Veterans getting more of the attention they deserve

By Bob Elliott

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Monday is Veterans Day, and I'm pleased that it's becoming an increasingly important national holiday for most of us.

I've been around for a very long time and lived through a number of emotional periods in our nation's history. For me, the saddest of those times (other than the Great Depression) was during and after the Vietnam War (1961-73). The huge national controversy over our involvement was accompanied by massive civil rights demonstrations on our home front, sometimes degenerating into bloody street conflicts.

It was, I think, the closest our country came to a civil war during the past century. But most unfair and shameful during that time was the way our military veterans were treated on their return home.

Thankfully, we've returned to a time of honoring our military veterans. They deserve it.

Our nation was born on the battlefield and we've remained the land of the free and home of the brave for more than 230 years, thanks to the men and women who, time after time, put themselves in harm's way.

Thankfully, it's again commonplace for people to stop GIs who are total strangers to express appreciation for serving and protecting our country.

In recognition of the upcoming holiday, the following is an abbreviated and grossly oversimplified glimpse of our nation's wars and conflicts. It's based on online information from Pearson Education, Inc. (which has major offices in Iowa City):

l American Revolution (1775-1783) - Begun by 13 colonies rebelling against taxation without representation and other injustices inflicted by Great Britain.

l War of 1812 (1812-1815) - Between new USA and historical Great Britain.

l Mexican War (1846-1848) - Triggered by annexation of Texas and similar plans for California.

l Civil War (1861-1865) - Outgrowth of rivalry between agrarian South and industrial North.

l Indian Wars (colonial era to 1890) - Expansionism led to continuing conflicts with American Indians. Many consider Wounded Knee in 1890 the final major conflict.

l Spanish-American War (1898) - Instigated by defending Cuba's desire for independence, resulting in gaining former Spanish territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam and Philippines.

l World War I (1914-1918) - In 1917 we joined allies (Britain, France, Russia, Italy, and Japan) against Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey).

l World War II (1939-1945) - After Pearl Harbor in 1941, joined the Allies (Britain, USSR, and others) against the Axis (Germany, Italy, and Japan).

l Korean War (1950-1953) - Communist North Korea, supported by China, invaded South Korea. United Nations forces (principally USA) entered to protect South Korea and end spread of communism in this initial concept of “limited war.”

l Bay of Pigs (1961) - Unsuccessful attempt to overthrow Castro's communist regime in Cuba.

l Vietnam War (1961-1973) - Began as attempt to thwart communism's “domino effect.” Finally withdrew and North Vietnam later took control of South Vietnam in 1975.

l Dominican Republic (1968) - Forces sent to quash leftist uprising.

l Lebanon (1982-1984) - Multinational force sent to support Lebanese government.

l Grenada (1983) - Invaded Caribbean nation to overthrow socialist government.

l Panama (1989) - Troops deployed to overthrow Panamanian dictator.

l Gulf War (1991) - After Iraq invaded Kuwait, multinationals landed to defend Kuwait and expel Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's forces.

l Somalia (1993) - Multinational forces attempted to restore order so food could be delivered and distributed within famine-stricken country.

l Bosnia (1994-1995) - During civil war (mainly Serbs against Bosnians), launched airstrikes to prevent “ethnic cleansing.” Then part of peacekeeping force.

l Kosovo (1999) - After eruption in Yugoslavia's Kosovo province, NATO force intervened with airstrikes.

l Global War on Terror (since 2001) - Joined UN and NATO countries participating to eliminate al-Qaida and other militant terrorist groups.

l Afghanistan (since 2001) - Joined NATO troops essentially to support Afghanistan government against Taliban and other terrorist groups.

l Iraq War (2003-2010) - Joined with Great Britain invading Iraq to topple dictator Saddam Hussein, and combat insurgency.

l Bob Elliott is longtime Iowa City resident and former City Council member. Comments: elliottb53@aol.com)