EXTRA MILER: A tribute to all the troops abroad

By CAROL DAWSON
Local Columnist

February 16, 2008 02:05 am

— This is a special Extra Miler column dedicated to the brave men and women who are serving, or have served, in our military overseas.
My family bleeds red, white and blue. My father, Archie L. Baker, was a sergeant major in the Army who served in three wars and is buried in Arlington Cemetery.
My brothers and I proudly refer to ourselves as УArmy Brats.Ф Both brothers are now colonels in the Army, and like my father, have dedicated themselves to protecting the freedoms we often take for granted in this country.
There are quite a few e-mails filtering through the system which show the hardships our troops are going through overseas and most are accompanied with emotional music. They are certainly effective in provoking tears of appreciation and concern. Many will say a silent prayer or stop to reflect on the images for a moment. Then, as quickly as we have closed the e-mail, most of us pull up another and move on.
An e-mail came through last week that stopped my regular fast-paced routine. The video can be found on You Tube and is titled УWhen a Soldier Comes Home.Ф A portion of the writing is paraphrased in lieu of the very poignant photos of our troops in wartime situations which were used in the video:
ХХХ
When a soldier comes home, he finds it hard Е
To listen to his son whine about being bored Е While he has been standing guard for hours a day while on duty, waiting.
To keep a straight face when people complain about potholes Е While he has traveled over roads and bridges torn to pieces by bombs and artillery.
To be tolerant of people who complain about the hassle of getting ready for work Е When he often used bottled water to shave and bathe before putting on full military gear.
To be understanding when a co-worker complains about a bad nightТs sleep Е When he has slept on top of cars, tanks and in holes dug into the ground.
To be silent when people pray to God for a new car ... When he knows prayers are needed for the lives of our sons, daughters, husbands and wives who are defending our freedom so far away.
To control his panic when his wife tells him he needs to drive slower Е When he has just left a place where going slow could mean losing your life or the life of someone else.
To be compassionate when a businessman expresses fear of flying Е When our troops are often flying into battle to save lives or to bring their buddies home.
To be grateful that he fights for the freedom of speech Е While every day, lives are being lost to give this freedom.
To keep from laughing when anxious parents say they are afraid to send their kids off to summer camp Е While our soldiers are often just out of high school, spending months and years away from home and family.
To keep from ridiculing someone who complains about hot weather Е While he has lived through dust storms and temperatures of 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade, while wearing several layers of heavy, protective clothing.
To control his frustration when a colleague gripes about his coffee being cold Е While his daily concerns have been with survival, death and destruction.
To remain calm when his daughter complains about having to walk the dog Е While as a soldier, he walked hundreds of miles never knowing when the next step would be his last.
To be civil to people who complain about their jobs Е When his military job has been about life and death.
To just walk away when someone says they only get two weeks of vacation a year Е When just a day without fear of death or injury would have been a vacation to him while overseas.
To be happy for a friendТs new hot tub Е When a worn out mattress for a bed has been considered a luxury.
To be forgiving when someone says how hard it is to have a new baby in the house Е When all could think of for the past year was how much he wanted to see his family.
To not punch a wall when someone says we should pull out immediately Е When he has seen the lives affected by war.
The only thing harder than being a soldier Е is loving one Е knowing that person may not return from war.
This is a gentle reminder to keep your life in perspective. And when you meet one of our returning soldiers, please remember what they have been through and show them compassion and tolerance. Thank you.
The primary portion of this was written by Capt. Allison Crane, mental health nurse observer-trainer. Although it is written in the masculine form, it is meant to portray all of our military, both men and women, who serve to protect and defend.

Carol Dawson is a regular columnist about The Extra Milers, with her regular column published the first Saturday of each month. You can contact Carol via e-mail: Extra.Milers@newsandtribune.com or mail: THE EXTRA MILERS, The Evening News, 221 Spring St., Jeffersonville, IN 47130-3340.

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