Tribute to a Soldier

Today I was at the store and I got to talking with a young man by the name of William. It turns out he's in the Army and he was telling me about the things that are really happening over in Iraq. I'd like to dedicate this post to him and to all the men and women who are serving all over the world to protect us here in the United States of America.

I had my boys with me and he said they were well behaved boys. I thanked him and he asked me how I do it. He himself just had a boy who was a few months old. He said he was having trouble with all the crying. I told him it doesn't get easier and that the only thing that will change is him. He would start to see things differently and all the fussy, messy, smelly things his child will do will eventually make him smile. They get older and the crazy things they did as infants will become crazy things they do as toddlers and the crazy things they do as toddlers will change.... etc. You get the picture. He laughed and told me how hard it was for him and his friends to come back from tour and try to "blend" back into a family life that's been doing fine without him. You see, he explained that in the Army their tour of duty can be from many months to years before they come back to the family. In the other branches they usually do 6 month tours or 9 month tours and then they rotate back for a while before heading back.

The Army keeps them out for a long time, brings them back for a short rotation and then sends them out again. He looked somber and reflective. I could see how this was troubling him. He went on to say half jokingly that as he was trying to work his way back into the family life his wife would yell at him for leaving his shoes in the middle of the floor. I told him not to worry because I'm a civilian and I do it also and my wife yells at me all the time. But I understood what he was trying to tell me. William also told me about the fire fights he was involved in and it scared me. We sit on our asses in the safety of our home and watch the news and think how hard it must be for them over there but we don't have a clue about what it's really like. He stated that 6 to 10 hour fire fights were normal and that his friends were getting hit all the time. He also told me how the enemy would get hit by 5 or 6 rounds and not go down. Apparently, he said, they get high and don't feel the rounds and keep fighting. Can you tell me what's scarier than an enemy who doesn't agree to die by the rules? Anyway, I finished what I was doing and I shook Williams hand. I told him how proud and appreciative I was for what he and the others were doing for us here at home. Regardless of what your views on the war are these men and women deserve our respect and admiration. Thank you is not a strong enough phrase to say to them but it's all I have. I want to thank William and all of the other soldiers for keeping my family safe while they sacrifice theirs for our freedom.