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.