In War I Had Purpose

It is difficult to imagine for those who never served in direct action against enemy combatants to know how any of us could yearn for the glory days of combat. Many people believe that us combat veterans are warmongers or glory hungry shooters who only think about death and destruction. Nothing could be further from the truth about the reasoning, but still to this day I often times miss combat missions. There is a yearning that many of my fellow warfighters go through every single day looking for a reason to get on with civilian life or simply get out of bed. The struggle is very real.

I miss combat for many reasons but the main reason was having purpose. I felt an extremely strong desire to not only serve my country but to represent what America stands for. During the numerous combat operations I was a part of, my soldiers provided more aid to children, women and others struggling in Iraq; often times in parts of the country that did not have running water and had never even seen outsiders. War gave many of us a reason to get out of bed and struggle to become better at our craft. Not only because our fellow warfighters counted on us, but because life was extremely simple. We knew our mission and we knew the rules of engagement. The outside noise of social media and celebrities who don't matter never cross your mind when you are running a direct action night raid against known Al Qaeda operatives.

It has now been 14 years since I wore my combat gear and flew on helicopters in to dark places I had never been to before. I was never at ease thinking of the people I was responsible for and how their safety mattered the most to me, but I was never scared because I worked hard and I trained my soldiers as hard as I could. Life was simple; I knew my mission, I knew my objective, I had purpose.

Recently my wife booked a deer hunt in West Texas for my 40th birthday. I know very little about hunting but at the age of 40 I finally downed my first buck. I had an even more exhilarating time driving around the thousands of acres on this beautiful piece of Texas land just experiencing the wildlife and the scenery. We had no cell phone service or any sort of outside distractions from what people call the "real world." It was an amazing trip from waking up at 0430hrs in the morning and finally going to bed at 2300hrs; only to wake up and do it all again the next day. It gave me a renewed sense of purpose and gratefulness for the things I have seen in my short life. The simple life reminded me of combat and how removing outside, peripheral distractions that do not impact your overall objectives can hone your perspective in order to focus on achieving your mission.

Over the many articles I have written I consistently try to share a positive yet forceful message. Many of our fellow warfighters struggle daily with finding purpose. I share my experiences and thoughts to hopefully help others retrospectively think about what they or their friends are going through. It is our DUTY to help those around us who are struggling. I am blessed with a great family and wonderful friends who have helped me in my darkest times. Perhaps thinking about the simple life and reconsidering your purpose is just the change we all need to consider as we head in to a new year. I wish 2023 to be a year of purpose for your family and you.