Requiem for A Soldier ....

On December 28th, 1979 as a person of Age 18 years (thusly considered an adult) i stood in a fairly large room in downtown Oakland, California and along with some some 50 of so other men and women of roughly the same age group, raised my right hand and committed myself to the service of my country as a member of our Armed Forces (in my case the Air Force) with that oath given by Major K. J. Morfinski, USMC. I recited that oath of my own will freely and years later repeated the process not just once but twice more.. the second of those times before an audience that included my proud parents ... i suspect that they were much relieved that i had finally found something to do that had a purpose higher than "doing my own thing".

As a previously willing volunteer and participant in the defense of my country i can no longer stand idly by as the courage, honor, dedication and selflessness of its current crop of volunteers is denigrated and disparaged by the far left "anti-war all the time" crowd and its willing accomplices in action--mainstream media.

The oath is quite simple and yet at the same time astonishingly clear and powerful. No one who takes it ever forgets the shiver of anticipation and slight foreboding it engenders that first time you repeat ...

"I, Lawrence S. Hicks, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

and i felt the same sensation both other occasions as well. As i have stated numerous occasions the proudest moments and life experiences were those I experienced as a member of the United States Air Force.

I proudly and voluntarily started my service at a time of great unrest, the Iranian Hostage Crisis was the story of the day ...every day and everyone's thoughts were constantly revolving around the "what if: ... of a possible war. No one coerced me, no one forced me to enlist, and certainly no one forced me to re-enlist not once but twice .... granted there were some who tried to talk me out of enlisting and re-upping as well but it was solely my decision and once made my friends, my family everyone accepted that it was indeed my decision and that that was what i wanted to do .... no matter the potential consequences.

During my time of service i served in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey (Twice), England, and three stateside locations as well as numerous tours of temporary duty in places as far-flung as Iceland, Korea, Thailand, The Philippines and a couple short trips to places in Central America during not so great times.

I was witness to some tragic scenes ... the Beirut Marine Barracks bombing, the raid on Libya and Grenada rescue mission -- both though successful --yet still with many losses, the Panama Campaign to oust Manuel Noreiga, and smaller more personal losses of close friends and compatriots in accidents ... times of sorrow each in their own way.

Yes, i also witnessed triumphant occasions as well ... the landing of the first space shuttle mission after the horrific Challenger disaster ... the completion of numerous jobs well done and new aircraft welcomed into the fleet. Through good and bad times there was always the sense of Mission that needed to be Accomplished, that what we were doing was Good, and necessary for the continued survival of the Greatest Country in the World ... BAR NONE... and i still carry that same feeling of pride when i see another service member in uniform or a veteran of previous service or war ... or hear "God Bless America", "My Country 'Tis of Thee" or our National Anthem and see our flag the symbol of freedom and liberty for every human being proudly displayed.

No, America is not perfect ... there are many things we could do better both here at home and around the world .. but no one no other country ever in the history of mankind has done more to aid and comfort in times of natural disaster ... no matter what nationality or political bent or creed might be present ... still America and Americans always come to the front to offer assistance, help ... whatever we can wherever its needed.

During one my tours in Turkey a devastating earthquake ravaged the area of the then Soviet Armenia ... the USSR ... sworn enemy of freedom and the American Way... and among the first rescue and recovery missions to go into that area was a small band of Proud Americans of the 628th Military Airlift Support Squadron .... yep you guessed it ... American Air Force men and women ....and not a one thought for a second "should we go or stay" we went because it was the human thing to do; the right thing to do; and the American thing to do.

We are after all ... every one of us no matter where we live on planet earth ... members of the human race. Americans and America have never forgotten that fact ... and will not as long as i am able to speak ever forget that fact in the future as well.

Which i guess brings me around to those among us who have a differing point of view than mine ... i grant you the right to have your opinion and in fact i served (as do those who now serve), so that you could enjoy that right ... and had the call come i would have fought whatever foe to protect and defend that right you so often (in my humble opinion) take so much for granted while despising ... YES THERE I SAID IT .... DESPISING ... the very country that grants it to you.

President John F. Kennedy in his Innagural Address expressed America's responsibilities as the bastion of Freedom and Liberty ....

"The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe—the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God. We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans—born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage—and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world. Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty. This much we pledge—and more. To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do—for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder. Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction. Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah—to "undo the heavy burdens ... and to let the oppressed go free." And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavor, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved. All this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin. In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than in mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe. In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility—I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it—and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own."

I must and in fact do without hesitation agree with the thoughts of Mr. Mark Steyn, columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times .... that there is something inherently muddled in the system where ...

"If a 13-year-old wants to have an abortion, that's her decision and her parents shouldn't get a look-in. If a 21-year-old wants to drop to the broadloom in Bill Clinton's Oval Office, she's a grown woman and free to do what she wants. But, if a 22- or 25- or 37-year-old is serving his country overseas, he's a wee "child" who isn't really old enough to know what he's doing. They're not children in Iraq; they're grown-ups who made their own decision to join the military. That seems to be difficult for the left to grasp. Ever since America's all-adult, all-volunteer army went into Iraq, the anti-war crowd have made a sustained effort to characterize them as "children." The infantilization of the military promoted by the left is deeply insulting to America's warriors but it suits the anti-war crowd's purposes. It enables them to drone ceaselessly that "of course" they "support our troops," because they want to stop these poor confused moppets from being exploited by the Bush war machine.

While peace is preferable to war in a perfect world ... peace at the cost of your way of life, your principles, your foundation of freedom and liberty IS NEVER preferable. All you have to do is look back at World War II and witness the years of appeasement and conciliation that Europe and even yes America gave to Adolph Hitler's Germany to understand that one must NEVER, in the immortal words of Sir Winston S. Churchill "Never Give In... NEVER NEVER NEVER."

War will always have its detractors. War will also never be the first choice of anyone who has served in the military forces ... those who observed from close in its terrible toll, who felt its haunting breath outside our doors ... it is never the first choice ... and yet sometimes it must be that which is chosen.

No mother will ever want her son or daughter to lose their life in battle .. no wife ever wishes that her husband or husband his wife; no brother wishes that fate to a brother and yet still they come ... willingly in service to their fellow man ... volunteer after volunteer .... men women, young and not so young to SERVE ... to SUPPORT and DEFEND ... against ALL ENEMIES ... FOREIGN OR DOMESTIC ... to bear TRUE FAITH and ALLEGIANCE .... SO HELP THEM (SO HELP ME) ...

PROUD ... POSITIVE ... PROFESSIONAL .... those who will willingly sacrifice as did our Founding Fathers before them .... THEIR LIVES, THEIR FORTUNES ... THEIR SACRED HONOR.

it is our duty to THEM to honor them and their sacrifice .... SO HELP US GOD!!!!