29 January 2006
Leavin On A Jet Plane
Well it's that time everyone. Friday, at some point or another, I will board a plane, rifle in hand with 100 of my brothers in arms and fly to War. My opinions and thoughts on this war or any war have been asked time and again. "Why did you enlist now of all times?" "Do you agree with the war in Iraq and Afghanistan?" "How do you justify going to war and being a christian?" To answer all these questions and whatever others might arise in your minds I submit this:
Somebody has to go. Armies must be as long as War exists. And exist it does. For whatever reason, though it may seem completely irrational and senseless, it happens. There are many, perhaps even some reading this, that might say or think that some other solution could be found. Sometimes I wish I could believe that and so join the ranks of the innocent. Because while those people don't live in a less dangerous world, perhaps they're happier for not knowing how dangerous the world is. AS JRR Tolkien once wrote, "I do not love the sword for it's brightness, nor the arrow for it's swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend." And ultimately love is the the reason I do what I do.
So here's to love, and hopefully it will bring me back to you safely and soon.
Somebody has to go. Armies must be as long as War exists. And exist it does. For whatever reason, though it may seem completely irrational and senseless, it happens. There are many, perhaps even some reading this, that might say or think that some other solution could be found. Sometimes I wish I could believe that and so join the ranks of the innocent. Because while those people don't live in a less dangerous world, perhaps they're happier for not knowing how dangerous the world is. AS JRR Tolkien once wrote, "I do not love the sword for it's brightness, nor the arrow for it's swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend." And ultimately love is the the reason I do what I do.
So here's to love, and hopefully it will bring me back to you safely and soon.
22 December 2005
My most recent promotion, to corporal, leaves me in the position of a Team Leader in an infantry line squad. This means I have three other men, all younger than me in this instance, under my direct command. Command means they do what I say, when I say it. This is the most terrifying responsiblity I can imagine.
Today I had to stand in front of one of these men and cut the rank off his collar, taking something from him that he'd worked for nearly two years to earn, enduring the look on his face with an expression of utter discompassion on mine. Those of you not in the military, which if I'm not mistaken is practically all of you, probably can't understand the sheer humiliation of having your rank taken away from you. We take a lot of pride in what we do. Whether that's healthy or not, sometimes that pride, in ourselves, our countries, and our duty, is the only thing that keeps us going. Ripping those tiny cloth squares off of that young man's uniform was the hardest thing I've had to do as a leader yet.
I'm responsible for these men's lives and deaths. Because they fall under my command they become my responsibility. Because they have to do what I say, when I say it, no questions asked, every decision I make affects them. In one month we will be entering a war zone. And the most frightening thought that I can fathom, beyond thought for my own life or even taking the life of another human being; beyond whatever changes I might undergo and whatever person I might become through the trials ahead, is that one of these might lose their life because they were carrying out one of my orders. God save any of us from such a day.
Today I had to stand in front of one of these men and cut the rank off his collar, taking something from him that he'd worked for nearly two years to earn, enduring the look on his face with an expression of utter discompassion on mine. Those of you not in the military, which if I'm not mistaken is practically all of you, probably can't understand the sheer humiliation of having your rank taken away from you. We take a lot of pride in what we do. Whether that's healthy or not, sometimes that pride, in ourselves, our countries, and our duty, is the only thing that keeps us going. Ripping those tiny cloth squares off of that young man's uniform was the hardest thing I've had to do as a leader yet.
I'm responsible for these men's lives and deaths. Because they fall under my command they become my responsibility. Because they have to do what I say, when I say it, no questions asked, every decision I make affects them. In one month we will be entering a war zone. And the most frightening thought that I can fathom, beyond thought for my own life or even taking the life of another human being; beyond whatever changes I might undergo and whatever person I might become through the trials ahead, is that one of these might lose their life because they were carrying out one of my orders. God save any of us from such a day.
20 December 2005
Walking in a winter wonderland
Winter has come to Fort Drum, New York. It comes, as usual well before the official start date and with a vengeance. The two days prior to the pictures you see below my platoon was outside from sun up in negative twenty degree weather to sundown when we topped off at about seven degrees. WE made the most of it. The pictures you see below are mostly from our mandatory fun day at a ski park not far from base. I neither skied nor snow boarded, as winter sports mostly don't seem to tickle my fancy. BUt I got some great shots. If you play your cards right then someday one of you readers might even be the one who convinces me to go ice skating for the first time. Any takers?
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