Redstate

By Raven Posted in User Blogs — Comments (8) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

"I won't sign her death warrant!" the girls' mother told me when I approached her about her daughter's desire to enter the US Army Reserves.  The girl is 17 and turns 18 in March and told me immediately afterward that she plans to sign on the dotted line the day of her birthday.

At the time I was somewhat speechless.  How Does a young man like me, only 22 years old, married for 2 of them and with no children of his own respond to a mother who asks if I have children and, since I don't, how I can understand her fear for her daughter?

Read OnHowever, I was not speechless because she had cut my feet out from under me on the subject.  I was trying to figure out how to control the anger that was starting to shade the world in a bloody red and tell this woman off without offending her daughter (little did I think at the time that the girl actually would have cheered me on.  Now I know better, too late, unfortunately).

Going over the encounter countless times over the past few days has allowed me to come up with a reasonably respectful answer for these questions that, at least, is gentle about ripping the offending parent a new one.

You see, in this day and age, the Army Recruiter in the United States of America has a different role than the public thinks.

Once upon a time, it was our job to put boots on the kids and send them on their way.  And that was it.  No responsibility for them past that.  No further contact with the new soldiers even, unless said soldiers chose to initiate it.

But things have changed.  Why they changed, and why our roles changed, I cannot say.  

I can say this, however, these new soldiers become our Own soldiers for the rest of our careers.  Even as though we were their Platoon Sergeants.  These kids, regardless of their age in comparison to our own, become Our kids as surely as though we were genetically related.

To this date, I have put a meager 19 people into the Army.  But I have added 19 children (some as old as my parents) to my family.  Children I am responsible for.  If anything...  Unhappy occurs, I will grieve right alongside their mothers and fathers, wives and husbands.  

For all that goes right, I will celebrate for them.

So How do I know how a parent feels about a child going to war?  I wonder if that parent understands about having 19 children ready to go to war.  I wonder if that parent knows what it is like to have, Right Now, 2 children at war.  In Combat Positions.  

And when the first to go came home on Mid-Tour R&R and complained about not even having been fired on, or having only fired his rifle in anger a measly 3 times, how would that parent react?  I was Horrified.  He's a good young man.  Not the brightest bulb in the light fixture, but a good kid.  And I believe I know exactly how his deceased father would feel about the change that has overcome this Special Ed student who didn't have a future when he realized that nothing more than a stupid Test stood in his way.  And he COMPLAINS that he hasn't felt the breeze of a near miss.  Or heard the "whistle-buzz-Crack!" of a round hitting nearby.

How can I understand?  How can I Not understand?  How can I not feel the fear that these parents are too scared to even contemplate, let alone experience?

How can I not be sick to my stomach every time I hear another GI has bought the farm?

Like any other soldier, though, I take refuge in the comfort of the numbers.  With the multiple tours many of them have endured, we have effectively had over a million soldiers and Marines in Iraq.  With a "mere" 15,000 casualties, ncluding the 2,500 dead, that is "only" a .66% casualty rate.  A pure and simple Miracle, regardless of our superior armour and training and weaponry and support.  And I know that my kids have the odds in their favour.  And I know that a contract to join the Army is not a "Death Warrant" by any stretch of the imagination.

I also, while not having been able to go there, myself, happen to have what I think to be a pretty good idea of what it's like over there.  Because I Talk to the ones coming back.  I have spoken with several of the Iraqis who have immigrated to the US since 2003.  And I keep track of our accomplishments and not just our setbacks.

So, Yes.  I know and understand what these parents are afraid of feeling.  I feel it every day.  Every time I hear the news or read the paper.  And I avoid both like the plague most times for fear of the gut-wrenching terror that one of My kids will be listed as a casualty in this report or That report.  "All there is to fear is fear itself" eh?

So, to paraphrase an episode of Star Trek TNG:

Is it Safe?  No.  This man's Army is filled with Wonders and Horrors and Experiences great and terrible enough to sate Anyone's dreams or nightmares.

But it is most certainly Not for the timid...