When I first became a soldier after finishing Boot Camp, there was on TV a commercial called, AN ARMY OF ONE, by the United States Army, for whose who were maybe interested in signing up. I laughed at that commercial when I first saw it. This was in 2004. Then when I was at my duty station in Friedberg, Germany, and was helping spruce up the Ray Barracks for the 1-37th returning from Iraq by the 1st of July or so. I had to paint the barracks, and when that was done, Id paint whatever they thought could use a good base of paint. I arrived there in March 2004, after graduating Boot at Fort Knox, Ky. Anyway, as we waited for the 1-37th Regiment return, also known as the Bandits, whose tour started in May 2003, just when I finished High School. Well, the Bandits and the Ready First Brigade had their tour extended, from 1 year to 14 months. They ran out of things for me to paint, so they even had me paint the rocks that lined the paths of the doors of the barracks. I thought, I did not sign up to be a painter!! Well, I did the best job I could, being a painter for the United States Army. Then they came home.............I saw them arrive, and weary from war. I suddenly felt ashamed I was complaining about painting. Now that I saw them, skinny, tired, and an old man look on their young faces. My heart changed in an instance. They and their bags arrived. I knew then I would do anything I could do to honor and help make their homecoming to the base as could as I could. I watched over their bags, standing at attention, making sure nobody messed with their stuff. I asked later to the guys who returned, in the chow hall, quietly I asked, can I get you a cup of coffee? Some had wounds. Some returned without Limbs, but the worst wounds I saw, were the wounds of losing a buddy in the theater of war. That was the worst wound. Suddenly it dawned on me, THEY REALLY ARE AN ARMY OF ONE!!!. If one of them was wounded, they too felt the pain. If one was fallen, they felt as though they lost a blood relative. I remembered talking to my Grandpa who fought in WW II in the Battle of the Bulge. My Grandpa got two purple hearts for major wounds, and the Bronze Star for courage. My Grandpa never talked about the medals he got, but he talked about after 50 years, still feeling the sense of loss, of hurt, and guilt that he survived but many of his buddies didnt. Well, now, I know the pain of losing buddy after buddy.............yes, we are one. We shed our blood sweat and tears together. Well, the Army changes its slogan as the years go by, as the recruitment posters boost...........but I think now The Army of One is the best slogan there is. Well, time to grab my gear and go on another mission. My shades cover my eyes red from crying about attending another memorial service. These shades or protective goggles, not only protect our eyes, but cover the bloodshot eyes, crying for a brother-in-arms who didnt make it. Taps is over ,and the 21 gun salute seems to still ring in the air. Time to go back to work, but the enemy never sleeps. AN ARMY OF ONE!!! MEGA HOOAHH!!! Spc. Shane Woods, June 2006, in Ramadi, Iraq.
Posted on: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 23:39:28 +0000
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