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Toothpaste tube tells it all By
KNOX HERNDON When the war in Iraq was gearing up, I heard on the evening news that the media would be given full access to the battlefield and would be accompanying our troops. I couldn't believe my eyes and ears. I said to my wife, who was watching with me, that this horrible mistake would be the beginning of the end. I was, of course, referring to the way we were totally sold out by our media in Viet Nam. I just couldn't believe America had not learned anything and was willingly making the same mistake again. I never thought I would be saying this but I was wg! (I used to love it when the "Fonz" on "Happy Days" could not say the word "wrong.") I hope I am not speaking too soon because the war is, in my opinion, being waged with superb coalition leadership and totally dedicated soldiers and I must admit that the media, because of the "toothpaste tube," is, so far, handling themselves honorably. Actually, it's about time that they join the "coalition of the willing" and work for America, and not our enemies as did Jane Fonda and others. If your wondering what this reference to the "toothpaste tube" is, let me explain. When a soldier is living out in the field, no matter what environment he or she is in will be reflected in their "toothpaste tube." When I was the Division Chaplain of the 6th Arctic Light Infantry Division with our Headquarters in Fairbanks, Alaska, we conducted many field exercises. The most "fun" was the one conducted in the dead of winter at Fort Greely, which, I might add, is the largest training site in the free world. Now Fort Greely is located south of Fort Wainwright (Fairbanks) and the place where all US Forces receive their cold weather winter training. It was also the cold weather test center for American industry to test equipment for sub zero use. To give you an idea of how cold it gets there, it is on the same longitude and latitude as Siberia. The names of the exercises were "Brim Frost" and "Arctic Shield." It was in this environment that we trained to fight and survive. On the last exercise that I participated in, it got down to 50 degrees below zero and we were in tents. Many Americans will never know the sacrifices American servicemen and women make for this country and our freedoms. Here is where the toothpaste tube comes in. If you survive sleeping in the minus 50 degrees below zero and you awake to start another day in the Arctic, you begin with the normal functions like anywhere; this being the brushing of your teeth. Well, all is well until you encounter a totally frozen solid tube of toothpaste. Now you have several options open to you. You can take it over to the glowing cherry red yukon stove and begin a "drop it on the stove but keep it moving in a BBQ rotisserie fashion," or you can leave it on too long and have melted toothpaste tube and burnt toothpaste on your brush. There is, of course, another option. You can unbutton the many layers of Arctic clothing and put it under your arm to slowly warm it. This, of course, has its problems because you have just let out any warmth your shivering body has created. Then there is the shock of the frozen toothpaste tube under your arm. Some soldiers tried keeping the toothpaste tube in the sleeping bag with them. This, of course, has its problems because you can imagine what a tube of toothpaste can do to a person and their sleeping bag while they toss and turn all night to stay warm. I saw some often comical, but at the same time tragic, situations of someone who woke up to endless toothpaste all over them. Then there is the joy of getting some "unfrozen" water to clean up the mess. The beat goes on! I am saying this to point out that the idea that to have the press accompany the front line and rear troops was brilliant. These men and women are finally learning what our gallant troops face on a daily basis. I certainly do realize, however, that many of the press teams are living in grand hotels while our troops brave sand storms and real hardships of live combat. It will be interesting to see when real serious problems do occur with this war with Iraq, and they will, that the media who were on the front lines with our soldiers remember the "sand in their toothpaste" and not sell out in their reporting of what President Bush and our "coalition of the willing" is trying to do. God Bless our Godly President, his entire staff, our allies of "the willing," our soldiers of all branches, and the true reporters who remember the "sand in their toothpaste." Long live freedom and the soon liberation of the Iraqi people. The Rev. Dr. Knox Herndon is pastor of His House Community Church (SBC). The Rev. Greg Mausz is senior associate pastor. The Rev. Dr. Lydia Herndon is the Sunday School superintendent, Bible study coordinator and teacher. The church is just below Fayetteville, on Ga. Highway 85, a mile south of Ga. Highway 16, just below the fire station. Visitors welcome. Church office and prayer line 770-719-2365; e-mail KHERN2365@aol.com. The church's new Web site is www.hishousecommunitychurch.com.
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