April 14, 2004
Taps
They buried what was left of Wesley John Kealoha Batalona today here in Hilo. If you recall this was one of the four men that were lynched, murdered and their bodies desecrated by the savages led by a murderous thug that calls himself a religious leader in the town of Fallujah, Iraq. He was 48 and a retired Army Ranger. His work was to help secure the convoys of relief supplies and other things... He was lead into an ambush and slaughtered with three other men....
There have been wonderful eulogies, describing a family man who loved his wife and daughter, a soldier that loved his country. However there have also been nasty comments about his being a "hired gun" a "mercenary" and "only in it for the money." He said that he "loved being there" and "wanted to help the kids and be a part of building something good out of the ashes...". Yes, he was paid well for his services, some say over 1000.00 per day. But if it was so much as that, and he was getting so rich off this trip to Iraq, why was his wife a maid at a hotel? Truth be told, a soldiers retirement pay doesn't go far... And fact is, that its hard to get work when you are over 45 with grey hair, here in Hawaii... Just ask Woody. So a deal comes along like this you jump....
Out of the frying pan into the Fire....Literally...
How many of these soldiers, both enlisted and "contractors" are just there to earn a living? Those that were ambushed with Jessica Lynch...the cooks and mechanics.... Many went into the army to just earn a living, or get college money. The times are hard here folks and in many places there are no jobs... The National Guard is a part time job that helps to make ends meet. The Army is a good first job for many young people.
So why are so many cursing these brave people? Why were there letters to the editor here speaking ill of the dead...
Because we have forgotten that incredible awful truth... Freedom isn't Free. The tree of Liberty is watered with the blood of Patriots... This time some of those patriots were part timers, retirees and women. We have forgotten collectively what we did to the poor disadvantaged solders that fought in Vietnam, cursing them... Calling them babykillers. They were doing their jobs, bloody drafted they were. We may not have the draft today, but we have an even greater driving forces. Unemployment, rising tuition costs, partial employment and stagnant wages. Here in Hawaii, the military is a alternative encouraged by parents hoping that a duty station might be received close to home, for visits, and for wages that will be attractive enough to encourage the young to not leave the island indefinitely to seek employment, and for the prestige of a career.
"Bata" left the cane fields of the Hamakua for the Army to seek a better life. I think that's true of a lot of the solders of today.
Even if he was a swaggering "hired gun", as the liberal press reports, nobody deserved to die like that.
I said a little prayer for the family... And can hear in my mind's ear the sound of the bugler as "Taps" was played... And perhaps a
mele (Hawaiian chant) was sung. I dont know if this was so... so I will sing one...
Aloha Kealoha, kali'liponi make wale nona pono ha ua mea......
translated Farewell Kealoha (Bata's Hawaiian name which means "beloved") You died suddenly, and unjustly for a good cause...
(to any Hawaiian speakers forgive my poor Hawaiian grammar if there is an error... I am the very least student in this...)
