I am appalled by the statements in “Return of the mercenary” (April 25).

I was a government contractor for 14 years and was put in numerous hostile environments. Not once did I carry a weapon.

The reason we were hired was to fill the gap due to downsizing of the military forces. People complain every day about the Reserves who are being used to fill the gap. That is what I did with no complaints. It was my job, and I was proud of what I did. I had a great patriotic feeling.

As for accountability, the writer obviously doesn’t know what he is talking about. I was held responsible by my company, the U.S. Army and the United States government. If I had done anything that was questionable by any of the three, I would have been removed.

I think any parent of the military forces would have been more than happy to know I was there, helping their son or daughter.

I challenge the writer to go and see what I did; be put under live fire with no weapon, and live in the conditions I did. I believe he would have a new outlook on military contractors.

Or, perhaps we could put the draft back in place and send a whole family there doing something they don’t want to do, but which I did with no complaints.

Bob Richardson, Mexico

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