What it means to be a soldier.

During the Vietnam era, I saw many protests against the military and the war. I heard a lot of rhetoric from my peers that told me they had absolutely no idea what it meant to be a soldier away at war. Today I hear much the same type of rhetoric. Just in case you are one who has never really thought upon it, here are a few thoughts on the difference between a civilian and a soldier.

 Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 minutes.

He stays up for days on end.

 You take a warm shower to help you wake up.

He goes days or weeks without running water.

 You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.

He gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.

 You put on your 'Anti war/Don't support the troops' shirt, and go meet up with your friends.

He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.

 You make sure your cell phone is in your pocket.

He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.

 You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you.

He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.

 You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.

He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.

 You complain about how hot it is.

He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.

 You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.

He doesn't get to eat today.

 Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.

He wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are clean.

 You go to the mall and get your hair redone.

He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.

 You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.

He's told he will be held over an extra 2 months.

 You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight.

He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.

 You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.

He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.

 You roll your eyes as a baby cries.

He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet.

 You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.

He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and remembers why he is fighting.

 You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men like him.

He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded.

 You see only what the media wants you to see.

He sees the broken bodies lying around him.

 You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.

He does exactly what he is told.

 You stay at home and watch TV.

He takes whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep, and eat.

 You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get comfortable.

He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap, only to be woken by gunfire.

  You sit there and judge him, saying the world is probably a worse place because of men like him.

If only there were more men like him!

Exchange between Senators John Glenn and Senator Howard Metzenbaum on the Senate floor Mon, 26 Jan. 2004, 11:13AM:

Senator Howard Metzenbaum to Senator Glenn: "How can you run for Senate when you've never held a real job?"

Senator Glenn: "I served 23 years in the United States Marine Corps. I served through two wars. I flew 149 missions. My plane was hit by antiaircraft fire on 12 different occasions. I was in the space program. It wasn't my checkbook, Howard; it was my life on the line. It was not a nine-to-five job, where I took time off to take the daily cash receipts to the bank. I ask you to go with me, as I went the other day... to a veteran's hospital and look those men - with their mangled bodies - in the eye, and tell THEM they didn't hold a job! You go with me to the Space Program at NASA and go, as I have gone, to the widows and orphans of Ed White, Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee... and you look those kids in the eye and tell them that their Dads didn't hold a job.

You go with me on Memorial Day and you stand in Arlington National Cemetery, where I have more friends buried than I'd like to remember, and you watch those waving flags.

You stand there, and you think about this nation, and you tell ME that those people didn't have a job? I'll tell you, Howard Metzenbaum; you should be on your knees every day of your life thanking God that there were some men - SOME MEN - who held REAL jobs. And they required a dedication to a purpose - and a love of country and a dedication to duty that was more important than life itself. And their self-sacrifice is what made this country possible.

I HAVE held a job, Howard! What about you?"

[As a point of fact: During W.W.II, Howard Metzenbaum was an attorney representing the Communist Party in the USA.]


If you can read this, thank a teacher.... If you are reading it in English thank a Veteran.