Oklahoma Father Regrets Losing His Son

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I started farming in the late '70s from scratch. The following year before we embargoed grain to Russia because they invaded Afghanistan. I'm sure that most farmers would remember by the early '80s there were more auctions than you could attend. I had to work as a carpenter in town, harder than most city folks, to make land payments and pay expenses. There was no FHA loan, so it was the only choice; but I finally got some breathing room by the late '90s. Then, Sept. 11 happened.

My son was in high school at the time. As all citizens we would salute the flag at every sporting event. I was shocked when he came home and wanted to join the Marines. A recruiter had a desk at school and became friends with my son. A professional football player even joined. My son went in at 19 and was sent back in a sealed coffin at 22 from Iraq.

In Trent Loos' July 7 column, "Get a bang out of this," he does not question entering the war in Iraq and says it is best for him as a citizen. While I agree with other parts of Trent's article, the U.N. questioned this decision and every American citizen should question it as well. Five years later I know they chose faulty intelligence and discredited ones with good intelligence. Trent Loos said the U.S. was built on the backs of capitalistic entrepreneurs. My son died so that those entrepreneurs can make more money next year than last year: Haliburton, KBR, Blackwater, Lockheed-Martin, Shell, ExxonMobil, Hunt Oil, British Petroleum, many ex-generals and admirals. The list goes on and on. Twenty-two billion dollars spent through the Pentagon is unaccounted for. What farmer would occupy a neighbor's land because he could overpower him? Trent Loos has not talked to one family directly involved that is regretful.

The young men who spent the most time with my son the last three years, said he talked about becoming a coach; but they told him he was going to be a farmer. We will never know, but this dad is regretful he died over lies. I see fewer companies buy fat cattle and grain, and less in pork and poultry. There are fewer retail stores on main street. Could a few companies also control our military--like maybe 374 votes for the war and 156 against?

--John Scripsick, Wayne, Okla.