"Sitting and Waiting"

January 21,1968-April 8,1968 , along time ago I'm sure most of us don't recall what they were doing those 77 days forty-one years ago. I have a good friend who I haven't seen in many years , Jimmy was a lance-corporal in the Marine Corp. , his unit was the 26th. Marines . Jimmy , I'm sure , remembers exactly where he was during those dates so long ago. Those dates were the days known as the "Siege at Khe Sanh". Most men who served don't talk much about war time experiences , it is sometimes very painful , they really only relate them to other vets who have a better understanding of wars impact on those who have seen it first hand. On the first hour of the attack on the base 18 marines were killed and 40 were wounded. The artillery barrage was a daily affair at times the rate of enemy artillery fire was 1300 rounds a day . I can speak first hand in telling you artillery fire shakes the ground worse than any earthquake you can imagine , you are literally lifted off the ground by close impact of an artillery round . On March 22 the Vietnamese began launching missiles at the base , on that day 1000 missiles were launched hitting on or near the base , a rate of 100 rounds per hour. When Jimmy told me about it he would become visibly shaken . The Marine back-up did a great job dropping supplies from C-123's and C130's , they were even able to medivac the wounded. This action took 77 days before Americans ran off the invaders from the north and could offer relief to these valiant men. Seventy-seven days is about thirteen days short of a seasonal change . Try to imagine being confined to a small room that long while having the constant threat of immediate death . I'm glad the Marines did what was necessary to help their men with the support they needed to stay alive. As you are reading this we have Marines and Army units waiting for the tools they need to complete their mission , to survive , and to come home safely when their job is done. Our president has wasted time on the Olympics ,and pushing his health-care agenda while our best and brightest wait for him to take action. I've said this before , this president doesn't have his priorities straight . Terrorists destroyed the "Towers" they are a continued threat to our national security,our fighting forces are in the business of finding and killing terrorists. They now sit and wait for you Mr.Obama ; McChrystal told you we need additional help in order to achieve victory , yet you sit on your hands . Is the destruction of the health-care industry more important to you then the eliminating of foreign enemies dedicated to the demise of America. I know you have never sat in a fox hole waiting for relief , have never worn a uniform in the defense of your country , but remember this , you are able to push your agenda because of men who did . Don't leave our best hanging out to dry ,SEND HELP!!