Poet Spotlight: Interview with Associated Content Producer, D.A. Ashton

In Part One of my interview with Associated Content Producer, D.A. Ashton, this talented writer opened up to me about his passion for poetry, his many ambitions and his love for his mother, Jacquelyn Elaine Jones, who is now deceased. It would be impossible however to paint a lifelike portrait of Ashton without capturing eyes that have seen war up close and personal, lips that have spewed forth commands that summoned bravery, camaraderie, precision and perseverance from Army Soldiers, and the stature of one who could be referred to as nothing less than a gifted leader.

Born August 12, 1978 in Georgetown, South Carolina, Ashton was the quintessential "military brat." His father, Richard Ashley, served an Army tanker for 22 years before retiring, and it goes without saying that Ashton spent a great deal of his life on the move. The seeds of his Army career really began to sprout when he received an Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Scholarship following the completion of his studies at Fort Knox High school. He would ultimately go on to become a decorated Officer of the United States Army, having earned various military honors. A snippet of his military bio is all one needs in order to see that his life in the United States Army is hardly a distant memory for Ashton:

"He has deployed twice to Southwest Asia to support Operation Iraqi Freedom; first as a Platoon Leader and Battalion Logistics Officer and again as a Fire Support Officer in an Aviation Tactical Operations Center."

Read on a little further and you will understand that his brainpower has definitely been in demand:

"...was selected ahead of peers to serve as a Combat Arms liaison for Ardent Sentry '04, a large-scale simulation designed to train government and civilian agencies on homeland security measures"

There is no better person however to talk about D.A., his upbringing, his military experiences and his personal views, than D.A.! So I picked his brain a bit to find out more about his life in the military and how that has helped to shape the main that he is today.

Dr. M: Briefly describe D.A. Ashton during his childhood. What were you like as a child and what was life like for you during those early years?

D.A.: My early years, hmm. Good question. I was a lot quieter. I am still somewhat reserved; however, I have a more pronounced character these days. As a child, I never really kicked up too much dust. Well, I never really got caught kicking it [laughing]. I think some of the highlights were that I was a nerd and enjoyed being a nerd because of the many circumstances I saw that came along with being cool, I purposely pursued Nerdom. I liked to write, loved music, and stayed to myself. No one can ever say I was a follower. I am proud of that fact.

Since my dad was in the military, we traveled a lot. Moving around the United States and experiencing all the beauty of Europe at a young age gave me a lot of content to share in my poems and other writings. At one point, we were in Garlstedt, Germany where I went to Osterholz-Scharmbeck. My 3^rd grade teacher asked me to write a new school poem, that was quite an honor. In fact, she helped me put together a book of poems for my mom. I enjoyed writing; however, after her recognition, similar to what I received from you today with this interview, I was awakened to the impact of my work.

Dr. M: Your father was in the Army for 22 years. In what ways are you like your father and how do the two of you differ?

D.A.: I think I am like my dad because we are both a tad stubborn. We differ in that I am very open minded. I am willing to listen to other people more often than not. We are also both dreamers. I think I am more of an active dreamer. I feel I learned a lot from my dad, by watching how he carried out his life.

Dr. M: Why did you choose to join the Army?

D.A.: G.I. Joe, James Bond, and every other action show or movie that my childhood mind reveled about. I wanted to have an adventurous life. Looking back on it, for the most part, the Army was a blast. The Army really helped to enhance my personal character, it is not for everyone, but it did a number on me. I had to be loud, aggressive, detailed; I feel I am a better person for being in the military. I was really able to hone my leadership skills. I feel guilty about how well I am able to influence people, many times without them even being aware.

I have pushed my body to limits most, I feel, will never try. Through all the physical challenges of the military, I learned that strength of the mind has the greatest influence on physical output. From jumping out of planes, blowing up buildings and leading people of all kinds, you can do it, but you can do it well with a strong mind. There are men and women in the Armed Forces who are impeccable displays of brain and brawn. We have a wealth of talent in the military; it's a shame that most civilian employers are not able to conceptualize the diversity of skills the military bestows upon some of its best and brightest.

Dr. M: Identify one life-changing experience you have had and briefly describe how it helped to transform you into the person that you are today.

During the summer of 2003, I led a team that responded to a loss of contact of two Soldiers who were at an observation point. When we arrived on the scene there was blood and other physical debris on the ground. It certainly was not a positive sight. However, we looked for our guys for days without sleep. In fact the first time we stopped to rest about an hour later we were told they were found buried in a shallow grave. As sad as it was, I have never seen that sort of dedication anywhere else in my life. I saw men invigorate themselves purely on the fact that time was of the essence and lives were at stake. It was an enriching experience to know that kind of fortitude still existed in so many people. Also, it was then I truly realized the importance of life. I began to re-evaluate my respect for my time here on Earth and look at ways be more beneficial to others when within my limits.

Dr. M: Do you consider yourself an American hero? Why or why not?

D.A.: I will not call myself a hero; however, I feel that Soldiers who have been to war and endured those hardships deserve the respect of the American people. I have heard so many people tell me how they appreciate my service. I feel that less than half are sincere and say it because it's "the thing to do." My opinion is based on my experiences. I only appreciate things I embrace and/or understand. I feel that a huge portion of the false respect exuded by some Americans is because they feel obligated to show support. I feel a person who supports best is an active supporter. I find that many people I encounter are too passive.

Many American citizens do not understand what is going on in Iraq; for example what major activities are happening in Iraq right now? Life-or-death situations should be treated with care and taken very seriously. Iraq is a life-or-death situation, so for me, if you're going to tell me you appreciate me, I need you to be sincere. In order to be sincere your actions need to match your words, or they are faulty.

Do I consider myself a hero? Personally, no. I don't feel that I can title myself as such; however, I do believe Soldiers should be given their due respect. If others consider me a hero, I am in their gratitude for taking the time to grace me and other Soldiers with such a title. Soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice, those are my heroes. They have gone the distance in my eyes. I have not toiled against the hand of death. I have the utmost respect for all the Fallen Soldiers.

While I am on the subject, everyone please continue to support our troops. I personally have nothing but respect for all the service members and feel that the American citizen, even with all the embedded media, has only a small idea of how much mental, emotional, and physical trauma Soldiers endure. Nor do they seem to get the fact that Iraq is a combat zone, not a resort. It's a rough time over there. Please support the troops; Iraq is not a faint task.

Dr. M: Many members of the United State Military have lost their lives in the current war. What can be done to truly honor these individuals by 1) civilians; 2) the media, and 3) the federal government?

D.A.: Well, I feel that the American public and those other countries supporting the war but with little to no troops there, need to operate within their power to assist the integration of military personnel back into the domestic experience. Just like how all the veterans returned from the Gulf War, Vietnam, and WWII before, these men and women have sacrificed and deserve to return to a descent lifestyle. Historically, we have done a poor job of reintegrating these men and women. I really don't see a huge outpouring by the American people; where is the equity? Don't get me wrong for those who are supporting within their limits, much appreciation. However, someone will view this and their feelings will be rightly injured.

The most impressive effort that I have seen lately is the new "Post 9/11 GI Bill". It just passed on June 1, 2008. Hats off to Senator Pelosi and Webb for orchestrating a true testimony of appreciation to the American Soldiers and their lives after combat. No idle, "thanks for what you do," garbage - real effort. Rather than disposable words, they pushed a bill to allow men and women returning from tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom a way attend institutions of higher learning at little to no cost.

It is a sacrifice to commit your life to the defense of the American way. You often have to alter your aesthetic and educational desires and pick up a rifle and other skills only useful on a battlefield. Doing that can muddle the skills of a dentist, lawyer or high school senior who has only known the sacrifice of war. Compensate these great Americans for their sacrifice by allowing them access to the skills necessary to compete off the battlefield. Again, my applause to Jim Webb and others for their attention and labor.