OPINION: Letter, Don Damm

The leadership of the Department of Defense (DOD), senior civilians and the admirals and generals failed to provide the means for our servicemen to protect themselves against terrorism.

Let's review the unnecessary killing of 22 Army, Navy and Marines and the wounding of an additional 40.

First, at Fort Hood, Texas, on Nov. 5, 2009, terrorist (Islam jihadist) Army Major Nidal Hason killed 14 (including a pregnant women and her unborn child) and wounded 32 unarmed Army personnel. The killing was stopped by an Army civilian police woman. No Army military were armed in the Deployment Processing Center.

Next, on July 16, 2015 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, at the Military Recruiting Center and at a separate location at the Navy Reserve Center, a terrorist (Islam jihadist) shot and killed four Marines and a sailor. Again, none of the military were armed, and finally the terrorist was killed by a Navy civilian policeman.

The latest killing took place on Dec. 6, 2019, at the Pensacola Naval Air Station Base in Florida, where three young sailors were killed and eight wounded. This killing at the Navy Flight Training Facility was accomplished by a terrorist (Islam jihadist). Again, no Navy personnel were armed to stop the jihadist. The terrorist was killed by a county deputy sherriff, who had to drive onto the base to take out the shooter.

After the Chattanooga shooting, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter signed a memorandum on July 29, 2015, which stated: "Directing Military Commanders and Civilian leaders to develop new security plans and measures, including the option of additional armed personnel." A lot of good that did to protect and save lives at the Pensacola Naval Air Station Base.

Now we hear through the media that Navy instructor pilots want to be armed and the DOD brass said no. How many more military personnel have to be killed on their bases to get the DOD, civilian leaders and the admirals and generals to provide guns to our experienced and well trained military to protect themselves?

DON DAMM

Sumter