...an American Soldier, and a good man. This tragedy has taken a son from a father, and a son from a mother, and a friend from hundreds here in Iraq, and untold hundreds back at home, as well. Words cannot describe to you how sorry I am about this tremendous loss, and how much Patrick’s death has and will continue to impact those of us still serving. On March 10, 2010 at 1:30 PM Patrick was part of a convoy, en-route to begin his Rest and Recuperation leave. At approximately 1:30 PM Patrick’s convoy was attacked and began taking incoming enemy fire. Patrick received a gunshot wound to the neck, and immediately started to receive first aid care...
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...you think of? Trained soldiers in uniform performing duties that only the bravest men in our country are capable? How is it you suppose that they came to be such men? Do you think it happened overnight, or do you think that they have always been those kinds of people but now they just dawn a uniform for such a grueling commitment? I assure you that it is neither option. Those men would not be the way they are today without the unimaginable amount of time they have put into insuring they are the best of the best in the world. This brings us to our first “H” of Military service: Hours. Hours Becoming a member of the military of the United States of America is no easy feat accomplished by any ordinary Joe. It is said to be one of the most physically demanding jobs of our country with such an absurd amount of time put into it, that you might think these men are fools. But they had the calling to be something better than themselves. From day one of boot camp until the day they retire their uniform for good, soldiers spend every waking minute devoted to their cause. During boot camp, wakeup call is at four in the morning. Once awake they clean their work area and make sure everything is up to regulation. Within five minutes of being conscious, they have a drill sergeant and platoon commander inspecting everything in every bunk and reprimanding those who have failed to follow procedure. When inspection is finished, it is time for Physical Training. Soldiers-in-training get in a two...
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...Analytical Essay of “Once Upon a Town” by Bob Greene While the world was at war, and families were being separated from their loved ones, a tradition began on Christmas day in 1941 in North Platte Nebraska. “The Canteen” as it was called; actually a small railway station stop in North Platte changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people for the better, both visitors and volunteers. The Canteen became legendary and the small city of North Platte. It, along with many cities surrounding made history around the world because of their commitment to and sacrifices for the soldiers that stopped albeit briefly at the “Canteen”. The Canteen in North Platte was born by accident, but clearly addressed a real need both emotional and physical for the local citizens and the soldiers that stopped there on their way across country during a very difficult time. When a group of local families from North Platte were told the train arriving on Christmas Day in 1941 was to have the local boys of North Platte on the train they prepared to meet their families with food, and drinks. Items made by hand and with love for their loved ones. What they found when the train arrived were soldiers that in fact were not their loved ones. Although they were disappointed with the fact that the young men that arrived were not their family, they saw the young soldiers were so happy to be met by them. So much gratitude from the soldiers that stopped that day, and true appreciation for the kindness...
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...character. There are many symbolic things in this story but the most important is what Martha symbolizes. In this paper I will explain the reason why Obrien included a woman in this war story, the significance of Martha, and the connection between love and war. The reason why Obrien inserts women in in this war story is because of their meaning to the soldiers. Many of the soldiers had a significant other like Henry and Cross. These women were what kept them sane. For example, Henry Dobbins would wear his girlfriend’s pantyhose around his neck. Even after they had separated he would still wear them. The reason he does this is because of a “illusion of protection” (397). So, even though she has lost love for him, those pantyhose still symbolized love he once had. This makes him feel loved and protected hence “illusion of protection”. Another example is that Jimmy Cross had received a good luck charm from Martha and it was just a pebble, but he would always have it on him (396). This shows that these women are what keep these men together and by having a “piece of them” it keeps them safe. From all the hate within the war, the ladies “Love” is what kept these soldiers from falling apart....
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...Experiences as a writer. I have many experiences in writing throughout my twenty five years of life. These experiences were more like stepping stones within my life’s journey. There are three experiences in particular that stand out to me more than any other of the thousands of experiences I have had in a whole. These stepping stones range from my childhood, my time served during deployments, and my time of service in the army. One of my very first distinct experiences in writing started in my childhood. Being born and raised in a Hispanic country it was very challenging to learn the English language. My mother pushed me very hard and taught me English through writing. Thinking in Spanish and writing in English not only helped my writing but also helped me adopt my new language. As years went by my writing matured and I became proficient in the English language. My proficiencies in writing English became detrimental in reference to my childhood studies. My studies as a child were not the typical studies of an average student. I was raised in a Christian curriculum home school setting. My parents used to host bible studies in our home and sometimes my dad would make me write the study for the class he was going to give. That time of my life was very challenging but my dad always pointed me in the right direction. Once I became fluent in writing in English, It became my main source of communication when corresponding to my loved ones from Iraq during my deployment. Never thought...
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...very sensitive to normal life and cannot function how they once were. Combat Stress Reaction (CSR), more commonly known as “shell shock”, is a type of illness that World War I soldiers suffered. Shell shock is another kind of psychological illness that is almost like PTSD. However, its illness causes a soldier to decrease his fighting ability due to shock waves from artillery shells during the frontline battle. These psychological illnesses are more commonly known with war soldiers who have experienced some kind of horrific event and what a soldier remembers from his experience causes destruction psychologically and mentally. Veteran soldiers who return home suffer with this type of disorder and therefore, must find a way to cope with it. People and more specifically soldiers cope with the memories of war in many ways. They either cope with it through avoiding people they love or keep distant from society, through anger and hostility, and focusing on a certain object or thing that they can use to cope with the memories of war. There are two different stories that show how a Native American and an African American soldier cope with their memories of war. Both stories are from two different time periods: one from World War I and the other from the Vietnam War. In Toni Morrison’s “1919” a black man by the name of Shadrack copes with the memories of World War I by several ways. One way he coped with the memories on World War I would be celebrating National Suicide Day. National Suicide...
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...MEMORIAL MEDITATION Today is difficult; it is difficult because we have lost one of ours, a fellow Soldier, and saying goodbye is never easy. Death is not something we ever feel ready for, but especially not in the case of SPC Milo M. Shelton who died so young and unexpectedly. Some of you may ask, “How do we begin to move beyond grief, and how are we to process this tragic event?” I would like to share with you a few thoughts today, and I pray they give some hope and comfort in the midst of the suffering. First, we are a family and there is comfort in the ability to face difficulties together. SPC Shelton was not with us at Ft. Lee for long, but whether you have been a Soldier for 30 day or 30 years, you are one of us. The military brings us together in ways many don’t understand. It is like a second family, and SPC Shelton was part of that family, our family....
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...The Use of Child Soldiers The use of child solider has become more and more common. Throughout history children have been forcibly recruited to participate in military campaigns, many times even against there own people. Child soldiers are any children under the age of 18 who are recruited by a sate or non-state armed group as fighter, cooks, suicide bombers, human shields, messenger spies or for sexual purposes. It is estimated that 30000 child soldiers are currently active around the world and this number is growing larger each year. Child soldiers are used for a few main reasons. Children are much easier to brain wash then any adult, as a child you do not understand how death really works and it is very easy to convince children that killing is nothing more then a game. Being a child you also lack the sense of fear and awareness of a situation that you develop over the years, due to this the smallest children as young as 7 years old are given AK47’s and are usually placed closet to the enemy. Children are also know to be very unpredictable and this is favored among those recruiting them being said that this makes them better fighters. Children also require much less food than any full grown adult; children also do not require any pay and these are two major ways to save money. Children are also often chosen due to how easy they are to recruit. Many children are abducted right from there homes. Villages are also sometimes forced to provide a certain number of children...
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...and respect to the most sacred resting places in the country, The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, it also is the resting place of John F. Kennedy, and one other US president, it also the final resting place to the over four hundred thousand deceased casualties from the United States, and eleven deceased casualties from different countries....
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...what went on it The Battle of Gettysburg. He allowed the reader to see things from both sides of the war. He never let on which side of the war he agreed with. Shaara wrote this novel in a way that each side was given equal time, even if he had conflicts with the viewpoints of the individuals in the war. On one day the Union would look powerful and the next it would be the Confederate. He wanted readers to see what the Union and the Confederate had endured based on the information from the soldiers themselves. When I read the book I felt compassion for the Union and Confederate armies. It was very evident that Shaara was passionate about the battle and wanted others to feel what he felt and understand what this battle really did to the soldiers and the United States. When I first saw what books were required for this class I thought, “Why would I want to read this book?” I never liked studying or reading about war. I started to read the book and found myself taken with it. I loved...
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...The View of War between William Faulkner’s “Two Soldiers” and E.E. Cummings’ “my sweet old etcetera” William Faulkner’s “Two Soldiers” and E.E. Cummings’ “my sweet old etcetera” are both written about the emotions involved during a war. “Two Soldiers” is about a person watching their loved one going to war and ‘my sweet old etcetera” is about a person who is on the front lines. While each story is a reflection on war, Faulkner’s is about the despair you feel in the trenches and Cummings is about the despair you feel while you watch someone go to the trenches. William Faulkner’s story “Two Soldiers” is a heart wrenching one about a little boy age eight watching his brother, Pete, go off to war for the first time. The story is told from the little brother’s point of view and we never learn of his name. The brothers are from a small town in Mississippi when they first hear on the radio about the bombings in Pearl Harbor. You can tell in the story that the mood of Pete changes with each radio broadcast. The little brother gets more and more concerned with what is bothering Pete. Pete does not want to talk about it. Pete tells his little brother that he has to go help out with the war. The little brother decides that he will go with him. Pete tries to explain to the little brother that he is too small to go to war. The little brother replies with, “I’ll chop the wood and tote the water for you-all then!” (289). He doesn’t quite understand why he cannot go with Pete...
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...Comparison "Soldier's Home" And "Speaking Of Courage" To be engaged in war is to be engaged in an armed conflict. Death is an all too ordinary product of war. It is an unsolicited reward for many soldiers that are fighting for their country’s own fictitious freedom. For some of these men, the battlefield is a glimpse into hell, and for others, it is a means to heaven. Many people worry about what happens during war and what will become of their loved ones while they’re fighting, but few realize what happens to those soldiers once they come home. The short stories "Soldier's Home” by Ernest Hemingway and "Speaking of Courage” by Tim O'Brien explore the thematic after effects of war and how it impacts a young person's life. Young people who go to war come back dramatically changed, and as a result, it is challenging for them to return to their homes. Hemingway’s character, Krebs, and O'Brien’s character, Berlin, similarly demonstrate the consequences of war on the lives of these young returning soldiers. Although they came from historically different wars, Krebs, from World War I, and Berlin, from Vietnam, both experience disillusionment. With regards to the stories’ tones, one can infer that both Berlin and Krebs are men who’ve seen their ideas of valor disappointed. Many join the war in the hopes of becoming somehow closer to their country or their ideals of masculinity, only to see these ideals crushed by war’s harsh reality. These boys both hold stories from their respective...
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...time of World War I, being a soldier was seen as a very noble thing due to the glorification of war. All Quiet on the Western Front shows life on the battlefield during WWI, as well the effects and influences off the battlefield. The protagonist of the film, Paul Bäumer is a young German soldier who joins the war shortly after finishing high school. Paul and other young soldiers are trained in harsh conditions and learn the basics of combat. Once they enter the war Paul and other soldiers see what life is truly like on the battlefield. When he goes onto the front for the first time he learns of the travesty that is war and it is not how his teacher’s have described it. Many of the soldiers’ die or are wounded and left in the harsh conditions of the hospitals. When Paul goes home for the first time he returns a changed man. His father wants him to wear his uniform because he should be proud that he is a soldier, but Paul refuses to, knowing that war is nothing to be proud of. World War I is known as the first industrial war. New inventions and weapons added to the impersonality of war. Instead of having to fight with the enemy face-to-face, soldiers were able to shoot their rifles or throw poison gas. Because of the impersonality of war, the scene where Paul kills a man while...
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...readers. As a semi-autobiographical recount, Owen criticises the suffering and psychological scarring of soldiers in ‘Mental Cases’. He depicts the aftermath and trauma experienced by soldiers through anecdotal experience. He begins the poem with a bombardment of rhetorical questions, ‘Who are these? Why sit they here in twilight?’ to create an interrogative tone which demand an explanation regarding why the soldiers have been so tortured with misery. He further portrays their dehumanised state through religious diction, ‘Wherefore rock they, purgatorial shadows’ to create a visual of soldiers rocking back and forth, trying to shake off their mental torment. This image is enhanced in the metaphorical hellish existence, ‘purgatory shadows’ to exemplify their eternal suffering. He portrays the soldiers losing their bodily functions and resembling animals in the rhetorical simile ‘baring teeth that leers like skulls wicked?’ This allows Owen to effectively show the audience the agony of war. He portrays the living hell of war that these soldiers relive day after day through personification,’ – these are men whose minds the dead have ravished. Their torment is reinforced in the juxtaposition, ‘treading blood from lungs that had once loved laughter’ to convey an image of these soldiers walking over decapitated corpses to emphasise the horror while humanising the dead men that ‘loved...
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...Tim O’Brien lies to his daughter when she asked, “You keep writing war stories,” said, “so I guess you must’ve killed somebody.” He lied to her to hide the truth about his war life feeling that she was too young to hear about these talk surrounding the Vietnam War. He firmly believes that his daughter will ask him this question again once she grows and I do agree with it. I think that his daughter, Kathleen, will ask him again once she comes to an age when she understands what situation push her to take actions. She will keep her thoughts and feel aside and think in her father perspective to understand the situation he was pushed to kill a 20-year-old man. The tinkering to ask the question again will come from surrounding people when they talk about this war and how many were dead and how many are alive....
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