Sacred Sacrifices

Michael Wagoner proudly serves our nation as a Command Sergeant Major in the United States Army.

On his third tour of duty in Iraq, CSM Wagoner had a “bad feeling” for his troops. Afforded a measure of safety because of his rank, he was not supposed to be in immediate danger. However, on that day, he ordered his driver to transport him and his bodyguard to the front line. He had to see the men and women in his charge.

As we have heard all too often, regrettably, their Hummer hit an IED, blasting a hole the size of a baseball through CSM Wagoner’s leg. His left eye was nearly torn from its socket. Miraculously, the driver and the bodyguard suffered minimal damage and were able to pull the severely injured Wagoner from the burning vehicle; saving his life.

After several months of recovery at Walter Reed with more surgeries at a facility closer to his base in Ft. Campbell, CSM Wagoner was unbelievably considered well enough to return to active duty.

Now on his 4th tour of duty, this time in Afghanistan, he struggles with constant physical and emotional pain. Through his wife’s reports from home, he has discovered that his 10 year old daughter has been having a lot of trouble adjusting to his continued absence. She is often found lying in the fetal position, cries easily, and otherwise shows great emotional strain. She has suffered greatly as she fears for her father who has been absent for most of her young life.

This is merely one story in the ongoing narrative of the sacred sacrifices of America’s military families.

First Lady Michele Obama has been working toward bringing the emotional and economic plight of military families into public awareness. Mrs. Obama has been moved to tears as she hears their stories of extreme poverty, fear, and depression. She is committed to bonding with these families and promises to work for them, expressing gratitude for their faithful and courageous sacrifices.

Still within his first 100 days in the White House, President Obama is overwhelmed by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the economy at home and abroad, the ongoing threat of war in the Middle East and South East Asia, as well as the turmoil in Africa. With all of this and more going on, it will be interesting to see how long Mrs. Obama’s advocacy for the American military family will have positive results.

Unlike families in the era of the World Wars, unless we have a loved one in service, those of us at home are required to make absolutely no sacrifice on behalf of the war effort. We ration nothing. We are asked to give up nothing. We don’t even have to consider the hell these people live through until we choose to watch the news, read the reports, or otherwise try to find information on their activity.

When we hear of the death of an American soldier, we offer little more than a passing shake of the head. We are briefly saddened, but we are not broken hearted. We do not share in the on going grief of those mothers and fathers who have lost their children. We do not consider the impact on a child who has just learned of a parent’s death.

We must find our better nature and fervently pray for the men and women of our armed forces.

Despite ones opinion regarding the validity of the “war on terrorism” or the place of our military within the world, we should all support and encourage our troops with our thankfulness and prayers.


"Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers" ~ J. Sidlow Baxter