I found this on Facebook. This really touched me, not only as a person, but a human too. Poor father.

Respected E-1

   So during red phase I'm reading some profiles to see the background on these new recruits and I come along one that struck me kind of odd....
   It was on a 41 year old private that had a pretty profound background. Had a good job I believe he was a 20 year pipe fitter and made good money..... 4 year degree.... had a son.... and divorced. What struck me was he was an E-1. So I pulled him in my office and had to ask.
Me: Hey Private, take a seat. I've been reading your profile and it struck me kind of odd. Why are you a private? You could be an officer, your very knowledgeable and keep yourself pretty fit. You also had a good paying job.... so.... enlighten me did you get in trouble with the law or something?
   Private: Well your right Drill Sergeant. I did have a good job and no I've had no trouble with the law. I used to be married and had a son. The reason I joined is because it was my sons dream to come into the army and be a soldier. I supported him all the way. Shortly after he graduated he was shipped over seas and sent into combat in Iraq. He was K.I.A. (Killed In Action). My wife blamed me and divorced me. I had a hard time just going back to work so I decided to finish my sons dream. I want to start wear he did and fulfill the rest. So here I am Drill Sergeant.
   Me:.......... do you have any questions of me?
   Private: No Drill Sergeant.
   Me: You are dismissed.

~Senior Drill Sergeant~


Any thoughts on this?

This moved me to the verge of tears. It was a powerful story of honor, but most of all, paternal love. It's sad that this man's wife blamed him like that, and that he lost his son. To see that he chose to carry on his son's dream like that was just touching to say the least. I could have nothing but the utmost respect for a man like this.

Eirinn : I had all but forgotten about this thread. Thanks. Maybe somebody else will see this, and realize what it means to have a heart for the ones you  love and care about.

Soldiers die. That guys wife was stupid to think his son would not and blame it on this guy. And he is also stupid to do this just because of that. If I was the the officer who had been told this, I would have sent him to get his head examined. There should be no room for anybody with a death wish in a team.

Brigand : Dude... harshness uncalled for. Be more tactful.

thing1 :

Okay sorry. When fighting wars, people might get hurt sometimes. But when fighting wars, you don't fight by yourself, you fight in as a part of group. This is what I learned in the army where some of my grandparents were part of. And they got hurt too. Some so bad they did not come back to tell the family how bad they really were hurt and kids, that is a lot of hurt.

But if you are a part of that hurty team, which you are if you go or has to go to the army, that hurt is what comes with the job. You are a team of hurt that tries to hurt the other team, mean to hurt you. But if you are a leader in a team, your job is to see that the team comes back okay if that is possible. And if somebody in that team is very sad and only has his own reasons to be in the team because that person is sad, that is not good. Because he or she only thinks those sad things, not what is good for the team that tries to hurt the other people who try to hurt you. That might lead you getting hurt. And you being very hurt and sad. And your mother and father being very sad too.

Oh and was this supposed to be an army thread? Do your enemies call for uncalled harshness and do you call them to be more tactful? But I apologize. In my troop we were sort of above this since the officers were even more harsh. And it was said our dead relatives would laugh at us if we would weep like girls over them or show them pity and sorrow instead of quiet respect.

Hey,
Global Mods : I am going to move this to stories. If I can't, then ill close. If want to close it, then be my guest.

This thread hasn't had any replies in like 4 months. I'm going to close it.