Edward Camacho
THE TRUTH of the matter is I’ve decided to lead by example, as I’ve been waiting to give Locals/Politicians a chance to THANK Lt. Col. Edward C. Camacho for his 43 years of Service first, as I just wrote an Op ed about the need for us to say THANKS more. Lt. Col. Camacho is a REAL “Bad-A**,” for TRUE and may have been one of, if not the highest serving Chamorro to ever be in the military along with PSS’s Commissioner. But I can remember when Lt. Col. Camacho was chosen to be our DPS Commissioner, as I was sooo glad along with many others to know we had someone we could TRUST. His genuine humility and appreciation for such an honor with teers for being appointed was something I will never forget. It is truly touching when grown men cries and it is truly a special and even a historic event when it’s a Lt. Col. There was no doubt in the minds of many citizens that he was the RIGHT man who is made of the Right-Stuff — training/experience, integrity, respectful and humble! I’m sure the average reader would love to have Lt. Col. Camacho on their team figuratively.
But the CNMI remained true to form with his appointment over DPS letting our ugly politics end-up chasing him away and back into the military where he knew he was truly respected and appreciated. I remember when I was trying to contact him and the military wouldn’t even tell me nor his family “where he was nor what he was doing,” which means you-know-what, so don’t ask, as it’s clear he was putting his life on the line somewhere in the world. FYI readers, Colonel is the highest battlefield rank that one can receive, as a higher command puts one behind a desk. I’m just glad and so thankful he survived the 43 years of putting his life on the line for our nation & people, what an awesome career!
But there are no thank you letters in the news from politicians like we see for the holidays because Thank You to an individual doesn’t directly generate votes, especially during election season. So, which leader is thankful enough to throw the THANK YOU/ Retirement Dinner for our AWSOME hero who deserves even more, as it’s obvious he has been doing some VERY serious stuff given the clandestineness about his deployment? Who else will say THANK YOU because if anyone deserves a Hero’s Welcome Home its Lt. Col. Camacho with all the Bells & Whistles??? Please don’t wait until Veterans Day when he’s gone to honor him. To share the lyrics and wisdom in an old “Negro Church Song” song at the anniversaries for pastors that says “give them the flowers while they live, as its USELESS when they are gone.” I pray this is enough said to inspire others to say THANKS, as I, the outsider, certainly shouldn’t be the only one…
But I can’t Thank You enough for your Service Lt. Col. Camacho and enjoy your retirement, as I’m sure you have more than deserved the rest & relaxation back home from putting your life on the line FOR America and especially FOR all of us in the CNMI — an awesome & extraordinary job in REPRESENTING the CNMI. However, IF you decide to run for office, WE can truly use people like you whom WE can TRUST with real INTEGRITY. I’m sure the morals & expectations of the silent majority will put you very HIGH on their list. But until that time arrives, if it does, it’s time to sit back and enjoy time with your beautiful daughters & family, especially your grandchildren, so enjoy the new movies they are making because there is no replay nor rewind on life. God Bless You Colonel and a genuine THANKS from my heart and the many citizens who appreciate YOU for your service — May God Bless You & Family my Brother in the Christian Family!
One People, One Direction.
Ambrose M. Bennett is an Economist who minored in Sociology, a Political Scientist, a retired teacher & former CNMI Board of Education Member, a James Madison Fellow (U.S. Constitutional Scholar), a Fulbright-Hays & lifetime Humanities Scholar who resides in Kagman III in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
