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Jan 30, 2004 When I’m asked to describe my most significant life accomplishment, I’m reminded of my service to my country. In 1987, a year after graduating from high school, I had no direction and no drive. So, I was amenable to the recruiter’s siren song of travel and adventure. Joining the Army was easy; separating from my family who desired me to go to college and get a degree was not. I grew up in the South, but Ft. Benning, Georgia exposed me to another side of the region. Racism was rampant, but I was able to overcome that by graduating top of my Infantry class and showing them the content of the character inside me. Infantry appealed to me. There I was, along with a team of eight to 12 other soldiers, out on patrol; the early morning mist settling slowly over the forested landscape, the rich smell of the humus underfoot clogging my nostrils. Treading softly, listening to the twittering of a sparrow or the incessant chattering of a squirrel— natural noises that comforted me, for I knew if those suddenly silenced, evil was afoot. I patrolled in forests and deserts, cities and towns. The scenery may have changed, the mechanics adapted to the environment, but the reasons never changed. It was always in service to my country; it was always to fulfill the oath to defend the Constitution against foreign or domestic enemies. Service to my country consisted of Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Germany during the fall of the Berlin Wall, and stateside posts. Through war and peace, I led troops on the battlefield and on the parade field. I became technically and tactically proficient in my job to defend my country. But I never forgot where I came from, and was able to relate to new soldiers entering any unit I was assigned to. Nurturing them and making sure they were a good fit, because in battle you cannot afford to doubt the soldier on your left or right, nor can they afford to doubt your abilities and skills. Training to enhance those abilities and skills left me with a love of esprit de corps and a craving for camaraderie. Small groups are intimate and, in my opinion, bring out the best in a person. I feel as if a person is able to share and be honest, both about him and others, and feel protected in a small group. A person is able to rejoice in his or her accomplishments, and commiserate about his failings in a supportive environment. The crucible that was the Army forged inside of me the ability to establish rapport with others relatively rapidly. It allowed me to craft a leadership style that’s comfortable for me, and effective in almost any setting that I’ve had the privilege to be. Duty, honor and country may be the buzzwords in a commercial to some, but to those of us who have served in uniform, those syllables ring out as loudly as any artillery piece; conjure up images of stateside and foreign assignments as easily as any magician; and instill in us a quiet pride as comforting as any recital of the Lord’s prayer. My greatest accomplishment is serving ten years active duty in the United States Army. ------------ About the author: Chuck Tyler is a freelance writer and journalist based in South Bend, Indiana. His credits include coverage for the South Bend Tribune (www.SouthBendTribune.com) of a triple homicide trial and a town hall meeting of concerned citizens and local officials for the Herald-Palladium (www.HeraldPalladium.com) following 9/11. Email him at: tyler_1420@yahoo.com Comment on this column in the forum. ------------ |
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