Another Band of Brothers

In one of his last newsletters, Mike Ranney wrote: "In thinking back on the days of Easy Company, I'm treasuring my remark to a grandson who asked, 'Grandpa, were you a hero in the war?' No, I answered, but I served in a company of heroes."  
― Stephen E. Ambrose, Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest

Last night I found myself, as I do most every Friday evening, at Cigars in the Pass. It isn't that I go there to smoke the occasional cigar, which I do, but it happens to have local tap beer not found in most establishments along the Mississippi gulf coast. A couple of these are so rich and dark, with chocolate, coffee, or citrus flavor, you can only drink one or two, and the price for this treat will set you back a bit more than the only domestic "lite" beer they have on tap but they are definitely worth the price of admission.

Cigars is one of the only a few places, near the main street in our sleepy town, where you can get a beer.  The other "hot" spot would be Bacchus on the Beach.  Bacchus has a piano bar which they open on Friday and Saturday nights.  The crowd seems to be middle aged middle class, with a smattering of younger and older.  I've seen a couple of pretty single ladies cruising this particular bar scene, but they really need to learn that outfits of dark leotards, boots, and a baggy sweater aren't even enticing bait for a man my age.  But, this is what you find in a sleepy little town.

Last night at Cigars, however, I found the crowd along the short bar was populated with a jarhead, a grunt, and a zoomie (like me).  The owner, another Marine, rounded out our little "band of brothers."  It was an evening of stories; stories of battlefields, and bistros, military fathers and grandfathers, fatherly discipline of family, and old school discipline of military basic training; stories of life, death, love, and patriotism; stories of sacrifice and faith, and underlying it all, the story of God.  There exists a camaraderie among the military "family" that few, except perhaps first responders, can understand.  It is a willingness to die for the soldier next to you, to die for a patriotic ideal, for those people you don't know but represent everything we are. 

"I praise God that I live in a nation that is protected by soldiers, both men and women, who wake up every morning with just one goal in mind: to fight for freedom. Because of what they do the United States of America remains free. Soldiers spend many days, weeks, months and even years away from their loved ones to meet this goal. The love that they have is unfailing, and it is displayed by their bravery and dedication."

-- Pamela Rose Williams, author

We drank beer, lit up stogies, laughed, cried, and offered up a toast blessing these United States of America.  We were black and white, Baptist and Catholic, democrat and republican, Army, Marine and Air Force.  And, even though we were not graced with the Navy and Coast Guard, that stop in from time to time, there, for a few hours in a small, smoke-filled bar, there existed another band of brothers.  I think we all accepted that the absent squids and coasties were there with us in spirit.

“Everyday US Marines make possible the impossible and then go about their business like it's just the way things are supposed to be.”

-- Mark W. Boyer

There is a saying in the Marine Corps, made famous by Master Sergeant Paul Woyshner during a barroom argument, "Once a Marine, always a Marine!"  This is very true, but it goes beyond the Corps.  It goes to the heart of every patriot to ever serve their country, "Once a soldier, always a soldier."  For those of us that have been blessed to serve with other nations, or to socially "bump into" our military adversaries, one can even say it crosses national boundaries.  

There is an unspoken code of honor among the true military, or there was; I'm not sure anymore.  I know that, for my generation, and those that went before, we weren't always ready to set aside differences and find common ground, but it would happen anyway, if only for a short while, in settings not unlike that at Cigars.  I have been graced with memories of drinks with foreign military members where the language barrier crumbled under the weight of the beer, the vodka, and the laughter.  These were people, like us, not afraid to lay it all on the line; to sacrifice all to protect an imaginary line in the sand, a way of life, or a belief; people that would jump on a grenade, with little hesitation, to save their comrades.

"They've got us surrounded again, the poor bastards."

-- Creighton W. Abrams, Battle of the Bulge

Would I do it all over again?  At 60, if they called me back to service, I would run to the calling, as many of us would.  It is a hard emotion to explain, but I think it is one that can be felt by those standing on the outside looking in.  If you ever have the opportunity to witness a "band of brothers" at your local watering hole, wander on over and listen.  I'll just bet you'll be able to feel it.  "It" is a pride, knowledge that you have actually been that part of something greater than yourself, a love of family and country, a love of God.  It is an overwhelming feeling of patriotism and faith that cuts through all boundaries to define those that serve.

I cannot wait for next Friday.  Oorah!

“If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen: a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath–a wolf. But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? Then you are a sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero’s path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed.”

-- Lt Col Dave Grossman, U.S. Army (Ret.)

Editor's Note:  

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion.  It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other.  An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion and debate in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth.  After over twenty years as a military intelligence analyst, planner, and briefer, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human.  God's test for us is what we do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.
  

Pastor Frank Anthony Villari

Pastor Tony is founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance and author/editor of "The Path," the Congregation's official blogsite.