.Huanga 
Thought for Friday, May 22, 2009 |
EAGLE BASE, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Army News Service, May 22,
2002) -- It was raining "cats and dogs" and I was late for physical
training.
Traffic was backed up at Fort Campbell, Ky., and was moving way
too slowly. I was probably going to be late and I was growing more and
more impatient.
The pace slowed almost to a standstill as I passed Memorial Grove,
the site built to honor the soldiers who died in the Gander airplane
crash, the worst redeployment accident in the history of the 101st
Airborne Division (Air Assault).
Because it was close to Memorial Day, a small American flag had
been placed in the ground next to each soldier's memorial plaque.
My concern at the time, however, was getting past the bottleneck,
getting out of the rain and getting to PT on time.
All of a sudden, infuriatingly, just as the traffic was getting
started again, the car in front of me stopped.
A soldier, a private of course, jumped out in the pouring rain and
ran over toward the grove.
I couldn't believe it! This knucklehead was holding up everyone
for who knows what kind of prank. Horns were honking.
I waited to see the butt-chewing that I wanted him to get for
making me late.
He was getting soaked to the skin. His BDUs were plastered to his
frame. I watched-as he ran up to one of the memorial plaques, picked up
the small American flag that had fallen to the ground in the wind and the
rain, and set it upright again.
Then, slowly, he came to attention, saluted, ran back to his car,
and drove off.
I'll never forget that incident. That soldier, whose name I will
never know, taught me more about duty, honor, and respect than a hundred
books or a thousand lectures.
That simple salute -- that single act of honoring his fallen
brother
and his flag -- encapsulated all the Army values in one gesture
for me. It said, "I will never forget. I will keep the faith. I will
finish the mission. I am an American soldier."
I thank God for examples like that.
And on this Memorial Day, I will remember all those who paid the
ultimate price for my freedom, and one private, soaked to the skin, who
honored them.
2002) -- It was raining "cats and dogs" and I was late for physical
training.
Traffic was backed up at Fort Campbell, Ky., and was moving way
too slowly. I was probably going to be late and I was growing more and
more impatient.
The pace slowed almost to a standstill as I passed Memorial Grove,
the site built to honor the soldiers who died in the Gander airplane
crash, the worst redeployment accident in the history of the 101st
Airborne Division (Air Assault).
Because it was close to Memorial Day, a small American flag had
been placed in the ground next to each soldier's memorial plaque.
My concern at the time, however, was getting past the bottleneck,
getting out of the rain and getting to PT on time.
All of a sudden, infuriatingly, just as the traffic was getting
started again, the car in front of me stopped.
A soldier, a private of course, jumped out in the pouring rain and
ran over toward the grove.
I couldn't believe it! This knucklehead was holding up everyone
for who knows what kind of prank. Horns were honking.
I waited to see the butt-chewing that I wanted him to get for
making me late.
He was getting soaked to the skin. His BDUs were plastered to his
frame. I watched-as he ran up to one of the memorial plaques, picked up
the small American flag that had fallen to the ground in the wind and the
rain, and set it upright again.
Then, slowly, he came to attention, saluted, ran back to his car,
and drove off.
I'll never forget that incident. That soldier, whose name I will
never know, taught me more about duty, honor, and respect than a hundred
books or a thousand lectures.
That simple salute -- that single act of honoring his fallen
brother
and his flag -- encapsulated all the Army values in one gesture
for me. It said, "I will never forget. I will keep the faith. I will
finish the mission. I am an American soldier."
I thank God for examples like that.
And on this Memorial Day, I will remember all those who paid the
ultimate price for my freedom, and one private, soaked to the skin, who
honored them.
-Capt. John Rasmussen
tftd will resume on or bout May 26, 2009
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