<p>Will I get some extra credit for knowing such info or will I get flamed for trying to be a smarta$$. ^^;;</p>
<p>When she saw the name she couldn't say anything. Just smiled inside herself becuase she knew who they were talking about.</p>
<p>ChrisC - For most of your posts, I just sit here and laugh. You are something else. </p>
<p>I know some of these cadets. You are going to be SO in trouble in BCT. I can SO see it coming. I can also see the "chops" on the currents cadets - they are salivating in anticpation of eating you alive. LOL</p>
<p>Never the less, that story just made me think of something. Will a true soldier ever consider his/her own actions as courageous? I have come to notice humility as a common trait within officers. And if it is the the opinion of those who were not there that say the person was courageous, who are we to agree with?</p>
<p>Because a soldier is just doing his job. My father has told me a warrior only has two necessary parts in completing a mission. The first would actually be a dedication and loyalty to the completion of the mission. And the second would be the code of conduct that is requested in the manner of how to complete the mission. So in the end, emotion is a factor that has no place in warfare and the person was just doin his job the way he was taught to do it and the only way he knows how. If the person doing the job doesnt think it was courageous can it really be courageous?</p>
<p>
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If the person doing the job doesnt think it was courageous can it really be courageous?
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<p>Yes. Humility does not decrease the heroism or merit that we see so often in the actions of our servicemembers.</p>
<p>i agree-- Just because the person has traits of humbleness and humility doesn't mean that others look at his acts ad any less courageous or heroic</p>
<p>ChrisC190, allow me to give you another example, but in a different area.</p>
<p>Big college basketball game. The star point guard for the underdog team has a monster game--36 points, including the game winning basket as time expires. Afterwards, the ESPN announcer interviews him about the game.<br>
"This was a real team effort. All the guys on my squad did everything they could to win, I'm so proud of them. Can't wait to get back home and celebrate with the students at XXXXX"</p>
<p>Second big college game, similar results. The star guard on this team also had 36 points and hit the game winner as well. His interview: "Man, I knew from the first minute they couldn't stop me, I was on fire! When it came down to those final 30 seconds, everyone on my bench knew they had to get it to me. I'm the main man here, and they all want the ball in my hands when the game's on the line."</p>
<p>Now, whom do you admire most? More importantly, whom do you think gets the most respect from his team-mates?</p>
<p>I hope this example wasn't too obtuse. Just trying to illustrate to you that humility is a big part of who gets admired in the ready room or squadron bar. We all know we're god-like superheroes, we just don't brag about it to our bro's in the squadron. :) </p>
<p>However, we would be more than happy to give a full list of our extensive and amazing accomplishments to Gwen Stefani if she ever walked into our bar, to include the line, "Yeah, it was a dangerous mission. I could've died. Was I scared? Well, to tell you the truth, I still have nightmares about it. HOLD ME? (said in a quivering voice) :) "</p>
<p>ChrisC - Hope you know I was picking at you earlier.......</p>
<p>Bullet - I am so thankful you and others are on this thread to give such sound advice, and personal perspective to all of us from yours years of experience.</p>
<p>But, I sometimes think what I like the most on this USAFA site is the humor among the troops, cadets and everyone included - and how easy it is to be here. And, right now, after that Gwen Stefani remark, I am absolutely rolling on the floor...............</p>
<p>I have to agree with BJ10Mom. As important as all the traits that have discussed are, I think that a sense of humor makes it all a little easier to live with.<br>
Bullet, thanks for the posts. You sound like a lot of the pilots that I knew at Spangdahlem AB in Germany, extremely wise, courageous, brave, strong, good looking, and wears a superhero costume under your flight suit!LOL</p>
<p>^^^^^</p>
<p>Stop it, you're making me blush!</p>
<p>But seriously, I hate to say that I do need to correct you somewhat. First off, I'm just the WSO, the "guy-in-back". However, I do feel that I get extra bravery points for this, as the guys I'm flying with nowadays seem waaay too young to me (I feel like I need to card a few of them when I see them drinking a beer in the squadron bar), and my life is in their all-too-young hands. I do get the satisfaction of reminding them as we crew brief to fly that if they crash us, I get to live a few milliseconds longer as I'm four feet farther than them from the impact point.</p>
<p>Second, all of us who proudly serve this country do not need to wear any special superhero costume. We wear one everyday; it's called our service uniform. And unlike the other superheroes who wear their spandex badges in the center of their chest, ours are made of cloth, and are worn on our right upper arm. It's called Old Glory, and it makes us all so proud to display it. </p>
<p>Lastly, I'll tell you who my real superhero is. It's my DW, and the love of my life, Pima. She has stood bravely by my side all these years, never complaining and with a smile on her face when I tell her it's time to move for the fourth time in 5 years, or when her country is asking her yet again to raise 3 kids on her own while I am sent away to some gosh-awful place, wondering if this is the time I may not make it back.<br>
Our spouses put up with fears that would make any other person crumple to the floor. I have seen Pima, 9 months pregnant with our first child, stand and watch as my buddy Cliff's wife, with a new born baby in one arm and a tri-folded American flag in the other, bravely tried to keep it together as Taps was playing and a missing man formation screamed overhead in honor of her deceased husband. All the time, I knew she had to be thinking, "Will that be me someday? How will I be able to tell our kids that daddy will not be home again?" </p>
<p>No, Pima has the inner strength that puts the armor on our toughest Battleships to shame. She has let me live my silly boy-hood dreams, always with a hug and a kiss at the end of the day, a day that once again in the back of her mind she had to worry that "this day might be the one". God, how I love her for it. She's the better person, and puts me to shame....</p>
<p>A word to all you parents of current and future cadets. A day will come, sooner than you think, when your darling child will be at thier own wedding. Do me a favor. You take your new in-law child, and you hug them with all your strength and thank them and tell them you love them and will always be there for them. And if I ever hear of the day when you didn't treat them with the love and respect they deserve, you will feel my righteous wrath. TREAT THEM LIKE THE GOLD THEY ARE. The earn it everyday.</p>
<p>BTW, I have to say this now. (please excuse me for getting "mushy"),
Pima, Happy Valentine's day!, you make my day, and every day, special. and thanks for always being there! Bullet</p>