I had to stop and take a moment to say a heartfelt "thank you" to you for your public commentary and praise of our troops. My son is currently deployed to Iraq and serves in the Infantry in a Stryker Brigade -- he has been to Baghdad and is now serving in Baqubah. He has almost half of a 15 month tour behind him. My husband resigned from his job as a Chemist earlier this year to join at an older age. He had no prior service and jumped into the ranks at the age of 40 after training for year to prepare. He was able to out run the young 'uns around him in basic combat training (as well as show them how well a gray headed man can do push ups too!). He is now an Officer Candidate. He is at home nursing a fracture sustained during his training, but is headed back to Ft. Benning next week.
Mr. Stein, when my husband decided to join we joined as a family. We sold our home and we have moved twice this past summer. I am staying here in our home state of TN while my husband finishes his training, and then we will join him later when we can live together again. It has been hard. The sacrifice of having to give up home ownership and a significant cut in pay was difficult, but the time apart from my husband and my son has been the most taxing. Most days I can keep it all in perspective, but when I hear negative and hateful things being said about our military it really does cut to the quick. Your words are like a healing balm. It is so reaffirming to me to see you on television, using that platform, to remind the public of what our military men and women give up for them every day. Your writing feels like a personal note that you wrote just to me (and I am sure many wives and moms feel that way) as a note of encouragement.
Even when a member is not deployed there are sacrifices involved on nearly every level of service. It's not that we all want a huge shirt to say "We sacrifice so much all the time..." It's just nice to hear others remember. It calms the sting. It give me hope that when my son returns from fighting in Iraq he will not have to come home to another battle here like so many of our military members did after Vietnam.
Thank you again. Keep up the great work. You are truly a blessing to me and my family, and we deeply appreciate you!
Those military men are the stars and you are my hero for writing this book!!!! I just found out about it and I'm going to buy it today and read it! I applaud you for your stance. My husband is a veteran but thankfully never had to fight in a war. He was an Army Nurse for just a few years. My father however, is a 3 war veteran and he is my personal hero. We had it tough growing up and he wasn't the friendliest dad, but I love him dearly and count my blessings that he had the fortitude and guts to stay in the military long enough to serve me and my country for as long as he did. I honor my heritage because of him.
I would like to know if there are programs for the military families or is there someway that those of us who do support their husbands, fathers, and brothers, can personally let them know how how we feel?
Even if I could be a pen pal, so to speak to a military wife, I think that would be awesome!! I will do some googling, but if you have any advice, let me know.
First and most importantly I wish to thank you so very much for your stance on our military and their families! It is refreshing to hear a celebrity such as yourself taking a stand for such an undervalued institution. My sister is a United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt and has completed two tours of Iraq to date. We have been blessed to have her returned home to us alive, well and all in one piece (mentally as well as physically), I know of so many that are not as lucky. I am currently in nursing school and I hope to work in a Veterans Hospital or a Fisher House facility when I am finished. I heard of your book through a web link to your Fox News interview and ordered it today. I am so excited to read it. Do you by chance do book signings or anything of that nature? I completely understand if you do not, I am sure you are terribly busy these days. Please know that all you are doing and have done for the military and their families is remembered with heartfelt appreciation! Thank you again so very much and have a very blessed day!
I'd like to thank you for your new book "The Real Stars in Today's America: Who are the True Heros?" As a retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant with 22 years of service you have hit the nail on the head... I as a Marine am tired of hearing of these so called heroes of today... I have witnessed many acts of valor on our part of the miltary, but nary one on the so called media or film industry.... I have passed on your book to fellow Marines for their view and comments in which will concide w/mine... You are one Great American and should be praised for your letting your voice be read in the media, and heard on the airwaves of TV, Radio, ect.
As a ol GySgt who served in the latter years of Vietnam and during During Desert Storm your wisdom is a breath of fresh air... What is happening in todays time is the same thing that happened during Vietnam... In fact Gen. Giap NVA said it right that if we had continued bombing North Vietnam they would of accepted a Surrender Proculmation, but our liberal media, and gov't stopped it when it was just around the corner....
Please keep the Miltary and our way of Life in your Prayers. Semper Fidelis.
I was just recently sent a video via email where you were talking about your new book The Real Stars. I have to say that I was a little bit more than impressed with your words on that newscast.
I have known of you since seeing you in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and even watched an episode of your show Win Ben Stein's Money. But, for the most part, that was all I really knew. Then, I saw this clip. Shortly after I watched it, I went to your site and began reading some of the essay's you've written over the years. I have to say I am again impressed.
I work for the Air Force in San Antonio Texas which is also home to Brooke Army Medical Center, and the Center for the Intrepid. I am a Radio and TV Broadcaster, working for the Air Force News Agency, and I have seen, on more than one occasion, those that you refer to as The Real Stars. These men and women have lost limbs, and sometimes so much more yet their spirits remain high. I have stood in an elevator with a boy not much older than my son, who was making fun of the limited mobility of his wheelchair. When the Center for the Intrepid opened, I stood behind a woman Soldier who was standing at attention during the playing of the National Anthem. It took me a second to realize that the reason she was having such a hard time standing was that she only had one leg; yet she refused to use her crutches while saluting.
To see these things is pretty humbling. For now I work in an air conditioned building in downtown San Antonio, but in the future I will be in Iraq and/or Afghanistan. However, I know that what I have now is SO much better than what the folks down range are dealing with.
Thank you for taking the time to recognize those men and women in harm's way. Even though we hear much about America supporting us, it is sometimes hard to actually see because the press has blinded us with the life and times of Paris Hilton, and whether a Senator should wear an American flag pin.
I just received an email with a clip attached regarding your statements about the military as heroes. I am speechless and all I can say is thank you for the words you said. I just got a gift certificate for my birthday from my mother-in-law and plan on using it to go find your book in one of the local book stores some where here in Twin Falls, Idaho. You are a wonderful American, God Bless you.
My name is Sergeant Brenton xxxx, I am in the Arnizona Army National Guard. One year ago I left the Army after four and a half years in the 3rd Infantry Division and two deployments to Iraq. I just want to say that I truly appriciate what you said on Fox News. People like you are the reason we soldiers wake up in the morning and continue on. There is so much negativity in the world today and it gets hard to watch the news or read the paper when the negativity is about us or what we are doing. Ben Stein, thank you for your comments and faith in your military. We are here to serve and protect this great nation and the people in it. I guarantee the comments you made have motivated and helped put pride back into hundereds of soldiers serving around the world.
I just got an email from my father, a Vietnam Vet. It is an interview that you did I believe in Sept. of 2005 on Fox news. You spoke very highly of the military and I want to thank you. My husband is currently in the Army and facing his third tour to war. He is currently stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky. with the 101st Airborne Division and has been since 2003. We have two children and a very strong marriage. The American people do not stop to think that we don't want to send our husbands, son, daughters, etc. to war but this is what we do. We do not do it for the pay or for the glory. Like you said they do it so their children don't have to. They do it for the love of this country. They do it for me and for you. My husband, Kevin, has been in the Army since 1998. We could get out and not have to worry about deployments anymore but this is part of who we all are.
Our children, Brianna age 9 and Cary age 7, now know that when there daddy comes home from a deployment that he won't be home long. In the time that they are home they still have to train, go to schools, and prepare for the next up coming deployment. Just like everyone else our lives changed so much on Sept. 11th but we don't have the opportunity to forget since we are still living this everyday. Mr. Stein, I wanted to take the time to thank you for supporting us! We do not hear about people supporting us very often. Thank you from the very bottom of this Army wives heart.
I must tell you how much I admire your words of wisdom in articles, commentaries, and speeches. I truly believe you have been given a special gift from God in public speaking and giving the listeners the wisdom we need to hear! It's time to get back to good common sense in this country. Things have gone off track concerning morality, who our "heroes" are, etc.
I am a college professor of Clinical Laboratory Science. I have seen a drastic change in work ethic, lack of manners, and extreme rudeness expressed by adults. They are raising their children the same way, setting the horrible example.
Keep up the good work. I smile when I see your Alaskan salmon commercial. I think that just your presence on any commercial commands people to listen.
That's your gift. You get people to listen and think!
God Bless You! You are a true American. Your comments may have fallen on quite a few deaf ears, but have hit their mark in mine. I have served in the US Army for 21+ years now with just a few remaining. Currently I am in what is called a TDA (none deployable) Unit, however I came here from one of the most deployed support units in the military, "249 Engineer Battalion, Prime Power." My former subordinate Soldiers are still conducting deployment rotations and there isn't a moment goes by that I don't think of them and their families. What magnifies the Prime Power sacrifice is that they deploy in support of Disaster Relief for Homeland Security, Post support, and Support the Warfighter missions globally. When I first entered the Prime Power Unit, I spent approximately 70% of my first tour either deployed to Bosnia or other countries and missions around the world. That was pre 9/11. Now my Brother Prime Power Soldiers are continuously rotated in and out of Iraq, Afghanistan, and other I.F. supporting countries. When you said that they are the true heroes, I was moved to write to you. The support that you give to our fallen Hero's families is a great comfort to me. I am one of the lucky ones that haven't sustained any physical injuries, but I work in the DC area, and I see my fellow Soldiers with theirs, all I can do is say thank you for serving and try to do what I can to make them feel appreciated. However, from one Soldier to another just isn't the same as when the citizens of the Country we defend say it. So, with that, I want to say to you; Thank You, you are a great American.
I have enjoyed your commentary for many years now. After watching your appearance on Foxs'
"Fox and Friends" I felt the need to thank you. Your sense of right and wrong is refreshing. Thank you for pointing out the obvious to this morally crumbling nation. It is a sad day when drug addicted hollywood stars take precedence over the battles being fought by our loved ones. The brush off attitude displayed by the "American elitist" have angered me greatly. As a veteran, I have developed a burning rage towards the leaders of the Democratic party for their ability and willingness to play political games with the lives of our brothers in arms. Please, Mr. Stein, continue the good fight.
Watched the blurb on your new book about the real hero's and I thought I would just say that as a Vietnam Vet and a member of the PGR in Utah I would like to thank you for standing up for those who stood for us! I have bought a copy and am now reading it.
And although I realize you have about a million things going on.... well I wanted to say thank you very much. Found the books in a brown cardboard box on the front porch today, and was thrilled. Started reading The Real Stars tonight in the tub, and found myself sobbing at the ends of Chapters 1-4, and 5. I am enjoying it very much, and I now the others will enjoy it as well.
I have discovered that we have a mutual acquaintance, LT Adam Jackman and the Jackman family. LT Jackman just joined my husband's Company in Baghdad near Sadr City, Iraq. My husband is the commander of C Company, 2d Brigade Support Battalion, 2d Infantry Division and runs a trauma center/hospital on the forward operating base there. I maintain his Family Readiness Group back home at Ft. Carson, Colorado.
When I received your "Open Letter" from February of this year a while back, I was deeply moved and had it posted as a link on our Battalion web site to show that there are those who care deeply about what our military is doing. This is so important, as many in this nation, Hollywood and the media have forgotten.
We have reached our one-year mark of an extended 15-month tour, and God willing the soldiers from our unit will make it home for some of the holiday season. Each day brings more change to the region, and our troops closer to a return.
Being a fellow writer, I am passing along an article I wrote prior to their departure for our post newspapers (the local and mainstream media wouldn't print it). Hope you enjoy, and thank your for all that you are doing to support our men and women in uniform!
I just completed reading your book "The Real Stars", and I would like to express my gratitude to you for this excellent tribute to our military. There were many things in the book that I can identify with, my father served in North Africa and Italy as a Flight Surgeon and Bomber Pilot in World War II, I made a career in the Air Force with a little time spent in Southeast Asia, and I had the joy and honor of swearing my youngest daughter into the Army as a Second Lieutenant.
I think the troops have it worse in Iraq than I did in Vietnam, their lot is closer to what my father experienced. After he was killed in 1976, I found a letter he had written to a Pastor in which he said that he would never forget the smell of burning aluminum and human flesh until the day he died. It is hard to imagine the hell some of our heroes have had to endure.
Well, I am sure you get thousands of letters like mine, so I will keep it short. Thank you for your support of those who soldier-on in the face of adversity. May God bless you sir.
I have just purchased and almost finished your book The Real Stars. I cannot thank you enough for writing this book. My Grandfather on my Dad's side served as a pilot in WWII, my Mother's father served in the Army completing three tours in Vietnam and two in Korea to go on to serve as a sheriff's deputy in California until his stroke forced him to retire. My father is a retired Air Force colonel who served 31 years as fighter pilot and had two tours in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm as well as volunteering to spend a year in Baghdad as his final assignment in the service, my mother is still an active duty Lt. Col in the Air Force Reserves as a flight nurse, my brother is a brand new addition to the United States Marine Corps as a military police officer, and my boyfriend is about to get out of the Army after serving three years with the Old Guard here in Washington DC where he gave the men and women who died for us the honorable send off that they deserve. Clearly I come from a very strong military background and I cannot begin to describe my love for our men and women who serve in the armed forces. It is so nice to see SOMEONE in Hollywood acknowledge how little recognition and thanks MY heroes get for what they volunteer to do just so that jerks like Sean Penn can do and say the things that they do. I really just wanted to convey to you my many thanks for saying what I have been thinking for so long.
