the war I fought. We have a Wall, with 58,000 names of those who died in a little country called Viet Nam. We have tens of thousand of Veterans, who are lost and sleeping in the streets. We have tens of thousands of lost Veterans in our prisons. We have untold numbers in the jungles of South East Asia, the jungles of South America, and deep in the woods of our mountains. These are men who lost their way, their families, their processions, and perhaps their souls. These are men who could not come home, because America did not want them. These are men that could not come home, because the war had changed them.

These are the men that I say today we should honor. These are the men that, I say we should thank. These are the men that I say we should say “Please come home, we love you.”

So today, we will stick paper flags at the graves of the buried in Veteran fields. We will show the President at the Tomb of the Unknown on T.V. We will eat hot dogs and hamburgers in the park; maybe go to a baseball game. This is how America says “Thanks.”

But what will America do for those who gave their all for America? Will we visit a Vet in prison, will we tell a homeless person “Thank you, welcome home.” No we say “pass the mustard, please.”

I fight every single day to come home. I hate it that I can not manage to show my wife and family, that I love them. I cry every time I hear “Taps”. I hate it that I can not loose this sorrow in my heart. I hate that a blood stain on the road transports my spirit and my mind to a small, hot, damp country on the other side of the world. I hate it that I can’t go to the park and say “Pass the mustard, please”.

My Sincere Sympathy & Emense Gratitude For All Men Of War, Thank You One And All!