We are the Partiots.

In the events that unfold in the world daily there is much of pain, suffering, tyranny and death. Much of war and too little of peace. Over the past few weeks I have worked on the trauma team at the National Naval Medical Center and participated in the care of the brave men and women who have been wounded in Iraq.

The scenes are disturbing, and worse then any movie gore that is used to portray what is the tragedy of war. These brave men and women suffer through months in the hospital, being left different then what they were before. The psychological damage, done, the physical recovery just beginning.

I enter the OR and see who will be our patient for today. After moving him to the operating table he is positioned and prepared to be irrigated and debreded. His wounds are washed out with a hand tool that shoots saline into the wound and sucks up the debris. After this is completed silver impregnated foam is cut to fit over the still open wounds, and are held in place with a wound vac. War is an ugly thing. I have seen the results first hand.

The blood of these brave men and women have washed the soils of Iraq and Afghanistan. In so doing they have helped liberate those who were under tyrannical reigns of Saddam Hussein and the Taliban. In so doing they have moved the fight against terrorism off our soil. They have given their all for our freedom. The failures and setbacks aside we should never forget those who have served us so bravely. Some have given their lives. Others will never live a day without the memory of their service written in the scars on their bodies.

Let us all be grateful. Whenever you hear someone complain about the way things are, or stand on the mall in Washington in defiance of the war, remember a soldier, sailor, and marine has given their all to let them do it. That is what makes America so great. Let it be that way always.

By Samuel Grindstaff