Why we do it

This posted is going to be dedicated to those brave men and women in our armed forces. Who do more then their share for this great country. To the men I served with Iraq and those who I encountered during my time there as well. These people that I'm writing about have earned the utmost respect, but there is a growing concern in my heart.

Just this weekend we lost some of the best trained members of the military community when a Chinook helicopter was shot in Afghanistan. Twenty two of those who died with members of the famous Seal Team Six who just recently conducted a raid in Pakistan which ended with the death of Osama Bin Laden. These men are some of the best trained in the world and most have dedicated their lives to serving their country until they are killed in action (K.I.A.) or until they retire. I sit at this table talking about these more then courageous men because they give it their all, all the time. They understand the risks that they are taking.

Being a veteran myself a lot of people tend to ask me, "Why ?, Why did I serve ?, Why did I choose the Army, Why did I choose the Infantry ?" So now I get to share with you who all decided to follow this my reasons. I was 16 years old and in my sophomore year of high school, arguably my best year of school to. My oldest brother had just enlisted into the Army as a tank driver meaning he would drive the Abrams Main Battle tank. That tank is the meanest tank on the battlefield, with it's jet turbine engine it can reach top speeds of 45 mph and it's 120mm main can take out enemy tanks at two miles(heck of a long distance!!!). With all that said the military has been in my family from my Dad's Dad and great uncles and now it carries on with my brother along with me.

So to the questions. I knew I needed serve so I could understand how this country was made and what these men and women had gone through before me. To understand the dedication, the sacrifice, the hardships and many more. These are things that have helped molded me into the man I am today. A lot of time people ask me if I would change anything about my time in the Army or in Iraq and every time I tell them no, I wouldn't change a thing. There were good times and there were some really crappy times. Times where I wondered if I was going to make it home and there is more to that story still. I knew I was going into the Infantry of the moment I decided I was going to serve my country. People ask why would you join the Infantry ? What most fail to realize it's not about war or killing or any of that stuff. For me it was all about being part of something greater then myself. The Infantry is like a fraternity as it picks the man. Here's a quote I would like to share with all of you : 

 "People pick the army - they become mechanics, water-supply specialists, cooks, clerks - but the infantry is different. The infantry picks the man: men who do poorly in math, excel at athletics, love their mothers, fear their fathers; men who have something to prove or feel they have already proven it all. Infantrymen are like guard dogs at a rich man's house. When people come to visit, they lock us up in the garage and tell us not to bark, but when night falls and there is a noise outside, everyone is glad we're there. And that's what we were out there doing, guarding against bumps in the night." - John Crawford, author of "The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell"

This quote sums up everything about being in the Infantry if you ask me. It describes men who are just a little more rough around the edges. These are the type of men I had the chance to serve with and boy let me tell you they are some of the finest soldiers I've ever had the pleasure of serving with and fighting besides. They all know who they are, they are some of the most proudest, yet stubborn individuals I have ever met. They are like brothers to me, brothers that share a common bond. Did we all see eye to eye, no, but if we needed each other like the way we did when we lost one of our soldiers they were their for us. Dang do I love these men and I thank God that I got the chance to serve with them. I'm proud to call them brothers in arms, because we all answered the call to become what our Nation needed us to be. I could leave you all with some fancy quotes from history, but this quote is more fitting then any other that I've seen in a long time. This is why we do because it's not about us, it's about something bigger then, something that needs to be recognized by our Nation.
                                     
                                         Warning Quote is Unedited
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This quote is from the movie BlackHawk Down. The conversation takes place between SGT Matt Eversman and Hoot. "When I go home people'll ask me, "Hey Hoot, why do you do it man? What, you some kinda war junkie?" You know what I'll say? I won't say a goddamn word. Why? They won't understand. They won't understand why we do it. They won't understand that it's about the men next to you, and that's it. That's all it is."

© Nathan Fahlin