"A Few Good Men" In My Life

"Why do you like them so much?"
"Because they stand on a wall and say don't worry about it. Nothing is going to hurt you tonight. NOT ON MY WATCH."
- A few good men

So there have been a lot of things that I have wanted to post I just haven't found a way to form the words eloquently and organized enough to give them what they deserve so I haven't really posted. There have been dozens of events and quotes that have made me really search deep inside my soul lately to consider the full meaning and beauty of it all. I have made a list but I don't know that I will post them until they have been fully formed.

In the meantime something to keep you going is a thought that is quite often on my mind. Recently I have realized that I know a lot more people in the military than the average bear. The majority of these people are officers. They did not just join the military as an afterthought, or out of boredom, or as a spontaneous effort to improve their economic status. They have spent years of training to achieve this goal. I have friends in all three major military academies. This requires hard work, leadership, competitiveness, congressional nominations, and most importantly determination and self discipline to continue to be treated like crap for four years. For most, 18-24 is a time in your life when you get to be selfish. Most kids are out having fun, going to college, partying, sleeping in, skipping class, and just basically being retarded in a path to grow, learn and find out who you are. While I was doing that, I had friends in the academies that have severe restriction, must prove physical and mental stamina, and have their every move controlled by the U.S Government via the academy. I couldn't wait to move out when my parents had a curfew on me when I was 18. My friends moved out knowingly to rules such as not being able to leave campus on the weekends, and not only that they would have to be on duty. The few weekends they get to leave they have to be in uniform and can only go a few miles from the academy. Each year they get more liberty but they must first prove themself. They wake up early, go to bed late and know that there is no sleeping in. Of them is demanded everything and they willingly do it. They do it b/c they know they are being trained to be some of the nation's best.

I have a few other friends that don't go to the academies. Rather I have several friends that are in Iraq and a few that are on their second tour of Iraq.

I cannot begin to tell you how often I feel so indebted to them. I have the utmost respect for the men and women that serve our country. The caliber of the men and women that put their lives on the line to represent us, to fight for a cause whether good or bad. They are told to fight and they don't ask questions. They just do it. I am not worried about our nation. With leaders like them, I know our country is in good hands.



Mike Kobiljak, now on his second tour of Iraq at age 23.
Chris Curd, Adam Sezate, and Tyler Struzinski. All Firsties (Seniors) at the United States Naval Academy.
Tyler again since he likes to pull his face for most of his pictures.
The Jackson twins. Christian and Christopher.Christian is a graduate of West Point and Christopher is a firstie.

Jesse Palmer. Currently in Iraq.Randy Beck. Graduate of the University of Utah ROTC and currently in officer training school. To be fair here is a cooler picture of him since his eyes are closed above.
There are many many more of my friends I don't have pictures of. I respect them greatly. Words cannot express the gratitude, respect, and devotion I feel for them.