In the past. I’ve been asked, “Why did you go into the Army?” This is a question I have pondered repeatedly and even today I’m not sure I have a good answer. Perhaps patriotism played a role although I do not consider myself more patriotic than others my age. If I had been a few years older, I could have said it was because of the draft and the Viet Nam War. But this was not true because by the time I graduated from college, the end of the War was near and the draft was, for all intents and purposes, no longer an issue. Or was it something else?

As I was laying in bed this morning this question came to mind again although it has not been asked recently. While I am the son of a World War II veteran, the idea of entering the military was never discussed in our home. Nor was it ever discussed in our school. So why did I even consider it?

Maybe it was something in my childhood. When I was young in most years my family went to the nearby small city of Jonesboro to see their Christmas parade. The parade consisted of a few floats, some marching units, some vehicles, and Santa Claus – a favorite of the children. While I cannot remember many details, there was one unit that I always enjoyed seeing. It was a small military drill team; I believe they were from ROTC unit at the local college and were called the Reng Rifles. They marched proudly in their uniforms, carrying rifles and wearing brightly polished silver helmets. As they went down the street, they twirled their rifles and did other movements that I found fascinating.

Several years later, a young man who I respected graduated from that same college commissioned as a Second Lieutentant after completing ROTC. He was five or six years older than me, and I can’t remember if he went on active duty or became a member of the reserves. I know he never suggested that I follow in his footsteps yet his decision to become an Army officer increased my respect for him.

When I left home and entered college, one of the first classes I asked to enroll was military science, or ROTC. Unfortunately, the only class session that fit my schedule was cancelled because of low enrollment. I could have moved on and no longer considered ROTC or the military as part of my future. Instead, near the end of my sophomore year I learned of a program that allowed those with interest in the military to enter a two-year ROTC program. To do this, you had to attend a summer camp between your sophomore and junior years, enroll in ROTC classes the next two years, then accept a commission. I agreed to do this and thus was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant upon my graduation.

There were several who encouraged me throughout these two years – my roommate who was two years ahead of me in college and in ROTC, others both ahead of me in college and even some following me, our ROTC staff, my parents, and others. One person I especially remember was the head of our ROTC department with whom I shared a first and middle name along with a last initial.

Even with all of this, I’m not sure why I entered the Army. Were I placed in the same position today, I believe I would do the same thing. While there were good times and bad during my Army career, I learned much and travelled to places I would never have seen otherwise. I met people who I remember to this day although I have not seen them in many years. I served our country. I was lucky, I did not have to serve on the battleground. I knew many who did. I have no respect for those who dodged the draft, nor can I respect those who criticize our military today yet have never served.

So, if you ask, give me a few moments to gather my thoughts and try to provide you a good answer. There are too many things that affected my decision both to enter the Army and remain there for a career.