George Zonge has defended his country more than once.

Last week when the United States attacked Baghdad, Zonge witnessed the beginning of a war in which he will not fight, but if he could, he "would in a second."

"I support the president and my country 100 percent," he said.

Zonge watched the war unfold with personal interest because his grandson has been called for duty in Saudi Arabia, he said.

Zonge, a veteran of World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars, admits he worries as much as anyone else with loved ones in the Persian Gulf.

"I imagine it's the same as the way my mother worried about her four sons serving in World War II," Zonge said.

Bill McClamley, Veterans of Foreign Wars trustee, said members of the VFW post have talked about the war for weeks.

"Everybody has been pretty much supportive and we're happy things have gone well so far," McCamley said.

Wilber Welch, Korean veteran and member of the American Legion in Millheim, agreed.

"We are a military organization and as a military organization we stand behind President Bush," Welch said.

Welch, who has two sons stationed in the gulf, hopes for a quick solution.

"Everyone should give them hell and get out of there," he said.

Both Welch and Vietnam veteran McClamley agree that, unlike the previous two conflicts, troops do not have to fight "with one hand tied behind their back."

Welch said political regulations and restricted fighting in de-militarized zones made winning more difficult in Vietnam and Korea.

"We just feel we have the right to attack a nation who has invaded a peaceful neighbor," McClamley said.

Zonge's justification of the attack differs slightly. He said he believes Saddam Hussein is "like a Hitler."

"If we didn't stop him now, the world would be in trauma further down the line," Zonge said.

Military theories on strategies against Iraq have also been debated in the past few months, McClamley said.

"Some of the older guys think we should just nuke them," he said.

Zonge and Welch agree what advice they would give the new generation of soldiers. "Give them hell and come home safe," Zonge said.