the　Marines　and　was　heading　to　Iraq　the　following　week。　As　I　listened　to　him　explain　why　he'd　enlisted；　his　absolute　faith　in　our　country　and　its　leaders；　his　devotion　to　duty　and　service；　I　thought　this　young　man　was　all　any　of　us　might　hope　for　in　a　child。　But　then　I　asked　myself：　Are　we　serving　Shamus　as　well　as　he　was　serving　us？　I　thought　of　more　than　900　service　men　and　women；　sons　and　daughters；　husbands　and　wives；　friends　and　neighbors；　who　will　not　be　returning　to　their　hometowns。　I　thought　of　families　I　had　met　who　were　struggling　to　get　by　without　a　loved　one's　full　ine；　or　whose　loved　ones　had　returned　with　a　limb　missing　or　with　nerves　shattered；　but　who　still　lacked　long…term　health　benefits　because　they　were　reservists。　When　we　send　our　young　men　and　women　into　harm's　way；　we　have　a　solemn　obligation　not　to　fudge　the　numbers　or　shade　the　truth　about　why　they're　going；　to　care　for　their　families　while　they're　gone；　to　tend　to　the　soldiers　upon　their　return；　and　to　never　ever　go　to　war　without　enough　troops　to　win　the　war；　secure　the　peace；　and　earn　the　respect　of　the　world。

Now　let　me　be　clear。　We　have　real　enemies　in　the　world。　These　enemies　must　be　found。　They　must　be　pursued　and　they　must　be　defeated。　John　Kerry　knows　this。　And　just　as　Lieutenant　Kerry　did　not　hesitate　to　risk　his　life　to　protect　the　men　who　served　with　him　in　Vietnam；　President　Kerry　will　not　hesitate　one　moment　to　use　our　military　might　to　keep　America　safe　and　secure。　John　Kerry