“I stil get choked up when Ihear the National Anthem, that feling you get remembering the men you served with wil never go away.” – Ray Foxworthy, Vietnam Veteran, my Great Uncle. Hearing my Uncle Ray say that when I was just eight years old sparked a pasion in me to serve my country. Litle did Iknow, ten years later Iwould find myself acing the decision al men must one day make: Deciding what kind of man Iwould be the rest of my life. The true test of man is not based on how he handles suceses but rather his failures. In elementary schol, while al the other kids were reading children’s boks I was fliping through pictures of World War I and Vietnam. Mesmerized by the tanks and guns, I could only imagine how brave those men in camo were. High …show more content…
Schol was when I began research into posible carers in the Army.
I had a feling dep inside that Iwas meant o be a part of something special. I had enlisted to atend the 75th Ranger Regiments selection course, also known as RASP. The Rangers are known to be the Army’s premier fighting force. I was on my way to make my dream a reality. Two weks after High Schol graduation Ifound myself standing in the sweltering heat of a Georgia summer. Holding dufle bags overhead while a Dril Sergeant screamed into my ear was my first aste of the Army. I had learned fundamental soldiering skils in Basic Training, was stupid enough to jump out of perfectly god airplanes in Airborne Schol, and was now loaded into these white buses headed for the Ranger compound. “This is it.” I thought, “The moment I’ve ben preparing for my whole life.” In my preparation for RASP, I learned that he mind always quits before the body. I was lucky enough to experience this first-hand. Every day for the next 12 weks I had to push past what Ithought were my limits. Each time Idoned my frozen pack or tok a painful step on a twenty mile movement Iknew Iwas that much closer to earning the prestigious tan beret. One day close to the end of the course, my budy said he’s geting a new tato …show more content…
tomorow and that Ishould join him. Body markings have ben part of the warior traditon for thousands of years.
I stayed up al night listening to music and writng down posible ideas. Ihad finaly come up with what Iwanted, something motivational. The next day had arived and what was once ink on paper had become ink on skin. Iwas a tatoed war fighter. The day before graduation had come. The whole clas was siting in the open bay baracks shaving their tan berets for the coming ceremony. “Knobloch!” I heard from down the hal. The cadre had caled me into their ofice and informed me that Ihad failed the final physical test by one pushup. My heart sank as Irealized what exactly that meant for me, an immediate release form the course. Al those years of dreaming and the endles times I thought about quiting but never did were al for nothing. I had given up al hope when my mother caled and told me that his is when you decide if the tato you have is just a piece of art or actualy holds some meaning. ”When darknes fals we are reborn. Open your heart and gaze within. Your destination is a choice to make. You wil rise or become a slave.”- My tato. It is truly at your lowest hat you must make a choice. You can let he failure and pain take control as it is so easy to do. Or
you can take the blow, learn from your mistake, and move on. Ihad tuned this los into the fuel formy desire to acomplish many great hings in the Army. The rest of my life Iwil lok to failures not as a sign of weaknes, but an oportunity to grow and become the man Iwant o be.
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.
Training as an unexperienced soldier, then fighting in a war, only several months later, for your country just shows how much fearlessness and guts this whole division had, classifying them as the best division to ever be a part of the United States Army.
The 173rd Airborne Brigade has a long and commendable history as the unit has been involved in many US conflicts. The unit made a name for themselves under General Patton during World War II (WWII) as they experienced extensive combat in Europe, and was involved in the Battle of the Bulge and the Rhine River Crossing. The most infamous time of the 173rd’s history was yet to happen.
I can’t not forget that moment. Ever. I look back at my beginnings at Fort Benning Georgia were I started my airborne training and went on to Fort Bragg North Carolina for the special forces qualification course. Not only do I have airborne brothers but I have Special Forces brothers throughout the world.
The Hero’s Journey is a basic template utilized by writers everywhere. Joseph Campbell, an American scholar, analyzed an abundance of myths and literature and decided that almost all of them followed a template that has around twelve steps. He would call these steps the Hero’s Journey. The steps to the Hero’s Journey are a hero is born into ordinary circumstances, call to adventure/action, refusal of call, a push to go on the journey, aid by mentor, a crossing of the threshold, the hero is tested, defeat of a villain, possible prize, hero goes home. The Hero’s Journey is more or less the same journey every time. It is a circular pattern used in stories or myths.
Part of this assignment is to describe my impressions of the Vietnam War and its impact on the men who fought it. This is a very difficult task. No matter how many articles and stories I read, I will never truly understand the pain and anguish these men have endured. I can’t even begin to imagine how hard it would be to endure 2 months of being tied in the most awkward body-stretching position possible. Sure, like anyone I believe that the U.S. government got into an unwinnable war, but the bureaucrats were in a tough political position and they felt this was essential. No matter the case, it is ridiculous how American citizens displayed open dishonor and disgrace to both fallen and returning soldiers. These men went through the worst imaginable experience and they were slapped in the face and spit in the nose when they returned. They went through those circumstances because the government they were loyal to put them in that position.
to get upset about it every time. Is my Mother is the one who drove you to quit? And do you
My life is like a dying essence, but the soldiers are like broken glass. Many soldiers were ill and freezing at Valley Forge. The soldiers and I were like trees dying because of no water or energy. George Washington was not trusted by Congress, and I don’t trust him. Why are we here to fight? We are only falling to pieces. We are in low progress of protecting our country. That is why I have decided to not re-enlist for three reasons. The reasons are that: many lives were lost, soldiers were ill, and I don’t have encouragement to fight.
Society’s outlook on “what’s in” changes every day, from what’s hot to what’s not. Fads repeat themselves over time and grow to be something that everyone now loves. Tattoos are the main trending thing of this century. They were once only a symbolism for criminals, sailors, prostitutes, and bikers, but now tattooing is mainstream in today’s times. Tattoos are seen as works of arts and your body is the canvas for aspiring tattoo artist. Nowadays there is such a wide variety of tattoos with different meanings, such as, a hand print of a loved one to someone’s favorite quote or bible verse. Some tattoos don’t always have to have meaning behind it. Anyone can decorate their body simply because they want meaningless, but artsy and funny tattoos. Inking up is becoming a significant part of someone’s life whether there is a meaning behind the tattoo or not, it is a growing thing to do and it doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.
A few months ago, after a rather discouraging math test, the results confirmed my fears. I had failed the test. For many people, this wouldn’t be a huge deal, but for me, it felt like my life had just crashed down before my eyes.
Cancer patients often wonder if going through treatments like chemotherapy and radiation are worth the risk of the side effects, in addition to the cancerous side effects. They feel that they can’t enjoy or relax in what a short amount of time they have left because they are bedridden from the nausea and pain that treatments put them through. Patients tell their loved ones to just let them die so long as they don’t have to go through any more pain. Those who are too old, are unable to recover from the effects, or are just too far in the grips of cancer, should refuse the more harsh treatments like chemo and radiation. On the positive side, refusing treatments after a certain point can save their families from the stress and cost of hospital bills. If caught early enough, patients can opt for safer and easier routes to getting rid of cancer like surgery or by doing a stem cell transplant.
The test was early on a Saturday morning. I remember eating an early breakfast and then packing my bag for the test. Everything about the day was going to be unfamiliar, from the location to the fact that the test was timed. I didn’t even own a school backpack yet, having never needed one before, so I packed my number 2 pencils, erasers, calculator and water bottle in an another bag instead. I walked into an unfamiliar high school and having no experience finding my way through the maze of hallways, followed signs until I found my way to the classroom in which the testing would take place. Before this moment I had never had to sit at a desk before. The straight lines of desks were so orderly and there was a proper classroom feeling that I had never experienced before in my home. I remember sitting there with my stomach in knots; standardized testing is anxiety inducing for almost any student, and I had the usual test-taking nerves combined with the unfamiliarity of a new
The first day of academy I got to Barclay center at 6:00 am sharp to wait for my officer, so he can drive us to the Bronx. My officer gets there around 7:30 and we had to get to the Bronx at 8. We drove with sirens all the way there and to my surprise we got there on time. 08:30 on the dot the commanding officer walked in to the drill desk and instructed us to get ready
“The impact on the world today through the history and visual reasoning behind tattoos, lead to the inquiry of personal life changing experiences.
Dr. D is a cardiothoracic surgeon. He was my hero. He may well still be, even though he is a throw-back to the days when I was more concerned about science than symbolism.