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Too long and too painful
"Why of course the people don't want war ... But after all it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship ...Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger."
WRITTEN BY" Hermann Goering, Nazi leader, at the Nuremberg Trials after World War II"
WRITTEN BY" Hermann Goering, Nazi leader, at the Nuremberg Trials after World War II"
My daughter, Mariela, in the US Army, was attacked, December 18th. in Kuwait. She was changing a tire in her truck with three othersoldiers.
A civilian vehicle from Kuwait run over them on purpose, and runaway.
Two soldiers died, my daughter was transported to an hospital in Kuwait, then in Germany, to Landstuhl medical Center, and is presently in coma since December 18th., in Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC., The last soldier has broken legs and lost all his skin in the back, and is in a special hospital in Texas.
The following report I wrote, is the experience we had, flying to
Germany, the Christmas day, and back to Washington. We did learn something about this horrible war, that nobody, in the US want to know or to acknowledge.
As a parent, I would like other parents to know this, before they
even consider to send their kids to this place. But, how do let
other people know this, when your own government denounce pacifists
as anti-patriotic ?
I honestly think, that every American citizen, should have the guts
to read this.
Best regards,
Emile Meylan
12520 Morgan Territory road
livermore, CA 94551
This is a longer version of our trip report. There is not much more
to say about Mariela, but more about how I dealt with this
situation. I am not a writer, what you will read is painful, because
it was very painful for me to write it.
Just before Christmas, Mariela was transported from Kuwait to
Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany. Christmas day, Lisette, Jason
(her husband) and I flew to Germany. We saw her there for the first
time. It was not a pretty picture. A matter of fact, I thought we
were in the wrong room. Mariela was double her normal size. The
swelling due to the accident and IV feeding made her look like an
over-inflated balloon. She also had tubes and pipes all over her
head, neck, body.... After a few minutes, my brain and eyes started
to ignore all the instruments and tubes and I had to realize, even
if I didn't like it, that this was my little girl in this bed.
Because of her very serious injury, the doctors decided to transport
her ASAP to the US. December 26th Mariela was scheduled to be
transferred to the Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC.
She was transported via Air Evac in a flying hospital (C141) from
Germany to Washington DC. We were invited to fly with her. This was
a new experience for us. Not the most beautiful experience.
Mariela was in this plane together with fifty kids (18-25 years) all
injured from Iraq. Legs missing, arm, hands, fingers... some like
Mariela, non-responsive. It was a nightmare, and this is the true
side of this war, even if nobody wants to see it.
We arrived in Washington DC at 2AM. I was talking to one of the
injured soldiers sitting next to me in the plane, and I told him how
strange it seemed to me that they landed this plane at 2AM. He told
me that he had already been to Iraq four times and that this was the
second time he had been Air Evacuated for injury, and that he knew
the government of our country didn't want it's citizens to see these
injured soldiers. I was pretty upset by such a statement.
Where is George Bush with his stupid smile, where is his Vice-
President, their patriotism, and their big music? They were
definitely not here!
Later, I was checking this statement with other people, and was
told, the US Air Force has to fly at night because they should not
interfere with commercial air traffic. I buy this, but in the US,
most of the citizen have 60 TV channels, and each of this channels
show the same image of George Bush getting busy to be the man of the
year, and you can see the same picture every 30 min.
But none of these channels show our kids coming back form the war in
pieces.
Why is that?
Also, the pilot made a horrible statement. "I do this very same trip to Germany/Washington DC, three times every week."
Two big ambulances bring this soldiers to the hospital.
Walter Reed Medical Center is huge. Of course, there are more
injured, more trauma, more ... and less legs and arms. This is a
very unusual site for us, coming from Switzerland, a country which
has not been touched by war in 150 years.
One evening, in the hotel, I went to the bar downstairs for a
beer. Next to me was a man about 70 years old. A veteran, typical
clothing, black jacket with medals all over, and a military hat. He
asked me if I was a soldier. I said " No, my name is Emile and I am
a father and my daughter was injured in the war and is in this
hospital". He said:
" Thank you, Simon" and he kissed me. For him there is no doubt, a
guy with a French accent can only be called "Simon". He says: "I
have been to Vietnam, and I lost half of my back. I am here, because
my son just came back from Iraq and lost both legs. I am so proud of
my son and your daughter, Simon, I want to buy you a beer !"
I just realized that I could never talk to this man, about my
hostility toward this government and this war. The last thing this
guy wants to hear, is that he and his son did all this for nothing.
"Simon, my son and your daughter did the most beautiful thing in
this world, and this is why we are in such a great country ! " he
said and kissed me again.
That night I went back to our room pretty confused. I didn't know
anymore what to think. This guy is somehow right, Mariela was happy
in the US Army. She had a job, a responsibility. The Army gave her a
reason to live, to do something for other people and to feel
needed. The US Army gave Mariela something that, we, her parents,
did not accomplish. Whatever happens in the future, I will always
remember the US Army has been good to Mariela.
Lisette was sleeping, the TV was still on. I switched the TV off and
went to the window to close the curtains. Looking trough the window,
I saw two big ambulances parked in front of the hospital. They are
here on time. Like a clock. Right on time. And three times a week,
they bring 30 - 50 kids or what is left of them.
I closed the curtains and went to the bathroom. I needed to throw
up.
emile
A civilian vehicle from Kuwait run over them on purpose, and runaway.
Two soldiers died, my daughter was transported to an hospital in Kuwait, then in Germany, to Landstuhl medical Center, and is presently in coma since December 18th., in Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC., The last soldier has broken legs and lost all his skin in the back, and is in a special hospital in Texas.
The following report I wrote, is the experience we had, flying to
Germany, the Christmas day, and back to Washington. We did learn something about this horrible war, that nobody, in the US want to know or to acknowledge.
As a parent, I would like other parents to know this, before they
even consider to send their kids to this place. But, how do let
other people know this, when your own government denounce pacifists
as anti-patriotic ?
I honestly think, that every American citizen, should have the guts
to read this.
Best regards,
Emile Meylan
12520 Morgan Territory road
livermore, CA 94551
This is a longer version of our trip report. There is not much more
to say about Mariela, but more about how I dealt with this
situation. I am not a writer, what you will read is painful, because
it was very painful for me to write it.
Just before Christmas, Mariela was transported from Kuwait to
Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany. Christmas day, Lisette, Jason
(her husband) and I flew to Germany. We saw her there for the first
time. It was not a pretty picture. A matter of fact, I thought we
were in the wrong room. Mariela was double her normal size. The
swelling due to the accident and IV feeding made her look like an
over-inflated balloon. She also had tubes and pipes all over her
head, neck, body.... After a few minutes, my brain and eyes started
to ignore all the instruments and tubes and I had to realize, even
if I didn't like it, that this was my little girl in this bed.
Because of her very serious injury, the doctors decided to transport
her ASAP to the US. December 26th Mariela was scheduled to be
transferred to the Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC.
She was transported via Air Evac in a flying hospital (C141) from
Germany to Washington DC. We were invited to fly with her. This was
a new experience for us. Not the most beautiful experience.
Mariela was in this plane together with fifty kids (18-25 years) all
injured from Iraq. Legs missing, arm, hands, fingers... some like
Mariela, non-responsive. It was a nightmare, and this is the true
side of this war, even if nobody wants to see it.
We arrived in Washington DC at 2AM. I was talking to one of the
injured soldiers sitting next to me in the plane, and I told him how
strange it seemed to me that they landed this plane at 2AM. He told
me that he had already been to Iraq four times and that this was the
second time he had been Air Evacuated for injury, and that he knew
the government of our country didn't want it's citizens to see these
injured soldiers. I was pretty upset by such a statement.
Where is George Bush with his stupid smile, where is his Vice-
President, their patriotism, and their big music? They were
definitely not here!
Later, I was checking this statement with other people, and was
told, the US Air Force has to fly at night because they should not
interfere with commercial air traffic. I buy this, but in the US,
most of the citizen have 60 TV channels, and each of this channels
show the same image of George Bush getting busy to be the man of the
year, and you can see the same picture every 30 min.
But none of these channels show our kids coming back form the war in
pieces.
Why is that?
Also, the pilot made a horrible statement. "I do this very same trip to Germany/Washington DC, three times every week."
Two big ambulances bring this soldiers to the hospital.
Walter Reed Medical Center is huge. Of course, there are more
injured, more trauma, more ... and less legs and arms. This is a
very unusual site for us, coming from Switzerland, a country which
has not been touched by war in 150 years.
One evening, in the hotel, I went to the bar downstairs for a
beer. Next to me was a man about 70 years old. A veteran, typical
clothing, black jacket with medals all over, and a military hat. He
asked me if I was a soldier. I said " No, my name is Emile and I am
a father and my daughter was injured in the war and is in this
hospital". He said:
" Thank you, Simon" and he kissed me. For him there is no doubt, a
guy with a French accent can only be called "Simon". He says: "I
have been to Vietnam, and I lost half of my back. I am here, because
my son just came back from Iraq and lost both legs. I am so proud of
my son and your daughter, Simon, I want to buy you a beer !"
I just realized that I could never talk to this man, about my
hostility toward this government and this war. The last thing this
guy wants to hear, is that he and his son did all this for nothing.
"Simon, my son and your daughter did the most beautiful thing in
this world, and this is why we are in such a great country ! " he
said and kissed me again.
That night I went back to our room pretty confused. I didn't know
anymore what to think. This guy is somehow right, Mariela was happy
in the US Army. She had a job, a responsibility. The Army gave her a
reason to live, to do something for other people and to feel
needed. The US Army gave Mariela something that, we, her parents,
did not accomplish. Whatever happens in the future, I will always
remember the US Army has been good to Mariela.
Lisette was sleeping, the TV was still on. I switched the TV off and
went to the window to close the curtains. Looking trough the window,
I saw two big ambulances parked in front of the hospital. They are
here on time. Like a clock. Right on time. And three times a week,
they bring 30 - 50 kids or what is left of them.
I closed the curtains and went to the bathroom. I needed to throw
up.
emile
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Our government is deliberately hiding the reality of this horrible war behind a suffocating matrix of lies. There is nothing patriotic about getting killed for a corporatist cause that lines their privileged pockets with blood money.
Time to take action and starve the military beast's body shredders of the young souls it wants to grind up.
Support the troops by bringing them home!
Time to take action and starve the military beast's body shredders of the young souls it wants to grind up.
Support the troops by bringing them home!
bush and his team has been busy lying to the people and congress since his early days of his first term. at least in other wars and conflicts the government has tried to do a little to help the wounded and acnoledge the dead, the bushy boys are hiding the dead from the public and ignoring the wounded, cutting the funding to the v.a. when incraesing the numbers of mentally and physically wounded is criminal, if they can't be honest with their own people how can the rest of the world trust them?
My husband and I had the privilege of meeting Emile and Lisette and spending much time with them at Walter Reed Army Hospital. Unfortunately, our meeting was due to the horrible and unbearably sad circumstances described by Emile—they with their beautiful Mariela, we with our new son-in-law, Andy. We formed quick and strong bonds in our desperate attempts to understand the medical reality of their nearly identical health conditions, and to comprehend how and why our children lie where they do. Andy served his 15 months in Iraq, and although not injured there, became deathly ill 4 months later after a “routine” surgery. Two beautiful, brilliant, gonna-live-forever young people in their early 20’s—both proudly fulfilling their military duty—both fighting W’s wars. Both with limitless possibilities in their futures—both unconscious, both bloated to twice their size, both with multi-organ failure, both comatose, nonresponsive, vegetative.
What is happening in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait, are just three examples of the drive for power over the ability for rational critical thinking and problem solving. And after all of this misery, we still won’t lift a finger to meet with North Korea, while citizens of Iran also hold their breath to see if they become the latest pawns in this global game of “chicken.”
Next time you hear the latest “casualty” figures: “We’re just over 1400 now…” Re-calculate that: The real casualties are about a dozen loved ones for every one of the 1400 dead. Add another dozen for each one of the thousands of dead Iraquis. Add another dozen for each soldier whose death is not included in that statistic—it looks better to only count the ones that die “in the field.” Add another dozen for the loved ones who will try to help heal the thousands of broken bodies and/or minds—and there’s little “casual” about any of it.
Last Sunday during Superbowl, one of the most touted commercials showed healthy, proud, smiling soldiers (none of whom have yet experienced the ugliness of OIF or OEF) walking with their gear through crowds of clapping, adoring civilians. “What a great tribute to our soldiers!” “What a moving, emotional acknowledgment of our gratitude for our men and women in uniform!” I too am proud of what our soldiers are capable of, and of the good they have worked hard to accomplish, but I could NOT watch the commercial without pangs of anger, grief and envy. If ONLY Andy or Mariela could be among those smiling faces. If ONLY Andy could hold Elice in his arms. I sardonically created my own commercial—where we were actually allowed to see the hundreds of flag-draped coffins of dead American soldiers, as well as those of thousands of Iraquis, being taken through the crowds. The stars of my commercial were comatose soldiers, and the faces moving through the crowds belonged to men, women, and children with gaping holes in their paralyzed or limbless bodies. And the cheering crowds this time consisted of bush, cheney, rumsfield, and rice. THAT would be Reality TV.
Walter Reed’s people have been wonderful to all of us. It is truly a different medical environment because, I believe, there is a deep connection between the staff, their patients, and even the visitors, that is not present in civilian institutions—Everyone understands each other’s situations, because every day they experience the sacrifices and freedoms that have been lost in the name of freedom. Imagine how much greater the world could be if only all of this respect, understanding, devotion, and genius could be used for the advancement, rather than the repair of our species.
Lisette and Emile contemplate what the future holds for Mariela, Jason, and their beautiful, year-old child. We watch our daughter, Elice, as she bravely nurses her husband through all of their “firsts” in their marriage: their ‘st Wedding Anniversary, 1st Christmas, 1st New Year, his 25th birthday, and tomorrow, 1st Valentine’s Day. Our hearts break for what might have been, and await with tentative hope what might be. After about 2 months of repeated surgeries, treatments, and near-death experiences, Andy has begun to show progress in emerging from the vegetative state. Last week provided my daughter with her first thread of hope that he might become Andy again, but they both have much and difficult work ahead. As Mariela’s injuries occurred about two weeks after Andy’s, her progress has seemed to mimic his, at a two week’s lag. We can all only hope that they continue to improve, and to wish, probably foolishly, that no other parents have to experience this same hell.
--bgb, santa fe, nm
What is happening in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait, are just three examples of the drive for power over the ability for rational critical thinking and problem solving. And after all of this misery, we still won’t lift a finger to meet with North Korea, while citizens of Iran also hold their breath to see if they become the latest pawns in this global game of “chicken.”
Next time you hear the latest “casualty” figures: “We’re just over 1400 now…” Re-calculate that: The real casualties are about a dozen loved ones for every one of the 1400 dead. Add another dozen for each one of the thousands of dead Iraquis. Add another dozen for each soldier whose death is not included in that statistic—it looks better to only count the ones that die “in the field.” Add another dozen for the loved ones who will try to help heal the thousands of broken bodies and/or minds—and there’s little “casual” about any of it.
Last Sunday during Superbowl, one of the most touted commercials showed healthy, proud, smiling soldiers (none of whom have yet experienced the ugliness of OIF or OEF) walking with their gear through crowds of clapping, adoring civilians. “What a great tribute to our soldiers!” “What a moving, emotional acknowledgment of our gratitude for our men and women in uniform!” I too am proud of what our soldiers are capable of, and of the good they have worked hard to accomplish, but I could NOT watch the commercial without pangs of anger, grief and envy. If ONLY Andy or Mariela could be among those smiling faces. If ONLY Andy could hold Elice in his arms. I sardonically created my own commercial—where we were actually allowed to see the hundreds of flag-draped coffins of dead American soldiers, as well as those of thousands of Iraquis, being taken through the crowds. The stars of my commercial were comatose soldiers, and the faces moving through the crowds belonged to men, women, and children with gaping holes in their paralyzed or limbless bodies. And the cheering crowds this time consisted of bush, cheney, rumsfield, and rice. THAT would be Reality TV.
Walter Reed’s people have been wonderful to all of us. It is truly a different medical environment because, I believe, there is a deep connection between the staff, their patients, and even the visitors, that is not present in civilian institutions—Everyone understands each other’s situations, because every day they experience the sacrifices and freedoms that have been lost in the name of freedom. Imagine how much greater the world could be if only all of this respect, understanding, devotion, and genius could be used for the advancement, rather than the repair of our species.
Lisette and Emile contemplate what the future holds for Mariela, Jason, and their beautiful, year-old child. We watch our daughter, Elice, as she bravely nurses her husband through all of their “firsts” in their marriage: their ‘st Wedding Anniversary, 1st Christmas, 1st New Year, his 25th birthday, and tomorrow, 1st Valentine’s Day. Our hearts break for what might have been, and await with tentative hope what might be. After about 2 months of repeated surgeries, treatments, and near-death experiences, Andy has begun to show progress in emerging from the vegetative state. Last week provided my daughter with her first thread of hope that he might become Andy again, but they both have much and difficult work ahead. As Mariela’s injuries occurred about two weeks after Andy’s, her progress has seemed to mimic his, at a two week’s lag. We can all only hope that they continue to improve, and to wish, probably foolishly, that no other parents have to experience this same hell.
--bgb, santa fe, nm
While I am deeply sorry to hear Emile's daughter was/is injured, I was angered to read "when you send your kids". Apparently VOLUNTEER military has been forgotten. Go into the service - get your free training, your job experience, free travel, and the rock-solid basis for a career outside the military. At some point, you have to pay for that. The disgusting comments, over and over, "without arms, legs" etc., were put in for emphasis by the author. Do you think Viet Nam vets, Korean vets, WW2 vets had it so much easier that all we care about now is how badly THESE soldiers have it? Not minimizing the injuries from THIS conflict, but don't continue your bashing this war by indicating these injuries are any different that any suffered in previous conflicts. While I am firmly against the way Bush is fighting (or not) this war, the fact remains we ARE fighting it. Fight it here, or fight it there. The Israeli's understand the level of hatred by these terrorists - and Americans have no clue how deep that hatred is. Appeasement is not an option. Until you understand this, you will never understand why this battle is necessary, and destined to happen. Whether under Clinton, Bush - or the next person to sit in that office making painful decisions to protect America and our lives.
I am truly sorry your daughter was injured. I visit PAO VA many times and speak to other young men and women who were injured. I've spoken to their wives as well. They are strong and brave, and unlike the "cut-and-run when it gets hard" - those wives stand by their men, support them, and understand they are married to exceptional people. The same for the husbands of women injured as well, not to mention their families.
I hope that you hold your anti-war tongue when you are there. It's bad enough that our soldiers hear this garbage on CNN - which is all they show - and then take to the streets to do the job they signed up to do. Hearing this from your own parent would be unbearable. So - suck it up and be her loving parent, not an anti-war activist at her bedside.
If I see you at PAO VA - I will shake your hand, offer my sincerest congratulations for the service, and sacrifice, your daughter (like myself) has made to our military, and wish you the best for a speedy and complete recovery, and I will continue to pray for you and her, along with the others, every single night.
I am truly sorry your daughter was injured. I visit PAO VA many times and speak to other young men and women who were injured. I've spoken to their wives as well. They are strong and brave, and unlike the "cut-and-run when it gets hard" - those wives stand by their men, support them, and understand they are married to exceptional people. The same for the husbands of women injured as well, not to mention their families.
I hope that you hold your anti-war tongue when you are there. It's bad enough that our soldiers hear this garbage on CNN - which is all they show - and then take to the streets to do the job they signed up to do. Hearing this from your own parent would be unbearable. So - suck it up and be her loving parent, not an anti-war activist at her bedside.
If I see you at PAO VA - I will shake your hand, offer my sincerest congratulations for the service, and sacrifice, your daughter (like myself) has made to our military, and wish you the best for a speedy and complete recovery, and I will continue to pray for you and her, along with the others, every single night.
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