The "Good Fight?"

As I sit tasting the words in my mouth I can't decide if they're sarcastic or just plain tired of the whole thing.

"What thing is that?"

The "war" in Iraq. I have lost friends to this conflict and it was THE major reason I left the military. I am PROUD to have served in the USN and will always consider myself a Sailor and Boatswains Mate. It was the major force behind my transformation from a long haired slacker who couldn't handle responsibility to a man who people look to and count on.

As I was thinking of this I reflected on an email I sent in 2004 which I have put below:

Just finished reading your article on where you were on Sept.11, 2001. I haven't really talked very much about that day with anybody but close friends and family. See, I am currently serving in the US Navy, just as I was then. I really don't know why I feel the need to respond to your letter, but it just feels right. Before I start let me first express my deepest thanks for taking the time to read this and for the things you do to bring a little healthy entertainment to me and those I care about. But, back to business....

I was serving on board the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis CVN 74. We were stationed in San Diego at North Island Naval Air Station. On Sept. 9 we left to do a 2 or 3 day cruise for what is called FRQ's (fleet replacement squadrons). The pilots are working on their skills and getting qualified to fly on and off a carrier. Plus plane crews are working on their skills to handle aircraft and any emergency. What was my role in this big city called a aircraft carrier? I was and still am a Boatswains Mate. I am one of many BM's who ran crews to paint the ship, bring on ammo, food, fuel, airplane parts, etc, etc. Plus I was one of the leading trainers in teaching young men and women how to stand watches and drive the ship. In addition to that I was what all sailors are. A Fireman. We are all trained to fight fires just like civilians, but we do it at sea. All in all, a pretty full life.

We set out for these exercises and everything was going well. Plans called for us to stay out until the 12th. So of course people who don't live on the ship only brought enough supplies for the few days. 0500 Sept 11, 2001- I usually get up at this time to get to the showers before anybody else. I woke up and all the lights in the berthing(area we sleep in) were on. People were crowded around the one TV and nobody was saying a word. I asked what was going on and was told about tower # 1. I watched the replay and was completely stunned. I kept asking myself ". How could a plane hit the world trade center? It's not like you can't see them." Then the second plane hit. Almost immediately we all knew something was wrong. The next few hours passed in a haze. Plane into the Pentagon, plane down in a field in Penn. America under attack. What was going to happen to us? Our Commanding Officer addressed the crew. I was still so dazed about what was going on, but one thing became very clear to me. America was going to go to war.

All of our email and communication outside the ship was closed down for security. There are a lot of things that happened in the next 5-7 hrs I wish I could share, but because of security and the ongoing conflicts I can't. Suffice to say we became a ship ready for any kind of war anywhere in the world. We usually carried 70-80 types of aircraft. Because of FRQ's we only had on about 20 and these were not qualified to do the things we needed.

Before I go any further let me explain that a carrier without her airwing, crew and gear is home to about 2400 people. With all of the above mentioned, it balloons close to 5000. When loading on planes, gear and crew the majority of it is done pier side and takes 4-7 days. Well, the FRQ's flew off and our regular wing was aboard and ready to go in 24 hrs. Simply amazing!!!! I have never seen any thing like it before or since. I started to feel a real, honest pride in what I was seeing around me.

On the morning of 12 Sept. we were told that we may not be going home for months. We patrolled up and down the west coast flying 24hrs a day and we all held our breath. We became known as Operation Noble Eagle. News slowly started to trickle down to us that terrorism was definitely the cause of these events. I don't think anybody really slept for the first 72 hours. Usually at night a carrier is pretty quite. Not this time. It was amazing that my shipmates and I could keep going with so little sleep and no idea what our future held.

We eventually pulled back in on 29 Sept. No crowds on the pier. No signs welcoming us. Just a very quiet approach with heavy security flanking us. We had been scheduled for deployment in Jan. 2002. We left Nov. 2001 and returned on Aug 2002, but that is a whole different story.

I wish I could find the right words to express the sadness and pain in my heart that still exists to this day. What I have learned since those first dark days is to never take my freedom or anyone else for granted. Everyday is a gift from God and I am proud to be a citizen of America and the world.

As Long as I live I will do my best to make sure nothing like this ever happens again.

Thank you again for your time, Sincerely BM2(SW) Scott Hedlund


I look back now on what I wrote and ask myself some simple questions-

1) What happened to the pride I felt then?

2)How did our country go from fighting "The Good Fight" to wasting lives and our economy in a conflict based on deception and supposition?

And most important of all...

3) When will my fellow warriors come home?