You know....I served in the army.....Chemical Operations Specialist (54B), 1993 - 1996. Spent a year in Korea, 1 1/2 years in Ft. Campbell, KY (63rd CHEM Co, what did we do? http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/63chem.htm). I was Air Assault....
That uniform....I was proud to serve....and oddly, enough....my recruiter was actually completely truthful, all the way down to what would happen as soon as I got off the bus at Ft. MeClellan, AL. The military instilled in me a self-confidance...I remember telling my mom, when i left for Korea....I knew I wouldn't see her for at least a year (i really didn't plan on coming home for the 1 month leave)....I told her, I don't want to die if a war breaks out anywhere....but if I do, know what I would die with honor....
The strange thing...I joined up, knowing full well what could happen....I know (and knew then, also) that sometimes...well, war is just inevitable....I don't believe that the US goes around looking who in teh world we can bully, and knock down....but I know that the majority of the American ppl know that if there are problems somewhere....it is usually the US that HAS to deal with it, cause nobody else really will.
One of my all-time favorite movies is Band of Brothers....and I think one of my favorite parts in that movie (if you can call it a movie....a VERY long movie) was when they were getting ready to march into Bastone (spelling? and I believe it was at that point in the movie)....anyways, the soldiers coming out of the woods told Col. Winters that the Germans were all over, and that they would all be surrounded....cut off to supply lines and all....Winters' response? "We are Airborne....we're supposed to be surrounded". To me...that is the epitomy of the duty of a soldier. Duty.
My definition of a soldier? I really like the song by Toby Keith, "American Soldier"....not sure who wrote it (I would imagine it was him)....but the words ring so true to me....
American Soldier
I'm just trying to be a father,
Raise a daughter and a son,
Be a lover to their mother,
Everything to everyone.
Up and at 'em bright and early,
I'm all in my business suit,
Yeah, I'm dressed for success from my head down to my boots,
I don't do it for money, there's still bills that I can't pay,
I don't do it for the glory, I just do it anyway,
Providing for our future's my responsibility,
Yeah I'm real good under pressure, being all that I can be,
And I can't call in sick on Mondays when the weekends been to strong,
I just work straight through the holidays,
And sometimes all night long.
You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door,
Hey, I'm solid, hey I'm steady, hey I'm true down to the core,
And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price,
I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrafice,
Oh, and I don't want to die for you,
But if dyin's asked of me,
I'll bear that cross with an honor,
'Cause freedom don't come free.
I'm an american soldier, an american,
Beside my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take a stand,
When liberty's in jeopardy I will always do what's right,
I'm out here on the front lines, sleep in peace tonight.
American soldier, I'm an American,
An American,
An American Soldier
(by, Toby Keith?)
Anyways....I respect the men and women that are serving in our military....and those that are in harms way, for us, and those that cannot protect themselves.
Chris