With nothing to stay home for and nothing to fear, I set out to try to find something to believe in. I joined the Army, went to basic training and was sent off to my first tour of combat in Iraq in 2003.
I did well in the military, I have an out going personality which made it rather easy for me. It didn't take long for me to move through the ranks, in just less than 3 years I made it to Sergeant (E-5).
By 2007 I had served more than two years in combat in Iraq and decided that was enough, it was time to move on.
Veterans Day is one of the few days a year that I take the time to look through some of my old military stuff and think about my old life. I think about the friends I made while in the service, the friends lost at war, the friends lost after war and the 4 years of my life that changed me forever.
It is often a hard day, one usually filled with a roller coaster of emotions, both happy and sad. It is a time to reflect about choices I have made and have to live with, it is about learning from those hard choices not just burying them.
(I was in the Calvary so after my first tour of war I was awarded a stetson and spurs)
Over the last decade nearly all of my keepsakes and memories of my time in the service have been lost, misplaced or thrown away as they seem less and less important as time goes on. This is basically it now, I can fit my whole army life into a small box now. Funny how life changes so dramatically over the years.
Every one of these coins is a reminder of a mission. Something important. Something big. But with each passing year I forget more missions and more names. Sometimes the memories seem like just yesterday, and other days they are nothing more than a distant memory. Oh how quickly things change.
I think about the person I was then and who I have become today. So much of it was shaped by the experiences I had in the military and more importantly in war. It's weird how the most ugly, hard times of your life end up making you the person you appreciate most in the future. So don't run from the hard times, face them, attack them, and then learn from them. If you do this, you will respect yourself more later in life.
I am proud to be an American! But I have come to realize that war doesn't fix anything. It does nothing good for anyone. So as proud as I am to have served my country I no longer support the wars it creates and participates in!
So when I get thanked for my service I always have a hard time responding with the correct gratitude or reaction.
So when/if you thank a Veteran today (or any day) remember that it's not always easy to be thanked for going to war. So if you don't get a response or if the veteran acts awkward or doesn't really know what to say, don't assume they are being disrespectful, that veteran may just still be dealing with some painful memories. I know I am.
As a disabled combat veteran I want to thank all the other Veterans who have sacrificed so much! And to all of the family's who have lost loved ones to war, you will always be hero's in my eyes.
"Peace, love and all that hippie shit"
Thank you for serving. We too often take it for granted. Thank you for the kind reminder and gratitude.
Thank you for the kind words :)
@moderndayhippie, First let me say thank you for your sacrafice, and for sharing your story with us all. As a military brat from a deep military family I know how hard it must be to share what you have and how much this is just the tip.
I was directed to this post via a whaleshares chat and am very thankful for them highlighting it. I will be following you to see what else you share with the world. :)
Cheers
Thank you kindly.. My mom was a military brat so i know that isnt always easy, your dad might have gotten all the thanks for service but i know u also had to sacrifice a lot as well so i appreciate the comment..
Sharing isnt always easy for me, but things don't change if no one speaks up.
Im glad you heard the whaleshares chat, i messed up the time so i missed it unfortunately :/
I appreciate the follow and the thoughtful comment so i followed u back.. take care.
https://steemit.com/mygoodgrabs/@mggiodev/a-jarhead-full-of-steem
Happy Veterans Day from this fellow veteran, brother.
Isn't it funny how we begin to forget all those details as time goes by? Even though those details played a big role in shaping who we ended up becoming down the line.
I wrote a poem about Veterans Day yesterday, and I am currently working on an actual "article" about it today. I hope posts like ours get seen today, because today is the day when everything veteran related needs to rise to the surface and be seen by everyone.
Yeah, it is funny how things change, or how we as people change i guess..
Thank u for sharing that poem, it definitely hit home for me.. Im not great with putting my words on paper so its nice to see other people who are good at it, share their experiences.. so thanks again and take care brother.
I finally finished my post on Veterans Day, I'd love to know your thoughts on it as well! You can see it here.
v+r
v+r
That was a very enjoyable read, I just want to say I have so much respect for anyone who is willing to sacrifice there time and life to serve, I can't imagine how difficult that must be. I send my love and support and hope you are able to overcome those painful memories. I am so grateful for those who have answered the call!
We will remember those who answered the call @moderndayhippie no greater sacrifice, in an unjust world.
This post received a 13% upvote from @morwhale team thanks to @moderndayhippie! For more information, click here! , TeamMorocco! .
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Hey @moderndayhippie, I am a curator from the new Whaleshares Curation Team. I have selected your post to be presented in a live curation discussion on Monday 13th November at 6.59pm EST and 11.59pm UTC. Your post will be awarded with a 25 Whaleshares vote on the night. I do hope you can come along and spectate. The event will be held in The Curation Lounge on the Whaleshares server. Hope to see you there!
Oh wow thank you! I will do my best to join the you over in the curation lounge tomorrow but cannot garentee i will make it :/
I do not know what whaleshares are or how to recieve them but i really appreciate your generousity. :)
Thanks again and take care.
Use this link to reach the Whaleshares server and then come to The Curation Lounge - https://discord.gg/cC9VZN
Damn, i totally forgot it was eastern time! Im central time and i see invite has already expired! :( i appologize.
Such a serious post and the end made me laugh (hippie shit) :D It is sad how regular people sacrifice so much and are just like a check mate pieces in the hands of the big guys. They get honored so the ego can silence the real questions, like "What is this all about? Why am I really here? Honor, but what kind of honor and at the cost of what?" I am sorry to say it, but most of the world sees the US politics as imperialist. They manipulate wars for money and power in lands they have nothing to do with, except to destroy them for the money. I get reminded of these memes
Hope you don't get offended, it is really not my goal. Even the opposite, just to raise some questions. Peace, love and all that hippie shit <3
I can see why the end of my post would make u laugh, however i find it different when i thank a veteran because i know what i am thanking them for, and its not the actions of war, its the sacrifice they made to go fight for something they believed in..
Now, my beliefs have changed since my time in the service and i do agree with ur thoughts about america being a war machine and i find it truly disgusting that they have brainwashed the entire country into believing we are doing good over in iraq (and everywhere else) when i know first hand that is not the truth.
I no longer share or support my countries or my government's belief in war, but i refuse to punish my brothers in arms because we were all manipulated by propaganda..
So no, u didnt offend me.. im actually happy u spoke your mind.. most people dont have the courage to do that.. stand up for what you believe in and dont ever apologize for it! I respect that, so I followed u ;)
Phew! It was a bit intense to read your reply, as the subject is quite sensitive. Thank you :)
It is a very sensitive subject, but if we never talk about it then things will never change! ;)