Answering the call

American Thinker ^ | January 28, 2007 | Douglas Hanson

[neverdem]

It was one of those truly miserable days.  The temperature hovered in the mid to high thirties and a nearly constant rain.  If the showers slackened off at all, a heavy mist ensured that everyone remained chilled to the bone.  The mud was everywhere, even in the areas with patches of the now mostly brown grass.  In short, perfect weather for trench foot if one didn't take care of himself or his buddy.

But these were Soldiers training for war, and as us old geezers used to say about this type of climate, "Perfect weather for training!"  Besides, a little adversity never hurt anyone, and at any rate, they would have to do their job in all climates and weather conditions.  At least no one was shooting at them - today.

The training was on the critical task of surviving in a chemical, biological and radiological environment, the schedule was tight, so putting it off until better weather was not an option.  On went the bulky protective suits, on went the protective masks, checking for fit, and repeat the sequence.  Practice, practice, practice - as gear, clothing and skin became covered in muck, and the soaked clothing brought out the uncontrollable shakes and shivers.

Just as important in learning these skills, was that as officers they would be expected to train their own Soldiers to ensure that they were also prepared for possible combat in a toxic environment.  As a former combat arms officer, I at first thought that the training cadre should have been a little tougher on them.  Of course, it was always rough "back in the day" for us old Soldiers, yet, maybe we did have it easier in some respects.  In our officers' basic we never had to wear our body armor at all, and carrying our weapon during all training as these officers were doing was unheard of.  I could imagine the fun they were going to have that night cleaning their rifles after being out all day in the steady rain.

Some people, like John Kerry, would say these volunteers really had no choice.  They are at the low end of social status, income potential, and mental abilities.  They're simply the unlucky ones, even though they are officers.  It's obvious their education was in the wrong field, or they just barely made a passing grade and therefore couldn't go to an Ivy League graduate school.

Others of the arrogant left would libel them and our veterans with ignorance and malice and think it's funny.  Apparently, it has gotten so bad in the news rooms of the MSM that they don't care if most Americans see them as devoid of any concept of common decency and respect towards those that protect the rights of all, including cowardly editorial supervisors.  For upon closer examination, the officers in this basic class put the lie to the left's propaganda.

There are both Second Lieutenants and First Lieutenants in this class; maybe not so unusual in and of itself, except here they are almost equal in number.  But then there are Captains, and even a few Majors.  This is definitely not your typical officer basic group, for these people new to the Army are all physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and physiologists.  They are the specialists in orthopedics, psychiatry and medical technology.  How many of us could picture our doctor covered in mud, wearing a gas mask and body armor, and carrying an M-16?

Above all, these are the Soldiers and professionals who don't have to be here.  Instead, they could be in a busy practice back home or they could be nursing in a warm, dry hospital.  Yet, they have answered the call to heal our wounded, comfort the dying, and console the living in hellholes that will make today seem like a piece of cake.

That is what America and her dedicated volunteers are all about.  And if the left and their media enablers haven't yet figured out that there is something bigger than self, they never will.

Now, who are the inferior ones again?

[semaj]

Great article, thanks for the post.

[Carry_Okie]

Thank you. It's refreshing to hear about professional people who care about more than careers and retirement. It's too rare.

[El Gato]

"Perfect weather for training!"

"If it's raining, you'll be training". It seems that way where I live, near a major Army Post. Sometimes it's hard to distinguish the thunder from the tank cannon and artillery fire. Except that the thunder comes in all sizes, only some of which rattles the windows and other parts of the house. Whatever the big guns are, they all sound pretty much the same, and they all rattle the windows.

But as us Air Force types used say about sonic booms, it's the "Sound of Freedom".

[Recon Dad]

Good to see officers getting wet!

Right now my son is humping through the mountains of NC doing part of a work up package for the next float. Last night he and his team laid down on the ground and went to sleep, no sleeping bags, no tents.

God bless all those who put their comfort second to our nations security.

Semaj, thank you for your service to our country.

[semaj]

God bless and keep you and your son. When I think of what really makes this country great, people like you, I have to say that it was, and still is a priviledge to serve the people of this still great country.

[Recon Dad]

I stand in awe of our men and woman who serve. It's 6:45AM and I know my son was up 2 hours ago and out there last night laying on the ground and it was 27 at Camp Lejeune last night. The training is harder than the deployment and just as dangerous.