LeHew, Justin D., SgtMaj

A young trooper who used to be in one of my platoons back in the day was pondering some thoughts on the death of OBL. He was having alot of inner conflict and feelings with how he felt in regards to the death and the reaction of folks around the world and here at home. He was asking me how I personally felt about it. A few folks read my response to this Marine and to the person asked if I could post for all to read. Here it is. Zack - You are a true American Warrior and to this day I tell everyone that the greatest reason for my success in all that I do is because I am surrounded by and associated with men and women like you.

Question/Statement:

SgtMaj I am a little confused...... Many are celebrating, as am I, the death of Osama Bin Laden, while some say that we are no better than the Al Queda for celebrating his death. This is the coward who killed two to three thousand innocent civilians on 9-11, and hid in a cave. This is also the coward that started The War On Terrorism ...that killed many Soldiers while he hid. How do you feel about his death? How should I feel? Personally, I am glad that Son of A Bitch is dead, I only wish I was there and squeezed that damn trigger, that coward is responsible for the death of many of my brothers. If someone wants to judge me for celebrating the death of another, so called human being, than for once, I am going to envoke my "Freedom of Speech". What do you think SgtMaj?

Response:

Marine. I am just as happy as the next guy that this cat is no longer with us but you know as well as I do that he was not the end all be all to all of the issues in the world back on 9-11 or at any time. There are more capable and competant killers out there. Al Queda, Hezbollah, the Muhajadeen, the Taliban and others will always perpetuate death and oppression nomatter who they say is at the head of things. I am just pleased that we set out a task to find the man and deal with him personally for his actions and role on 9-11 and we did that, all of us, not just SEAL TEAM 6. As far as a coward? I am not one to say any of them are cowards. Last I checked he was living in plain sight in Pakistan and not hiding in a cave for the most part. General Mattis has not killed a single person with a KBar knife that I know of in this or any other war but he, along with other senior leaders have given the orders from their "Caves" meaning operations centers, that has resulted in the deaths of thousands I am sure along the way so in that fact our senior leaders are just like theirs, nomatter where they choose to operate from when they issue their orders. Unfortunately, there will be many more Bin Ladens in the worlds future. As far as blowing yourself up to kill American Soldiers, Sailors or Marines being a coward? I couldn't do that and I consider myself not in the realm of being a coward. I have nothing personal against any of them. It is either kill or be killed. They have their beliefs and I have mine. I don't have to agree with theirs. They are fighting for what they believe in just like we are. I just take personal pride in knowing that when it has come down to it, my knife has been sharper, my finger faster on the trigger and my radio transmission requests for air support to plaster the bastards before they get my boys have been faster than they have been able to manage when trying to send me to meet my God (and boy have they tried). You have done your job and have done more than what 99 percent of your fellow citizens have done in the war for the past 10 years which is watch it from the sidelines while men and women like our brothers and sisters put themselves repeatedly back into harms way on multiple tours to make up for the difference. Less than one percent of our national population is in the US military but that one percent sure shoulders the burden of an entire nation when you take a good look at it. Semper Fidelis Marine.

To all my brothers and sisters out there who have taken up arms in the defense of this great nation and put their lives on the line to protect her interests at home and abroad I say thank you. Please take care of eachother and always remain vigilant...Bin Laden was not the first in this world to perpetuate a message of hate and he certainly will not be the last.