Document text
Local Marine reacts to Ashland anti-war protests By Sean Wolfe Ashland Daily Tidings Ashland High grad Ian Morrison, 21, is pictured at a U.S. military base in Afghanistan. Photo courtesy Doug Morrison Despite numerous anti-war protests in Ashland, thus far the soldiers this city has deployed to Iraq have remained silent. Now, thanks to Ashland orthopedic surgeon Doug Morrison - whose third son Ian is a corporal with the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade - that silence has been broken. Following a phone conversation with his father that mentioned the recent anti-war protests, Corp. Morrison said he was compelled to draft a letter. "I can't say for a second that it surprises me," Ian wrote in his letter home, a copy of which was furnished to the Tidings. "I have called Ashland home for 20 years, so I know the drill. I can picture the protesters picketing in front of the library and songs being sung in Lithia Park. � The truth is this, the time for arguing whether the U.S. should or should not be here is over. We're here." Corp. Morrison, 21, goes on to say that hometown efforts "should not be spent on protests and anti-war rallies, but spent on ensuring that our troops have what they need and are given the support that a grateful nation should provide." This tour in Iraq is Ian Morrison's second expedition to the Middle East. He was previously in Afghanistan and Pakistan. But while Corp. Morrison has his father's support, the war does not. "I'm not in favor of this one for a number of reasons," Doug Morrison said. "First, I don't think our administration has completely considered the aftermath, both foreign and domestic. I don't think they know what's going to happen in the Middle East, and how we'll be perceived. On the other hand, Islamic nations declared war on us 40 years ago. They've bombed shot and killed Americans for 35 years, and we've rolled over and ignored it. Maybe this is one of those times where the flea bites the dog enough that the dog has to bite the flea," Morrison said. Despite heartening news of recent U.S. and British headway into Baghdad and Basra, Doug Morrison noted that since the war started, his anxiety has yet to abate. "These have been the hardest 18 days of my life," Morrison said. "As a parent, you're always able to help your kids. If something happens, you can talk to them. If it looks like they're in a tough situation, you can counsel them. If they're really in trouble, you can pay their bail. This is a situation where a parent is totally impotent," he said. "So the way you get through it is to trust his training, and the unit he's with. You trust the bond, the tie that these kids have with each other. They will protect each other." According to Doug Morrison, his son's unit has already seen heavy fighting, and sustained both deaths and injuries. As a surgeon, Morrison said he felt closer to having an appreciation of the hazards his son faces in Iraq. "The downside of being an orthopedic surgeon, and having a son there, is that you understand the wounds," Morrison said. "Most people in my generation grew up watching movies - you see John Wayne get shot in the shoulder, and he's up and around the next day. But these can be devastating wounds. � Just being wounded can mean long, painful injuries. The only saving grace a lot of parents have is they don't understand. The curse I have is that I do understand it," Morrison said. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -