MODERN RANGERS
Posted in , February 22, 2007 | 0 Comments
22FEB2007
I would like to share with you a very special experience that I had recently. My wife and I just returned from two weeks in Georgia split between Fort Benning and Hunter Army AAF. Our oldest son graduated from RIP on February 2nd and is now assigned to the 1/75 with his brother. One is assigned to A Co. while the other has spent the last year assigned to C Co. Coincidentally one is in my old squad while the other is in the same squad as our good friend and 1/75 veteran of Granada. It will be interesting to see how the Battalion survives the inevitable sibling rivalry.
My wife and I were very fortunate to have been able to spend time with some of the NCOs and enlisted men assigned to the Regiment at Fort Benning and with the 1/75 while at Hunter AAF, including a brief visit to their Super Bowl party.
Having been assigned to the 1/75 from 1974 to 1977, it was as if I had slipped back in time 33 years, almost. As we got to know each of the men in Stephen’s squad, I could see the faces and hear the voices of those I had served with so many years ago, yet different somehow. They were nice young men, polite, full of life with the same youth and energy. They pass the time the same way we did. They talk about cars, girlfriends and family, go out of their way to have a good time, try to stay out of trouble and are the best of friends. The names are even similar. They work diligently at being professional soldiers, take pride in the history of the regiment and being the best in the business as we did.
The NCOs we met were rock hard yet caring professionals and top-notch leaders who mirrored the legends of the Regiment that I had the privilege to serve with and under, but still the subtle difference.
After much thought, there are only two real differences that I can see between the men of the Regiment today and the men 33 years ago. We of course live in much more dangerous times and are a nation at war but the men remain the same, only younger. I suppose throughout our history they have always been the same, only younger.
If you look closely and are lucky enough to understand, you will see something else. They won’t talk about it but you can feel it when you’re with them. They all know their business is deadly serious. They have a keen awareness of the importance of their place in history, the mission and the strength that comes from personal sacrifice. They go forward daily knowing the reality of war and the “hazards of their chosen profession”. They understand, they know, they believe. Things are very much the same as they were, only different.
Most of the nation will never understand why these men do what they do or the value of their service. Some will listen to the evening news and think they know, some will listen to arrogant partisan politicians and think they know. They don’t and never will. Only a relative few will understand they do it for the same reason that young men have voluntarily answered the call to service in similar units since before we were a nation and do it, “SUA SPONTE”.
In a perfect world the entire country would understand what a rare group of young men we have protecting our nation and why they do what they do. I suppose that we should be grateful for those who do understand. We felt honored to have been among them for a short time.
We can't say enough about the caliber of the men in today's Ranger Regiment or the faith we have in the leadership. Having entrusted the lives of two sons should be sufficient. As parents we take comfort in having met these men.
RLTW
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