To the editor:
Last week, an acquaintance of mine died. Chris Bachusz was a husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and a friend. Christmas was the last time I saw Chris. He was surrounded by his family. He smiled and told me everything was fine, even though he knew his time was very short. Chris was a Vietnam veteran and he contracted cancer because of exposure to Agent Orange and this cancer is what ended his life. Many times we forget the price many veterans pay for fighting for our country. Chris didn’t die in a foreign country, he wasn’t killed by a bullet or an IED. He didn’t die a hero, but he did live like one. Chris fought cancer for years; a disease that we gave him. For the last two weeks he was off life support and still he fought. Ahl the pain medication they could give him didn’t keep him from waking continuously in pain, but he held on. He was more than IFL tough. A war stole his life and left a family grieving.
We sent Chris and many like him into that war and every war less prepared or under-prepared for what lay ahead than we could have. Our troops should have the best we can provide; heavy armor, language and cultural training, weapons that work in the environment they’re used in. Veterans should have our help when they return, short term and long term. I hope everyone thinks long and hard before we send our men into harm’s way. If we must send them, then let’s be sure we send them ready and let’s not bring them back to substandard care when they return.
Tonight, while you’re wading through your hectic schedule of reality TV and Chef Wars, take a little time to thank Chris and the other individuals who have paid a forgotten price for your peace. Remember them and the toll their families endure, be kind to them, honor them.
Mark Griffiths
Goodrich