Just before Christmas we had a guest in our home. A young man who is a U. S. Army staff sergeant, a soldier, an infantryman who has led men in combat on the fields of battle in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was passing through on his way to his latest tour of duty in Afghanistan where people want to kill him. He’s been to war a half-dozen times now since he enlisted a dozen years ago after graduating from high school. Going to war has been his adult life.
As a staff non-commissioned officer the lives of many are in his hands. When most young men and women his age who work in management or leadership positions make a mistake at work, they can usually correct it on their laptop. When he makes a mistake at work, the chances are high someone or many will die or are injured seriously. That’s an incredible amount of responsibility to carry but he does it willingly and admirably.
We didn’t talk about the war while he was here. There was no need to.
We talked about cold beer, women (he’s single, ladies, and quite handsome), and what he was going to do after the army and the days of carrying a M4 rifle and leading men in battle for a living.
We talked about the closeness you have with those who have served no matter what branch of service they were in. The camaraderie that comes with those you share danger and death with is as strong a bond as I’ve ever seen or experienced.
It never ceases to amaze me where we find the young people who are willing to put their lives on the line and bravely venture into the jaws of death in the service of their country.
It takes a special breed to seek out danger so that others may live and prosper while living a life of honor and sacrifice. Sadly sometimes the sacrifice is life and limb.
We spent a little time talking about the next war, you know, the one after Afghanistan. He knows there’ll be another war and he’ll be a part of it. There’s a growing military presence in Africa and no one talks about the things special operations forces are doing in Latin America. With his experience, leadership skills and training, the army will no doubt put him where he does what he does best: lead men in combat.
While much is said about those who went off to war during World War II, the last war America fought everyone supported and believed in, the soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors who have taken up arms for America since World War II have served just as honorably, bravely and with as much sacrifice as any GI in United States history. War is war.
So while the country still tries to figure out what to do with the fiscal cliff and mass murder, the soldier I drank beer with will be trying to figure out how to accomplish the mission the army gives him and how he’s going to keep the men in his unit alive so they all get to come home and in one piece and have Christmas and New Year’s with their families next year.
It’ll be hard for me to say Happy New Year next week knowing our latest generation of warriors is off fighting a war in Afghanistan.
After a nice visit the young soldier was out the door and on his way to war.
Slabside posted at 10:28 am on Fri, Dec 28, 2012.
Good story Bill. God bless all of our servicemen and women wherever they are.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 12:47 pm on Fri, Dec 28, 2012.
The Spirit of Christmas lives.
Who would have...."thunk"...it.
A great Commentary by Bill Richardson....didn't think he had one in him but he proved me wrong.
Folks, our Military Men and Women of all the Services could do with a little .."Touch of Home". They are putting themselves in Harm's Way to protect us. The least we can do is to send them some packages. You can find them online under..."packages to our Troops"...there are lots of them....or you can do-it-yourself....through..."AnySoldier.com". This is a wonderful website (video shows you what free box you will need from the Post Office and what Postal Custom Form you will need to fill out which just takes about 5 minutes) and all the Military Services are represented....both Men and Women. You will mail your package yourself at the Post Office..costs about $13 per box. That way you are giving these Men and Women exactly what they need...be it baby wipes or candy bars, nutrition bars..shampoo, toothpaste..disposable razors....whatever. Many of the requests come from "front line" Service members who are stationed in out-of-th-way Combat Operating Posts or Forward Operating Bases where day-to-day personal hygiene supplies are desperately needed. There is no "running water" for showers at these sites. These Service Members are giving 3-4 bottles of water every week or so for a..."shower"...that's where the need for "baby wipes" comes in. You will be sending a box to a particular Service Member at his or her unit's address. Don't forget to include some blank writing paper and an envelope so they can write back. It is something that young people really need to truly understand. The sacrifices that our Service Men and Women out there in Harm's Way are making every day to protect our Great Nation.
Accuracy posted at 4:25 pm on Fri, Dec 28, 2012.
Bill Richardson,
Good story about the U. S. Army staff sergeant, and other U.S. forces fighting a war in Afghanistan.
Britain has announced that it will withdraw almost half of its troops from Afghanistan next year, and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has said he's pleased with Britain's announcement .
It would be good if the U.S. would do the same next year, instead of preparing for a full security handover at the end of 2014. Over the course of the 11-year war in Afghanistan, the U.S. death toll is over 2,000 from insider attacks.
mikedurham posted at 7:31 pm on Fri, Dec 28, 2012.
Thanks for keeping their sacrifice in front of us.
KJDaVinci777 posted at 3:04 pm on Sat, Dec 29, 2012.
Outstanding---This is the type of American that allows the White House fraud to play golf every day and vacation in Hawaii every other month...and be able to cover up the Libya murders...Yes, Mr. Obama these are the type of Americans you do NOT support....yet they defend you...You to Michelle...
Dale Whiting posted at 8:04 pm on Sat, Dec 29, 2012.
Bill,
In 2012 the US Army lost 212 soldiers overseas in combat related incidents. It lost 313 to suicides. Which is the bigger problem? Time to bring our troops home where it's safer. Let them guard our public schools and our borders. Time to stop trying to make the world safe for democracy and start making it safe from US.