Tuesday, November 11, 2008

11NOV08..............AS I SIT HERE TODAY IN MY UNIFORM WHILE ON BRIGADE STAFF DUTY , I ASK MYSELF IF THERE IS ANYWHERE I WOULD RATHER BE ON THIS HOLIDAY, I MEAN SURE I COULD BE AT ONE OF MY BUDS HOUSE GEARING UP FOR A BARBEQUE, OR MAYBE JUST CHILLING AT MY HOUSE PLAYING WITH MY DOGS AND WATCHING A COUPLE OF MOVIES ,OR PLAYING THE 360 KILLING SOME TERRORISTS WHO ARE TRYING TO LAY SIEGE TO LAS VEGAS, BUT AS I WALK AROUND THE RANGER HALL OF FAME AND WALK THRU THE HALLWAYS WHERE IT IS DEAD SILENT ASIDE FROM MY OWN FOOTSTEPS, I SEE PHOTOS AND READ ARCHIVES OF BATTLES PAST,WHERE ' WE WERE OUTNUMBERED' OR 'GIVEN UP FOR DEAD........' AND I STAND QUIET AND IN AWE WITH WHAT SOME OF THESE OLD TIMERS HAVE BEEN THROUGH, I MEAN THESE ARE THE STORIES YOU READ OR HEAR ABOUT AS A CHILD THAT MAKE YOU WANT TO GROW UP AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE,OR STAND VICTORIOUS ON THE BATTLEFIELD ,OR THAT JUST MAKE YOU PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN.THERE IS A STORY HERE ABOUT A YOUNG PFC IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC DURING WWII , THAT WHEN HIS UNIT WAS ABOUT TO GET OVERUN, WITH HIS PLATOON LEADER DEAD AND HIS OTHER LEADERSHIP IN PERIL AND CONFUSED GRABS THE MACHINE GUN FROM HIS PLATOON LEADERS HAND AND DROPS HIS CARBINE AND CHARGED THE JAPANESE COMPANY WHO WAS CLOSING IN ON HIS PLATOONS DEFENSIVE POSITION, WITH AN ASTOUNDING "FOLLOW ME" AND A "BLOOD CURDLING" SCREAM, KILLS FOUR JAPANESE SOLDIERS TO HIS FRONT AND IN TURN MOTIVATES HIS PLATOON TO FOLLOW HIS CHARGE , THROUGH HIS ACTIONS , ONE AMERICAN. ONE PFC. ONE 135LB KID FROM ANYWHERE USA,TURNED THE ENTIRE BATTLE AND MADE THAT WHOLE JAPANESE COMPANY SURRENDER TO ONE MAN. TO A KID ,HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR HIM,THAT PLATOON WOULD SURELY HAVE BEEN DESCIMATED ON THAT DAY OF DAYS. NOW THAT IS JUST ONE STORY THAT THESE WALLS WHISPER TO ME AS I WALK DOWN THESE HALLS CONDUCTING MY SAFETY CHECKS. THAT IS WHAT MAKES ME PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN, PROUD TO BE A SOLDIER,AN AIRBORNE RANGER,THAT IS WHAT MAKES ME PROUD TO BE A VETERAN.........................THERE IS NOWHERE THAT I WOULD RATHER BE!!