Decorated Veteran Calls For Shows Of Support For Troops

A Medal of Honor winner from the Vietnam War is expressing his support for the troops involved in the conflict in Iraq, and expressing concern about support, or lack of it, from Americans back home. Retired Colonel Don Ballard of Kansas City – who served in the Navy, the Marines, and the Army – says some Americans who consider their support for the war might change their views if it doesn’t end quickly. He says that would be bad for the morale of the troops. Colonel Ballard, who was a paramedic during the Vietnam War, says widespread protests against the troops taking part in the Vietnam War hurt the effort, and he hopes the same does not happen in this conflict.