Iraq vet plans to return his medals in protest

Not Josh Gaines*

Some people do have the courage of their convictions and here's one of them:

An Iraq war veteran said Tuesday he is returning his military medals in what anti-war groups are calling a rare and powerful protest. Josh Gaines, 27, plans to mail the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and National Defense Service Medal to former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. He said he will do so during a protest scheduled for Wednesday in Madison. "I'm going to give those back because I truly feel that I did not defend my nation and I did not help with the Global War on Terrorism," said Gaines, who lives in Madison. "If anything, this conflict has bred more terrorism in the Middle East."

First Lt Ehren Watada comes to mind. He had much more to risk than the loss of a few medals for exhibiting the courage of his convictions, but each does what s/he can. They are both heroes.

*I'm going for art here. Come on. Go along with it. And no, I don't think he's peeing. It just looks that way. OK, I thought that too. We both need help.

Via Signs of the Times.