The Profile of an American Soldier

I would like to reflect on the courage and strength it takes to be an American soldier. This story is in honor of the brave men and women who are willing to sacrifice everything, for the safety and well being of others.  Those individuals who protect this country with their lives and preserve our freedom.  Personally, I can't imagine waking up in a third world country and walking through the halls of death.  I must admit, I don't have that kind of courage, but I am very grateful to those who do! 

I believe it takes a special type of person to be a soldier, and I honor the exceptional men and women who protect my rights to live in freedom.  They are the superheroes of my world. Throughout the years, we have marveled at the powers of Superman, Batman, Ironman, Wonder Women and so on.  We love to believe that human powers can transcend mortal capabilities.  We applaud the victory that they have over their evil nemesis, and we celebrate as if it were our defeat. 

These fictional heroes are immortal and in nearly a century not one has ever died during their incredible quests for justice; nor do we believe they ever will.  Soldiers are the superheroes of this nation.  They are those individuals who are willing to lay down their lives today, to provide a better tomorrow.  I find this to be a superhuman characteristic that is above and beyond all the others.  'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.' John 15:13

What does it take to be a soldier? The brave souls who, in the early morning hours are boarding a plane to travel to a foreign land.  They kiss their families goodbye, abandon their dreams and walk bravely into the unknown! The days are long and the nights are endless.  I am in awe of this level of courage. While most people are afraid of the dark, soldiers are ready to respond at the peril of their lives. 

This story is written in honor of my son, Brian, who enlisted in the National Guard right after the attacks on 9/11.  He, his wife and four children have a wonderful life together, but shortly after he witnessed the terrorist attacks, Brian made a conscious decision to be prepared.  

As a mother, I feared for his safety, but I understood the level of his commitment when he said, "The 9/11 attacks on American soil was a wake up call for me.  I don't want to second guess myself when it comes to protecting my family or my country.  I want to be trained and skilled to defend what I love the most!"  Brian will be deployed for a second term in Iraq on June of 2011.  The National Guard are trained to defend this country, within the boarders of our homeland (unless during times of war) yet, this is the second time he will be deployed.  

I respect and honor those dedicated soldiers, both past and present, who have made it possible for me to live without the fears of being stripped of my freedom!  The freedom to learn, the freedom of speech and the freedom to believe as I desire, and every moment Americans spend enjoying these privileges, they should be praising the worth of a soldier. 


Recently, I visited the National Mall in Washington DC.  I was among hundreds of people walking through the Memorial on that particular day and it was so reverent that I could hear my own heart beating. When I came to the Vietnam Memorial, I looked across the rows of names carved in the walls, it was sobering.  The tears flooded my eyes as my fingertips moved across the lettering that was engraved in the black granite.  It took me a while to find his name, but it was there among the thousands that were etched in stone.  Leonard Brenoke had died at the age of nineteen on foreign soil and a million miles away from home.  My sobs were audible now, it was just too much to comprehend the magnitude of my young friend's sacrifice. We were classmates in the small hometown of Moscow, Idaho.  Lee (as we called him) and I had gone to school together for seventeen years, but I had gone on to live a wonderful life and his was over before it had begun.  He had planned to come home, marry and raise a family, but his dreams would never be realized.  

Before I left, I embossed his name on a piece of paper with the material that was provided for guests.  In my heart, I thanked Lee for the time we spent together as friends, and for the courage it must have taken for him to give up his life.  He would have been pleased to know I was there and from time to time, I think about his laughter and sweet smile.

When I hear of people protesting against our American soldiers, I realize that having a brain doesn't always mean it's attached to the cerebral cortex.  These people fail to understand that freedom, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were never free; a heavy price has been paid to allow this privilege.  One can look back through history to realize the value of living in a free nation, one that is under God, with liberty and justice for all. 

Below is a list of dictators who have reigned in horror and terror upon the earth. This list is a good indication of the damage evil men can do in a lifetime! 

Idi Amin, leader of Uganda killed 300,000 1971-1979.

Kim II Sung, leader of North Korea killed 3 million people 1948-1994.

Ante Pavelic, leader of Croatia killed 300,000 people 1941-1944.

Saddam Hussein, leader of Iraq murdered over 2 million people 1979-2003.

Theoniste Bogosara, leader of Rawanda killed 1 million people in 4 months, April-July 1994.

Pol Pot, leader of Cambodia killed 1.4 million people 1975-1979.

Moshamed Surharto, leader of Indonesia killed 2 million people 1967-1998.

Adolph Hitler, leader of Nazi Germany killed 11 million people 1939-1945.

Joseph Stahlin, leader of USSR killed 20 million 1929-1953.

Mao Tse Tung, leader of China exterminated 35 million people 1949-1976. 

                
             JUST A COMMON SOLDIER

 He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,

And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he had fought in, and the deeds that he had done.
In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, everyone.

And tho' sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.

He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.
He held a job and raised a family, quietly going on his way,
And the world won't note his passing, though a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing, and proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell their whole life stories, from the time that they were young,
But the passing of a soldier, goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land
A guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow, who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?

A politician's stipend and the style in which he lives
Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives.
While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal and perhaps a pension small.

It's so easy to forget them, for it was so long ago,
That the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but we know
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom, that our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,
Would want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?
Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end?

He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the Soldier's part,
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline in the paper that would say:                    
Our Country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.

                      By, Lawrence Vaincourt

If there was a law that stated: In times of war, all government officials are required to exchange salaries with soldiers.  I can guarantee there would be no war!  Politicians will never give away their money, but they liberally give away someone else's life. 

Brian, your family loves you and we will be praying for your safe return.  Linda Sumner Urza, One fine day.