One From Many. Standing for the Oath and the Law

I think it’s impossible to be a young person and join the Armed Forces and not realize just how large and diverse of a country the United States really is.  For me it’s been more than 50 years since I first put on the uniform, and I still remember the names and the faces of my fellow soldiers from Arkansas, and Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Louisiana, Oregon and from different parts of my home state of California, and from New Mexico too.  People who had different experiences in their upbringing, who didn’t all look like me or believe the same things I did, but we were one from many.

We were taught that we were carrying out our oath to the Constitution by following the orders of our superiors, and we were also taught the commitments of the Geneva Conventions regarding unlawful orders.  Unlawful orders are not to be obeyed.  

I can’t think of a better way to show my support, regardless of any political leanings, for my fellow Americans serving on active duty and activated national guard who may face the difficult challenge of refusing an illegal order.  

Demonstrating my support on Thursday December 11, 2025 for Operation Northstar, for everyone in uniform who upholds the protocols of the Geneva Conventions is important to me because I’m a citizen of a marvelous country where we all know right from wrong.

Listen to my statement about Venezuela here.