I support my troops. That’s right; the troops that belong to me, the troops I’m charged with leading.
Self righteous civilians can argue that Soldiers should refuse deployment and face prison if a war is unjust, but its really not that fucking simple. I joined the Army, among other reasons, out of a sense of duty to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. Soldiers (and Sailors, Airman and Marines) have a sacred trust with our civilian leaders to, in exchange for our oath, make damn certain that they only send us to die over things worth dying for. Sometimes, they don’t hold up their end of the bargain. Well, that sucks but I have a duty to defend the constitution, and when/if that fight comes I’ll be here for it. But, it goes further than that.
I have friends, brothers, and family that I serve with. They are black, white, Native America, Hispanic and Asian. They are liberals. They are conservatives. They are evangelicals and atheists and pagans. They are more of a family to me than my blood relatives. I have Soldiers that I am responsible for leading. I don’t give a shit if the war is wrong, I will be there to lead them because their families and America expect nothing less of me. I can control my acts on the ground. I know I will not commit atrocities. I know I can lead my Soldiers to do the same. The war maybe wrong, but my Soldiers and I will be righteous. And whatever the illegitimate purpose for us being wherever we are, I will do everything I can to bring them home alive. If I wasn’t here to do it, because of some seemingly self righteous act, and one of them was hurt, I could never live with myself.
Don’t thank me. Don’t think I am great. I don’t do these things to be great of because I think I am better than anyone. I do them because my conscience will permit me to do nothing else.
Criticize if you want, but until you have faced flying rounds, until you are charged with bringing your brothers home in one piece, you have no frame of reference.
This is short, but I feel this all I need to say.