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I write this humbly, with deep respect for all who have been in combat, but mostly for those in combat where the enemy is also a chameleon. The enemy that at one time is serving you breakfast and then later changes form to the enemy, shooting at you.

I swore to myself, I would not be changed by boot camp, or the years in uniform (USMC) that I would not be different when I got home. At first, I really didn't think I was different. I promised I would not have my service job as a warrior, carry over into my civilian life. No mental scars to carry around, not to be bitter, not to be angry, just do the job and come back home, that is what I promised myself. It didn't happen.

A decade later, I walked out of my business office onto the front porch, with a new client. The client stepped onto the porch with me, stopped and asked, "Do you always do that?"
I heard him, but didn't understand, "What?" I asked.
"Do you always scan the area, the rooftops when you exit the office?" I didn't think of it, "Yes. I guess I do" I responded. It is a habit, it was a good habit in a prior life, and it is something I didn't even consider until that day.

I don't have the credentials to answer for the "Warriors, of today" this is their combat arena. But one thing is certain, after someone has been in combat, in daily threat in mortal danger, a lot of rules back home, rules that I would have been very careful not to disobey, now seem rather petty. Things I considered dangerous before, then seemed of small consequence. Before military life, I would have been scared to do some things, now it is trivial, particularly compared to facing gunfire aimed at you.

Fighting an enemy who is in uniform of an opposite color is one thing. That enemy is identifiable, relaxation is available when the uniform is not amongst you. Frustration is what is available to the warrior against the cowardly thugs.

There IS a difference between my era; The "Viet Nam War" and the new war against terrorist thugs. In Viet Nam War, we the nation, chose to leave, war ended.

This war will not go away, even if we say "we quit". We cannot hide from these thugs, we cannot "quit the war", because the enemy isn't going to quit. The enemy will simply have a "cake walk" if our nation decides to quit.
From a Viet Nam era USMC veteran; I bow to and give my personal "thank you" to the defending warriors of today. I submit; You are under appreciated, but priceless heroes.

Learn more about this author, Hank Tredson.
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