February 23, 2005
PFC Trent Helmkamp and the "Train Wreck" Headed His Way
By: Jack Dalton
Recently, during one of his "staged" and "managed" so-called "press conferences," George W. Bush, while spinning his disinformation about social security, coined a phrase that has really stuck with me; "...when you see a train wreck coming you..." I fully understand he used this in reference to his imaginary "problem" about social security, but he inadvertently made a very good point. And that is the simple fact that there is a "train wreck" coming; and it's coming directly at us with the throttle wide open.
Bush and company just were wrong in terms of what the "train wreck" coming is. It has nothing to do with social security and everything to do with who has control over one's very own life - the individual, or as is happening now, the "state?"
One more thing to add to this before explaining what I see as the "train wreck" heading our way, and that is simply this: It is most assuredly possible to have the trapping of democracy without being a democracy in actual fact or practice. What I mean by this will also become clear as this essay proceeds and it has everything to do with how many rights we really have when it comes to our own lives and how we will live them.
First, let me illustrate what I mean, at least in part, with this story about a young man, Trent Helmkamp, who just turned 19 years old who is out of high school less than one year; who is in the Marine Corps and currently stationed at the Marine Corps base, Camp Lejeune, N.C. This is where Marines are sent after initial boot camp training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. for what is referred to as ITR or "Advanced Infantry training Regiment," at least that is what it was called when I was in, and I like using that term still.
This is not a short story, nor is it a singular story, so grab a seat, a cup of "fair trade" coffee or what ever you happen to like, and get ready to be angered, as was I after multiple conversations over the phone with Trent's mother and father. And after reading the letters, reports and correspondence between Trent's attorney - Charles Gittins - Trent's parents and the Marine Corps, the shock turned to complete outrage.
Trent's story will also point out the absolute need to get military recruiters out of this nation's high schools! And get them out we must! At least as they exist and currently operate on the grounds of high schools today.
Trent Helmkamp was a 17 year old junior in high school when the paperwork for Delayed Entry in the Marine Corps was filled out, signed, sealed and delivered, that was in June, 2003. Now, February, 2005, Trent is at Camp Lejeune, N.C. being treated like a criminal; being publicly embarrassed by those in "command and control;" being "hazed" by what is supposed to be "fellow" Marines to the point he has had to have stitches in his face from being assaulted. The realities of what the Marine Corps does and how - fight and kill the "enemy;" and how it trains, hard and brutally - caught up with Trent at boot camp and it was then and there he knew that he could not pick up a weapon to kill another human being, nor would he.
It was during boot camp that Trent was confronted with the reality of being in the Marine Corps and the Corps mission. It was not till boot camp that Trent began to understand what is meant when said of the Corps, "First in and last out;" as the first and foremost job of every Marine is that of a frontline rifleman. It was in boot camp that Trent learned the hard way, as have many others before him, myself included (USMC, 9/63—12/67) that there is a huge difference between what the recruiters tell you and what, in fact, you will not only be expected to do, but required to do.
That's a very rude awakening for someone who is now just barely 18 and relatively fresh out of high school. And who was showered with gifts from recruiters while still in high school, as was Trent, while being told of all the "sweet" jobs he could have and wonderful duty stations, and don't forget the money for college.
It was also in boot camp that Trent came to the realization he had made one very big mistake in wanting to be a Marine. He came to know that he could not deliberately train for the purpose of taking another human beings life, period, end of story. The knowledge that he could not kill, would not kill, nor would he train to kill came about when he was sent to the rifle range to train with not only the rifle, but with bayonet as well.
The human shaped rifle targets became someone's mother, father, brother, sister, son and daughter to Trent as he aimed thru the sights of his rifle. When Trent was told to imagine the bayonet dummy to be a human being, Trent knew right then and there he could not nor would he be a participant in the taking of a human life. And while being taught "to stomp on someone's throat to kill them" his belief of the wrongness of war, all war, crystallized and Trent became a Conscientious Objector, only he had yet to put a name to what he knew and felt in mind and heart - there was no way he would train to kill.
As Trent has stated, "I will not kill and I will not bear arms, to include bearing arms in order to train to kill. If I am ordered to bear arms, I will disobey such order." But I'm getting ahead of myself with Trent's story and current situation. So I'll back up just a little.
Trent was a 17 year old high school student when he "considered" taking the Marine Corps recruiters up on the Delayed Entry Program. Kids still in school like Trent with their parents consent "sign up" (parents have to sign the paperwork for anyone under 18) and as soon as they graduate, off to boot camp. Trent's parents, initially, were not in agreement with his desire to sign up for the Delayed Entry Program and at first would not agree to sign the consent papers for him. Trent did what all kids do when they are told "no" by mom and dad - he dug his heels in and became more determined to get them to sign the consent papers.
From what Trent's mom and dad have told me in our many conversations, Trent begged, pleaded, asked and kept on asking, typical of all kids who are determined and who have "made up" their minds on something. It took Trent a few weeks, but in the end his parents finally acquiesced and signed the consent forms. In June of 2004, Trent, having graduated high school that month, was off to boot camp at Parris Island, S.C.
That Trent's father is a career Naval Officer and Navy Diver, with 25 years active duty, more than likely had a sizeable influence on Trent and his wanting to be a Marine. His mother, Kathie believes so, and I pretty much agree with her on that point. Based on many conversations with Trent's father, it is a safe assumption he thinks that also.
I can hear the "comments" and questions from here, "Why would they sign the papers for Trent while he was only 17 and in high school, especially with his father being on active duty, a career officer, and with a war going on?" Do not be hard on either of them. How many of you who ask that question have a dug in determined 17 year old son? That is a formidable force to oppose especially when you add a Marine recruiter to the mix. And keep in mind also, that very few active duty personnel actually know anything about how recruiters actually work, just like the majority of the public in this country do not know.
On top of that, keep in mind that Trent's father is a Navy diver and, as such, is pretty much separated from all the other facets of the military and its mission, whatever that may be at any given point in time. That's the kind of military Trent grew up with and saw. A far cry from what he would be confronted with in boot camp. Trent, his father, and his mother have been going thru one big learning experience since Trent has declared himself, as a matter of conscience, a conscientious objector; which has not been easy or pleasant to say the least.
Trent graduated boot camp and went home for "leave" in September of last year. According to his parents, when Trent came home; "He was depressed and confused and was sent to see a military Chaplain and a mental health counselor at the Marine base close to our home. He knew he was now a part of something that would expect things from him that he couldn't do."
It was while he was home on leave that he first learned of "conscientious objectors." Up until that time Trent had no idea that someone in the military who became opposed to war could apply for status as a conscientious objector and possibly be discharged. The conviction that war, all war, was inherently wrong that had crystallized within him at the rifle range earlier now had a name - Trent declared himself a conscientious objector and requested status as such to his commanding officer when he returned to Camp Lejeune from his leave.
Trent is now learning another lesson and this one is not pretty either. He is now learning that all Marines do not take care of each other; they do not all watch each others back; and they are not all supportive of their fellow Marines - especially when a Marine is directly and indirectly publicly insulted and humiliated by what is essentially "command and control" as is Trent after declaring himself a C.O. In fact he has been attacked by a "fellow" Marine once already and that required stitches. So much for Semper Fi - as a former Marine, and a combat Marine, that hurts to see and say. This new national policy of "perpetual war for perpetual peace" has more than just a little to do with men like Trent being treated in this manner.
Trent is a role model of and for ethics, integrity, and honor. "He realizes that going against the crowd may be the hardest thing he has done," but he is willing to do just that "even if it means going to jail." That is strength of moral conviction. That is character to be admired. That is courage at a level which most men only think about and here is an 18 year old exhibiting just that. Trent, at 19 has more courage and strength of conviction than what I have seen in anyone in sometime - he is more man than most, that I do know, and one to be respected and greatly admired!
Those who have the temerity, the audacity to condemn Trent, could learn from him the meaning of courage, loyalty and honor. Instead however, Trent has been, and is currently being subjected to everything but fair and just treatment. Which so far he has not even come close to receiving; if anything, the treatment Trent has received by his "superiors" has been not only dismissive but extremely antagonistic as well; just as the military is to all who apply for conscientious objector status.
One road block after another has been thrown in front of Trent after he declared and filed paperwork for status as a C.O. In fact, the investigating officer assigned to Trent's case acted more like a prosecuting attorney rather than just follow the law and carry on an impartial investigation into the legitimacy of Trent's application. During one session with the investigator, Trent was belittled and berated by this so-called "investigator" who then proceeded to tell Trent that he "found his letters of support annoying." These were letters from active duty military, some of which held very high positions of authority within the military. But, the investigator found them "annoying." Give me a break! That's not an investigating officer; that is someone bound and determined to find any reason at all to deny Trent's application. The Marine Corps hates to lose. And if it was to approve Trent's application, the Marine Corps would view that as them losing and that it cannot allow.
The "interviewer" came at Trent as if he were a criminal. There was no impartiality whatsoever; he came into the interview attempting to bait Trent and proceeded to treat him with little to no respect or dignity. But, then that is the Marine Corps way when one stands like a man of conscience as is young Trent Helmkamp. One Major in Trent's command even went so far as to tell Trent if he went UA (unauthorized absence) or did anything wrong that they would keep him there forever. While another one suggested Trent go UA and that way he could get out with other than an honorable discharge, but at least he would be out, as it was stated. Now you tell me, how nuts is that?
There is so very, very much more to this, but that is for another essay. Trent's father wrote a letter to Senator Warner and it is a must read. In it he confronted the entire issue of conscientious objector status in a way I have never seen anyone else ever do, and I strongly urge all to read it. You will be able to better understand the entire process and how it is geared to deny and not help. In his letter, Trent's father made some rather profound observations about the entire process and what his son has been subjected to.
A Marine LT. at Camp Legeune - on condition of anonymity - told Trent's parents not long ago, "By letting your son go, they, the Marines, will feel like they have lost, and the Marines are trained to always win." And in this instance they want to win even at the expense of what is right and at Trent's expense, as it is his life they are attempting to turn upside down and to a large degree already have. In the meantime Trent, who is at the same base as was Jason, the young man the Marine Corps is trying to say killed himself, is going thru essentially the same type of brutality and harassment as did Jason - you take it from there. I only know this; I am more than just a little concerned for his safety, health and well being.
Letter from Trent's Mother http://oldamericancentury.org /trent.htm
Letter to Senator Warner from Trent's Father http://oldamericancentury.org /trent_002.htm
Rebuttal to Investigating Officers Report http://oldamericancentury.org /trent_001.htm
My Concluding Thoughts and the "Train Wreck" I See Coming
The "train wreck" I see coming is the one that has been created by this current administration and the entire concept of "perpetual war for perpetual peace" or as those who occupy this nation's seat of power like to put it, "preventive wars." How do you prevent war by going to war as the aggressor?
This nation incarcerates more of its own citizens than does any nation on earth. We have many in prison for murder, and for those who are in fact guilty, that's where they belong. At the same time, when a young man such as Trent stands up and states that he cannot train to kill, he will not train to kill, nor will he ever kill another human being, he is threatened with prison for not wanting to kill! Right now today, we have people in prison who have been convicted of murder and in the cell next to them, are people in prison due to the fact they said no to killing as has Trent. Is this not insane?
And I will not accept as some have tried to tell me, "That's different. They are in the military and the military's job is to kill." Hogwash! In general it takes a lot to train people to get over their natural aversion to taking a life. The military trains and indoctrinates young men into a culture of "killing" and then sends them off to war where killing is the order of the day and too often a matter of personal survival. Then they come home, all twisted by war where you learn to act and react instantly to "adverse" situations and that same type of reaction is with them.
The next thing you hear, is another combat vet has killed his family (it happened a couple of years ago at Ft Brag) or his girlfriend while in a rage (a man was just sentenced for 2nd degree murder here in Oregon recently - he had just recently come back from Iraq) and they all end up where - in prison. And those two are far from singular events! Go to prison for killing - go to prison for not killing.
If that is not a "train wreck" I have no idea what qualifies as one.
At one time in this nation individuals had the right to choose how to live their own lives; what they would do; where they would work; what kind of work they would do; at least until now. If, when after starting a "job" the individual decided, nope, this is not for me, they could quit and move on from there. Now we are in a situation where a person that goes into the military full of John Wayne movies, highly trained military recruiters who know how to get inside a kids head and computer generated war games gets confronted with the reality of the military and its mission says, "nope, I cannot do this," and then is criminalized for not wanting to kill or even learn how to kill.
"Is this what we have allowed this nation to become? Lives that are not our own, but the states to do with as it will when it will? That's not an all volunteer military, that's called forced indenture - once it was called slavery."
Now we are facing the very real possibility of more wars other than the two currently going on in Iraq and Afghanistan - Iran and Syria: Hi Ho Hi Ho, It's Off to War We Go has to quickly become the mantra for this country since Bush and company have gained the seat of power - this must not be allowed to continue or many more lives will be destroyed - if not by participation in war, then by the U.S. military that will eat it's own if they choose, as has young Trent Helmkamp, to say no, I will not train to kill nor will I participate in killing, period, end of story!
Jack Dalton is a disabled Vietnam veteran and co-editor of the Project for the Old American Century publication http://oldamericancentury.org /index.htm Also: at Trent's parents request, anyone wanting to contact them or Trent, send an email to me at the above link or to jack_dalton@comcast.net and it will be forwarded to them. Trent's attorney may be contacted at cgittins@aol.com