Sacrifice

This was sent to me from Kat in GA who “borrowed it from the Adopt-A-Platoon Forum. As always, with a long post there is more in the extended section.


I would like to take this opportunity to discuss sacrifice, and what it means to me. I used to think that when a soldier gave his/her life for their country they were making the ultimate sacrifice. This is something that no soldier wants to do, but is will to do if needed. My views have not changed, just expanded. I now realize there is so much more to it then that. Is it far to say that any man/woman who served his/her country has not sacrificed enough? After all, they signed their name on the dotted line and gave up the rights and privileges they fight to protect. They have trained in the blistering heat, frozen on the coldest nights, marched through the deepest mud and thickest brush just like the soldiers that gave their lives to make this the greatest and most feared military in the history of the world. No, I'm sure we can all agree that every man and woman who has served in the military has sacrificed something. Surely every person who has served their country could not have possibly sacrificed as much as they could. Could they?

Lets see, what about the 11B (The Infantry aka..The Grunt) who has never been wounded in combat? Maybe he has not sacrificed enough. Except, we learned from Vietnam that not all scars are superficial or even can be seen by others, some are deep and last forever. What if I told you that this unwounded grunt watched as his friend was killed in combat. Do you actually believe he wouldn't feel this loss for the rest of his life, possibly even feeling the guilt of not being able to save him? Trust me, he's done enough.

I know it's the 88M (The Truck Driver), all they do is take supplies from one place to another. I mean, who cares that no United States military unit could sustain themselves without them. All they do is drive. "Right?" Never mind the fact that they have suffered the most losses over here. They put their lives in harms way everyday convoying on the roads littered with mines, IED's, VBIED's and ambushes. Yet they know that getting the supplies through is so important that it is worth the risk. I think it's safe to say the truck driver sacrifices enough.

I've got it! It's the 91W (The Medic) who works in the field hospital, who is guilty of not giving enough. "Or is it?" Let's see, the medic only treat patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week non-stop. His/her job never ends. He/She see's all the pain and horror of war everyday. Trust me, these images never fade. He/She feels the sorrow in their heart as another American soldier dies on the litter right there in front of them. But there is no time to grieve, he/she must block it out and get back to work as he/she has another patient to work on. There will be time for crying when he/she redeploys. But for now he needs to treat the Iraqi prisoner with the same dignity and respect as the U.S. soldier he was trying to kill. This is not an easy thing to do! Guess it's not the medic.

I think it might be the "Angels" of Adopt A Platoon. Yes, the men and women that are safe back in the states, not getting shot at or blown up. They spend hours making phone calls, sending emails and holding rallies soliciting donations for our service members that are deployed all around the world. They spend hours shopping for people that they really don't know and my never meet. They write cards, letters and emails and seem to find the words to make their adopted soldiers feel loved and like they are part of the Angels family. All of this time and energy that could be spend with and on their own family members. Then they dip into their own pockets to ensure that the soldiers have what they need. Even if it cuts them just a little bit short, they then take all this to the post office and stand in line that seem to last forever. No, I think that sacrifice enough too.

The family member that's who is not sacrificing enough! The dad, mom, brother, sister, husband, wife, son and daughter are at home or their duty station where it is safe. They won't be killed by a bullet or bomb during this war, but do you really think that just because a soldier is willing to give his/her lives for our country; family members are willing to lose a loved one? Well, I have a wife and two little who most definitely not willing to make this sacrifice. However, they still find the strength to support us everyday. Are you kidding me? Family members are the real heroes in my mind; if anything they give the most of anyone. If something were to happen to me over here, it's not me who will have to live with the pain. Somehow, every time I say goodbye, my wife manages to fight back the tears and force a smile. Yes, my family; my true support, the reason a soldier can give so much and ask for so little in return. I think most soldiers will agree that it is the family member who sacrifices the most.

So then who? Who is not giving enough? I'll tell you who it is. It's the person who forgets that's who. That's right the dumbass with the picket sign that surely had a lapse in memory. He/She doesn't seem to remember that on September 11, 2001 terrorists hijacked four planes and flew them into our buildings and killed thousands of Americans. "I'll never forget!" When our Commander in Chief tells us there is a threat against our country, we don't question it; we don't wave signs assuming he has his own hidden agenda. We the soldiers simply react, and you the civilians need only offer your support. I am sure the President of the United States of America is a bit more informed than you are. So forget what you think you know and remember that America is the greatest country in the world, but it is only the greatest country in the world because the burden of shaping our country has been carried on the backs of the soldiers willing to sacrifice everything. How dare anyone forget that or worse yet, picket at a soldiers funeral! So you see, even though giving your life for your country is considered to be the ultimate sacrifice, I have come to realize that there is much more to it then that. Soldiers willing to serve our country and give up everything including their lives have made the ultimate sacrifice.

NOTE: This was originally written in 2004 by SGT Frank Herring and Revised by SGT John e. Washburn in 2006.