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Soldiers

A Reflection on the United States Army's 250th Anniversary

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As the United States Army marked its 250th birthday in June 2025, the author, having grown up around soldiers and their families, couldn't help but reflect on the sacrifices and dedication of its rank and file personnel. The author's father, a West Point graduate and Vietnam War veteran, served with distinction, despite being drafted, and only later came to question the war's purpose. Meanwhile, the current commander-in-chief, who has been marred by multiple felony convictions and a civil sexual abuse judgment, used the occasion to throw a party and parade, with the Army obediently following orders.

Key Takeaways:

  • The author's father, George Wees, was born in Omaha to second-generation Polish immigrants and grew up to serve in the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1958.
  • The author's father served in Vietnam, where he was stationed and advised a South Vietnamese Army unit, and later worked with the West German military through a NATO attachment.
  • The author's family maintained regular communication with their father during his deployments, using a tape recorder and microphone to share messages, including one instance where the father's voice was shaky due to gunfire in the distance.
  • By the late 1960s, the author's father was commanding American troops near Nha Trang and survived an attempt on his life from his own troops, who were disillusioned with the war's purpose.
  • The author's father eventually came to question the war's purpose, calling it "pointless," and serving under both Democratic and Republican administrations, highlighting the complexity of the conflict.
  • The current commander-in-chief marked the Army's 250th birthday with a parade and party, while the author's father rested at Arlington National Cemetery, a contrast between the two men's service and leadership styles.
  • The author praises the current cadets at West Point's 2025 graduating class for maintaining discipline and civility despite the leader's divisive rhetoric, highlighting their commitment to duty and honor.

Statistics:

  • The U.S. Army celebrated its 250th birthday in June 2025.
  • The author's father served in Vietnam, where he was stationed and advised a South Vietnamese Army unit.
  • The author's family maintained regular communication with their father during his deployments, using a tape recorder and microphone.
  • By 1969, the author's father was commanding American troops near Nha Trang, where he survived an attempt on his life from his own troops.
  • The current commander-in-chief has been marred by multiple felony convictions and a civil sexual abuse judgment.
  • The number of times the author's father and his family communicated during his deployments using a tape recorder and microphone is not specified, but it is mentioned that his mother still has the tapes.

Sources:

  • (https://nebraskaexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/unnamed-1.jpg)
  • (https://nebraskaexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/dctanks-scaled.jpg)
  • (https://nebraskaexaminer.com/subscribe)

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