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Click Here to Return to "Turkey Soup for the Soul" The following thoughts are from my buddy John who is a Navy SEAL. He is an Instructor at BUD's School in San Diego. John has had to endure quit a few things during his career as a SEAL, and we thought he would be a great guy to hear from and especially now in our time of war. Enjoy!
I was asked to write something inspirational tonight and I will do my best. Recently, I have felt a change within me. As a SEAL in the Navy, I have been working at Camp Pendleton Marine Base in southern California for the last six weeks. Marines and SEALs, for the most part, hold different points of view that sometimes escalate into physical confrontations with each other. Working on such a large military installation, our small group of SEALs is definitely among the outsiders. I realized my total and complete changed point of view while in line for the ATM tonight. I was a 28-year-old SEAL veteran who was surrounded by brand-new 18-year-old Marines. I realized right then that these were the same guys executed by the Iraqis on the weekend. I realized I didn't think of those young, captured Marines as "the Marines' guys-" they were "my guys." I stood in line with not Marines from a rival service, but my American brothers, and we were all hurting for our captured and executed brothers and sisters, together. I was absolutely incensed and mortified by the capture and desecration of our American brothers and sisters on Sunday, and it has gnawed at me since I first saw their faces on T.V. SEALs have never had a P.O.W. in their history, but it is a soldier's worst fear to be caught alive, a completely vulnerable pawn used by an enemy with no moral code. I looked at their faces and thought long and hard about the real possibility of being in their position. What would I do? How would I make it through a situation that realistically leads to humiliating death? What do those young Marines focus on, alone and facing a room full of smug, angry faces? Especially after possibly witnessing 4 of their fellow Americans being executed… The only comfort our captured brothers and sisters have is the knowledge that they are NOT alone and that we ARE coming for them. If they think they are alone then they will become broken, and we must NOT let that happen. I've endured a lot in my time as a SEAL and its NOTHING compared to the sense of hopelessness these Patriots must be feeling. As I write this, I am literally seeing their faces flashed on T.V. and let me express how a difference can be made: FOCUS ON THEM!! If I know millions of Americans were with me through a similar ordeal it would make all the difference. I am not strong enough to go it alone and neither are our Marine soldiers and Army pilots. Focus your support; take a moment in your day to say a prayer, pause while playing with your child to send your thoughts to them, in public take the high ground and keep anti-war politics to yourself. I can speak on their behalf that THAT will make a difference. If we send our support, thoughts, and prayers to our captured Patriots now, then future P.O.W.s will know and see this and carry millions of Americans with them through their unfathomable ordeals. Truly put our military men and women first and save your political views for a time after our Patriots come home. This is all the military asks for. I think it's important to remember that the Flag and our glorious country always rise above and outlasts any presidency and any political issue. The military thanks all you guys for your awesome support- we couldn't do it without you guys!!!
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