Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho

Joel Stein wrote an article yesterday in his weekly column at the LA Times titled "Warriors and Wusses". Joel has rightly received plenty of criticism regarding his editorial, especially after he admits how little research and thought he put into writing it. While Joel may admit he is grossly overpaid in his job, what he, and the LA Times are missing is the reason. Instead of offering my own criticism of Joel and his writing I offer instead a better writer, and a better essay. You be the judge.

The following essay won the Thomas Jefferson Award for Patriotic Essay (author was notified yesterday). Congratulations to Dr. Ariane T. "Doc" Alexander for winning this award, and thank you for sharing this moving and truly excellent look at our nation's military.

“And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” --John F. Kennedy.

It was Wednesday, the 3rd of August, 2005 and fourteen United States Marines were killed in combat. Marines--14 of America’s youth. I am a war trauma specialist, so I experience America’s youth through the eyes of the troops, America’s sons and daughters. It is my role to be there for them, to be a witness, to hear and hold their pain, to take within my heart and mind and soul, their emotions, their stories, their values, their goodness, their ethics and yes, also their pain.

Because of my contact with these brave young men and women in the military, I know in my heart, our finest American youth are scattered to the farthest winds and lands. From the privilege of working to help and support them as they undertake the challenge of protecting America and troubled global arenas, I witness the nobleness of our American youth firsthand, and I witness what is in their hearts, minds and souls. All of America's sons and daughters are the best, but the best of the best are out making a difference every moment we draw breath. These American youth are not waiting in line for their next fast food snack, hanging out at raves, or worrying about if they got that section of English that allows them to hit the beach early to surf. Americas youth in the military are giving all of themselves, relinquishing all comforts and luxuries to the point that receiving a box of chap stick, wet wipes and jelly beans is cause for a party. America’s youth in the military are working in extreme conditions that remove health, emotions, and even life and limb, for a salary equal to a fast food worker. And yet, how many of these brave young men and women, when wounded to the point of discharge, weep and beg to return to their units, because they cannot live with the thought of letting down their fellow soldiers and their country. American youth in the military of whom I speak are not all Medal of Honor, Purple Heart or Bronze star recipients—but they are all everyday heroes on the front lines. And this heroism is present in every one of their actions, great and small.

Countless platoons are begging loved ones at homes to send shoes, school supplies, candy, clothing for the children of their war zones. “The kids here have nothing, we want to give them something,” I am told over and over. These youth that serve America are not motivated by materialism, but pure altruism. America’s youth in the military are motivated by a higher intent than to have the latest stereo, I pod, fast car, minimalist designer gear or get to the next great party. Don’t get me wrong, they are beautiful inside, and would love all those things just like the rest of our youth in America—and don’t get me wrong, I don’t begrudge our American youth anything, I am a parent and like most parents, want to give them everything. But America’s youth in the military have searched within themselves—and responded to a spiritual calling within their higher self, their soul, if you will. America’s youth in the military have chosen to put their own needs to the side, to take their place in America’s history to protect our country, to selflessly put oneself on the line for others, including, if required, the ultimate sacrifice of life.

The majority of America’s youth in the military enter their service too young to vote or legally purchase alcohol. Yet these American youth are exhibiting levels of courage, fortitude, bravery, and analysis well beyond their years. Their compassion, their depth of soul touches me in ways I can never forget. How many dark nights I have lain awake, so touched by their stories, sleep has left to return no more forever. One soldier wept as he talked to me, telling me this story. He and his platoon had been patrolling in Iraq, and they had been “adopted” by a group of children as big brothers. They had interacted with the kids for weeks; always bringing them treats from their MRE’s2 and care packages from home. One of the platoon members had taken up a collection from their minimal salaries to purchase sweaters, shoes, coloring books, crayons, school supplies and candy to help children who had nothing. It was, this young soldier said, nothing to what the kids had been through. “These kids are the real heroes,” he said, fighting back the tears, “They have endured so much, yet still have this spirit of joy and humor in their little souls. We can’t do a lot for them, but these little things we do, they get so excited over—I know it doesn’t make up for the bad stuff in their world, but it might keep them going, like my letters from home keep me going when it gets dark.”

“Oh God,” he continued…the GPS3 line crackled and I could hear this brave and compassionate young man loose his emotions. “It was the worst of the worst…” It took awhile for this young Marine to get it out, and time stopped for me as he told it. “One of the little boys, Ahmed, was strapped with an IED4 by the insurgents and told to walk with us. His Mother came running up. We didn’t know why she was upset; none of us know their language. She grabbed the little boy and tried to pull him away from us. They began to run, and insurgents began shooting at them. They shot Ahmed and his mother, and Ahmed’s body was blown to nothing. What kind of world holds people that would blow up an innocent little kid?”

What does one say to America’s youth at this point? In addition to this, the platoon had lost three of their brother Marines. We want to tell America’s youth, ‘Here take the keys to the car son! Do you need money for school? What do you want for your birthday?”—Yet how does one answer a question that breaks one’s very heart? America’s youth in the military are being tempered moment by moment, and so is America tempered—for these youth are a part of our future.

Yes America’s youth in the military have been trained to be warriors, yes--yet, due to their own internal being and motivation, they are also knights with a code of honor and ethics, chivalry and complex emotions that would be equal to King Arthur and his knights of the round table. How little is said, even in America, of the tender beauty of their emotions; how even as they lay their own life down to save their platoon, making the ultimate sacrifice, they will cry out for their mothers, mourn the deaths of the children that are a consequence of war, and if they survive, where their comrades fall, remain guilt ridden for all their days. I mourn as they mourn, for what our youth learn, they first learn from all of us, their elders, before the world begins to teach them.

My soul cries out for our fallen, America’s youth, America’s finest, and their families. I know in my mother’s heart what it is to lose a son who gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country. There is a saying, which is that of the thousand-yard stare our troops have when they return from war, which describes the tempering effect of a combat zone. Well there is another 1,000 yard stare we parents have when we loose our child, and another 1,000 yard stare that our wounded have, and these two later types of courage have to go on forever.

What our brave youth in America’s military protect, is worth protecting. What their mission is, they do it, with the highest standards and with all they have. What their courage teaches us, and their sacrifice, and their beauty of soul, can never be forgotten and to me, is spiritual in the extreme. Freedom is never free; Freedom has its price, yet the sadness of this is; only a few pay this price for us all.

This essay is dedicated to our fallen youth of America and their families...

"And how stand America on this winter night? After two hundred years...she still stands strong and true and her glow has held steady no matter what storm."---John F. Kennedy

Semper Fidelis, Carpe Diem and Fortier oh youth of America, America’s sons and daughter in the military. You are our hearts, our heroes and never to be forgotten, as my tears wash my face, my soul soars with your courage.

2005 Dr. Ariane T. “Doc” Alexander, War Trauma Specialist
All rights reserved, permission for publication must be requested in writing at dragonlady13@prodigy.net.

1. Semper Fidelis means ‘always faithful’, Carpe Diem means, “seize the day” and Fortier means 'go boldly!’.

2. Meals Ready to Eat

3. Global Positioning System

4. Improvised Explosive Device