Smitty901
11-13-2021, 03:26 PM
Around Veterans day out of no where people you served with in the past come back into you life for a brief time . As soldier we were one in a cause and duty. But in the real world we were as different as anyone could be. Always amazed me how it all seemed to work out. With out the boots it is unlikely the 4 of us would have even known each other.
This morning I get a text with screenshot. I knew right away the picture was from another life time. I knew who was in it. In many ways they made me the NCO I became. Each a very different person. Each a dam good soldier.
It was one of my squads years ago. They kept my life interesting. Each had a nick name that applied to them. I will not type some of them. My driver Goggles the guy on top. As a soldier the man had his stuff together.
As a member of society he lived in his own world and most others did not. I had to bail him out of stuff many times. The one on my right had his life in order. He was going to be gone first chance he got. But he seemed to find a reason to stay.
One on my left was just figuring out where he was headed. He found the path.
Goggles. That man was short. They called him a ruck sack with boots. Worked his ass off to get in the airborne. they say he hung upside down for a month to get another 1/4 inch in height to meet the standard. He made it. When ask why he worked so hard to get in the airborne. He said Beer money. And that explains why a skilled soldier never got past E4. And he stayed on the beer path long after he left the boots behind. The one on my left became a State trooper severed with honor and saved some lives at his own risk. One on my right went on to a rewarding life. After them there were many more in many other places. But they formed who and what I would become.
Life was simple as a Squad leader for the most part. Not long after that picture things happen fast. Each promotion bought more demands. Time went by so fast it was over in what seemed like no time at all.
I remember each and everyone. And many of those that came after them.
17454
This morning I get a text with screenshot. I knew right away the picture was from another life time. I knew who was in it. In many ways they made me the NCO I became. Each a very different person. Each a dam good soldier.
It was one of my squads years ago. They kept my life interesting. Each had a nick name that applied to them. I will not type some of them. My driver Goggles the guy on top. As a soldier the man had his stuff together.
As a member of society he lived in his own world and most others did not. I had to bail him out of stuff many times. The one on my right had his life in order. He was going to be gone first chance he got. But he seemed to find a reason to stay.
One on my left was just figuring out where he was headed. He found the path.
Goggles. That man was short. They called him a ruck sack with boots. Worked his ass off to get in the airborne. they say he hung upside down for a month to get another 1/4 inch in height to meet the standard. He made it. When ask why he worked so hard to get in the airborne. He said Beer money. And that explains why a skilled soldier never got past E4. And he stayed on the beer path long after he left the boots behind. The one on my left became a State trooper severed with honor and saved some lives at his own risk. One on my right went on to a rewarding life. After them there were many more in many other places. But they formed who and what I would become.
Life was simple as a Squad leader for the most part. Not long after that picture things happen fast. Each promotion bought more demands. Time went by so fast it was over in what seemed like no time at all.
I remember each and everyone. And many of those that came after them.
17454