The Soldier

Wonderer

If you and I ever meet, I will be more than happy to show you exactly what I know about combat.

I'm not talking about the person as a lawyer -v- the person as a soldier, I'm talking about the soldier -v- the lawyer, the media talking head or the poet. The person as the poet is not going to lay down his life for the country.

Moreso, there is such a thing as the professional soldier, the one that devotes his life to service, is there in peace as well as war, and is the one that trains the poets and lawyers how to be soldiers.

You know, in my 8 years on active duty, I never came across one lawyer that was a soldier, otehr than JAG, but I wouldn't take kindly in being put in the same catagory. They aren't much danger to the enemy, unless they intend to "Throw the book at them"!

You are not born a soldier. Every man with an ounce of courage is a soldier. Professional soldiers are mercenaries. They get paid to fight. It is their career. It is what they choose to do. Nobody makes them do it. They are peacetime defence. And they deserve our appreciation.

It is the common man who answers the call whom I respect. Men whose lives are halted in a matter days/hours. Who drop everything, including their families, to pick up a weapon and fight. These soldiers are men who make the greatest sacrifice of all for the good of their nation. Not so some other country gains financially from you risking your life.

I knew a guy at my school who screwed around, didnt do his homework and was generally a little # for the whole time. He went so poorly during exams etc that when we all graduated, he joined the army because he thought it was good pay, you get to shoot guns and because he thought soldiers get chicks and respect. Not even a mention that he was doing it to serve his country.

Just because you can join the army doesn't make you a super hero. In fact, people who think like that make me sick.

The soldier deserves utter respect in my view.

If just one soldier out of our whole army, holds the same beliefs as me.
And he fights for those beliefs - He is fighting for me.

I owe him.

Why not become a soldier yourself?