YankeeVol
Bestest Member
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2010
- Messages
- 141,846
- Likes
- 71,183
Infantrymen have a pride and arrogance that most Americans dont understand and dont like. Even soldiers who arent infantrymen dont understand. The pride doesnt exist because we have a job thats physically impressive. It certainly doesnt exist because it takes a higher level of intelligence to perform our duties. Its sad and I hate to admit it, but any college student or high school grad can physically do what we do. Its not THAT demanding and doesnt take a physical anomaly. Nobody will ever be able to compare us to professional athletes or fitness models. And it doesnt take a very high IQ to read off serial numbers, pack bags according to a packing list, or know that incoming bullets have the right of way.
The pride of the infantryman comes not from knowing that hes doing a job that others cant, but that hes doing a job that others simply wont. Many infantrymen havent seen a lot of combat. While that may sound ideal to the civilian or non-infantry soldier, it pains the grunt. We signed up to spit in the face of danger. To walk the line between life and death and live to do it again or not. To come to terms with our own mortality and let others try to take our life instead of yours. We have raised our hands and said, Take me, America. I am willing to kill for you. I am willing to sacrifice my limbs for you. I will come back to America scarred and disfigured for you. I will be the first to die for you.
Thats why the infantryman carries himself with pride and arrogance. Hes aware that America has lost respect for him. To many hes a bloodthirsty animal. To others hes too uneducated and stupid to get a regular job or go to college. Only he knows the truth. While there are few in America who claim to have respect for him, the infantryman returns from war with less fanfare than a first down in a high school football game. Yes, people hang up their Support Our Troops ribbons and on occasion thank us for our service. But in their eyes the infantryman can detect pity and shame; not respect. Consider this: How excited would you be to meet the average infantryman? Now compare that with how excited youd be to meet a famous actor or professional sports player and you will find that you, too, are guilty of placing the wrong people on a pedestal. You wouldnt be able to tell me how many soldiers died in the war last month, but youd damn sure be able to tell me if one of the actors from Twilight died.
Yet the infantryman doesnt complain about that. He continues to do his job; to volunteer his life for you, all while being paid less in four years than Tom Brady makes in one game.
Its a job most Americans dont understand, dont envy, and dont respect. That is why we have pride for the infantry.
The pride of the infantryman comes not from knowing that hes doing a job that others cant, but that hes doing a job that others simply wont. Many infantrymen havent seen a lot of combat. While that may sound ideal to the civilian or non-infantry soldier, it pains the grunt. We signed up to spit in the face of danger. To walk the line between life and death and live to do it again or not. To come to terms with our own mortality and let others try to take our life instead of yours. We have raised our hands and said, Take me, America. I am willing to kill for you. I am willing to sacrifice my limbs for you. I will come back to America scarred and disfigured for you. I will be the first to die for you.
Thats why the infantryman carries himself with pride and arrogance. Hes aware that America has lost respect for him. To many hes a bloodthirsty animal. To others hes too uneducated and stupid to get a regular job or go to college. Only he knows the truth. While there are few in America who claim to have respect for him, the infantryman returns from war with less fanfare than a first down in a high school football game. Yes, people hang up their Support Our Troops ribbons and on occasion thank us for our service. But in their eyes the infantryman can detect pity and shame; not respect. Consider this: How excited would you be to meet the average infantryman? Now compare that with how excited youd be to meet a famous actor or professional sports player and you will find that you, too, are guilty of placing the wrong people on a pedestal. You wouldnt be able to tell me how many soldiers died in the war last month, but youd damn sure be able to tell me if one of the actors from Twilight died.
Yet the infantryman doesnt complain about that. He continues to do his job; to volunteer his life for you, all while being paid less in four years than Tom Brady makes in one game.
Its a job most Americans dont understand, dont envy, and dont respect. That is why we have pride for the infantry.
