Veterans’ Day Special Posting

Thanks to all who served in whatever role you served.  Consider this posting my thanks.  Special thanks to the three mentioned in this post.



This is also a comment on renewing connections with military friends from the past.


This posting involves someone with whom I reconnected after 40+ years and someone who took the time to reconnect with me after about the same period. I cherish both.


The 1st part is sharing the paragraph below with a friend (Curtis Harvey), who retired after many years in the Army and who was a number of times in harm’s way, followed by the cited paragraph and the comments of Curtis in a response which I think so eloquently covers the issues:


We have discussed how those in the military can reconnect where they left off after many years. Those without a military background don't understand. Our contact is one of those instances.


A classmate and friend from WP reconnected two years ago after 40+ years. I believe his opening paragraph (hastily written and informal email)  is the epitome of reconnecting: listing goals, ambitions, and the reality of war in just a few lines. He died about a week ago.


This is in memory of Robert E. Gates, Jr. December 18, 1943-October 30, 2011

West Point Class of 1965  (My thanks to Susan Gates for allowing this)




Yo~


Oh, where to start? You know, 45 years makes for a lot of catching up to do. I think you and I have been following some similar trails, to some extent. You mentioned the disparity between the teachings at WP and the real world. I, too, had a problem with "the real world". But I guess I should fill you in a bit. After graduation, airborne and ranger school, went to the 82d at Ft. Bragg. Was in seventh heaven. By the following July-August we started receiving replacements, mostly from the173d. My God, these were the world's finest troopers. Here I was, a 2nd Lt. and in charge, but they were my mentors. By September I had called Chudoba (he was always the gullible one), and we volunteered for RVN. I, of course, picked the 173d. Dumb shit 'Boda wound up with the 25th somehow. October-Jan 17, 1967 I has back in heaven. Leading the finest light cavalry in the world. I could tell you how, at the age of six, I had decided on my career, but that would be another story altogether. January 17, 1967. Got my ass shot off. In more ways than one. Took a bullet in my gut, and then a grenade exploded up my rear. All this while chasing down a bunch of gooks who had ambushed us on the right side of the trail we were on. I had made it a point to constantly think "what if" as we were moving along various bits of terrain, so the ambush wasn't a total surprise. Immediately called on the first two squads to lay down a base of fire while I took the third squad around to the right. We then laid down fire and rapidly advanced. Before I knew what I was doing, we had overrun two of their positions and were advancing on a third when I got shot. About the same time I saw a grenade flying through the air. Couldn't think of anything intelligent to do except outrun it. Almost did. Blew up behind me and sentshrapnel into my abdomen. End part one. Part two is for the totally defiant, as you seemed to mention.


Note: the wounds mentioned resulted in 9 months in hospitals for surgery and rehab. Once he recovered he went on a 2nd tour which was cut short. He was retired for medical reasons-the result of the after effects of the wounds. He went on to have a successful life in spite of constant pain and PTSD which was due to the haunting memories of lost men and friends.






Thanks for sharing this with me. There is indeed a bond between warriors that the uninitiated will never understand. Warriors go where they are asked to go and do whatever is asked of them, regardless of the danger. They count on those warriors with whom they serve to also do the right thing at the right time, and they know that their fellow warriors will be there and do their duty.


It is more than a football or other athletic team. Sure, sports teams want to do their part and they want to win for their individual and collective glory. If they lose, golly that was tough. We let each other down at a critical point of the game. Perhaps some of our teammates received injuries during the contest, but they'll be back.


With warriors, it is a life or death situation. No amount of Monday morning quarterbacking can bring back lost lives. A nation is counting on their warriors to keep them safe from potential oppressors. Losing is not an option! Warriors do everything they can do to keep from losing, right down to the last breath. While there is camaraderie among warriors as there is among sports team players, the willingness to disregard all the rules and descend to the most basic survival traits when necessary differentiate the two.


Warriors have seen how far from civilization a man can descend when he is in a place where his enemy is doing everything he can do to kill him, 24 hours a day. Sometimes they pause and think, "My God, am I the same man who is a member of an orderly and polite society, where disputes are settled in non-violent ways, and where life is precious?"

Curtis Harvey

Author’s Note:


If you are thinking of reconnecting, do so.