Hello all, my name is Shawn. Currently serving in Iraq, as my convoy commander puts it, as a POAG REMF. Just a generator mechanic looking to fix generators. So, the Army being what the Army is, it was decided I would be more useful as a .50 gunner on a Gun Truck. To say the least, it has been an experience.
This war is not at all what I expected war to be; admittedly though, my view has been somewhat fostered by bad 80's movies such as Red Dawn and the Rambo series. (Although, they are fun to watch for some reason....)
I will not disgrace the memory of the fallen by attempting to understand what it is that you men have gone through and what it is you still go through daily. But as a soldier, and more importantly, as a citizen of the US, I wanted to thank you for doing what can conceivably be the hardest job I can fathom.
To leave behind family and familiarity to face the dangers of an everchanging world with the manner and professionalism you do, bears true credit to what it means to sacrifice.
I do not intend to try and feel what it is you feel, nor do I wish to second-guess your motivations for what you do. All I know is that when I go to sleep at night, when I think of my home and my life back in the States, I know who it is that I am thanking. I know upon whose shoulders most of that weight rides.
I am going to go out on a limb just once here, and that is to say that you are men who do not need thanks, but merely do what needs to be done. For that, there is no thanks that would be appropriate except to continue living the American way.
There was an article (
http://www.ipocministries.org/sheeps.htm) written that talked about Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs.
You are my favorite Sheepdogs.