October 21, 2007
Where do we find such men?
I had the chance to spend some time with a couple of interesting soldiers today, moving through the JAG shop on their way back to the sandbox.
Sergeant First Class C. is a boyish-looking soldier with a ready smile and laid-back demeanor. You wouldn't think he'd deployed twice already, once to Iraq and later to Kuwait.
"Which did you prefer?" I ask.
"Kuwait was like a vacation," he answers.
He pauses for a moment, then continues in a mild tone.
"On the other hand, I got shot and blown up in Iraq, so there's really no comparison."
Did I mention he wears the Combat Infantryman Badge on his ACUs?
That probably explains the jagged scar running from beneath the collar of his blouse, up along his neck, running uncomfortably close to his carotid artery.
He's a CHP officer in civilian life, and we trade stories about DUI arrests and prosecutions in our respective counties.
As he initials the pages of the will I've prepared, I notice the aluminum wristband he wears honoring a fellow trooper killed in combat; I'm curious, but don't want to pry.
Fallen comrades; torn flesh. He seems remarkably angst-free, not at all tormented by his experiences.
And yet -- despite what he's seen and suffered -- the sergeant has volunteered, eager to take part in another mission, leaving behind a wife and two young kids as he returns to hunt down and kill our enemies.
Later, I meet his commanding officer, Lt.Col. T., a man who decided to give up a career in the pharmaceutical industry back in the early '80s, enlisting in the army because he was too old to get a commission. He took his chances as an enlisted man, hoping he'd get the waivers necessary to become an officer. At 32, he was years older than his fellow recruits, but he persevered, earning his commission and serving as an active duty officer in the Regular Army for a few years, before joining the National Guard.
In the ensuing years, Lt.Col. T. founded an environmental consulting firm, raised a family, and always thought about resuming his military career, full-time.
In the days after 9-11, that impulse became more urgent, tamped down only by his obligations to his family.
Not too long ago, his wife told him she knew how much he longed to answer the call to arms ... and that it was okay.
Now in his 50s, Lt.Col. T. is getting ready to lead his GIs into battle with a cadre of experienced NCOs, men like Sgt. C., to watch his back and help shepherd his troops safely through the challenging days ahead.
And the environmental consulting firm? He's shutting it down, so he can do something really important.
Where do we find such men?
Posted by Mike Lief at October 21, 2007 09:31 PM
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Comments
It's not so hard to find these men, but the real question is: "Where do such men come from?"
Awesome post.
Posted by: sonarman at October 23, 2007 07:45 PM