May 2, 2012 — The editor:
I recently had the opportunity to meet a great public servant I have admired for a long time. His name is Will T. Scott from Pikeville, KY. Mr. Scott is a Vietnam veteran who enlisted in the U.S. Army as a young infantryman during the Vietnam War. He served out nation as great risk when he was just a young kid from eastern Kentucky.
In an era where the honor and nobility of military service was questioned by the counter culture of 1960s liberalism, young Will T Scott answered the call of duty. During his enlisted service Mr. Scott was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army. He is a mustang (officer with prior enlisted service) who was awarded the Bronze Star as well as the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry for his service in Vietnam.
Will T. Scott served with honor as one of our American airborne warriors long ago, but he still has the heart of a warrior and the desire and calling to serve our Commonwealth and our nation.
My husband is a Marine, but at our house we salute all veterans from all branches, especially decorated combat veterans like Will T. Scott.
Vietnam veterans served with the same dedication, sacrifice, and honor as today’s vets as well as pre-Vietnam veterans. However, our Vietnam War heroes were largely treated with contempt by many of the people they risked their lives for. America turned her back on our Vietnam vets, but those vets never turned their backs on us.
Almost 40 years after the end of that war, we still have warriors who are willing to serve. I am thankful for them. I thank them for their service back then and I thank them for their service today.
I thank Will T. Scott, Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court, 7th Supreme Court District.
Justice Scott, thank you for defending our nation as a United States Army airborne soldier. Thank you for fighting for our country and for sacrificing for a nation which was, at the time, very ungrateful. Thank you for that service and thank you for your service today on the Kentucky Supreme Court. We need more men like you in public offices at the local, county, state, and national levels. From my Marine Corps family to you, I say…SEMPER FI.
Angie Ballou
Williamsburg KY
