A letter from Jason Gilson, US military, before being disabled in an ambush:
"I really miss being in the states. Some of the American public have no idea how much freedom costs and who the people are that pay that awful price. I think sometimes people just see us as nameless and faceless and not really as humans. ... A good portion of us are actually scared that when we come home, for those of us who make it back, that there will be protesters waiting for us and that is scary."
On the Fourth, Jason faced his worst fear.
It was such a public humiliation -- home front insult after battlefield injury.
Walking the parade route with his mom, younger siblings and politically conservative friends, Jason heard words from the crowd that felt like a thousand daggers to the heart.
"Baby killer!"
"Murderer!"
"Boooo!"
This isn’t a scene from Viet Nam times, although it could be. This event occurred july 4, 2004 at Bainbridge Island (Seattle) Wasington. It’s happening today.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/jamies..._robert09.html
