This op-ed was written by Donald Sparks, a retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major and Purple Heart recipient.
“War is the most regrettable proving ground. Those who rush to launch it and those who seek to create heroes from it should remember its legacy. You have to be there to appreciate its horrors – and die to forget them.” – Medal of Honor recipient Vernon J. Baker
I first read this quote on the engraved marble walls of the Pentagon after being assigned to Maryland following my deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III. Before then, I had never heard of 1st Lt. Baker’s heroics in World War II. He, like so many other African Americans, was denied recognition for their gallantry on the battlefield because of the systemic racism in America during that era.
That quote resonated deeply with me as I earned a Purple Heart during that deployment after sustaining injuries from the aftermath of an improvised explosive device detonation. That same explosion killed the gunner of my Humvee – Pvt. 1st Class Joseph Knott on April 17, 2005.
Despite my attempt to stop the bleeding caused by shrapnel that pierced his neck and save his life, he lay motionless in my arms. I’ve lived with that moment now coming up on 21 years this April.
As Baker said, I will only lose the memory of that horrific event on the day that I die. Until then, I wake up each day appreciating the never-ending horror. I’ve captured imagery of soldiers mourning their brothers-in-arms. I’ve viewed the faces of grown men crying, the faces of young soldiers hardened by the indiscrimination of death, and the faces of senior leaders trying to maintain their resolve to continue fighting on.
I was reminded once again over this past weekend how prophetic Baker’s words are as the current Commander-in-Chief decided to place America’s sons and daughters in grave danger by unconstitutionally launching an attack on Iran. He is seeking heroes from this, just as he did when he awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor to the wounded pilot from the operation in Venezuela.
This is the same Vietnam draft-dodging coward who jokingly said during his State of the Union address, “I’ve always wanted the Congressional Medal of Honor, but I was informed I’m not allowed to give it to myself. And I wouldn’t know why I’d be taking it. But if they ever open up that law, I will be there with you someday.”
He quipped about wanting the medal given to servicemembers whose heroic actions on the battlefield saved lives; many paid the ultimate sacrifice when doing so, and the others who survived must live with the horrors of the day that earned them the MOH.
“I decided to go to Iraq. I was extremely brave. So brave in fact that I wanted to give myself the Congressional Medal of Honor,” Trump told supporters about his visit to Iraq in 2018, speaking at a rally in Rome, Georgia, in February 2026.
This is a commander-in-chief who desires to live off stolen valor by taking credit for the heroism of soldiers who may ultimately have to conduct combat operations on the ground. He sent them, so he gets the credit. They kill the enemy only because he gave the order for them to be in hostile territory. In his mind, these acts of gallantry only happen because Trump envisioned these brave men and women would do what he is too cowardly to do – serve in uniform.
I served nearly 31 years in uniform with deployments to Desert Shield/Storm, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and Inherent Resolve (ISIS) to defeat the foreign threats of our nation. I served under Trump in the last 17 months of my career. I was fortunate to be at the end of my career, but we now have people deciding whether to join the military or remain in while he’s back as the commander-in-chief.
For the African American community, this is a moment of conflict. We have members of our community joining the military in the aftermath of a Secretary of Defense who has tried to erase the contributions of African Americans in defense of our nation in the name of eliminating diversity, equality, and inclusion. We have a president who has shown his racist disposition time and time again – most recently posting the Obamas depicted as apes.
They are now serving a commander-in-chief who can’t justify to Congress and the American people why we’re in major combat operations with Iran. They are serving a commander-in-chief who despicably lies time and time again. Yet the men and women in our communities see the military as an option for advancing in society. Each time a friend reaches out to me for advice on talking to their child about joining the military, I resoundingly encourage them not to allow their child to join under this administration.
But when I see the pictures on social media of that child taking the oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic, I can only pray for their safety. Now I must pray that they do not have to endure what I do each day – living with the horrors of war.
Donald Sparks is a retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major who has earned many awards in journalism and photojournalism during his time in service as a Public Affairs senior enlisted leader. His military awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Medal, Army Meritorious Medal, and Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device. He is a graduate of Evan E. Worthing High School (Class of 1986), University of Texas at El Paso (2013), where he earned a Master’s in Leadership Studies, and University of San Francisco (2024), where he earned a Master’s in Public Leadership.