Sugar Grove veteran says restrictions worth fighting for
Vietnam veteran Ed Huss did some research on patriotism before he discussed it Thursday outside the Sugar Grove Public Library during an event to commemorate Sept. 11, 2001.
"According to the dictionary, a patriot is a person who loves his country so much he defends it against all enemies. Forty years ago I fought for my country," Huss said, referring to the time he spent in Vietnam in 1966 and 1967 with the 1st Infantry out of Fort Hood, Texas. "So I went back to my youth and thought about it. What did I love about my country? And the first word that came to me was 'restriction,' then 'family,' and then 'church family.' "
Huss, 65, who lives on a small farm in Sugar Grove Township that has been in his family for 112 years, recalled growing up as one of 11 siblings whose parents prayed with their children, and placed restrictions on what they could discuss (no bad words), where they went, and who they befriended. He spoke in front of a crowd of local residents, police and firefighters, village staff and trustees, and other community leaders at a chamber of commerce luncheon.
Huss compared healthy parental restrictions to what he believes is a now a failure in society to limit pornography, and a failure in families to instill religious values, ethics and the experience of hard work.
He also recalled how serving in Vietnam affected him.
"I thought I knew what war was before I went into the Army," Huss said. "I watched John Wayne movies. One morning the guy sitting next to me was shot. There was just a tiny hole in the front of his head. But when I rolled him over, I saw that the back of his head was blown away. I saw tough guys, wounded and shot up, crying for their mothers."
Huss said he came home from Vietnam "with a new approach to life." "I did some things I'm not proud of," he said.
Raised a Catholic, he said he returned to the church when he met his wife Judy.
"And I realized that America is engaged in another war, the war between good and evil, and you can't remain neutral," he emphasized. He expressed sadness over suicides among children and teenagers, gang wars and domestic abuse, and urged his audience to "stand together to fight the fight of righteousness."
Huss is a retired iron worker who founded the Wounded Soldier Fundraiser to raise money for veterans who have been severely wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. The next fundraiser is Sept. 20 at Bliss Creek Golf Course in Sugar Grove.
Huss and his wife began hosting reunions for other Vietnam veterans from the 1st infantry seven years ago.
"We started with seven names and the word got around," said Judy Huss, who sent invitations through e-mail. "It's been great. The wives come and everyone gets along. Some of the men still have problems after all these years. But the reunions have been a healing experience."