Opinion : To the Editor: Consider the person wearing that military uniform

A post-Veterans Day reflection:

On Aug. 12, 1972, after a one — year tour of duty with the 388th Combat Support Group in Korat, Thailand, I was discharged from the U.S. Air Force at Travis Air Force Base, Calif. With discharge papers in hand and wearing my Air Force uniform, I took a cab to San Francisco International Airport.

When arriving at the terminal, I discovered a war protest going on, with a crowd of people carrying signs. As I exited my cab with my gear in hand, a U.S. Army soldier exited his cab behind me. We were immediately spotted by the protesters, who the surrounded us, yelling “baby killers,” spitting on us and striking us with their signs.

One protester stepped in front of the Army soldier and spit an oyster-sized glob of spit into his face. Shoulder to shoulder, we finally made it to the glass doors of the terminal, where the police were controlling access, much to our relief.

The doors of the terminal were opened for us and we were stunned to see that the police were angry with us! We were quickly and roughly escorted to a room where there were other GIs waiting. We were ordered to remain there until our flight was to leave.

I finally boarded, and later upon landing, I was never so glad to see a land called Iowa as I was at that moment.

Reflecting on this 42 years later, I have concluded that at that time and place, wearing a uniform became a symbol to those protesters and police. They didn’t know me, but they knew the uniform.

Now, in 2014, I know that symbols are powerful things and people will strike out at them. A few come to mind: The federal building in Oklahoma City, the Twin Towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

As a veteran in more ways than one, I would remind Americans: Symbols are inert. When they are struck, it is often innocent people behind them who suffer.

Roger Beau of rural Vinton is a four-year veteran of the Vietnam War who is retired from the Qwest telephone company.