Posted on 06/04/2007 11:06:47 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
A 59-year-old North Texas native is making big changes in his life as he transforms from a college professor to a soldier about to deploy to Kabul.
Next Saturday, Lt. Col. Robert Buckman will ship out to begin training and travel on to Afghanistan for a year.
"I wont be kicking in doors with an M-16, but if I have a chance to make a contribution, fine," he said.
After spending most of his life in the Army Reserves, it's his first deployment.
"I am really relieved I am going to Afghanistan instead of Iraq, not because it's not as dangerous, but that's where the people are that actually attacked us," he said.
When he's not a soldier, Buckman has served as a college journalism professor in Louisiana.
He was born in Fort Worth, attended college at Texas Christian University and most of his family lives in North Texas.
Sunday night, he took time in North Texas to spend a few hours with his son, daughter-in-law and new granddaughter. Buckman's other son also served in the military in Iraq and Afghanistan.
During his duty, Buckman will serve as a planning officer, working with intelligence officers to organize missions. He said he hopes to be out on the streets with his men.
"A good planning officer doesn't sit back and make his decisions based on a map, things look very different on the ground," he said.
Buckman said he has no worries that at an age when many people are considering slowing down, he's heading to one of the world's most dangerous places.
"I'm not married anymore," he said. "My kids are all grown. Wars ought to be fought by guys like me, instead of these young kids that are getting killed."
Buckman's first stop will be to Georgia's Fort Benning for a few weeks of training and then he will be off to Afghanistan.
A soldier, writer and professor, he is now getting his chance for what he said he has waited for all his life—to serve.
God bless him and keep him safe!
I wish him well, but I didn’t care for his remark about fighting those who attacked us. The remark could easily be interpreted as meaning those soldiers in Iraq are fighting a war without purpose. I admire the guys fortitude, but he could stand some educating as to who it was that attacked us. It wasn’t any country, it was Al Queda , but it could have easily have been any number of like-minded entities, in any number of countries. The common denominator is those who follow the teachings of mahomet. That is the enemy, no matter how many ‘religion of peace’ delusions are tucked away in Bush’s mind.
“I am really relieved I am going to Afghanistan instead of Iraq, not because it’s not as dangerous, but that’s where the people are that actually attacked us,” he said.
That like saying don’t fight the Germans in France, fight them only in Germany.
Considering some of his comments, I’ve got a bad feeling about sending this journalism professor in...
The guys who attacked us were about 80% SAUDI ARABIAN!
I bless him too and wish him well. Hope everything works out.
That said, in addition to his dismissal of Iraq, this kind of struck me:
“Wars ought to be fought by guys like me, instead of these young kids that are getting killed.”
That’s sort of how most of us feel about the “free playtime” of retirement. Many of us think the youngsters should be able to wing it all around the world and play around because they are the most physically able to stand it. Real work and making babies should start when you’re 45 or more. The better to enjoy very long vacations.
I don’t. He’ll be good for morale.
Godspeed, Colonel!
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