I found it moving, and decided to share it.
Sort of like the frozen dinner version of posting.
It moved me deeply.
Let me know what you think.
We love you Matt! Happy Valentines Day! Come home safe!
You stay up for 16 hours.
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.
EIGHT PEOPLE GOT RUN OVER AND KILLED YESTERDAY WHEN A DRAG RACING CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL ON A STRETCH OF ROAD IN RURAL MARYLAND.....WHERE'S AN OUT OF CONTROL CAR WHEN YOU NEED ONE?
If I was god, (now there's a stretch), I'd take a little time from my busy day to strike these idiots down with a bolt of lightning, and dispatch a garbage truck to scoop em up.
Want to know what I realy think?
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 patrols 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 loves 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 even if it puts his life in danger.
You stay at home and watch TV.
He takes whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep and eat.
Take a minute or two to think about it.
Have a nice day.
Good God. Powerful, powerful, powerful stuff.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words and I hope Matt stays safe.
Kind of sums it up. I hope Matt stays safe.
ReplyDeletePlease pass along a great big hillbilly hello to Matt. Hope you and your's are well.
ReplyDeletewell, now, if you want a soldier's point of view....ask a soldier huh?
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna link to you Dad. This is worth sharing faaaaarrrr and wide!!
ain't nothing wrong with frozen dinners so long as the brand is good!
to your earlier comment:
laughter through tears is my favorite emotion.....to quote Steel Magnolias.
Thanks Nigel and Dad.
ReplyDeleteWill do Bunny, hope all is well wherever in the world you and Early are.
MM, you are welcome to link to me any time.
Have a great day.
This post says it all, thank you so much for sharing it with us!! xo
ReplyDeleteIt only skims the surface Pea.
ReplyDeleteFor those of us who haven't been to Iraq, I don't think there's any way we can possibly imagine what these soldiers are going through.
Thanks so much for stopping bye, and taking a moment to comment.
It means a lot to me.
Do you have someone in the sand box?
Out of all those pictures, the three that hit me the hardest were:
ReplyDeleteThe wounded soldier being lifted into the vehicle.
The little girl being carried, footless.
The two girls condemning our military, one walking on our flag.
I would like to see that little girl, and that soldier, both recover. I hope both are alive and well by now. Of course she may beleive she would be betetr off dead without her feet, but one can only hope she will somehow recover. I'd like to see her live, and then to move to the USA. Then I'd like to see her and the soldier beat the ever loving dog snot out of the parents of those two little wacko b's who denegrate America in the name of God. I know it won't happen, but one can fantasize. I also know that some years ago, in those years of my youth, two kids holding signs like that would have bbeen beaten to a pulp. What a disgrace they and their parents are.
Glenn,
ReplyDeleteYour wishes are mild compared to mine.
I hate to even think of what I'd like to see done to those two.
If you look real close, the one in the back might be the mother.
Thank you for stopping bye.
I'm glad you were so kind as to share your thoughts...
Dad.
Infantry Dad,
ReplyDeletethank you so much for sharing this bit of reality with us. I am so proud of Matt and his fellow soldiers. Thank you for your sacrifice. My words aren't adequate. I'm sorry for that. Much love and admiration for you and your family. I have a cousin, Matt, who is a Marine over there.
Pinky
Pinky,
ReplyDeleteYour words are more than adequite.
Thank you for your kindness.
People like you represent what is good in this world.
I know I speak for Matt when I say that he is proud to be serving for you, and with your cousin.
These are special, and honorable men, and I am more than proud of them all.
God bless.
John