Blood Doesn't Make the Grass Grow!

I don’t know when I heard it the first time but I’ll never forget that I heard it. It was a simple phrase. “Blood Makes The Grass Grow.” It was a cold reference to the realization that in combat, there are casualties… And there would be blood… lots of it… and that unfortunately, our physical sacrifice and possibly of death may be necessary to preserve our American way of life. This is what it means to be a member of America’s Armed Services. When you take the oath, endure the training, and dawn that uniform, you’ve committed yourself to a life of selfless service in the defense of the United States, her people, and its ideology. But what happens when the bloodshed is from your own brothers and sisters in arms…. What happens when for some sick reason, those you pledge to serve with, those you train with, those you depend on turn on you. What happens when your blood was shed by your brother or sister in arms. Does the blood still make the grass grow?

No, it doesn’t!

To the family of Vanessa Guillen, I offer my condolences, my tears, and these words. Vanessa will always be a solider. She will be remembered. She will be respected. We honor her life. And we stand with you in your demand for justice.

Read more about this incident here



There is no honor when your enemy is your brother or sister in arms. There is no honor when the focus on the mission is lost and uncivilized violence erupts resulting in the loss of our loved ones. Spfc Vanessa Guillen was alegedly killed by a fellow soldier, SPC Aaron David Robinson, and then dismembered and burned by Mr. Robinson and his girlfriend Cecily Aquilar. Once the investigation began to close in on Mr. Robinson, he killed himself. Whether the issue was sexual harassment or adultry, only time will tell.

The investigation continues… Perhaps the worst of the agony may have been waiting to know what had happened to Vanessa. She went missing for weeks while her family mounted a social media campaign which ultimately pushed the US Army to step up its investigation. The US Army did step up but it’s unfortunate what they found. The question is if there is any way that this can be prevented. Senseless killing… Death between brothers and sisters in arms… This has tarnished Ft. Hood, the US Army, and sent Texas as well as our nation into perilous lamentation. We are grieving. We are angry. And we deserve better.

R.I.P. Vanessa. Justice will come.

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