All Americans Should Be Of The Same Disposition As President Obama: No American Combat Troops On The Ground In Iraq In Combat Operations.

Our men and women in uniform have served multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, more so than in any other war in the last 70 years.  The draft during WWII, Korea and Viet Nam lessoned the need for multiple combat tours in those wars.  The present all volunteer military puts more pressure on the military in general and combat operations in particular.

Putting our combat forces on the ground back in Iraq will require the use of many that were there before.  They and their family were the only ones who paid a terrific price during the Iraq war.  So now after President Obama continues to reject American troops in combat operation on the ground in Iraq more Americans are still calling for their deployment.  A divided America sends the wrong signal to those country's in the middle east about using their own ground troops to fight ISIL.  If they think the negative voices in America will win out they will not lift a finger to help.

So America needs to follow the President's lead and make sure they publically back the President's decision and that our country speaks with one voice, NO U.S. COMBAT TROOPS ON THE GROUND IN IRAQ IN COMBAT OPERATIONS.  The message should be clear.  Middle east nations who feel threatened by ISIL should be willing to stand and fight and even die if necessary.

Those negative voices who continue to want the U.S. in an ongoing war in the middle east could care less about our men and women in uniform and show their contemp towards the President and Commander in Chief who has his plate full because of the unnecessary war in Iraq to begin with.  We know the toll that war placed on our veterans and the VA system.  Imagine what another never ending war would cost.  No American should be willing to see that hapen again.


This commentary written by John Lucia.

An LSU Sports Story Minus The Usual Hype and Cliches.

Sport fans are used to reading stories that sound like broken records, especially those about LSU sports since they are the dominate team in Louisiana football.  Thanks to sports writer Randy Rosetta's article in the Times Picayune of 9/17/14 titled, "Soldiering On" readers were able to relate to the human side of sports that usually gets pushed aside.

Rosetta's article was about LSU's walk on receiver Luke Boyd who is a 27 year old U.S. Marine serving on active duty while pursuing his college education.  He is married with one child and his wife graduated from LSU in 2009.  Boyd served in Afghanistan from 2010-2011.  His day begins at 4:30am and ends at home around 7:15pm.

Boyd acts as a mentor for the younger players and is a leader by his own actions.  He oversees the physical training of the ROTC at Southern University as part of his commitment to the Marines.  He is a major inspiration to the team and teaches them how to take themselves out of situations and realize its not about the individual, its about the team.

Boyd attends LSU as part of the Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioner Education Program which gives enlisted men and women the chance to transition into the officers rank after college.  He will become a second lieutenant upon finishing college in 2016.  His education is paid for by the program. 

This writer remembers how our veterans returning from WWII attended college on the G.I. Bill.  Some of them played sports and were "All American."  Boyd's story is a continuation of how our veterans over time have affected the lives of so many people in a positive way.  The Marine Corps motto, Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful) is alive and well at LSU and I salute my brother Marine Luke Boyd who continues to carry on the traditions of all those who ever wore the eagle, globe and anchor, Honor, Courage and Commitment.


This commentary written by John Lucia.