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February 26, 2008
Vietnam Veteran Back In War Zone
CAMP WRIGHT, Afghanistan
Shot down over Vietnam on his first tour of duty in 1972, 1st Sgt. James Spears is back in the U.S. Army — one of hundreds of retired soldiers whom the Pentagon has ordered to suit up and serve the nation once more.
"If you cut me, I"d probably bleed Army green, but this is definitely my last deployment" said the 54-year-old veteran, who is better known to his fellow soldiers as "Grumpy."
Sgt. Spears said he did not expect to end up in a war zone dodging bullets and rockets, and that such business should be the work of younger warriors.
Retired in 1995 after 24 years in the Army, Sgt. Spears felt the call of duty after watching the World Trade Center's Twin Towers crumble in 2001 and picked up the phone just to let the Army know he was there if he was ever needed.
"I guess they put my name on a list somewhere, but, for the life of me, I didn't really expect them to call me back to service," he said. But in 2005, the Defense Department rang his home number in Daleville, Ala.
"A Pentagon colonel told me that I could come back now or, if I did not act then, she wouldn't give me a choice as to where I was deployed." With mixed feelings, Sgt. Spears called her back an hour later.
Now, while he often longs for the golf course, Sgt. Spears finds himself in a mentoring role to some 80 soldiers, struggling to keep them working together smoothly.
As the "human resources manager" for NATO and the Army"s 173rd Airborne Brigade"s Provincial Reconstruction Team in Kunar Province, Sgt. Spears keeps the soldiers in line with stentorian growls across the mess hall and quiet, reassuring chats in his quarters.
Just knowing there is a veteran of the Vietnam War, a far bloodier conflict than those being fought in Afghanistan and Iraq, is reassuring to some of the young soldiers who seek his advice.
But Sgt. Spears said he worries as would a father about the strains caused by the lengthy military deployments in both theaters.
"In general, we have excellent morale, but the Army is definitely overstretched and undermanned here in Afghanistan," he said. "I'm really afraid that some guys and girls will snap. I've seen it already — people with severe combat-related stress."
Sgt. Spears has two sons who joined the Army and one who served two tours as a helicopter crew chief in Iraq.
He said his wife of 32 years, Sherry, had only one piece of advice for him when he deployed last year: "Keep your head down, Grumpy."
A soldier's life hasn't changed much since Vietnam, but there aren't any easy comparisons between the two wars, Sgt. Spears said.
"I'm not sure this is an ideologically driven war in the respect that Vietnam was pretty much communism against capitalism," he said. "But even there, you had an enemy that would show their face and occasionally fight in real uniforms."
Sgt. Spears pointed toward a ridgeline and noted that Kunar province sits across only a couple of mountain ridges from Pakistan, where the September 11, 2001, mastermind, Osama bin Laden, is thought to be hiding.
"I can't tell you why they haven't caught him with all their gee-whiz toys," he said. "But I don't believe in conspiracies either, like we have him in a box somewhere."
Wild Thing's comment........
I love the stogy!
Thank you Sgt. Spears and all the other Military, even just one of them is worth more than the 534 dummies in Congress.
Posted by Wild Thing at February 26, 2008 01:55 AM
Comments
At least he's doing his job. Love the nickname, Grumpy.
We need more people like him in this world.
Posted by: Lynn at February 26, 2008 08:04 AM
Hmmmm, something doesn't make sense of what the Army did. By 2001 he would have hit his service commitment of 30 years: 24 active, 6 retired reserves. After 30 years you're ineligible for recall. The Army must be getting very very desperate to recall those who've gone past the 30 year point.
That said, my hat's off to 1sgt Spears. The presence of an "old war horse" like him has a calming effect on the troops. His experience, age, and candor make him a natural leader and mentor for the young troops. He's a true American.
Posted by: BobF at February 26, 2008 09:34 AM
Spears may be "Grumpy", but I bet he likes helping the younger troops. He offered his services and I have a hunch he is even happier than being on the golf course.
His statement about being overstretched and undermanned is worrisome. I have wondered how long we can keep up the pace of these two combat zones without a significant increase in military manpower. We are feeling the effects of almost 20 years of the drawdown of the "Peace Dividend".
Posted by: TomR at February 26, 2008 11:15 AM
Glad to have 1st Sgt. James Spears lending his experience and knowledge to the team in Afghanistan. It does disturb me that the drawdown has so adversely affected the military. We are having to recall veterans of his age group to fill the void and over extend the stays of the Marines, the Army, the Army Reserves and National Guard forces to accomplish the mission. I'm not one to blame Bush, I will however, blame Congress, that includes both houses. A 54-year-old veteran. Heck just getting up makes me cranky, not to mention the always present Itis brothers.
"Grumpy" Eh? Hat's off Top. You are one tough guy.
Posted by: Jack at February 26, 2008 02:05 PM
Well that's exactly what a 'Top-Kick' ought to look like.
I think I remember a few being called up during Vietnam too. But running up and down those hills wasn't what they were used to.
Jack is right about the 'Itis' brothers. Especially when it rains or a change in weather.
Posted by: Mark at February 26, 2008 03:53 PM
Mark hit it. Spears is THE model for a First/Top.
The word from two of mine getting out in July is that recalls are happening all the time, all MOS's. One's been in for eight years, reserve and active, so he's done, but the other with four-year active has a two-year active reserve obligation, and he thinks he'll be called up.
Sarkozy is sending some French combat forces to Afghanistan. That might change things...yeah.
Posted by: Rhod at February 26, 2008 05:45 PM
Lynn me too, love the nickname. giggle
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 26, 2008 07:15 PM
Bob not sure, but my guess is they need him and he would be great for the younger soldiers to look up to and with a name like Grumpy he would get respect immediately. hahaha Love it.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 26, 2008 07:18 PM
Tom, I was wondering if the cut backs that the Bill Clinton made are effecting it now too. He made such huge cutbacks in our military and so soon after Bush was President 9-11 happened.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 26, 2008 07:20 PM
Jack LOL that is how Nick feels too. It takes him about 45 minutes to be able to move in the morning.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 26, 2008 07:22 PM
Mark, when I saw photo and with that cigar like that I just had to see what it was all about. It just got better and better as I read it. hahaha
I am so proud of him and I bet the troops will be glad he is with them too.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 26, 2008 07:25 PM
Rhod, that is good news and I am so glad about Sarkozy too. At least he is making an effort unlike their past President in France.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 26, 2008 07:38 PM
