I served in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) for two tours including combat operations for the invasion of Iraq in 2003 that led unexpectedly to me building clinics, schools, roads, and more in a huge swath of Ninewa province.
Those early days were tense as we crossed the border and hopped to Baghdad. We struggled through a massive sand storm, the downing of a sister units aircraft, and the complete change in plans days after arriving in Baghdad and air assaulting into Mosul.
But it was nothing like the ‘day of days’ 82 years ago when members of the 101st Airborne parachuted into Normandy alongside thousands of fellow coalition troops to liberate Hitler’s fortress Europe and defeat the fascists.
Over 160,000 troops threw themselves against Hitler’s Atlantic Wall leading to over 10,000 casualties among allied countries. A shocking number to break into the continent and take back Europe. Those heroes saved the world with their courage and sacrifice and we will never be able to pay back that debt of gratitude.
For many hours and days it wasn’t even sure it would work. Eisenhower had prepared statements for success and defeat. In the statement on success, he celebrated the troops, and in the one for defeat he accepted all the blame:
“Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that Bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone."
That is leadership. That is meeting the moment. That’s what good leaders do. Unfortunately, this year our troops around the world are led by a failed TV host who doesn’t understand anything about sacrifice and leadership, Pete Hegseth.
For the 82nd anniversary Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth led the U.S. delegation to France. His actions throughout the trip have been typically tone deaf from bringing his kids along like a tourist visit to Euro Disney to his usual weird work out antics.
But, his speech at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, in front of the last few remaining survivors of that day and dignitaries from around the world was reprehensible.
A day that should talk about the sacrifice of the brave veterans and the civilians caught in the crossfire was instead turned into a pathetic anti-immigrant political hit job against our allies by the man who likes to pretend he is a warrior while acting like a petulant child.
“Sadly, today, different European beaches are stormed by different dangerous ideologies. Beaches in Spain and Italy and Greece and Bulgaria. Boats and men arrive. When will European capitals do something about that invasion? Or is it too late? I pray not, and I believe not."
He said this in front of twenty-nine of the last remaining veterans of that day including 107-year old Navy veteran Art Rose. Rose read a letter he had written to his parents on June 11, 1944.
“Rose expressed his fear of the unknown before the invasion, the letter ended with a positive message. Reading from the letter, Rose said: “What a country we are. I will always be grateful to my commander for taking me along [to battle]. Don’t worry about me. I am well, whole and happy. Love, Art.”
Hegseth was calling Muslim refugees and immigrants a “dangerous ideology” comparable to Hitler and his genocidal regime that murdered millions of Jews, LGTBQ, and other ‘non-desirables.’ He invoked his personal Christian Nationalism into what should be a solemn day honoring the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of heroes from multiple nations.
This is what he does. He can’t not make everything about him and his dangerous religious and hate filled beliefs. Just this week he ordered the stripping of the DOD’s recognized religious affiliations from 200 to just 31 saying it was about “streamlining” when it is truly about putting his evangelical stamp on the military that will leave damage for decades to come.
It’s time to step up. The Republican Congress has failed utterly to provide even the mildest checks on Hegseth’s outrageous attacks on everything from the military promotion system to how we train our newest troops. While he plays dress up living his tough-guy cosplay fantasies; thousands of our sons and daughters are fighting in the Middle East.
All we get is silence from the members of Congress charged with oversight of our armed forces, intelligence, and government operations. My opponent, Rep. Ann Wagner, whose own son graduated from West Point and served in the Army, can’t find a single word to mention any of this or offer the lightest criticism as she runs for reelection in fear of the deadly Trump endorsement change.
We are watching generational harm to our military that cannot be easily undone. Generals and Admirals aren’t hired, they are grown for over two decades. Every single young service member who leaves the uniform today because of Hegseth’s attacks on their identity, religion, gender, and diversity is a leader we will not have for our wars in 2050.
This must end now. November is six months away. What are you doing to change the direction of this nation? I’m running for Congress. I would love your help. It’s time. It’s not too late but the clock is ticking and it will be hard to unwind if we don’t act now.
We had an incredible week for Team Wellman. We announced endorsements from the Missouri AFL-CIO, St. Louis Building and Construction Trades Council, Missouri Senator Doug Beck, and Senator Chris Murphy. Our comprehensive general election poll came in with me in a statistical heat with Ann Wagner on the generic read and winning by 7 percentage points when recipients learned about our biographies.
I was in D.C. for meetings Tuesday and Wednesday speaking with advocacy groups working on issues from national security, to women’s healthcare rights, and human treatment of animals. Then I spent the day Saturday at the Spirit of St. Louis Airs and STEM Show featuring the Canadian Snowbirds and U.S. Navy Blue Angels. Just a spectacular show and a great way to wind up a huge week for the campaign.
On Monday I will join my friend Elad Gross on his EladPod live at 7:00 PM CT to discuss the campaign and answer your questions. Be sure to tune in live on YouTube!
I would love to have your support. Join us to volunteer or learn more at WellmanforMO.com!
We’re not done yet!
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