USA-It has now been more than 22 years since we made the ultimate sacrifice and helped save Liberia from the brink of annihilation. When I say “we,” I am referring to Ambassador John Blaney, Dante Paradiso, Sue Ann Sandusky and myself.

At the time, Washington was on the verge of shutting down the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia. The United States was embroiled in two major wars—Afghanistan and Iraq—and was very reluctant to get involved in another conflict, especially after its costly and catastrophic intervention in Somalia just over a decade earlier. Then Secretary of Defense Donald Henry Rumsfeld ordered three warships—USS Iwo Jima, USS Carter Hill and USS Nashville—to move off the Liberian coast to facilitate the evacuation and closure of the embassy in Monrovia.

Over one million people were at the mercy of three heavily armed warring factions: pro-government militias loyal to former President Charles Taylor, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL). The fate of these civilians—mostly unarmed, hung in the balance, in close proximity to ruthless, marauding gunmen.

We could have followed Washington’s orders, shut down the Embassy and left. I was very young at the time. I did not have a wife and kids. I did not have much to think about. But we chose the noble option and made the case for Liberia and helped turn the tide. President George W. Bush listened to us and made the ultimate policy reversal, allowing us at the embassy in Monrovia the chance to use diplomacy to avert what would have incontrovertibly been worse than the Rwandan genocide. Ambassador Blaney was able to persuade Secretary of State Colin Luther Powell to give diplomacy a chance.

We worked on a ceasefire agreement that was eventually accepted by the warring factions, and Liberia, as we know it today, was spared.

I sit and wonder, after all these years, whether successive Liberian governments since 2003 have willfully forgotten our heroics—or simply choose not to give recognition where national recognition is due. Former American President John F. Kennedy famously said during his inauguration on January 20, 1961, “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” I am one of the very few Liberians who can now proudly ask, “What can my country do for me?”

I have seen individuals honored with our country’s highest national distinction during Independence Day ceremonies. I am not saying those individuals do not deserve to be honored—that is not my point. Even if my country chooses not to honor me, I have already been honored by the United States at the highest level.

However, I appeal to the Government of Liberia to honor Ambassador John Blaney, Mr. Dante Paradiso, and Colonel Sue Ann Sandusky (posthumously) at some point in the near future. They helped save Liberia from the brink of self-destruction. They deserve our highest national honor.

Jenkins Vangehn currently serves as:
Agency Policy Specialist, Legislative Liaison and Data Compliance Official; Government, State of Minnesota.

Alphonso Toweh

Has been in the profession for over twenty years. He has worked for many international media outlets  including: West Africa Magazine, Africa Week Magazine, African Observer and  did occasional reporting for CNN, BBC World Service, Sunday Times, NPR, Radio Deutchewells, Radio Netherlands. He is the current correspondent for Reuters 
 He holds first  MA with honors in International  Relations and a  candidate for second master in International Peace studies and Conflict  Resolution from the University of Liberia.