I spent over 20 years in the military, 14 years on active duty in the Navy, getting out to take custody of my children, and 8 1/2 years in the Army Reserve. Both my son and my daughter followed in my footsteps. My daughter spent over 8 years in the NMARNG 44th Army Band, getting out to raise her family. My son attended the New Mexico Military Institute, where he was commissioned a 2nd Lt. following his graduation.
He was assigned to a transportation unit, where he quickly became revered as an officer whom his personnel would follow anywhere. However, his commissioned life didn't last too long. He upset some senior officers when he took matters in his own hands involving fouled up orders. Following this, my son suddenly found that neither he nor his men were able to obtain the classes they needed for advancement. After trying to fight this through channels, my son decided that he was the focal point of the whole thing, so he resigned his commission and transferred to another unit which was preparing for deployment to Iraq. (Note: following his resignation, his men suddenly had their schools approved.)
He spent a year in Iraq, coming home physically safe after his year. However, the Army, in it's infinite wisdom, assigned a counselor to his unit who had never been overseas, much less heard a shot fired in anger. This obviously didn't go over too well. Up to this point, my son had been at loose ends, not knowing what to do. Now, though, he had a fire in himself that I hadn't seen in a while. He told me, "Dad, the men and women I served with need someone as a counselor who understands where they have been, what they are going through. I want to study Psychology and become a counselor for veterans..." He's now nearly finished with his Master's degree in Psychology.
That's my son, my hero.
Lakewood, CO
