Thoughts from a "Cold Warrior"

[warhawk 0]

After reading a few posts over the last several days and seeing some of the comments by some of the members here I got to thinking about my time in service and that of others, not only present but past and what I am sure will be in the future.

Let me take you back to 1985. A year that may be before some people's time around here but not all I know. President Ronald Reagan was in the White House and was commenting to the then Soviet Union and speaking of it as an evil empire. There was talk of SDI (Star Wars Defense Initiative) and of detant at the sametime. But 1985 was also the year that I began my service to my country.

Going into it I had thoughts and dreams of not only seeing far away places but of following my late father's footsteps. Hoping that I would make him proud of me. Like now, then I believed firmly in the things that the United States stood for. Things like honour, liberty, freedom, and not least of all courage.

The magnitude of the time and my decision however didn't really hit home until I got to my first duty assignment. At the time I can remember thinking "a destroyer tender? ". Once on board though my life began to change. Slowly at first but it quickly gathered speed and before I knew it my life had changed once again.

I guess you could say that I had a moment of clarity at one point early in my Naval life. We were at sea in the Mediterrian and it was my first real General Quarters drill. I remember thinking, as the watertight door slammed shut behind me in after steering ( the compartment containing the rudder gear), "If this was real, if there was a real Soviet Submarine out there I could very easily die right here".

Was this scenario in my head propable, more than likely not, but plausible yes. I knew that in the grand scheme of things that my ship was more of a target of opportunity. Not a target of necessity. But it brought home for me the real magnitude of my choices up to that point.

If you had asked me then "Did you make the right choice?" I would have answered then as I do now. I made the right choice, not only for me but for my country and my family. I would make the same choice again only twice as fast. For me I wasn't standing against a people but rather an ideal. It was an ideal that some of my opposing warriors felt as strongly for as I did mine. But I also knew that some were doing so not by choice. I knew that some did not have the freedom to say no like I did. So for them too in a way I was fighting for.

I did not go into it for kudo's, thanks or gratitude. I joined because I wanted to be there. I joined because I believed that what I was defending was worth fighting for and I still do. For those that are looking toward possibly serving in your nations military let me say this. Do it for honour. Join because you believe in what your nation stands for. Serve with distinction and pride and know that at the end of the day you have stood up for what's right. That you have stood up for those that could not do so for themselves and for those that could not find the same courage as you did.

To the all the men and women of the armed services the world over, from the past, present and future....THANK YOU! Thank you from this sailor and this son and this father.

Stout Hearts

Warhawk

[Marcinko 1]

I did not go into it for kudo's, thanks or gratitude. I joined because I wanted to be there. I joined because I believed that what I was defending was worth fighting for and I still do.

thats one of the reasons why i'm goin, i think it's a legit reason, if i can help stop another 3000 people, mostly civilains at that, i would feel... good.

and, like i said to Z, i respect u, and am damn proud to have had u defending this country, hats off to you Hawk.

[Zebb 7]

I think the whole military situation has changed so much now that people forget that back then we trained for a massive Soviet/Eastern Bloc invasion across Western Europe and 99% of the training was just for that purpose.

I was based in Germany near the border for a while and we had random drills at night which were not pre-planned, someone would just burst through your door while you were asleep shouting the activation password and you had no idea whether it was real or just another excercise, you had to kit up (which had to be ready 24/7) grab your weapon and head out to a location out in the middle of nowhere, full radio silence all the time wondering whether someone had been stupid enough to press the buton, or the Soviets had decided it was time for some new real estate.

Every time it happened you stopped and thought, and it was normally several hours before the signal to stand down would be sent out so things were a bit tense for a while, especially if there was a change from the usual routine.

I dont suppose for one minute that we would have made much of a difference if a few divisions of the Soviets best decided to pay us a call, but it was all about "facing off" and it seemed to work anyway in the end..

I joined the forces originally because my Father, Grandfather, Great grandfather, etc, etc had all served their country and as the eldest there was never any question as to whether i would serve or not, even my younger Brother joined up when he was old enough, sort of a family trade i suppose, and i know that its very common in the military for sons to follow fathers, but once i was in and had joined my unit the reason i did what i did was for the man next to me, i can't claim i was ever patriotic enough to say it was for "Queen and Country" although the pride and tradition was always there because i served in the British Army, but my primary aim was to be there for my mates as they were for me, and no matter what we had thrown at us, to do whatever we had to to complete our task and come out of it in one piece if possible, unfortunately this wasnt always the case but you learn that the hard way once things start to warm up..

I have nothing but respect for any serving or ex-serving member of all the military arms, and i believe that there is a bond between every person that has served their country no matter where you come from..

[warhawk 0]

@Zeb'

I have nothing but respect for any serving or ex-serving member of all the military arms, and i believe that there is a bond between every person that has served their country no matter where you come from..

Hear Hear brother!

Stout Hearts

Warhawk

Edited August 28, 2003 by warhawk

[snakebite1967 0]

I dont usualy comment in the military threads as its still a sore spot for me, some of you may know i had a bad motorcycle accident that as well as being my fault also cost me my place in the service and started a rift in my family.

i grew up with tradition and the belief that serving ones country came first, my mums family was merchant navy and my dads was army i spent all of high school in the royal core of transport cadets and at 16 after being a full corporal i joined the army as a junior leader all i wanted to do was drive anything and everything which i did till i spent 18 months with operations and crutches, tho i regret some of the choices ive made in life i defenitly dont regret the important ones whether its queen and country or protecting those that cant i still say bring back national service my 2 cents worth