Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 1, 1991 TAG: 9103010712
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
When a handful die while many thousands of others at risk do not, the question arises: Why this one? With Terry Plunk, there is an apparent answer. He was a striver, a doer, a courageous young man, and his was a dangerous job. He was a sapper, one who clears the way for the combat troops.
That includes ridding their path of land mines. According to a U.S. military official, Plunk was not asking the men he commanded "to take risks that he himself would not take." A mine exploded, and at least six men - including Plunk - were killed. It was only a day or so before the shooting stopped.
"This is our first one, and it just hurts so bad," said Carolyn Rector, who had organized the Roanoke Valley Troop Support Center. The center is in Vinton: Plunk's home town.
It does hurt. Plunk, a graduate of Virginia Military Institute, is widely remembered in glowing terms: "an All-American type of person," said his pastor, Dr. W.L. Ross. Awarded the Society of Cincinnati Medal as a VMI graduate; valedictorian at William Byrd High School, where his mother works, Plunk embraced achievement and duty. "He was the tops," recalls Byrd Principal Bob Patterson.
By its nature, war takes the young foremost, cutting them down before their prime. Plunk's potential was plain. Others' promise may have been less evident, but its flowering is just as surely lost; the sacrifice is as painful to loved ones. Women soldiers died in this conflict too, despite a law against their being sent into combat. At times, war can be egalitarian.
This war was different from others in that it was fought entirely by a professional force. No young men (or women) were conscripted against their will and sent off to fight. The personnel are volunteers: They accepted the risk that led to deaths and injuries. Their loss hurts no less for that.
Americans can be grateful that our military tradition in this century has been to avoid needless casualties. People of many other countries are less fortunate. Iraq is only the latest horrendous example: It had suffered heavy losses in a bloody eight-year stalemate with Iran; yet soon afterward, Saddam Hussein put his voiceless, fear-driven troops in the way of yet another war.
In so doing, the dictator inflicted great pain and loss on them, on his own populace and on others. Casualties are probably in the tens of thousands.
Because most of us are born American, our patriotism ought to include recognition of good fortune and compassion for those who by circumstance face a different destiny. While we celebrate victory, we should not forget those who have suffered and died by our weapons because of a tyrant's ambition, cruelty and callousness.
And when we honor our own war dead, such as the brave Terry Plunk, and when we thank their companions for serving our democracy, let us also honor one of the many virtues of our imperfect form of government: that it sets a high value on individual life.
by CNB