To the editor:

In Peter Fossel’s letter (Sakonnet Times, 17 Sept., 2020) I hear echoes emanating from the surrounding hills and valleys of Con Thien (“Hill of Angles”) Khe Sanh and the Rockpile. Echoes bleeding into memories, palpable memories, memories that would propel me to walk nonviolently beside him, “risking again my own blood and life” in his pursuit, in our pursuit, of the ideal that all men are created equal, yet all the while knowing that I am unsure of the number of our fellow vets behind our cause.

I’m quite active in the veteran community of greater Fall River and so I converse, almost daily, with veterans and I know experientially that most (reflecting national polls) play the trumpet, some loudly, some softly. I often wonder — expanding the metaphor — where they received their musical lessons: parents, friends, books, churches, teachers or the military culture in general?

Despite the fact that 43 percent of the active duty men and women in the military are people of color, there are only two black Senior Commanders in all the branches. For decades, the Marines have resisted change. They were the last to integrate by gender at the platoon level – and that took an act of Congress. 

The Marines have a singular race problem: No black Marine has ever adorned his uniform with four stars. (NY Times, 31 Aug., 2020). And I get the sense from shooting the breeze with active members of the Marine Corps and young Marines vets, that for some neo-nazis and white supremacists the Corps is becoming the branch of service of choice to join for weapons training. Semper fidelis.

                                                                                                                                        Dennis August Almeida 

                                                                                                                                        Little Compton