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Blog Entry 61 of 82 Baseball,football,the Grateful Dead,Jesus and me
Could be politics, religion, music, sports, family life or anything in-between and outside the lines. (I refuse to say "outside the box," even if my chosen line means exactly the same thing) Chronologically, I'm 40. The consensus among those who know me best puts me somewhere between 10 and 13 in terms of maturity. I love listening to Jimmy Buffett, the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers and all acts Country (except the Dixie Chicks who offended my long-held,closed-minded view of decent behavior) I have deep, strong beliefs in all things I believe in and sometimes in things I don't. I pride myself in my contradictory nature even though it is a sign of weakness to change one's mind. I have been known to waver more than John Kerry talking about national defense, though I remain steadfast in my beliefs. I am prepared to argue to the death on one issue and one issue alone; Dickey Betts should be allowed back in the Allman Brothers. On this, there is no compromise. I believe in compromise in all other areas so long as the compromise includes everything that I want or believe in. In all seriousness, I am a lucky man, blessed with a wonderful family and an uncanny ability to not care about anything if the situation requires such. I believe that minds are like parachutes in that they have been known to fail their user, albeit with a slightly lower fatality rate. So that's me, or at least that's kind of me. I mean, I felt that way right before I didn't.

Blog Url: http://denver.yourhub.com/~billsblog

It's my turn

Contributed by: Bill Prather   on 1/5/2008

It was a phone call I knew might come. Actually, I expected it, just not right now. But we don't get to pick these things. I stand where I do because of where I'm sitting right now.

My children are tucked safely in their beds; secure in the knowledge that Daddy is here. Their mother once paid me one of the best compliments I've ever received. "You make me feel safe."

Why she said it, I don't know. But she said it, and I'll always remember the moment. We were in our old house, the tiny 590 square feet in unincorporated Adams County. I've asked her about it since (insecurity, I guess), and she tells me she said it because it's true.

Well, the time has come to live up to that billing. Before our beloved Rockies take the field at Coors, I'll be "taking the field" in Iraq. I'll go because it's my duty. I'll go because I believe in the cause. I'll go because it's what I do. I'll go because I love my family. Someone has to stand up for them, and quite frankly, I trust few others to do so.

At the same time, I'm terrified because I'll worry about them. Isn't it funny? I serve because I love my wife and children, yet my service adds to my worry.

My story isn't any different from that of any other soldier. In fact, I probably have it better than most. Some history:

September 11, 2001. I was livid. I probably smoked two packs of cigarettes in half a day. (I've since quit.) Jenny, God bless her, ran interference, keeping my younger children away from me while I watched the news and became angrier by the minute. (It was language they didn't need to hear.) Thank God it wasn't me in the White House that day. There's a very good reason why some people make policy and others implement that policy. I'm an "implementer." If I made policy, I'm afraid the world have changed drastically on September 12, 2001.

I was ready to cut my hair, shave my beard and go back to the military right then. But Jenny was pregnant. We decided that I should probably wait until the baby ( Marty) was born. I think Jenny secretly hoped I would forget my anger and move on. I'm also pretty sure that she knew I wouldn't.

After three years of not-so-silently stewing, Jennifer said, "You should do what your heart tells you." To paraphrase, she told me that she understood and she would support my decision to defend her, our children and our country. She knew I had no choice. I would be less a man if I did nothing and evil were to befall my family. Jenny told me to "do what you know needs to be done."

My wife is simply, the most wonderful person that God ever put on this earth. In fact, I'm not positive that she isn't an angel.

Getting to the point, on February 25, 2005, Jenny's 30th birthday, I was sworn in to the Colorado Army National Guard. We knew that someday, I might have to leave for a while. It's a sacrifice we are willing to make.

To clarify what I said earlier, except for a few good people, I don't trust others with the safety of my family. I hope that isn't selfish. More than one person told me that a soldier heading to war, hoping to protect his family, is somehow selfish. I don't get that. I believe that statement to be ignorant, insensitive and cowardly. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'll stand or fall on that belief.

If I sound bitter, it's because I am. The last thing I want to do is leave my family. But I know that if someone doesn't stand against the evil of Islamic terrorism, I'll have no family. None of us will. It's my duty. I don't see how anyone can't understand that. Sure, I could sit here, dumb and happy, and pretend that everything is okay. I could be really disingenuous and call this " Bush's War," as if my president were cutting off the heads of innocent people, or that he represented a world that would have killed my daughter at birth because she wasn't "perfect."

Now that would be selfish! How easy it would be to leave the job to someone else, or even turn my head and hope the evil goes away . . .

Or . . . I could take a stand. It won't be easy. I'll miss my wife and children; as thousands have before me.

I'm not the first. I only hope, as all soldiers do, that my generation will be the last.

Someday, that wish will come true.

Until then, I'll represent the "selfish" people who leave their homes and families and put themselves in harm's way. We'll always be here, and we'll always stand for something larger than ourselves. Even if that's selfish.

Our country, our friends and our families . . .


THIS, WE'LL DEFEND.



For my YourHub.com friends: I hope to post from Iraq. Before I leave, I'm hoping to make a "Blogger's Beer Night." See you there!








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Showing 1-10 of 29 comments
Submitted By: Bill Prather
posted on 1/25/2008 @ 1:17:28 AM
(Not Rated)
Okay, you win. I'm applying for C.O. status tomorrow. Just kidding, brother! Really, we disagree, but that's cool. Isn't that what makes our country great? I'm sure I'll never hit you and I'm pretty sure you won't hit me, either. Right? I said, "RIGHT?"
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Submitted By: Brian Crandall
posted on 1/24/2008 @ 7:52:02 AM
Rated Blog Entry
Incorrect again Bill. The rest of the planet, other than our LapDog in Britain, was opposed to the Invasion of Iraq because they knew it was all B.S. information twisted by our lying Prez. . . Bush led U.S. to war on 'false pretenses' . . . . http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22794451/from/ET/ Study: Bush led U.S. to war on 'false pretenses' Hundreds of false statements on WMDs, al-Qaida used to justify Iraq war WASHINGTON - A study by two nonprofit journalism organizations found that President Bush and top administration officials issued hundreds of false statements about the national security threat from Iraq in the two years following the 2001 terrorist attacks.
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Submitted By: Bill Prather
posted on 1/24/2008 @ 1:38:50 AM
(Not Rated)
Ahh, but sarcasm!
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Submitted By: Bill Prather
posted on 1/24/2008 @ 1:10:49 AM
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By the way, Mr. Crandall, I'm sorry I made you ill. (Other readers will not get this because it seems you lack the courage to make your ugly comments publicly) I think you've given me too much control over your life/health. Further, please look-up "condescending." You misused the word. I don't believe I've stated my superiority over anyone. Nor have I been at all patronizing. I'm honestly sorry for the illness I've caused you. Hope you feel better.
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Submitted By: Bill Prather
posted on 1/24/2008 @ 1:04:59 AM
(Not Rated)
Mr Crandall, thank you for the comment. However, I think you were misled as to the reason for the invasion of Iraq. The war started in 1991. There was a "cease fire." Hussein (sp?) violated the terms. The best intelligence at the time led most of the world to believe there were weapons of mass destruction, or a program to produce same. No one in the present administration claimed that Iraq had anything to do with 9-11. The only claim was that Iraq supported terror. Clearly, with members of Al Queda receiving medical treatment in Baghdad and Iraq paying-off the families of "suicide" bombers, that was true. Now, we fight terrorists who come into Iraq from other countries. We have an obligation to continue the fight.
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Submitted By: Brian Crandall
posted on 1/23/2008 @ 11:06:34 PM
Rated Blog Entry
re: "Some folks just don't get it. God Bless 'em, they just don't get it." With a tone like that, expect others to comment to the contrary.
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Submitted By: Brian Crandall
posted on 1/23/2008 @ 11:05:51 PM
Rated Blog Entry
re: "I'll go because I believe in the cause". Answer this Bill. George W. Bush said POINT BLANK; "THERE WERE NO W.M.D.'S IN IRAQ." and "THERE IS NO CONNECTION BETWEEN IRAQ AND 9/11". (link of PROOF is supplied below) How can believe in "the cause" when George W. Bush has been proven to have lied to and misled the American Public? here's the proof; Bush admits that Iraq Had Nothing To Do With 9/11: (1:15 into video) "There were NO Weapons of Mass Destruction" (25 seconds into video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_A77N5WKWM
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Submitted By: Bill Prather
posted on 1/19/2008 @ 5:48:33 AM
(Not Rated)
Some folks just don't get it. God Bless 'em, they just don't get it.
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Submitted By: Mr Bob
posted on 1/16/2008 @ 10:03:37 AM
(Not Rated)
Bill Just discovered your blog today. I am in the Navy Reserves, went on my first deployment to the middle east last year...and live in Arvada. Keep your head down and come home safe. Thanks for all you do brother. http://thedailyblogster.blogspot.com send me an email,(email link is on my site) I'll buy you a beer at the Cheshire Cat before you go.
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Submitted By: Gene Boshell
posted on 1/15/2008 @ 9:06:09 PM
(Not Rated)
Dude ... I don't know what to say. I've had to take some time to process this before I could respond. Part of me is uneasy that you "have to go." Another part is envious because I didn't get to go. If I weren't recovering from The Cold from Hell I'd drink it through rather than think it through. Things tend to make more sense when I have my beer-goggles on. I feel your angst.
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Showing 1-10 of 29 comments
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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Bill Prather

Arvada , CO

Bill Prather has posted 82 blog entries and 324 comments since joining on 7/15/2006. Bill Prather 's average blog rating is 4.49.
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