11/11/2025
Veterans Day Speech – Colonel Bruce B.G. Clarke, U.S. Army (Retired)
Delivered to Topeka West High School Students 0900, 11 NOV 2025
Good morning and thank you for having me here today.
On the 11th of November, we celebrate Veterans Day. Before it was called that, it was known as Armistice Day—the day World War I ended, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918.
That war, like many others, ended with a clear winner and a clear loser. Germany surrendered after four years of brutal fighting. American troops—our “doughboys”—returned home and were celebrated as heroes.
That same kind of victory happened again in World War II. Germany surrendered. Japan surrendered. Our service members came home to parades and national pride. But this time, not everyone came home. Some stayed deployed, because new threats were already rising—like the Soviet Union and, soon after, Communist China. Their job was to deter future wars—or fight and win if deterrence failed.
But after that, things changed.
The Cold War brought in a new kind of thinking—one where winning seemed too dangerous. Why? Because of nuclear weapons. Wars like Korea and Vietnam were fought with limits. Leaders were afraid of escalating the conflict, so they restricted how much power and where the military could fight—geographic limits. That made winning harder—and more costly for the brave men and women who still went to fight.
I remember the moment the U.S. chose not to win in Vietnam. It was April 1st, 1968. I served in Vietnam and wrote about the experience in my book, which is in your JROTC library. I hope some of you will read it. On the ground in Vietnam, our troops had won many battles—but politically, the goal changed. Instead of victory, the goal became: get our Prisoners of War home and get out without being overrun. Our soldiers were mistreated and not appreciated as they came home. I was told on the plane before landing in San Francisco to change into civilian clothes as fast as possible.
Only now, decades later, are our Vietnam veterans getting the recognition they always deserved.
Then came Desert Storm in 1991. One interesting fact for you to know is this conflict was the first to be broadcast live from the battlefield, with CNN providing real-time coverage that brought the war into living rooms across America. It was sometimes called the “Video Game War” because of the footage from cameras mounted on U.S. aircraft, showing precision airstrikes as if they were part of a simulation.
With Desert Storm, this time, we tried to do it right. The objectives were clear. General Colin Powell championed the use of overwhelming force to achieve them. In a matter of weeks, we had a decisive military victory. Our troops returned home to cheers—and even a ticker-tape parade in New York City.
But six months later, some people said we had “lost.” Why? Because many Americans had expected the war to remove Saddam Hussein, the dictator of Iraq. Hussein was known for leading a brutal regime—he started wars with his neighbors, used chemical weapons against his own people, and threatened stability in the region. While defeating his military was part of the operation, removing him from power was never one of the official goals of the United States.
Still, because the U.S. President had mentioned Hussein so often in speeches, the public assumed that was the part of the plan. When it didn’t happen, many Americans believed the mission had failed. That moment showed how important it is to set clear goals in war—and stick to them. Because in the eyes of the public, what it means to win must be understood from the start.
That question—What does it mean to win?—became central to military thinking. I even taught a course at the Army War College called "Conflict Termination: What Does It Mean to Win?" I wrote a booklet about it too. It’s a question we must keep asking, because it shapes how we use our military and how we honor those who serve.
And let me be clear: the men and women who wear the uniform know what victory means. They fight with courage, they uphold their duty, and they don’t see themselves as defeated—even when the politics get complicated. They serve with honor, and most Americans recognize that.
But not everyone does.
Today, it’s easy to take freedom and safety for granted—especially if you’ve grown up in a time of relative peace. But every right we enjoy—free speech, education, opportunity—was protected by someone willing to serve and sacrifice. Veterans Day isn’t just about the past. It’s a chance to ask ourselves: What kind of future do we want—and what are we willing to do to protect it?
I hope our military never has to step in on American soil to keep the peace. That’s not its purpose. But if it ever does, its mission won’t be about domination—it will be about restoring calm, protecting communities, and rebuilding trust. That kind of victory doesn’t come from weapons—it comes from courage, leadership, and unity.
And those qualities? They’re not just military values. They’re values you can carry into whatever future you choose—whether you serve in uniform, in your community, or in a career that makes this country stronger.
I believe deeply in the West Point motto: “Duty, Honor, Country.” That code cannot be defeated—not while there are still citizens, veterans, and young leaders like you who believe in it and are willing to stand up for it.
So today, please take a moment to thank a veteran. And remember: freedom depends on our willingness to fight for it—and win when it counts.
Thank you.
