BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN

BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN

By Andy Weddington

Sunday, 19 April 2026

Courage is not the lack of fear. It is acting in spite of it.  - Mark Twain

Less than a handful of years ago America learned who truly the brave in our armed forces.

Who?

The men and women who defied orders by refusing the covid vaccine. 

Some ten thousand. 

Enlisted. Officers. Young. Not as young. Some with a few years of service. Some with more than a decade. Some closing in on retirement. 

They represented thousands of years of honorable service across the spectrum of specialties. 

Dismissed for disobedience. 

Dismissed for genuine demonstration of integrity and courage.

Dismissed for leadership. 

Consider the toll, emotional to reality, on the service members and families.

Just like that, patriot one minute traitor (or so they were shamed) the next.   

Since confirmed as Pentagon pointman, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has made at least two videos welcoming them back to active service.

Restoration of rank, credit for years of service missed, preferred duty stations, etc., part of the sincere pitch. 

Not many takers. 

But some. 

A few days ago on X there was post of a young female Sailor sonar technician answering the Secretary's call.  

It is right to correct the wrong done to these patriots. 

But restoring in kind their loss, limited to rank, service etc., is not right. 

In reality, it was a battlefield. Their resolved proved. Losing everything to preserve integrity mattered. That's what the brave do - the brave act. 

There is no answer as to the price tag of integrity and courage and leadership. 

Nor is there necessarily a price tag to the tangible and intangible losses suffered across the armed forces when these people sent home. 

But whatever that number it's pittance to the massive and disgraceful fraud, waste, and abuse ongoing in government. 

So, without going into an unnecessary explanation (as it ought be obvious), one more measure to make amends with the wronged and get many more of them back in uniform ...

Offer each, on top of what is already on the table, one million tax free dollars to return to active service. (Provide same to those who already returned). 

Not enough, of course, but something to compensate. 

By the way, constantly emerging data proves they were not only smart but right. 

The ranks need their presence - their smarts and skills yes, but also the strength of their integrity, courage, and leadership. 

Taking Emily Dickinson literally and figuratively, "Fortune befriends the bold." 

And I cannot close without noting, best of knowledge, not one admiral nor general put their stars on the table (not publicly, anyway) to walk point for the ten thousand brave men and women.

That's more than concerning. 

The Secretary of War has not sent enough of them, on duty at the time and still, home.