Recently a comment was made that might suggest questioning my credibility and experience, it was in response to my being critical of actions taken by certain members of the National Gaurd. The comment even suggested that a "Paratrooper" might not apreciate military security and discipline. I believe the comments made by "Roberta" underscore a major problem with what is now a major part of our military, the attitude in the National gaurd and readiness of it's units.

The history of the Gaurd is a proud and nobel one, simply because of those that fill its ranks. They are, and have always been teachers, mechanics, dentists, police officers, highwaymen, social workers, lawyers or just plain old citizen soldiers, your neighbors. Ready at a moments notice to leave everything behind and defend its countrys interests. And the purpose has always been to get the job done and get back home and resume life. But for some reason a small minority believe what has happened now is an oppurtunity to step into the limelight, not do what millions have done before, just get the job done. The attitude of those in uniform is crucial to the accomplishment of our mission and our very survival.

I would like to share some of the attitude here at this FOB with some of you, it's also a good indicator of why we prefer duty on a FOB to those "In the rear with the gear". I met two soldiers from Tennesse that have been friends for over twenty-five years, one a Sgt
the other an E4. They have been in the service for sixteen years and when I asked the E4 about getting some rank he simply said " I'm just here to make sure this guy makes it home in one piece, his family is counting on me". They are the very best of friends and are not the least bit concerned with promotion,previlage or security clearances but more importantly the task at hand and each others safety. I know another E4 that lives in the same town of that old country comedy show
"Hee Haw" character "Minnie Pearl". This E4 has given some of the most outstanding training to the Iraqi Army I've ever seen, he has been in for fourteen years and isn't a bit concerned with going home with medals, patches, awards or previlage he just wants to do what is expected and get home. These men of Tennesse are an honor to work with and reflect the highest traditions of service just like two other Tennessians well known to soldiers, Alvin York and Elvis Presly.

Not too long ago I bumped into an E7 from Wisconsin and asked him for a motivation check and he told me he was doing terrible. When I asked why he let me know that he had been transferred or given other duties and it would be a long miserable deployment now. I reminded him that he was only four months out from going home and that he'd earned the right to stay in the wire for awhile, after all "Rank has its previlages". He then stated that he couldn't give a damn about rank or previlage, that his place is with the men, his men. I had no reply simply because I fully ubderstood the obligation he feels. The above mentioned men are not exeptions ,but the rule here on O'Ryan, men of honor and duty not concerned with anything other then taking care of each other and seeing our families again.

I found that this attitude is in abundance with certain types of units, in particular the "Airborne". The concept behind Paratroopers
has always been to parachute behind enemy lines completly surrounded and out gunned, expect casualities around eighty percent and complete the mission. Many times in history Paratroops have been scattered and not been able to form up for an effective fighting force for days. And yet they always understood what they where there to do, fight the enemy. And so these men would form up in "Little Groups Of Paratroopers" regardless of rank or previlage and do their duty as best they could.
What does one think the attitude is of a man that's willing to travel thousands of miles in an aircraft, strap close to one-fifty pounds of ammunition and equipment to his body, jump into total darkness at 140mph, land and fight completly surrounded? He probably has a very different attitude then, shall we say, someone that wants to be an Xray technician and work in Washington D.C. I'd say so.

I only used the LGOP's as an example for those that can't understand why someone would want to be at the point of an arrow rather than in the rear, it's a very special brotherhood that too few understand and I can only hope we continue to get more men like those examples I've given from Anywhere U.S.A. our future depends on them.
It really doesn't matter what unit the person is in or where they come from, what maters is the spirit of the warrior or the heart of the lion, it's attitude.

As for why I'm here I'd have to throw in with those guys from Tennesse and say "By choice". For this forty-three year old Paratrooper nothing beats being at the squad and platton level as a Sgt. This is where the real ties are, it's being able to look into the eyes of the men you lead and say "Follow me". It's now being able to shake hands with the men, women and children of Iraq and represent my country. I've had many chance to leave or go up the ladder but this is not my future but my duty. I am obligated to speak the truth simply because every day here may be my last and it's not how or when one dies that matters, but how one lives.

Didn't mean to be so long winded on the attitude, but there are many things worth defending and character is one of them.