Sunday, June 19, 2005
Heroes II
Since my Bro has posted a comment to my Heroes Blog, I guess I shall follow it up with a personal example of which he was speaking. If this sounds like I’m tooting my own horn, I am not. I find this extremely difficult to write about and withheld it from the original posting for what I hope to be the obvious reasons.
Approximately four (4) months after the end of hostilities in Kuwait/Iraq from Operation Desert Storm, I was paid an unannounced visit. At my door was a Staff Sergeant, his wife and child. And being retired by this time, this individual had to hunt me down.
Now I must be as honest as possible here. This individual was never one of my favorite people. In fact he was never one of my troops, just one of the men in the last Company I was assigned too. I will credit him with his soldierly appearance and go get’em attitudes that I noticed from time to time and his attention to detail when attending the NCO classes I often taught.
Well, he stood there at my door and introduced his wife and daughter to me. One thing struck me as odd was before he always seemed aggressive in conversation. You know the type, not bashful. Sort of like me!! But this time he seemed meek and his wife acted like she was meeting the Pope. It Didn’t take long to find out why things seemed to be different.
I had transferred to the Inactive Reserves awaiting Retirement prior to that moron invading Kuwait, so I missed the fun and games. I also knew that this individual had left the unit for a new assignment prior to the invasion.
So, to make a short story long, he had looked me up to say thanks. Which totally lost me at the moment.
He said that in the time he had known me, he considered me to be overbearing, often obnoxious, and generally full of bull feces. Remember when I mentioned above his attention to detail during classes? This comes from the fact he often questioned some of the information I was imparting. Doubting the validity of it. Especially those aspects of combat where no matter what the book says, someone will edit it in the middle of the night and not advise you until you are knee deep in crap and looking for a shovel.
He went on to tell me that he found himself near a wet spot in Iraq and under intense fire. He said he probably would have made another wet spot in the sand, but he was too scared to spit. It was at this time he said that all the nonsense he had ever heard me say about combat and the responsibility of the NCO came back to him in a crystal clear vision. He told me that within his mind, he could hear my voice telling the class that regardless how scared an NCO was, he could not let the men under him see it. He had too set the example.
I always taught that the worst crime a Non-Commissioned Officer could do was the failure to do his duty.
This NCO gathered up his men, lead them to a safer position and coordinated the supporting fires of his men until the battle was over. He gained no special attention nor medals for his part in the fight. But what he did gain was the knowledge he had done his duty. And in doing so, he brought all of his men home.
He might not have lost any of his men in the position he was at, but he knew that it was not a good position to provide support to the others in his company in the fight. Moving was necessary and in doing so temporarily exposed himself and his men to fire while moving to a position better to support and fight from.
One could say that a hero is one that ignores the dangers involved to do that which is necessary to protect and/or support the men they were responsible for. You could say this Staff Sergeant was a hero. He overcame his fears and took that action necessary to protect and support his men. He set the example, so they could overcome their own fears.
Has any of this made sense?
He told me before leaving my door something that I always knew, but would never admit to myself. He said, “Thanks for being such a hard ass.”
I’ve often looked back on my career with points taken or given concerning how I conducted myself. Many times I could have taken the easy path. Just did what those above me wanted, even when they were wrong. I walked my path strewn full of rocks and potholes. Also a few landmines and punjee pits. I know of many others who viewed me as crazy for ding this. Stupid for bucking a system that often promoted the incompetent because of the Peter Principal.
To those that walked that path with me, I hope they always were aware where I was from and going too. I make no apologies for who I am. Besides, as one once said of me, there is no excuse for me, I am what I am.
So I look back knowing that I did my duty. And in doing so, I influenced others. I can only hope that in the long run, I was correct in the path I chose. Cause it is way too late to worry about it now.
The Staff Sergeant left my door feeling he had done what needed to be done and said what had to be said. He wasn’t very complimentary in places, but he was correct. I was a hard ass. My job was to train young NCOs to do their duty, not to play patty-fingers with them.
And as one NCO once said, “The way you first treated me, I always thought you hated me. Then one day I realized all you was doing was forcing me to do my job. Once I recognized that, you became a real nice fellow to deal with. And I realized that it was easier to do my duty then what I had been working so hard doing before.”
Amazing, isn’t it.
So, take a look about you. A hero is not just a soldier that has put himself in harms way. He can be anyone in your neighborhood. He can be anyone that walks his own path, without creating harm to those about him, and providing assistance where it is needed.
But as the media is touting heroes these days, I am reminded of a Tina Turner song, “We don’t Need Another Hero”. Especially if it is the media that is selecting them.
19 Jun 2005
Kellyville, OK
Father’s Day 2005
Post Script: I have never told the above story to anyone associated with my time in the service. Which includes my Bro. Sorry Pard.
Approximately four (4) months after the end of hostilities in Kuwait/Iraq from Operation Desert Storm, I was paid an unannounced visit. At my door was a Staff Sergeant, his wife and child. And being retired by this time, this individual had to hunt me down.
Now I must be as honest as possible here. This individual was never one of my favorite people. In fact he was never one of my troops, just one of the men in the last Company I was assigned too. I will credit him with his soldierly appearance and go get’em attitudes that I noticed from time to time and his attention to detail when attending the NCO classes I often taught.
Well, he stood there at my door and introduced his wife and daughter to me. One thing struck me as odd was before he always seemed aggressive in conversation. You know the type, not bashful. Sort of like me!! But this time he seemed meek and his wife acted like she was meeting the Pope. It Didn’t take long to find out why things seemed to be different.
I had transferred to the Inactive Reserves awaiting Retirement prior to that moron invading Kuwait, so I missed the fun and games. I also knew that this individual had left the unit for a new assignment prior to the invasion.
So, to make a short story long, he had looked me up to say thanks. Which totally lost me at the moment.
He said that in the time he had known me, he considered me to be overbearing, often obnoxious, and generally full of bull feces. Remember when I mentioned above his attention to detail during classes? This comes from the fact he often questioned some of the information I was imparting. Doubting the validity of it. Especially those aspects of combat where no matter what the book says, someone will edit it in the middle of the night and not advise you until you are knee deep in crap and looking for a shovel.
He went on to tell me that he found himself near a wet spot in Iraq and under intense fire. He said he probably would have made another wet spot in the sand, but he was too scared to spit. It was at this time he said that all the nonsense he had ever heard me say about combat and the responsibility of the NCO came back to him in a crystal clear vision. He told me that within his mind, he could hear my voice telling the class that regardless how scared an NCO was, he could not let the men under him see it. He had too set the example.
I always taught that the worst crime a Non-Commissioned Officer could do was the failure to do his duty.
This NCO gathered up his men, lead them to a safer position and coordinated the supporting fires of his men until the battle was over. He gained no special attention nor medals for his part in the fight. But what he did gain was the knowledge he had done his duty. And in doing so, he brought all of his men home.
He might not have lost any of his men in the position he was at, but he knew that it was not a good position to provide support to the others in his company in the fight. Moving was necessary and in doing so temporarily exposed himself and his men to fire while moving to a position better to support and fight from.
One could say that a hero is one that ignores the dangers involved to do that which is necessary to protect and/or support the men they were responsible for. You could say this Staff Sergeant was a hero. He overcame his fears and took that action necessary to protect and support his men. He set the example, so they could overcome their own fears.
Has any of this made sense?
He told me before leaving my door something that I always knew, but would never admit to myself. He said, “Thanks for being such a hard ass.”
I’ve often looked back on my career with points taken or given concerning how I conducted myself. Many times I could have taken the easy path. Just did what those above me wanted, even when they were wrong. I walked my path strewn full of rocks and potholes. Also a few landmines and punjee pits. I know of many others who viewed me as crazy for ding this. Stupid for bucking a system that often promoted the incompetent because of the Peter Principal.
To those that walked that path with me, I hope they always were aware where I was from and going too. I make no apologies for who I am. Besides, as one once said of me, there is no excuse for me, I am what I am.
So I look back knowing that I did my duty. And in doing so, I influenced others. I can only hope that in the long run, I was correct in the path I chose. Cause it is way too late to worry about it now.
The Staff Sergeant left my door feeling he had done what needed to be done and said what had to be said. He wasn’t very complimentary in places, but he was correct. I was a hard ass. My job was to train young NCOs to do their duty, not to play patty-fingers with them.
And as one NCO once said, “The way you first treated me, I always thought you hated me. Then one day I realized all you was doing was forcing me to do my job. Once I recognized that, you became a real nice fellow to deal with. And I realized that it was easier to do my duty then what I had been working so hard doing before.”
Amazing, isn’t it.
So, take a look about you. A hero is not just a soldier that has put himself in harms way. He can be anyone in your neighborhood. He can be anyone that walks his own path, without creating harm to those about him, and providing assistance where it is needed.
But as the media is touting heroes these days, I am reminded of a Tina Turner song, “We don’t Need Another Hero”. Especially if it is the media that is selecting them.
19 Jun 2005
Kellyville, OK
Father’s Day 2005
Post Script: I have never told the above story to anyone associated with my time in the service. Which includes my Bro. Sorry Pard.
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Heroes
There comes a point in a persons life in which they ask themselves, is this all there is in life? We wonder if there was something we missed that could or would have placed us on a different path then the one we have taken. And being that truth is stranger then fiction, no one can honestly state that a different path would have been any better then the one they have taken.
Before anyone jumps too high on this, we shall recognize specific events such as drug usage or the excessive intake of the grape or grain as exceptions to the above comments or rule, in that the lack of such may have caused a great talent to expire too soon or in some cases, the excessive use caused specific outlines and portraits of life that excite others in recognizing the genius of the individual.
Any of this making sense yet? No? Not a problem, since this is a random event in the passage of life.
I was recently asked by a learned personage if the word or term hero was being over used during these times in our history. Then he asked what I considered a hero to be. I shall withhold speculation of why I was specifically asked those questions, except that the individual asking them has known me since elementary school and he played short stop to my second base through high school, with him graduating a year ahead of me. He enjoys being called Doctor these days, even though his PhD is not in medicine.
It is important to remember that I have always considered myself a professional warrior. As one former school mate said, “I’ve known you since the 5th grade, and even then you wanted to be a Marine.” So it is from this viewpoint that I often examine life and those events surrounding it. Age and abuse may have taken it’s toll on my body, but my mind is still a fermenting caldron of knowledge which has little, if any place within a civilized world.
Trouble is, a so called civilized world is dull. Boring. Lacks that which creates and causes developmental advances in science, knowledge and dare I say it? Wisdom. Hold one here!! Before you get sideways, consider knowledge and wisdom may walk side by side, you can have one without the other. And if you do not understand the difference, well, I guess you will just have to go through life with that disability.
Now, back to the Professor’s question above. Oh. Another thing to consider, I was mowing the mud when he stopped by and we had the conversation. Yeah, mowing the mud. It rained so much that I tore up more then fixed and stopped shortly after, put the mower up and put a movie in the DVD player.
Anyway. Being a Vietnam Veteran, I am have a real problem with all these ribbons and such I see on vehicles these days. Why you ask? Cause I know for a fact that many of those same people treated me like a leper most of my life cause of the way the public viewed Vietnam. And now they are showing how patriotic they are with all the ribbons and such. All this time they showing how good an American they are, while meekly smiling at me, knowing I know the truth. And I’m still treated like a leper, only with a smile and a weak hello.
OK… I had to get that out of my system. If anyone was offended by those comments, may I suggest a healthy dose of reality. And you really do not need a dose of my reality, cause it will probably turn your stomach.
Well. That was rude of me.
Yes, I do believe the word or term Hero is being overused, even abused these days.. But consider who or whom it is that keeps throwing the word about like loaded dice in a Chicago craps shoot. It is the media that keeps talking about heroes. And it is them that are providing us with what they consider to be the proper definition of the term.
Only a veteran of war knows what a war hero really is. And even then, the definition is clouded due to each persons experiences. But one definition is above all the rest. The real heroes are those that gave it all. It is they which are the true heroes, not some officer or NCO that was just doing their jobs.
I know for a fact I am no hero. I was just an NCO doing his job. Men lived and men died. I am just a survivor. I neither earned nor expect accolades for that which I was expected to do. Rank has it’s privileges and is heavy with responsibility.
Of my children, only one explored the possibility of service. And that was cut short due to a medical problem which prevented enlistment.
I am extremely proud of my children. They have lived their lives by their rules. There has been mistakes and missteps, but they are their own persons. And even within their infighting as siblings, they never forgot they were family, and that family is the strongest of all bonds.
Has anyone noticed a bit of ranting wrapped inside this rambling? To be honest, the original subject matter here is such that I am glad I am an alcoholic, cause it could make a drunk out of a thinking person.
In case no one notices, this Blog is not a work of a couple hours on a rainy day. It is several days in incubation and inspiration. Which takes, brings or otherwise pushes me to the next segment.
I salute Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester of the 617th Military Police Company of Richmond, Kentucky. Why you ask? Cause Sgt Hester now wears a Silver Star on her best dress uniforms. During a time when the heated debate on whether females should be allowed in combat units, this 23 year old Sergeant became involved in the close in fighting of clearing trenches. Sgt. Hester is also the first woman too received the third highest award for Valor since World War II.
She told the American Forces Press Services; “It really doesn’t have anything to do with being a female. It’s about the duties I preformed as a soldier.”
Now my task is clear. I need to hunt down my learned friend and present him with the news article of Sgt. Hester. Maybe he’ll see what I was trying to tell him. For it is very difficult to explain to those who have never served, much less found themselves in such situations, what or how we survivors view what a hero really is. Or at least what we perceive one to be.
I our lives, each of us have our personal heroes. They are there to give us inspiration and guidance, even if they have never net us. Our heroes are the examples in which we try to live by and imitate. And when we find they or as human as we are, we often feel betrayed by those that have no knowledge of us. Many of whom have left this existence years before we were even born.
So, this has been as it shall be , tho things are never as we think they are. If we consider time as water, flowing and filling the crevices of our soul, then we must also consider why you read the madness I often write. Who is the greater fool?.. The one that leads or the one that follows? Or maybe the one that writes those things that no one really reads yet totally understands.
This is the end of this days nonsense. Go back to sleep and dream those dreams which only you can believe in.
18 Jun 2005
Kellyville, OK
Before anyone jumps too high on this, we shall recognize specific events such as drug usage or the excessive intake of the grape or grain as exceptions to the above comments or rule, in that the lack of such may have caused a great talent to expire too soon or in some cases, the excessive use caused specific outlines and portraits of life that excite others in recognizing the genius of the individual.
Any of this making sense yet? No? Not a problem, since this is a random event in the passage of life.
I was recently asked by a learned personage if the word or term hero was being over used during these times in our history. Then he asked what I considered a hero to be. I shall withhold speculation of why I was specifically asked those questions, except that the individual asking them has known me since elementary school and he played short stop to my second base through high school, with him graduating a year ahead of me. He enjoys being called Doctor these days, even though his PhD is not in medicine.
It is important to remember that I have always considered myself a professional warrior. As one former school mate said, “I’ve known you since the 5th grade, and even then you wanted to be a Marine.” So it is from this viewpoint that I often examine life and those events surrounding it. Age and abuse may have taken it’s toll on my body, but my mind is still a fermenting caldron of knowledge which has little, if any place within a civilized world.
Trouble is, a so called civilized world is dull. Boring. Lacks that which creates and causes developmental advances in science, knowledge and dare I say it? Wisdom. Hold one here!! Before you get sideways, consider knowledge and wisdom may walk side by side, you can have one without the other. And if you do not understand the difference, well, I guess you will just have to go through life with that disability.
Now, back to the Professor’s question above. Oh. Another thing to consider, I was mowing the mud when he stopped by and we had the conversation. Yeah, mowing the mud. It rained so much that I tore up more then fixed and stopped shortly after, put the mower up and put a movie in the DVD player.
Anyway. Being a Vietnam Veteran, I am have a real problem with all these ribbons and such I see on vehicles these days. Why you ask? Cause I know for a fact that many of those same people treated me like a leper most of my life cause of the way the public viewed Vietnam. And now they are showing how patriotic they are with all the ribbons and such. All this time they showing how good an American they are, while meekly smiling at me, knowing I know the truth. And I’m still treated like a leper, only with a smile and a weak hello.
OK… I had to get that out of my system. If anyone was offended by those comments, may I suggest a healthy dose of reality. And you really do not need a dose of my reality, cause it will probably turn your stomach.
Well. That was rude of me.
Yes, I do believe the word or term Hero is being overused, even abused these days.. But consider who or whom it is that keeps throwing the word about like loaded dice in a Chicago craps shoot. It is the media that keeps talking about heroes. And it is them that are providing us with what they consider to be the proper definition of the term.
Only a veteran of war knows what a war hero really is. And even then, the definition is clouded due to each persons experiences. But one definition is above all the rest. The real heroes are those that gave it all. It is they which are the true heroes, not some officer or NCO that was just doing their jobs.
I know for a fact I am no hero. I was just an NCO doing his job. Men lived and men died. I am just a survivor. I neither earned nor expect accolades for that which I was expected to do. Rank has it’s privileges and is heavy with responsibility.
Of my children, only one explored the possibility of service. And that was cut short due to a medical problem which prevented enlistment.
I am extremely proud of my children. They have lived their lives by their rules. There has been mistakes and missteps, but they are their own persons. And even within their infighting as siblings, they never forgot they were family, and that family is the strongest of all bonds.
Has anyone noticed a bit of ranting wrapped inside this rambling? To be honest, the original subject matter here is such that I am glad I am an alcoholic, cause it could make a drunk out of a thinking person.
In case no one notices, this Blog is not a work of a couple hours on a rainy day. It is several days in incubation and inspiration. Which takes, brings or otherwise pushes me to the next segment.
I salute Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester of the 617th Military Police Company of Richmond, Kentucky. Why you ask? Cause Sgt Hester now wears a Silver Star on her best dress uniforms. During a time when the heated debate on whether females should be allowed in combat units, this 23 year old Sergeant became involved in the close in fighting of clearing trenches. Sgt. Hester is also the first woman too received the third highest award for Valor since World War II.
She told the American Forces Press Services; “It really doesn’t have anything to do with being a female. It’s about the duties I preformed as a soldier.”
Now my task is clear. I need to hunt down my learned friend and present him with the news article of Sgt. Hester. Maybe he’ll see what I was trying to tell him. For it is very difficult to explain to those who have never served, much less found themselves in such situations, what or how we survivors view what a hero really is. Or at least what we perceive one to be.
I our lives, each of us have our personal heroes. They are there to give us inspiration and guidance, even if they have never net us. Our heroes are the examples in which we try to live by and imitate. And when we find they or as human as we are, we often feel betrayed by those that have no knowledge of us. Many of whom have left this existence years before we were even born.
So, this has been as it shall be , tho things are never as we think they are. If we consider time as water, flowing and filling the crevices of our soul, then we must also consider why you read the madness I often write. Who is the greater fool?.. The one that leads or the one that follows? Or maybe the one that writes those things that no one really reads yet totally understands.
This is the end of this days nonsense. Go back to sleep and dream those dreams which only you can believe in.
18 Jun 2005
Kellyville, OK
