From a heartbroken veteran

[babylonsister]

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/17/2373611/-From-a-heartbroken-veteran?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web

From a heartbroken veteran
Zeeksmom, author
by Zeeksmom
Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 5:33:49p EDT


I served 24 years, active and reserve, in the United States Marine Corps. I am watching the values I learned and cherished torn apart by one of the smallest men I’ve ever seen, abetted by other small men and equally diminished women.

My heart goes out to the military members who are literally caught in the middle of this insanity. Yes, they/I have a duty to disobey illegal orders, but if you have not served, you have no idea how difficult that is. The pressure from all sides to conform, fall in line, do as you’re told, is immense. That is the entire rationale of the military, especially close order drill: it is designed to instill instantaneous obedience to orders. The premise is that obeying without thinking will save your life in combat, when there’s no time to debate right and wrong.

Thus, disobeying Trump is almost impossible. And if the military does defy him, what you have is a military coup. That, as everyone knows, is not a desirable result; it can turn ugly very very quickly. We need only look at the regimes that have risen in South America and Africa after such a coup to see that having the military in charge is no one’s idea of a good outcome.

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Murdering children is not honorable. Enriching a lying, cowardly pedophile is not honorable. Supporting billionaires and senators and toxic cosplaying “warriors” who are happy to kill Americans to pump their egos and bank accounts is not honorable. Double tap strikes against surrendering troops is not only not honorable, it is a war crime.

I pray the Joint Chiefs find the strength to do the unthinkable and defy the illegal orders from the White House. But if they cannot find that courage, I understand that as well.

And my heart remains broken.