Been awhile sine I posted a military blog, so here's another round:
The military draws many different types.
A. There are those who joined because they had no clue what to do with their life.
B. There are those who answered a call.
A. There are those who joined for the college money.
B. There are those who use the education to be a better soldier.
A. There are those who join and complain.
B. There are those who who take every day in the service of their country as a blessing, regardless of conditions.
A. There are those who would join to impress their loved ones.
B. There are those who would join to lay their life to save their loved ones.
A. There are those who join to look like a badass.
B. There are those who join to be a hero.
I am option B in every case. I do what I do for you. I answered the call of the people to stand up and be the man at the front of the line. I volunteer to be a man that would proudly die if it meant the end of suffering for millions of people I have never met because they are Americans. I am a man that would kill anyone that would bring harm to you as I would my brother.
There are people out there that hate what I do. There are those confused as to why I do it. They say many things that downplay my efforts. I don't hate them. I recognize their right as one of the many rights that I fight for them to have. My oath is to the Constitution.
I don't ask much from you. I don't receive much in the first place. I've been deployed to Iraq 4 times thus far, and trust me, that number is counting up. I'm due to head back in May of next year. Why? Because I volunteer.
There's a chance I could die. There always is. It's not an uncommon event for something to land within 50 feet of me with a heck of a payload.
They make many jokes of me being invincible. They say there are so many things that should have killed me by now, from swallowing too much Motrin (hey my tooth hurt pretty bad that day) to being shot at close range. They say that I can't be killed. They think I'm a genetic freak of some sort, some kind of undead robot (I still can't figure out the image of that). I know the true answer.
It's a combination of karma and purpose. Do good, and be good, and no true ill will befall you. I'm not a religious man, even less of a spritual one, but the facts speak for themselves if you read some of my other blogs. Whatever it is out there, it has a purpose for me. I think that purpose is to defend you.
I don't ask your permission, your gratitude, or your praise. I don't ask you to throw roses at my feet. I don't ask for money. I don't ask for your love.
I just want you to remember.
Every time you go to bed safely at night, remember those that step up every day ready for the ultimate sacrifice to make sure tomorrow is the same for you.
I probably don't know you. I've probably never met you. We may have talked in passing. We may have shook hands. We may not have even exchanged names. However, I will die to defend you.
Rest easy. Sleep well. We'll take it from here.
Remember Me.
