Not that many years ago I was still considered a soldier. In my opinion, I was probably half a soldier, I showed up every other weekend, willing to follow orders, but not wanting to endure what my Father had in Vietnam, or what these soldiers today have endured. School was paid for. I was enlisted, and by all the boasts of my bravado, I was my “Mother’s son, but a son of my country first!” I served in peace time. I went to my drills, and played Army man. Could I have served today? I don’t know. Did I have to? No! A member of my team currently serves overseas in Iraq. Nathan is a kid, 21 years old last November. He has been gone since last February. He was home for a week on leave this past Christmas. He was not the same kid, student, or weekend warrior he was when he left. He talked about what he had seen, and what he had done. When he left, he was a kid in my eyes. He had alot of things to experience in these next few years. The kid I saw on his last visit, was no longer a kid, but a man, that I wanted to see come home safely and soon! Could I have done what he has done? I still don’t know. In reality, I’m glad I don’t know.
March 1st, 2004 at 11:20 pm
Not that many years ago I was still considered a soldier. In my opinion, I was probably half a soldier, I showed up every other weekend, willing to follow orders, but not wanting to endure what my Father had in Vietnam, or what these soldiers today have endured. School was paid for. I was enlisted, and by all the boasts of my bravado, I was my “Mother’s son, but a son of my country first!” I served in peace time. I went to my drills, and played Army man. Could I have served today? I don’t know. Did I have to? No! A member of my team currently serves overseas in Iraq. Nathan is a kid, 21 years old last November. He has been gone since last February. He was home for a week on leave this past Christmas. He was not the same kid, student, or weekend warrior he was when he left. He talked about what he had seen, and what he had done. When he left, he was a kid in my eyes. He had alot of things to experience in these next few years. The kid I saw on his last visit, was no longer a kid, but a man, that I wanted to see come home safely and soon! Could I have done what he has done? I still don’t know. In reality, I’m glad I don’t know.