This was taken in early 1993 I had just turned 19. I am posting this to show people that I am a patriot and I served my country because I was raised to love my country. My Uncle Gerry was a very big influence on my early life and he was definitely a true patriot back then and I'm certain he is still to this day. I can remember him drawing pictures of tanks and helicopters on the chests of my brother and I with slogans like, Peace through superior firepower, or my favorite Ayatollah Asshola, the later was of course referring to the Iranian religious leader during the Iran hostage situation. I would have been six or seven at the time but somehow I remember that. I joined the military because I felt it was my duty and the college tuition program didn't hurt either. In high school my dad's friend gave him two large garbage bags full of military books, World War I, WWII, the Korean Conflict and of course Vietnam, I read them all, sometimes two or three times. I was fascinated by the stories not only for the intestinal fortitude any person would have to have to be in those situations but also for the strategic and historical values these battles and wars had on history. I learned about war from the people who had been there and done that, it was raw, frightening, nightmare inducing yet fascinating to me. I spent hours training myself to be a soldier, dressing in full camo and sneaking throughout the neighborhood imaging myself stalking the Viet Cong traveling the HoChi Mihn trail deep inside Laos, or storming the beach at Normandy. I watched every war movie I could find, I didn't concentrate on anything at school that wasn't necessary (which was almost every subject) and I focused on being a soldier, hopefully forever. I was so inspired by the courage and sacrifices our servicemen made for our country and our freedom that my goal was to join and try to live up to what the heroes before me had done. Millions of men and women have given their own lives so I could live mine the way I wanted and I had felt that the best way to repay them was to serve myself. I can honestly say that I would have and still would gladly give my life for this country, but the lesson I really learned from being in the military was loyalty and camaraderie. I most definitely would have taken a bullet or jumped on a grenade for anyone of the men and women I served with. When you are 17 or 18 and out on your own often in tense situations for the first time without family the men and women serving beside you become your family. When I think of this country I think of people like the ones I served with or any veteran for that matter and that is what I think America is and that is why I still love this country. We deserve a right to the same freedoms that we fought for and many died for. I have grown up quite a bit since this picture was taken and although I abhor violence with every fiber of my being these days, I still love and respect every member of the armed services and what they do. I may not like my government or the idiots who run it and send our military to fight their greed fueled agendas but I do love my country very much and that is why I care so much about how bad this country is falling apart because if it continues like this the MILLIONS of brave servicemen and women who gave their lives will be for nothing. That is an unacceptable outcome. We need to take our country back before it is too late, do not be afraid to voice your opinion, the louder we are the more the politicians will have to hear us. The men and women running this country need to be reminded that they are OUR representation in the government and it was OUR blood that was spilled for for the very FREEDOMS they are trying to strip from us. It is time to wake up and get our country back on the right course...................PEACE????????

PS: THANK YOU SO MUCH VETERAN'S!!!!

PSS: (DB)I WILL NEVER FORGET!!!!