THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 12, 1995 TAG: 9511100033
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 25 lines
I found myself genuinely angered by the outlandish decision made of an American serviceman (Michael New of Conroe, Texas) not to serve his country as part of the U.S. contingent under the United Nations in Macedonia.
When I served my country in the U.S. Army, I was deployed numerous times, including participation in operations ``Rescue Hope'' in Somalia and ``Uphold Democracy'' in Haiti. Did I jump for joy over getting the chance to go to these places? No, but it was my duty, as an American soldier, to be ready at any given time to deploy when my country called, wherever that may have been.
And had my country ever required my services as a part of a U.S. contingent serving under the United Nations, wearing a blue U.N. beret, I would have saluted and done my duty - and with utmost pride.
ANDREW D. MATTHEWS
Norfolk, Oct. 30, 1995 by CNB