A Soldier's Thoughts

 I Am An American Soldier

I am an American Soldier !

Not because I vote or preach

what I want.

Not because I buy items to

Toss and to flaunt.

It is not because I drink

Coca-Cola or eat apple pie.

Not because I’ve played

Baseball or caught a pop fly.

The reason I have rises

above all the rest,

The reason is simple; I have

been put to the test.

I have slept on the ground

And woke up all muddy,

I have cheered with my pals

and cried for my buddies.

I have walked through a

storm of bullets and brass,

And knew the guy next to

me was watching my ass.

I am an American because I

have earned it,

I fought for the flag and

cried as they burned it.

I chose this great life of

 bullets and beans.

The glory and glamour is not

what it seemed.

I will stand up right here

and proudly proclaim

That I am an American,

can you do the same?

The above was written by:  SOT Sancar Steffan Fredsti (Medic), 1^st Battalion, 18^th Infantry Regiment, 1^st Infantry Division during his deployment in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Let us all remember this day and thank our veterans: active, retired, reserve and national guard. And let us never forget those who are still missing and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Veterans - A Comparison

We have all heard of the Band of Brothers and the bond that is formed between men and women who have served together defending our country.

There is also a certain difference between civilian friends and friends who are veterans. Here are just a few comparisons:  

Civilian Friends:  Tend to get upset if you are to busy to talk to them for a week. 

Veteran Friends:  Are glad to see you after years, and will happily carry on the same conversation you were having the last time you met.

Civilian Friends:   Have never seen you cry.

Veteran Friends:  Have cried with you.

Civilian Friends:   Know a few things about you.

Veteran Friends:  Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

Civilian Friends:   Are for a while.

Veteran Friends:  Are for life.

Civilian Friends:   Have shared a few experiences.

Veteran Friends:  Have shared a lifetime of experience no civilian could ever dream of ...

Civilian Friends:   Will take your drink away when they think you've enough.

Veteran Friends:  Will look at you stumbling all over the place and say: "You better drink the rest of that before you spill it." Then carry you home safely and put you to bed.

A veteran is someone, who at some point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to The United States of America for an amount of "up to and including my life." ... And military families are as much a veteran as their spouse, father, son, daughter, brother or sister.

Leading Up to Veterans' Day

Although it has been nearly a month since my last post I offer no excuse other than we simply have to set priorities in our lives. As much as I enjoy this blog, it does not take priority over family or personal affairs. 

With that said, we are only three days away from what I consider a very important holiday ... Veterans' Day. I am not prone to being political as we remember those who have worn and continue to wear the uniform of our nation's armed forces. But as a veteran I believe I've earned the right speak out.

Although I have what some may call distinguished credentials, I would like to
submit the following for your consideration as simply an American.

I am an American.

I have proudly worn the uniform of the United States Army in service to my
country. I have slogged through jungles and endured scorching dessert heat. I
have bled for my country.

I have traveled the world and proudly declared my citizenship with my passport
which is imprinted with the words “Unites States of America.”

I have looked with pride at the response of my countrymen and my
government’s elected leaders at the rapid response to help those in need all
over the globe.

I am an American.

I am proud of my country.

I only wish I could continue to say I am proud of my government’s leaders.

The sad truth is we are a government without true leaders.

Our leaders once had vision, compassion, daring and integrity. Our leaders
once led us to become the most wealthy, productive nation on the planet.
And,the most respected.

Today the respect has all but vanished. Our leaders have alienated our allies,
squandered our wealth and reduced productivity to primarily the increasing of
the wealth for a few at the expense of majority.

Respect that was earned over decades has begun to vanish.

I am still an American.

I am still proud.

And, I still harbor hope we will again have men and women who will lead our
great republic back to its place in history as a nation “of the people, for
the people and by the people”. A nation that leads by example and not by the
arrogance of power.