A question for Military personel....?

Fort

My answer may be strange to some, and I think most military personnel will understand what I am saying...and most civilians will not...

I will make a reference to that song by Toby Keith- "American Soldier"- the line goes "...and I don't want to die for you, but if dying's asked of me, I'll bear that cross with honor, 'Cause Freedom don't come free..."

Some would say it is foolish, but it takes a special type of person (not better, just special) to be "ok" with giving their life to save another life. It is not that we ask for it, it is more that we are "at peace" with the "possiblity."

I don't think I thought that way when I enlisted, but after serving, it is a mindset that I will have for the rest of my life. I would proudly give my life to save someone else's life. That is why I served. I am currently trying to overturn a medical discharge to get back into the service. There are so few of us willing to fight for our nation, I think it would be a waste for me to continue being a civilian.

As for our "war" right now...I would much rather serve in Iraq, than be fighting terrorists in the U.S. I want to protect my parents, siblings and grandparents from the hardships I've seen. I want them to know peace and feel safe sleeping in their beds at night.

Protecting my family from the evils of the world, and serving with my comrades, is more than enough to help me sleep at night....

Thank you for being such a strong supporter, I've seen too many military marriages fail because of a lack of understanding. It is never easy on the spouse, and their love, trust and patience can make, or break a marriage. Kudos to you for sticking with it and I wish you all the best!

Dennis F

I would say, "For those that have served, love their country and democracy. No explanation is needed. For those that havent, no explanation is possable."

What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including their life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact.

Chad B

"Because even though leaving my wife and children would be awful, I see the bigger picture in not only protecting my family, but my country."

Philip McCrevice

Because you love America and Americans so much that you say to yourself "if I don't do it, another American will have to."

bud68

He doesn't owe his friend any explanations.

burk116

Its more than just putting yourself in harms way. Its actually not just about your husband being in harms way, its that his fellow soldiers and friends are in harms way and maybe by him being there and using his experience he can save more soldiers. It is also a sense of pride to be serving your country. You and your children are relatively safe here thanks to men like your husband that fight the battles to keep us all safe here in the United States of America. Its much better to fight the battle abroad then in our own country. I was in the service for many years and I now volunteer to serve overseas as a civilian. I too shoulder a sense of responsibility for the protection of those that can not protect themselves. Just my opinion and I hope it helps. Tell your husband I said thanks.

Nick the Great

My family loves and supports me. My wife married into the Army. The risks I take are for them. I serve this nation selflessly and honorably. It is those who are willing to sacrafice the most who represent the very best that America has to offer.

Too much has this nation become consumed with greed and selfish behavior, and all to often that is reflected in the public opinion about serving in the military. A lazy, entitlement based population, and an increasingly detached youth is the real enemy America is facing now.

I serve because it is the right thing to do, because men like myself and my brothers know that if America is to remain great we must give of ourselves. The risks are negligible, when compared to the rewards.

Yggdrasil

Actually, it is a really good question. It shows the lack of information that people not in the military have. This is an excellent time to educate this person about the ways of the military

I can think of several jobs that have equal or greater danger associated with them than the military...like Police, Firefighters, Forestry folks, loggers, auto racers, fishermen, commercial pilots, etc.

It is possible that the person just doesn't know. Yes, we take a chance when we put ourselves in harm's way, but all of us aren't promised anything in life beyond the present moment.

MarathonWomen

My husband says he does it so our daughter won't have to. He's making a sacrifice to make her life better - isn't that what all (good) parents do?

sacraficed

The pride of serving doesn't come from the government, it comes from within yourself.

I'm willing to bet your husband is a proud man... charges obstacles head on vs going around them?....

It's hard for civillians to understand 'why' we do what we do, but it's because we love our country, the people within, and regardless of popular belief... our government who so graciously aside of their 'bad' qualities does give our families a 'good' kind of living, so I'm sure he's still serving to make sure that you, his children, and your friends and family can sleep well at night.

God Bless Him
Hooahh!!!

reb3mo

the army is something you must love,and most civilian will not know what its like to be in the army,serving your country is one of the best things you can do and i hope more man like your husband keep doing it long live the army U.S. Army Inf. 1975/1995 i loved it and would do it again

Perro De Lava

Well first of all most military members are not getting shot at or in danger. Because of what you see on tv you assume every service man is in great danger. Not true. If what you say is true we would have hundreds of casualties each month and this simply is not true.

No one ever places themselves in harms way. I understand how to you it may seem like we do but thats not true. I am not the same as you. I dont dwell on the small things and I dont question everything. I just do what I thought I had to do.

Just ask yourself this. Why do you get in a car if thousands die each day from car accidents? You sort of place yourself in danger every time you get in a car but yet you do it anyways,right?

Mike D

Because somebody has to. I think it was Ray Bradbury who said (and I'm paraphrasing here) that people sleep soundly because rough men are willing to visit violence upon those who would do them harm. Yes, a lot of us soldiers have families, but our families understand that we do what we do for them and the millions of other Americans that depend on us for their freedom. When my children are adults, they will know that their father had the guts to stand up and fight for them. We put ourselves in harm's way, but we are not reckless about it. We are a professional Army that takes care of business. Yes, there are casualites, but that is part of the business of keeping America Safe and Free!

heart_of_lestat

dear proud military wife i am also in the military i have a wife and three kids also it takes lots of heart and determination to do what our military does we just don't go out and spend the united states tax money we fight for their right to be free. few people don't understand why we do it we just do some do it for the honor some do for the glory but we all do it to make sure our home land is safe and secure for our family and kids and the next generations to come so i thank you for supporting your husband in a time of need and i truly and deeply thank you for supporting all the troops of the united states of america weather it be army, marines, navy, air force, or coast guard and i hope you and your family and friend will understand more to why we serve and again i thank you for your support. feel free to email me anytime @ heart_of_lestat@yahoo.com or im me on yahoo messenger ty

StratosBlue

Your civilian "friend's" question is a sadly ignorant, thinly veiled insult.

Rick

"Because all that is necessary for evil to win is for good men to do nothing."

- Edmund Burke

I recently signed up and will be going off to basic soon so I've been asked this question a lot recently. In the end, I see it as a question of whether or not I will stand up for what I believe in. Will I turn a blind eye to the problems facing this world? Will I stand idly by why so many suffer? Will I take for granted everything so many fine men and women have laid down their lives for? No! I will not. I can not.

In the end, I don't want to look back and question the worth of my life. I could easily spend my life making other people (or even myself) money but what is the point of that in the end? Will the future be any better for it? Will I? Could I live knowing that I have it in me to make a difference and yet do nothing?

So many people take for granted everything they have in their lives and don't give anything back. I am grateful to my country for everything it has given me and unlike so many others, I want to give something back. I want to make tomorrow even just a little bit better than today.

Call it foolish pride if you will but I believe that I can make a difference. I want to protect the people I care about and know that even if I die, my death is not without meaning. Somebody has to step up. Somebody must carry this burden. Somebody must make the sacrifice.

regiment_gunner

The people who have served will know the comradeship and feeling of serving alongside people is powerful. It's amazing. Also knowing your serving your country, keeping those at home safe is just amazing. If everybody thought 'Well I family so I won't do this now' then there would be nobody keeping you safe. Also, I just love my job!

And like I tell my girlfriend, I fight so that you won't have to.

AFwife

Your friend should also ask himself why people are firefighters and police officers? What if no one signed up for these jobs? My husband is in the Air Force and my father is a retired NYC firefighter, my husband loves his job and my dad always said that he loved his job, he loved that it was exciting, that he made a difference, saved peoples lives instead of having to sit in a cubicle for 30 years, thank your husband for me and i hope your friend understand our militaries sacrifices

**** Army Wife****

My husband doesn't feel he owes anyone, including his family (mine doesn't ask because I come from a long line of Military) an explanation about why he serves and never has.

kisser

Each to his own, its my living and I like what I 'm doing and my family are used to it and mind you're own f***ing business!

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