Local vets have mixed feelings about Iraq war

Editorís note: This is part of a continuing series of articles about the issues facing our local communities with regard to war and terrorism.
By Danielle Strenke
The onset of war one week ago has every American preoccupied with details of troop movements, the whereabouts of Saddam Hussein and his regime and mostly, the toll of human casualties suffered during the conflict.
There are many men and women in the local area who can go beyond simply imagining what it must be like for troops oversees fighting a war. Those like Ellis Johnson, Lloyd Nelson, Hank Brooker and Jerry Fairbanks of North Branch have lived through it.
Both Johnson and Nelson share a commonality besides being veterans of World War II ñ they both have grandsons currently in Kuwait, involved in fighting in the war with Iraq.
Nelson said he does not know how a war in Iraq compares with hitting Omaha Beach in Normandy, France during WWII, but he knows he shares some of the same feelings as those fighting today. ìWar is scary wherever you go,î he said.
Nelson served as a first scout in WWII, putting him at least 500 to 1,000 yards ahead of the rest of the troops. ìSo I know what theyíre going through a little bit,î he said.
He said the one way this war differs is the amount of information available. ìWhen we were in World War II it was only radio broadcasts ñ there were no T.V.s,î he said. ìOnce in a while there would be an article in the paper, but that was usually a couple of weeks late.î
Nelson said he did not want to see the country head into another war, but now that we are there, he offers full support for the troops.
ìI donít know if they could have handled it diplomatically or not, thatís the tough part. But my grandson is in Kuwait and I support him 100 percent and pray for him every day.î
Nelson said he is also against the anti-war demonstrations taking place across the country.
ìIím not opposed to demonstrating, but not at this time,î he said. ìItís not helping a bit because Saddam is putting that on Iraqi television showing we are opposed to the war. Thatís the bad part.î
Travis Minke, Nelsonís grandson, is now in Iraq as part of a Marine unit. Nelson said he received an e-mail from Minke about two weeks ago and Minke phoned his mom a few days later; they have not received any e-mails or calls since then. ìHeís on my mind a lot, so we donít have the television on too much,î Nelson said. ìIt just gets to be too much.î
Nelson also has another person on his mind a lot lately. He has another grandson who just returned from duty in Korea, and is now training in Nebraska getting ready to head to the war in Iraq.
Johnson served in WWII and the Korean War; he was in the Navy during WWII and the Army during the Korean War.
He was 17-years-old when he entered the Navy right out of high school in 1945 and went to war. After serving nearly two years he joined the Army Reserves and was sent to Korea.
Johnson said he supports America in its current war. ìI have always been a patriotic person so the answer to how I feel about it is easy,î he said. ìThe decision has been made by the people we have elected. Weíre living in the best place you can possibly live and itís time to support that decision.î
He compared Hussein to Adolf Hitler. ìIím old enough to know about Adolf Hitler. We donít need another Adolf Hitler.î
Johnsonís grandson, Michael Johnson, is with the Marines. The last time Ellis spoke with his grandson, Michael was 20 miles from Iraq in Kuwait. ìHe wrote a couple of weeks ago and talked about the bad dust storms they are having.î
At 75, Johnson has been a member of the North Branch American Legion for 56 years. He said it is very difficult to see people protesting the war in Iraq.
ìEveryone was so much more patriotic then,î he said. ìBeing in high school during World War II there was no question what we were going to do after graduation, just what branch of service we would go into.î
He said Americans were more patriotic during WWII even though they received little or no information about the war and their loved ones. ìIt was a hard time for people at home too. Their service people were gone and no one knew where they were.î

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