I Believe In Those Who Fight

I have always had a fascination with the military. Growing up, I would blow every dollar that I earned at Uncle Sam’s Military Surplus Store. From gas masks to MREs, I was enthralled with anything that was government issue. My obsession reached a climax in middle school when I would dress in full fatigues to school (my parents may have been worried at that point). I knew from a young age that I wanted to be amongst the ranks of the greatest military in the world.

My grandfather was a veteran of World War II. He saw action in Guadalcanal, Leyte Gulf, Tinian, The Phillipines, and Saipan. As a child I was easily captivated by his stories of war. My grandfather never went into explicit detail about any of his battles, but he was very proud to have fought in the war.

I am proud of my grandfather for sacrificing for our country. Though he returned from the Pacific Theatre physically unharmed, I could always tell that war had changed him, had affected him in some intangible way that no one else could understand but him. The war had taken a part of who he was. Obviously I never knew my grandfather before the war, but I knew enough to realize that the war had done something to him that I would never understand.

The effects of war became more apparent when I first met my brother-in-law, Matt. He had served as an Army Intelligence Officer during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Matt had taken a grazing bullet to the neck and still had shrapnel in his leg from when his Humvee took a hit from an IED. Talking to Matt was a different experience than what my Grandfather relayed because Matt went into detail about what he saw and did; things too graphic for me to even imagine.

While Matt was my roommate he had severe PTSD and had difficulty sleeping at night. He said his family did not like that he used to be a soldier and resented him for joining the Army in the first place.

As I came to know Matt and reflected on my Grandfather, I realized that though war is a disgusting human event it is wrong to judge those who choose to fight for our country. Wars are started by politicians, but they are fought by soldiers. I believe that the individuals of the United States Military deserve our repect, no matter what the political circumstances are surrounding a conflict. I believe that no matter what happens with an almost inevitable strike on Syria, we should never cast doubt or shame on those that fight in our military.

This belief weighed heavily on my decision to join the US Navy. I am proud to be amongst the ranks of the greatest military in the world.