A Father at War: Reflections of a father whose son fought in Iraq

Francis (Frank) Pauc is a graduate of West Point, Class of 1980. He served as an officer for six years after receiving his commission, five of those as a helicopter pilot. After he met his wife in Germany, he had a gradual change of heart about the military that led him became a pacifist. Now, despite his best intentions, his oldest son joined the U.S. Army in 2009 and was deployed to the Middle East in 2011. Hans left military active service in April 2014, although he did sign up as a reservist with the Texas National Guard.

Frank’s youngest son, Stefan, graduated from high school and also wanted to join the military, but eventually decided against it.

The letters and articles that Frank has have written over the years are his efforts to work for peace in a violent world. Thus far, he feels he has been very unsuccessful. His own flesh and blood followed the path that he rejected. This distresses him a lot.

“It would be easy for me to say, ‘Screw it’ and stop trying. I won’t stop,” he says, “but I will keep writing and speaking out, because it needs to be done.”