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Veterans at LSC react to bin Laden killing

By Sam Monroe

On May 6, 2011

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Almost ten years after a day of horror and death in the United States.

Almost ten years after soldiers invaded Afghanistan.

Almost ten years after George W. Bush vowed revenge.

Almost ten years, and now the alleged mastermind behind the Sept. 11, 2001 attack has been killed by the United States.

"He doesn't deserve to be the focus of attention," said Jason Clark, a senior at Lyndon State College who served five years in the U.S. Navy. "That should be reserved for our soldiers."

Clark, who recently formed the Veterans club on campus, was working at a Naval Hospital in Oak Harbor, Wash. On Sept. 11.

"I remember very clearly the TVs coming on and the hospital and everyone seemingly frozen in time as they stared at the horrific images on the screen.

"Since then thousands of my brothers and sisters have been killed or wounded in the war on terror," Clark said.

"I am happy he is dead and can't hurt my family anymore," Clark said. "However, I wish the media would move on. He doesn't deserve to be the focus of attention, that should be reserved for our soldiers."

"I joined in 2002, because of Sept. 11," said Joel Flores, a senior at Lyndon who served in the National Guard for the past eight years. "On Sunday I finally got satisfaction. May 1 will be a day all soldiers will remember for the rest of their lives. It's a sense of accomplishment, we did it."

"I feel very relieved, excited and most of all proud," said Flores. "We can all go to sleep at night feeling a little safer."

Flores along with Denis Nunez, another LSC student, both returned from Afghanistan recently.

"As a veteran just recently coming back," said Nunez, "It feels good to know we are getting ‘it' down over there.

"This is a great moral victory for all U.S. Armed Forces and the American people," Nunez said.

Some are viewing it a psychological win, however, the war may not be over but it is a stepping-stone.

"I think it's a good victory for the United States. It's a psychological victory," said Mark Hoffman. "He's really just kind of a figurehead at this point, but it's a psychological victory for the United States. It's a psychological defeat for al-Qaeda. It's a good thing."

The War Continues

Clark doesn't think this will be the end of the war on terror.

"He was not the first terrorist and he won't be the last," said Clark. "This war will continue unfortunately and our soldiers, my friends, my hero's will continue to make the ultimate sacrifice. They deserve our praise, our undying gratitude and all the love and respect we can give them."

"As far as the war itself, nothing changes," said Nunez. "The troops don't get to take a day off or sit one out just because a bad guy fell down."

"Be happy as civilians that you aren't the one that has to do the deed and that someone is willing to fight for your freedom; no matter what corner of the world it takes them to," said Nunez about his fellow soldiers.

Reporters Eric Blaisdell and Joe Schlee contributed to this story.