I was born and raised in the military. My first experience with "civilians" was like being a fish out of water. No respect. No morals. No order.
No values. No discipline. No honor. It was complete and utter chaos compared to military life as I had known it.
I joined the Army in 1990 at 29 years old. It took me that long to realize that I could follow orders without getting myself thrown in the brig. My
drills were hard on me because of my age. I was taken aside and reprimanded before I had even put on the BDU's because the younger recruits would
emmulate me simply because I was older than the rest. I took my oath seriously and performed accordingly. After graduation I went on to DLI and
eventually graduated with my class achieving the highest scores ever recorded at the defense language institute (1991). I was a lowly E-2 who was
saluted everywhere I went. How embarrassing.
After my honorable discharge and return to civilian life, I found it very difficult to readjust. Non-military personnel are very happy to take their
freedom for granted. Not only take it for granted but even publicly despise soldiers in uniform and out. How odd.
If life would have dealt the hand I wanted, things would be different. I would still be there, defending my country and honoring the lives of all who
went before me. It saddens me to think there are so many who form opinions based on one set of ideals and refuse to look at the big picture.
We are (or were) a freedom and liberty loving country. Now look around this post for example and observe the darkness, idiocy and stark refusal to
see that their right to sit on their bums typing madly and thoughtlessly was handed to them by virtue of another man and woman's answer to the call
of duty, honor, country.
To my military friends, thank you. I salute you. We all depend on you whether or not we are willing to admit it.



