An Example...a Hero
I feel bad for not posting it yesterday, and actually saying Happy Father's Day on Father's Day. I did call the family, and the kids said Happy Father's day. Called My Dad, too...and we talked for a few minutes. I thought about him a lot yesterday, though.
I forget, sometimes, now that I'm grown and have my own life complete with hectic schedule and all that comes with it...that I'm someone's son. Sounds strange to say that you forget something like that, I know. But, honestly, aside from Father's Day and Mother's Day...when do we focus on the fact that, despite how grown up we inevitably become...we are still someone's child?
So, I'm over here, a Dad separated from his kids on Father's day. Not an uncommon sight in this situation...most of the guys I work with have children. The Major I work with has three, and my room mate has two. Misery loves company, or some such cliche. Anyway, someone told me that you get used to being gone, and not being around the kids or the rest of the family. I told him he was crazy...that my family was my life...and I'll never get used to being a world apart...
Then, I got sad. It occurred to me, shortly thereafter, that I am my father's son...and therefore his family..and it must be horrible for him on a day like this as well. Here I am in Baghdad...which I already know my Dad hates...and my brother left yesterday for Korea (for a week...but the fact that he was leaving on Dad's day is the point.) If I miss my kids as much as I do...how does my Dad feel?
I don't think I have ever explained who my Dad is to ME. It's simple, really. He's my Hero...my role model...my friend. He came from a small town in Colorado. (When I say small, I mean...it had a dirt road and a stop sign, I think...they may not have had a stop sign...) Everything he is and has today...he worked hard to become and to have.
He joined the Army when he was 17 years old, and did what most young soldiers did at that time...he went to Vietnam. He was in the aviation corps...a door gunner in helicopters in Vietnam and worked his way up through the ranks to end up running entire motorpools. He worked hard for the Army and achieved the Rank of Sergeant First Class before retiring. For twenty three years, he served his country selflessly to provide for his family.
What strikes me about it all, is his humility. My Father has done some very "Cool Stuff" in the Army, and in his life, but he remains humble about it all. I always wanted to know about his time in Vietnam, but never asked him...until recently. I wanted to hear some stories....'war stories.' He told me a couple of tales of what life was like in the Army for him. I sat and listened in awe. To think that MY DAD did some of the stuff you see in movies was just one of the coolest things in the world to me.
What was even cooler that what he did, was how he handled talking about it. He didn't even realize that the more he told me, the more of a Hero he was becoming in my eyes. He seemed so down to earth about it all. He was not boastful about his 'adventures,' nor did he make any attempt to make himself seem like more that what he was in his mind. What he couldn't hide, was the pride in his eyes when he talked about what he did. He tried to play it all off as 'no big deal.' It didn't matter to me. He was the guy I want to be.
I've always tried to make my Dad proud. When I was young, I would see him work on the cars out front, or build a clubhouse in the back...and I said to myself, "I want to be able to do anything...Just like my Dad." Yeah...I wanted to be just like him.
So, I joined the Army. And for the last ten and a half years, I have hoped that all I have done has made him proud...becasue I am proud of him. One of my goals was to reach the same rank he did before I get out. As I stated in an earlier post, I did make the Sergeant First Class list. I also remember one of the things he told me a long time ago about being a leader in the Army. He told me that it is all about the soldiers that you are in charge of. "Don't do things for yourself, your troops come first." His words have become embedded as part of my leadership and life philosophy. He was great at what he did...and I hope that I achieve half of what he has...he is truly an incredible man.
So growing up where I did and being who I was, led my parents to feel that at times they had made some pretty big mistakes. I try to tell them differently...I mean, what parent knows how to really handle a teenager anyway? (Other than Dr. Phil...but he's a strange freak of nature...) Has it been a perfect ride? No. But what family can truly say that it has? Through all the mistakes that have been made, large and small...I think it comes down to the end result. I believe that you can measure your success as a parent by your children's' success as adults. I think My brother and I turned out alright...(well, I did more so than my brother...but that is a whole different posting...)
It boils down to this:
I hope and dream that my kids feel the same way about me that I feel about My Dad. I want to do well enough raising them, that they turn out feeling that I did a good job.
Happy Father's day, Dad...Ya' done good. I love you.
Thanks for being an Example...and a Hero.
SSG Newman,
Out
I forget, sometimes, now that I'm grown and have my own life complete with hectic schedule and all that comes with it...that I'm someone's son. Sounds strange to say that you forget something like that, I know. But, honestly, aside from Father's Day and Mother's Day...when do we focus on the fact that, despite how grown up we inevitably become...we are still someone's child?
So, I'm over here, a Dad separated from his kids on Father's day. Not an uncommon sight in this situation...most of the guys I work with have children. The Major I work with has three, and my room mate has two. Misery loves company, or some such cliche. Anyway, someone told me that you get used to being gone, and not being around the kids or the rest of the family. I told him he was crazy...that my family was my life...and I'll never get used to being a world apart...
Then, I got sad. It occurred to me, shortly thereafter, that I am my father's son...and therefore his family..and it must be horrible for him on a day like this as well. Here I am in Baghdad...which I already know my Dad hates...and my brother left yesterday for Korea (for a week...but the fact that he was leaving on Dad's day is the point.) If I miss my kids as much as I do...how does my Dad feel?
I don't think I have ever explained who my Dad is to ME. It's simple, really. He's my Hero...my role model...my friend. He came from a small town in Colorado. (When I say small, I mean...it had a dirt road and a stop sign, I think...they may not have had a stop sign...) Everything he is and has today...he worked hard to become and to have.
He joined the Army when he was 17 years old, and did what most young soldiers did at that time...he went to Vietnam. He was in the aviation corps...a door gunner in helicopters in Vietnam and worked his way up through the ranks to end up running entire motorpools. He worked hard for the Army and achieved the Rank of Sergeant First Class before retiring. For twenty three years, he served his country selflessly to provide for his family.
What strikes me about it all, is his humility. My Father has done some very "Cool Stuff" in the Army, and in his life, but he remains humble about it all. I always wanted to know about his time in Vietnam, but never asked him...until recently. I wanted to hear some stories....'war stories.' He told me a couple of tales of what life was like in the Army for him. I sat and listened in awe. To think that MY DAD did some of the stuff you see in movies was just one of the coolest things in the world to me.
What was even cooler that what he did, was how he handled talking about it. He didn't even realize that the more he told me, the more of a Hero he was becoming in my eyes. He seemed so down to earth about it all. He was not boastful about his 'adventures,' nor did he make any attempt to make himself seem like more that what he was in his mind. What he couldn't hide, was the pride in his eyes when he talked about what he did. He tried to play it all off as 'no big deal.' It didn't matter to me. He was the guy I want to be.
I've always tried to make my Dad proud. When I was young, I would see him work on the cars out front, or build a clubhouse in the back...and I said to myself, "I want to be able to do anything...Just like my Dad." Yeah...I wanted to be just like him.
So, I joined the Army. And for the last ten and a half years, I have hoped that all I have done has made him proud...becasue I am proud of him. One of my goals was to reach the same rank he did before I get out. As I stated in an earlier post, I did make the Sergeant First Class list. I also remember one of the things he told me a long time ago about being a leader in the Army. He told me that it is all about the soldiers that you are in charge of. "Don't do things for yourself, your troops come first." His words have become embedded as part of my leadership and life philosophy. He was great at what he did...and I hope that I achieve half of what he has...he is truly an incredible man.
So growing up where I did and being who I was, led my parents to feel that at times they had made some pretty big mistakes. I try to tell them differently...I mean, what parent knows how to really handle a teenager anyway? (Other than Dr. Phil...but he's a strange freak of nature...) Has it been a perfect ride? No. But what family can truly say that it has? Through all the mistakes that have been made, large and small...I think it comes down to the end result. I believe that you can measure your success as a parent by your children's' success as adults. I think My brother and I turned out alright...(well, I did more so than my brother...but that is a whole different posting...)
It boils down to this:
I hope and dream that my kids feel the same way about me that I feel about My Dad. I want to do well enough raising them, that they turn out feeling that I did a good job.
Happy Father's day, Dad...Ya' done good. I love you.
Thanks for being an Example...and a Hero.
SSG Newman,
Out
posted by Unknown at 12:44 AM
2 Comments:
Luke
I read this before leaveing for work. Of course through many tears - tears of joy. I will make sure that Dad reads t today while he is off. I know you will have touched his heart in a very big way, thank you son.
Love
Mom
PS I put a short cut to your site on the desktop so that dad can easily find it. You know how technically challenged he is around a computer.
Luke, I suppose that I read this before your family. I can recall standing in the kitchen at church with your dad talking about our sons and the hope that we had for them. You are right, the teen years are rough ones! I know that your dad and I are proud of the men that our sons have become. You are our "heroes." too! Blessings, Cecil McK
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