Message from: 

BG Roger W. Scearce, USA, Ret, Honorary Colonel of the Finance Corps Regiment

TO:  All members of the US Army Finance Corps Regiment, RAFINO and RAFINCO, Greetings.

It was 11 September 2001!  I’ve never felt so helpless and inadequate in my life.  As fate would have it, Debbie and I were in Europe when this unbelievable atrocity occurred.  As such, we experienced every possible negative emotion known to man “ helplessness, gut wrenching sadness, fear, rage, resentment, wonder, surreal
reality, alarm, empathy, sympathy, yearning, ignorance, frustration, sorrow, distant anxiousness, loneliness, emptiness, and the all encompassing constant ANGER, just to name a few.”  Along with all of these emotions came this unrelenting inner desire for immediate vengeance and extreme retribution to those responsible.  However, as the first week passed, I am very thankful cooler and calmer heads are leading our country through this tragic, yet historic time in our Nation’s history.  I want to share some of my beliefs, thoughts and feelings with you - - our Finance Corps family - - so that we not only remember, but also move ahead together, and hopefully stronger.

I believe this horrific terrorist attack has touched every single American in some way.  Indeed, I believe once the dust has settled that potentially every country on the planet may have lost someone, either in the World Trade Center, or in the Pentagon, or in the aftermath.   Thankfully, as best I can determine, no Finance Corps personnel were lost in this attack.  I’ve also been made aware that there were a number of FC folks who were literally heroes, especially in the Pentagon, and I want to publicly say thank you to each of you.

As I mentioned earlier, Debbie and I were in Great Britain and Ireland, and we ended up talking to many of their citizens.  Those countries certainly are feeling the sorrow as are we - - many of their sons and daughters working in or visiting NYC or DC perished in the attack.  And, everyone we encountered was just as horrified and upset and concerned and frustrated as we were.  But, to the person, they were also very worried that the USA, with all its might, would launch a military strike that would kill or injure thousands of innocent people, and plunge us into an engagement that would not be in anyone’s best interests.  I countered with what I knew:  our President is an honorable and just man who will act ‘rightly’ through all of this, that he is being advised by key leaders [Cheney, Powell, Rumsfeld] who have already been “baptized under fire”, that our Congressional leadership would be consulted prior to any action being invoked, and lastly, that while our country had many retaliatory options [military, economic, diplomatic, political, etc], we normally acted in concert with our allies.  Bottom line:  I shared my fervent belief that we wouldn’t head out on
our own and put the world in peril.  Conversely, this deed and those responsible could not and would not go unpunished.

On that note, I believe we must maintain the moral high ground; we must not give into what the Greeks called the “delicious and intoxicating drink of vengeance.”  We must mandate that our political and military leaders compile a compelling case of evidence that clearly shows who was responsible...  and then and only then should we move out smartly with overwhelming force to bring them to justice.  If the country or countries that supported or harbored them stand up to protect them, and happen to be in the line of fire, well, that’s an unfortunate choice they most likely will regret.  Point is that we should, as a Nation, be as sure as we possibly can that who and what we go after are indeed the perpetrators and that we have developed compelling evidence that they are responsible for this tragedy, and are most likely guilty.  There is a process the USA undergoes to identify someone or something as a “legitimate military target” and we should adhere to that process.  It is methodical, it is disciplined, it is grounded in international law and it works, as we saw in Operation Just Cause in Panama when we went in and captured Mr. Noriega.  The USA must be right on this one - - this is simply too important for us to act prematurely; once the bullets have left the rifle, or the bombs have been released, it’s too late to get them back.  If we’re wrong, then we’ll be judged as not much better than the terrorists, at least as the world sees us, and we certainly can’t afford that as the world’s only remaining superpower.

Lastly, I believe we must gather around our family, friends, colleagues and share with each other.  We all need to vent a bit, talk about all this, process it, pray together and most importantly, grieve.  Tragically, I lost several good friends in the Pentagon attack.  I am so very sad, and so very sorry for them, and their families.  What a tremendous loss to our country, and our Army.  Conversely, I am so truly thankful and happy that the vast majority of all those I was worried sick about are OK, and back at work doing the Nation’s business.  I’ve thanked God countless times already that most are safe and unharmed physically, to include the many FC folks in the building.

I think it was Dickens who said it, but the phrase, “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times” keeps coming to mind.  As we have seen so many times before, when the going gets tough, the USA gets going.  Make no mistake, the USA will come through this, and in many ways will be better for it. Why?
Because GOODNESS ALWAYS PREVAILS, that’s why. Without question, our lives have changed and will continue to change as a function of this momentous, horrible event.  But, in the end, as always, our values, our heritage, our lineage, our patriotism and our love for this land, our flag, our families and communities and our ideals will shine through.  In due time, we will have justice; I am confident.  Meanwhile, I believe that we must try to move ahead and gradually return to some semblance of consistency and normalcy in our day-to-day lives.  To do otherwise almost sends a signal that the terrorists "won" this round, and we all know that's not the case.

Keep the faith, share with each other and trust in our Nation’s leadership - - they will do the right thing.  Finally, keep in mind that our military are about to be called upon to embark on yet another needed and noble mission in response to this awful cancer we call terrorism.  They will also do what’s good, and what’s right; and, they will sacrifice yet again for us; some probably paying the ultimate price for our freedom.  Please keep them in your daily thoughts and prayers.

All the very best and may God bless each and every one of you,
                                                            Roger