Marine killed in Iraq 'accepted the risk,' GOP convention speaker says

Photo: Maj. Megan McClung. Credit: Associated Press

IRAQ: Marine killed in Iraq 'accepted the risk,' GOP convention speaker says

Lost amid news coverage of other speeches at Thursday night's finale of the Republican National Convention was a tribute to Marine Maj. Megan McClung, who was killed in December 2006 by a roadside bomb in Ramadi.

McClung, who grew up in Mission Viejo and graduated from the Naval Academy, was a public affairs officer assigned to escort reporters around Anbar province. She was the first female Marine officer killed in combat.

"I tell you about Megan because it is important that we remember the sacrifices that our brave men and women are making every day," retired Marine Lt. Gen. Carol Mutter told the GOP gathering.

McClung was proud to serve her country and "accepted the risk," Mutter said.

The Women Marines Assn. and the McClung family will soon award the first annual Maj. Megan McClung memorial scholarship.

Here's a link to The Times' obituary on Megan McClung.

-- Tony Perry, in San Diego

Accepted the risk? Well they all do because when they make up their minds to serve this country, they know they may be asked to risk their lives. It's part of the deal when they are willing to serve in the military. The problem is, no one ever seems to talk about what else should come with that deal. There is an assumption that no life would ever be risked as a choice made by those who send them instead of necessity. There is also the assumption should something like that ever happen, the people making that careless decision would be held accountable for taking their lives for granted. They have an assumption the rest of this country's population would appreciate their willingness to serve and hold the politicians accountable but none of this happened.

They assume also that if they should become wounded, that everything would be ready to take care of their wounds. After all, that would be what an honorable administration would do when it is decided to send men and women to risk their lives. Again, sadly, this did not happen either.

In the GOP convention, there was a lot of talk about a lot of things but none of it was about what the troops need from the government or what we owe to them. It's a wonder where those in the GOP were who do in fact support the troops and fight for them when they become wounded. There are a lot of them but their voices are too often silenced by the roar of the crowd. All in all, this convention was a disgrace to the men and women who serve this nation. Did this major accept the risk? Yes. The point is, we didn't. We didn't accept the risk to take care of them and that is the biggest disgrace of all.

Senior Chaplain Kathie Costos
Namguardianangel@aol.com
http://www.namguardianangel.org/
http://www.woundedtimes.blogspot.com/
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." - George Washington