As a young man who's been through a lot already in my 28 years of life I feel older then I actually am. When I first returned from Iraq I heard some where that soldiers in combat zones age one year for every month they are there. So take my deployment in which lasted nearly 15 months then look at my age at which I was when I returned which was 23 so then mentally in some sense I would be 38 years old, now add the birthdays that have passed since I've been home and now I'm 43 years old mentally lol! But that's not what I want to talk about in this "note."
As the title states what I really want to talk about is the Military Award of the Purple Heart or amongst the branches it's commonly known at the "Enemy Marksmanship Badge" which really is a joke to make light of the fact that those who have received this award have been through some "shit" and no I'm not gonna be politically correct here because there is just to much of that shit in this world. For me someone who's been awarded the Purple Heart it's not something that I like to hear from people, "Hey congratulations on your Purple Heart." The Purple Heart is an award not be congratulated, but there is a certain respect that comes from it. To me this is an award which highlights what servicemen and women are all about. We have written a blank check payable to our great country up to including our life if that's what it takes for us to accomplish our mission. Those who've received the Purple Heart and wrote that check to the United States of America can pretty much fill the check in with whatever caused them to receive the Purple Heart. For me I've been struggling with anxiety, depression, and P.T.S.D. (post traumatic stress disorder) since that cold December night, with the I.E.D.(improvised explosive device), and the winter's cold. My physical wounds were rather small, but what happened inside my mind, the mental aspect of the wounds caused by that night took a lot from me. The fact remains that all three of us should of died that night in Iraq, but yet we are all here, living our lives out in this country where we call home.
The Purple Heart really embodies a lot of what soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen are really all about. We all have our own reasons for serving our country, but in the Army there is something that was drilled into our brain and probably won't leave us till the day we die which is L.D.R.S.H.I.P.: L=Leadership, D=Duty, R=Respect, S=Selfless Service, H=Honor ,I=Integrity, P=Personal Courage. Those who've been awarded the Purple Heart know that in those moments when "all hell breaks lose" or when " the shit hits the fan" that things like Duty, Selfless Service, and Personal Courage shine through those bleak moments. Those moments are truly pure chaos in of it self and I don't care who you care if you haven't been there then shut up I don't want to hear it. For some people training takes over as it did for me, others might not be able to function, and then you have the people who are cool, calm, and steadfast throughout the entire ordeal. For me I remember everything about that night, what I was doing, where we were, what was happening inside the truck, you name it I can recall it except when I was unconscious which I still to this day have no idea how long I was knocked out for. For me it's very true that time slowed down when the I.E.D. went off. I don't have to hardly think about the memory and I can picture the entire event. I don't wish this event on any of my family, friends, relatives, or the average Joe.
We all left parts of ourselves in Iraq when we left or Iraq took parts of us and now they reside there. I'm grateful for the men I served with over there. There are some of the best men I've had the privilege to know in my life so far. We are brothers who've bled together, cried together, laughed together, and fought together. I wouldn't trade any of my experiences for anything in the world nor the good, the bad, and the ugly. Do I wish that some didn't happen ? of course, but all those who go to war do so who've seen such times. Please take a moment and with a thankful heart thank God that we still have men and women who believe that this country is still worth dying and fighting for. I thank God that I was given the chance to serve and those whom I've served with.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_Heart
© Nathan Fahlin
As the title states what I really want to talk about is the Military Award of the Purple Heart or amongst the branches it's commonly known at the "Enemy Marksmanship Badge" which really is a joke to make light of the fact that those who have received this award have been through some "shit" and no I'm not gonna be politically correct here because there is just to much of that shit in this world. For me someone who's been awarded the Purple Heart it's not something that I like to hear from people, "Hey congratulations on your Purple Heart." The Purple Heart is an award not be congratulated, but there is a certain respect that comes from it. To me this is an award which highlights what servicemen and women are all about. We have written a blank check payable to our great country up to including our life if that's what it takes for us to accomplish our mission. Those who've received the Purple Heart and wrote that check to the United States of America can pretty much fill the check in with whatever caused them to receive the Purple Heart. For me I've been struggling with anxiety, depression, and P.T.S.D. (post traumatic stress disorder) since that cold December night, with the I.E.D.(improvised explosive device), and the winter's cold. My physical wounds were rather small, but what happened inside my mind, the mental aspect of the wounds caused by that night took a lot from me. The fact remains that all three of us should of died that night in Iraq, but yet we are all here, living our lives out in this country where we call home.
The Purple Heart really embodies a lot of what soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen are really all about. We all have our own reasons for serving our country, but in the Army there is something that was drilled into our brain and probably won't leave us till the day we die which is L.D.R.S.H.I.P.: L=Leadership, D=Duty, R=Respect, S=Selfless Service, H=Honor ,I=Integrity, P=Personal Courage. Those who've been awarded the Purple Heart know that in those moments when "all hell breaks lose" or when " the shit hits the fan" that things like Duty, Selfless Service, and Personal Courage shine through those bleak moments. Those moments are truly pure chaos in of it self and I don't care who you care if you haven't been there then shut up I don't want to hear it. For some people training takes over as it did for me, others might not be able to function, and then you have the people who are cool, calm, and steadfast throughout the entire ordeal. For me I remember everything about that night, what I was doing, where we were, what was happening inside the truck, you name it I can recall it except when I was unconscious which I still to this day have no idea how long I was knocked out for. For me it's very true that time slowed down when the I.E.D. went off. I don't have to hardly think about the memory and I can picture the entire event. I don't wish this event on any of my family, friends, relatives, or the average Joe.
We all left parts of ourselves in Iraq when we left or Iraq took parts of us and now they reside there. I'm grateful for the men I served with over there. There are some of the best men I've had the privilege to know in my life so far. We are brothers who've bled together, cried together, laughed together, and fought together. I wouldn't trade any of my experiences for anything in the world nor the good, the bad, and the ugly. Do I wish that some didn't happen ? of course, but all those who go to war do so who've seen such times. Please take a moment and with a thankful heart thank God that we still have men and women who believe that this country is still worth dying and fighting for. I thank God that I was given the chance to serve and those whom I've served with.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_Heart
© Nathan Fahlin
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