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FORT HOOD: HONOR, TRAGEDY

First of all, my heart goes out to all of the victims of the horrific shooting at Fort Hood, Texas [“Horror at Hood,” Nov. 16]. I also want to thank police officers Sgt. Kimberly Munley and Sgt Mark Todd for their heroic actions.

I want to say that, as a fellow Department of the Army civilian police officer, they are an inspiration to all of us and her heroism lets the Army community knows that there is nothing we would not do to protect the community that protects the nation.

I hope when the dust settles that more light is given to our civilian police officers. A common perception in the Army community is that soldiers will not be as well protected or as well cared for by civilian officers as by our military police counterparts. I hope the Army community understands there is nothing we would not do for them or our nation, as most of us are military veterans and current reservists or Guardsman still serving. We are here to ease the burden of an already short number of military police personnel and serve and protect our Army community.

Former Sgt. Vincent Gonzalez

Fort Knox, Ky.

I think in the wake of this horrible tragedy at Fort Hood, Texas, the Army needs to rethink how soldiers are evaluated [to be] eligible for duty. If the reports are true, the suspect had made comments that Muslims should rise up. If this was directed toward the Army, I see that as treason.

It is my opinion that if he allegedly hired a lawyer [years earlier] to stop his deployment, he should have been stripped of his rank and forced out of the military.

Spc. Christopher E. Barthlow

Martinsburg, W.Va.

It is such a sad incident that an Army major would [allegedly] gun down his own comrades — unarmed soldiers.

We will have to see how the military and our president — their commander in chief — determine if these fine soldiers killed at Fort Hood were killed by a deranged person or by a terrorist.

If killed by a terrorist while on active duty, they should be awarded the Purple Heart.

Capt. Phil Hoza (ret.)

Winnetka, Ill.

KEEP THE MAIL COMING

In reference to the exclusion of military retirees from further use of Diplomatic Post Offices, formerly known as APOs or Army Post Offices, located for decades at embassies worldwide [“Some overseas retirees may lose mail-order pharmacy access,” Nov. 2]: So America had an empire and sent its legionnaires and its centurions forth to defend the frontiers, and some few settled there after the battle.

In this time of tight budgets, even if the numbers are insignificant, they do not merit further support.

What is often their one remaining contact with America — the country they defended — and source of their subscription to Army Times, their meager investments, their insurance with USAA, etc., not to mention their prescription drug deliveries — is hereby terminated. They sacrificed before, so they can suck it up and sacrifice again.

Just do us one favor, Washington. When you tell us of the imminent end of this minimal but oh so important service to us few, do not close your form letter with the stock phrase that you are there to “provide the best service possible to the troops.”

Shame on the individual services, the Defense Department, and Congress. They give new meaning to the expression “no troop left behind.”

Col. James E. Callahan (ret.)

Evreux, France

AN ARTFUL INSPIRATION

Thanks to retired Sgt. Richard Yarosh [“Portrait of pride,” Nov. 2]. We are so very, very proud of him.

He humbles us by his valor and total sense of duty.

Now, if we could only get those who issue the orders to do their sworn duties and give us a mission so we can win and then get out of the Middle East.

I also have another question. Why is Sgt. Yarosh retired?

Why isn’t he and any other wounded troops willing to continue their military careers not assigned to the Washington, D.C., Military District/Command and working there? Sgt. Yarosh (and many, many others, I’m sure) would make one hell of an aide de camp or ceremonial guard, in addition to filling several other duty slots available at the White House, Defense Department or Congress.

I would like to have a signed, numbered print of Sgt. Yarosh’s portrait. I guarantee it would be displayed proudly in the foyer of my home.

In fact, what both the president and senior military leadership should do is make his portrait the first one on every chain-of-command photo, with a one-word caption above it: pride.

Col. Joseph C. Kopacz (ret.)

Louisville, Ky.

TARGETING INCENTIVES

This is in response to the drill sergeant who wrote a letter stating he feels cheated because new recruits are offered a bigger initial enlistment bonus compared to his re-enlistment bonus [“Reward longtime service,” Nov. 9]. In fact, Staff Sgt. Derek Daviage calls it a “disturbing concern” and “a slap in the face.”

A kid out of high school would need a bigger incentive than he to join the service during a time of war.

He served two tours in Iraq as a combat engineer. So have I, but I’m not more deserving than the next soldier, new or old. I know people who are on their fourth and fifth deployments. I know people who have been seriously injured and still serve, asking nothing in return.

The amount of money in a bonus is not a reflection of how great or poor a leader you are, or what you’ve done or seen in your two combat tours. It’s a small incentive. Take it or leave it.

Sgt. Bryce Wiltermood

Fort Campbell, Ky.

ASSIST THE RESERVISTS

I applaud Congress on the program to provide financial assistance to active-duty homeowners who need to sell their homes because of permanent change-of-station orders and have lost value in their homes because of the current economic situations [“Government starts sending out HAP checks,” Nov. 2]

I would ask Congress to also provide assistance to reservists who are forced to relocate to accept new jobs because they lost their previous one due to mobilizations and deployment.

I am not asking for financial assistance, but support to change the policies of lenders that refuse to work with reservists who have had to relocate to accept new jobs until they are delinquent in their loans and subject to foreclosure.

Those of us who have served our country in Iraq and Afghanistan and need to execute a short sale should not have to wait until we are delinquent to receive consideration.

Col. Larry A. Wexler (ret.)

Suffolk, Va.