Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2nd 1990; seventy-five days shy of my sixth birthday. The invasion that took place in the Middle East that day not only sparked the beginning of the First Gulf War, it also set in motion a chain of events that determined the path my life would take. It happened sometime between August of 1990 and February of 1991. As I was sitting alone in the basement watching cartoons, news broke of the war. A news anchor talked briefly about the situation unfolding in Iraq, after which violent video clips began to play on a loop. The fear I felt that afternoon as I watched TV left my face burning, but my body was cold and numb. It was the kind of terror that started as a knot in the pit of my stomach and spread throughout my entire body until I was covered in goose bumps. I will never forget the graphic images that flashed across the screen. One of the videos portrayed soldiers dressed in brown and tan uniforms, wearing helmets and carrying huge black guns. They wore sullen, almost vacant expressions, as they loaded into ominous camouflage trucks and tanks. One after the other, the vehicles full of troops formed long lines and traveled across the colorless desert. Broken buildings in the background were made more depressing by the lack of colored foliage anywhere in sight. In another clip, I watched explosions rip through buildings leaving smoldering piles of rubble on the ground. I stared in silent horror as people emerged from the smoke that billowed from the wreckage. Seeing their dirty, crying, bleeding faces made me cry. In my five short years on this planet I hadn’t yet learned how to comprehend war. I did not understand that the war was half the world away. In my mind the chaos was only ... ... middle of paper ... ... Working for MEPS I found a place to call home, a place to serve my country, and a place to once again prove my patriotism. It’s been twenty years since the day I cried over the war in Iraq and many things in my life have changed. Friends have come and gone, and loved ones have passed. I’ve fallen in and out of love twice, and my heart has been broken. But, the one constant in my life, the one thing that has never wavered, is the love I have in my heart for my country. I may not have been ready at the age of five, but by the time I turned seventeen I knew I was willing to lay my life on the line to protect and defend the rights, freedoms, and civil liberties that this great nation affords every American citizen. To this day even though I am serving in another capacity I remain willing to put my life on the line for this country. I am an American Patriot.
Bullets flying through the air right over me, my knees are shaking, and my feet are numb. I see familiar faces all around me dodging the explosives illuminating the air like lightning. Unfortunately, numerous familiar faces seem to disappear into the trenches. I try to run from the noise, but my mind keeps causing me to re-illustrate the painful memories left behind.
BANG, BOOM, BLAM,TAT-A-TAT, TAT. My ears are assaulted with noise, my eyes witness squirting blood a soldier is shot. I observe soldiers blown away by bombs. I see blood that saturates an infantry man. I view maimed men and observe limbs with fragmented bone. I witness militia dead on the ground. I listen to screams, grunts and gurgling blood in a man's windpipe. WHOOSH, flame throwers make a path with flames blazing burning men instantaneously. My eyes reveal the emotion that rips through my heart, tears drip down my cheek. I turn my head. I cannot watch a soldier cradle his buddy as he dies.
War is dangerous; however it does more than injure you physically. “The Sniper” shows how war’s effects on the mind can be just as if not more harmful than its physical effects. The psychological effects of war can change a man and last a lifetime.
War is a howling, roaring creature, using its power to ignite destructive and fatal consequences among the masses. Conflicts have risen between nations yet no one seems to understand what breeds the conflict. While destruction may be the end, deception is its mean. War ...
All throughout time and history people have been at war with each other at one point or another. War can, truthfully, at times be inescapable and considered by some historians as a natural instinct, an instinct that every human being possess. Throughout history mighty empires and governments have collapsed due to the damages inflicted on by a war, yet in spite of this, some have managed to face the odds and make it through, staggering along as if nothing happened. War is a true test of an empire or government’s determination to move forward, adapting using the knowledge and intellect they have acquired to their own advantage. Nevertheless, not all wars lead to fighting by physical means but instead it can lead to fighting mentally by opposing sides. One such example would be the non-traditional Cold War fought between the United States and Soviet Union. The Cold War was a time that caused an immense fear in the lives of many, and inspired novels such as 1984 by George Orwell, Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank, and essays such as “You and the Atomic Bomb” by George Orwell, which are just some of the voices from this terrible time.
To this day, I can remember laying back and watching the coverage of the buildings burning and massive clouds of debris dust overpowering the streets and sky. Especially, I recall the news anchor announcing that New York City was under attack, and how this day would forever change our ways of life, from that day forward. The most memorable part of all, however, had to be watching the video of the second plane hitting the last tower, which occurred minutes after the initial attack. This image, along with the empathy for the people who were in the towers at the time and their families, will definitely last a lifetime.
Scorching heat, pure exhaustion, and constant fear convey the bleak image of war. The definition of war is varied, and “often the proposed definition masks a particular political or philosophical stance” (Moseley). Colonel William Travington portrays his beliefs about the brutality of war through one simple sentence; “You know, it's an ugly business doing one's duty... but just occasionally it's a real pleasure” (“The Patriot”). Our country is home to a diversity of perspectives on what it means to be an American, and the loyalty that comes from this earned title. Being an American is a privilege, not a right. The sacrifices made in war show the true cost of being free. Freedom is the basis of our country, and the measures Americans are willing to take to protect that freedom reveal their devotion to their country. What costs will we take to maintain the well-being of our nation? The answer to this question is a direct result of the “patriotism” shared by the members of this great nation.1Analyzing popular music, classic art, educational films, and American literature allows us to define American identity through the basis of opportunity, hard work, and loyalty.
“Line up Soldiers!” The Red-Coat was screaming at us the second we got off the bus telling us to line up and to be quiet. My fifth grade class was on a field trip on this windy November morning. We were at Riley’s Farm and about to live for a day like we were in 1765 as a Patriot during the American Revolution. We were on the bus for 2.5 hours and finally we arrived.
The thought of this nation’s fellow soldiers putting their life’s at risk, and perhaps not knowing if today may be their last is a blessing for us remaining citizens. The fact that someone cares tremendously for their country, along with its people to put their life in danger shows the courage that this here piece of land is built on. Sacrifices made by these soldiers to protect the United States of America as well as the rest of the world do not have to be made, however this country makes the situation worth it.
For exactly 15 years, 4 months, and 6 days, I have been a proud citizen of the greatest nation on earth. From birth, I have been gifted with the freedom to say whatever I desire, pursue the career of my dreams, and act as I choose without the fear of oppression or social injustice, a blessing that is a rarity among today's global community. What I didn't receive at birth was the sense of patriotism I have instilled within me today.
Don’t sound so disappointed, I became sick to my stomach all too soon. It was hard for me to concentrate on a lot of “Platoon” during the first day of class. I looked at the screen only half of the time; I buried my head in current work so as to hide my eyes from the disasters on TV. I would occasionally look up and sure enough, each time I proceeded to lift my head, I squealed, and put it back down. I remember scenes of teenage boys being tortures with bullets, old women and men being killed, girls being raped, and children being put in front of a firing squad. That night, I couldn’t control the terrible scenes that flooded my head as I tried to sleep.
A typical dystopian setup, Legend engages you from the start with Day, one of the two protagonists, on the run. The most infamous and wanted criminal in the country, he tells you just enough of his story to keep you interested, but not so much that there’s nothing left to reveal. A cryptic sign leaves you wondering what’s next before the chapter switches to the other protagonist of the story, June.
Since the time I was young, my grandfather instilled in me a deep respect and love for my country. I learned that we had freedom because many people would put on a uniform and risk their lives for our country to defend it. My grandfather told me about several people in my family who died while in service to this country and from a young age I wanted to be like them. I knew it was important to fight for our freedom and for our wonderful country like the many people in my family before me. My grandfather, who was in the invasion force in Japan during world war two is a big part of why I want to be an Army officer.
I grew up in a small town and after I graduated high school I wanted more in life than a 9 to 5 job; I wanted to see the world. I had a few friends that had joined the military and had come home to visit with exciting stories about their experiences. I noticed a change in a few of them; they seemed to walk a little taller, maybe act a bit more mature. This, along with the intrigue of life outside of my small town, drew me to consider joining the military. I met a recruiter in Lakeland Florida in July of 1989 and a few months later on September 26th I raised my right hand and took the Oath of Enlistment. I had no idea what I had gotten myself into.
Like the rest of my Air Force brothers and sisters-in-arms, my career has been profoundly shaped by September 11th and the subsequent wars. A Hollywood blockbuster started my Air Force story but it has become something far more profound and meaningful to me. It is an honor and a privilege to continue to serve with so many men and women willing to sacrifice their happiness, safety and even their lives in defense of their nation.