Once again, the United States is at war, this time in Iran. Whether the actions of our nation are warranted is currently being debated. That debate will probably never be resolved to the satisfaction of everyone.
One thing that is not debatable, however, is who bears the cost of this war. It is undeniably and disproportionately America’s youth: those who serve in our armed forces, their families, and their friends. Soldiers and Airmen have already made the ultimate sacrifice in this military action, and more will likely die as Operation Epic Fury continues.
The burden of leading troops in battle is enormous, and commanders who have lost men and women in combat carry those losses with them for the remainder of their lives.
Bill Keyes is one of those commanders.
On April 6, 2006, then Lieutenant Colonel Bill Keyes was on patrol in Iraq with the soldiers of his Stryker Support Battalion. One of those soldiers was a 21 year- old Specialist from a tight-knit northeastern community. Twenty years later, Keyes remembers his soldier. The oldest son from a family that cherished him, his smile was infectious, and the way he looked after his fellow Soldiers revealed a maturity beyond his years. Most of all, Keyes remembers how his selfless commitment to duty made him the pillar of his squad. When going out on patrol, he always volunteered to be the gunner in the lead vehicle, facing the dangers that came with that position instead of leaving it to his fellow squad members.
That day, his truck was struck by an improvised explosive device. In the chaos that followed, Keyes knelt beside his soldier while medics worked to save his life, holding his hand as hope faded away. In those final moments, Keyes whispered reassurances, promising his soldier that he would not be forgotten.
Colonel Keyes has kept that promise.
For 19 years, Keyes has made an annual pilgrimage to his soldier’s grave site, staying in frequent contact with the his family. These visits have become more than just a ritual. Keyes has joined his soldier’s parents and siblings at numerous memorial events and community tributes. In quiet moments, they sit together—sometimes in silence, sometimes in tears—and take whatever comfort they can in their shared grief. Col. Keyes has shed countless tears with this family and other Gold Star families, forging bonds that transcend rank and uniform. Through these gatherings, Keyes has come to see the true cost of war, not just in lives lost, but in hearts broken and lives forever changed.
To hear the current occupant of the White House callously say that lost lives and casualties “often happen in war” is an insult to Col. Keyes and thousands of other military leaders who have been or are entrusted with the lives and safety of American service members.
Military commanders work tirelessly to prevent casualties. In the planning stage of any military operation, the human cost of obtaining an objective is balanced against the importance of the mission. Some missions are never attempted because the human cost outweighs the potential benefit. At the execution stage, all reasonable efforts are taken to protect the physical safety of troops. And in the aftermath of operations, careful review and assessment is undertaken to determine how casualties might be reduced or avoided in the future.
“Shit happens” is an unacceptable response to concerns about the safety of our fighting men and women. They deserve better.
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This article appears in Mar. 26 – Apr. 1.