The 3rd Infantry Division left for their 3rd tour of Iraq, I am glad I am safe here in Florida. None of me wants to go back but I still feel the call of the soldier to be in battle with those I have served with before. It would be much harder if any of my close military friends were still in the 3rd ID and going over with them.
Today I had the urge to be strong, to crash through things, and to have things crash into me. Part of me misses the adrenaline of combat, and the rest of me is saddened by it. My guns sit on shelves locked away now not likely to fire again in combat, or to teach me accuracy and precision for the killing of my fellow man. This is good, but man has a side of himself which cries out for violence, you have felt it no doubt. Things like the slaughter of those in the Holocaust, or the starvation of children in Africa probably brought you the righteous feelings of vengeance. A soldier’s feelings are no less than yours. Regret for a friend lost, vengeance against the killer. I feel that I have already taken a sip from the river Lethe, my memories begin to fade and I part with them with mixed emotions. They have bearing on who I am and why I am, but they also so very painful.
15 comments:
I am glad to hear that you are safe at home. I hope that things are going great for you and your family and I hope that you guys had a great holiday. Stay safe and keep posting.
Reading your blog kinda helps me with a friend who served in Iraq - I met him this side of the war so I don't know what he was like before the war. Your blog has helped - thanks.
If you're still in contact with anyone at the unit, gimme an email. They'll need porn soon, and it's my duty to send it.
Wow, very impressed with this blog. I haven't read them all yet but I will be back to finish. Keep up the good writing!
Jen
gw whiz, thanks you so much for your eloquent prose and your pledge to kill for me, if you decide i',m your fellow man. what a soldier!
Zach,
My Reserve unit returned from Iraq in August. The guys on my Military Transition Team (MiTT) and I still email each other almost daily... talking about who would go over again. For most of us, we know that (like you) we have done everything possible, and it is time for us to be with our families. I understand what you're saying - it's tough to want to do more, yet know that someone else will be the one carrying the rifle instead of you.
Mitch
may gd watch over you
Three tours, and the Emperor thinks he can find 20K more troops to send to their misery. Pray the Democratic Congress keeps the spine it has been showing and does everything in their power to stop it.
wasn't it the Lethe that took away your memories, not the Styx?
Brhimberger Thank you for pointing that out to me. Sorry for using the wrong reference.
Zach,
Though the way you write is beautiful I have to wonder about your belief that man has a side of him that cries out for violence. As someone who doesn't believe in violence in anyway, I more then hope you may have meant man as in the gender, and not man as in the human race, because I would very much like to be left out of your generalization.
-Artistinme82
I am shocked and also pleased that acient thermes are still alive.
It doesnet matter if you mentionted Lethe or Styx, some know the difference between to forget and to be forgotten.
I will sing your song, and will drink the water of Mnemosyne.
pecat
Happy you are safe in Florida. Wish the rest of your unit and friends to be safe at home.
Resistance is Powerful. I'd urge you and your friends to refuse re-deployment. Stop the killing.
I am a Vietnam era vet and we ended that war when we refused to fight it. Please see the movie, "Sir, No Sir!"
Support for AWOL & desertion from many quarters. Follow your own intellect, bush & cheney are the real enemies of peace and freedom.
Hope things are still cool with you. Good blog, thanks.
ps to mr. anonymous Vietnam vet, you want others to stand up and resist when you don't even have the courage to put your name down? lol. No wonder you advocate cowardice. I don't buy your garbage.
Hmm.I've never wanted to kill anyone. I view life as precious. If you still feel that way, you should really talk to a professional therapist.
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