Life as a Combat Veteran: What I’m reminded of on Veteran’s Day 

Posted on by purpleheartvet

   
I love seeing my news feed on Veteran’s Day. The old pictures, the memories and the conversation between former combat brothers makes me smile…and sometimes bust out laughing. It is through those pictures and other moments on this day that I am reminded of a few things. 

1. I’m not Special. 

It seems that due to the amount of phone calls, texts and messages that I receive that I would feel the opposite, but I don’t. Each Veteran’s Day I am reminded that, like me, millions of other men and women have answered the call to serve our country. Like me, many have been wounded. Just like me, they have left family and friends to serve wherever their branch needed them to go. It is certainly a special brotherhood to be a part of, but I am just one of many who have sacrificed on behalf of our country. 

2. America is Grateful. 

While there will always be extremists on both ends of the spectrum when it comes to any issue, I truly believe that most Americans appreciate what the members of the military have done and continue to do. The posts of gratitude are heartfelt, sincere and come from just about every person that we know. You may say that it is only a status update and doesn’t require much effort, but I appreciate each and every person that takes a moment to remember. 

3. Freedom is Worth the Cost. 

This is a hard point to write and to think about, but it is true. The cost of freedom is not cheap but it is necessary. If the alternative means sacrificing our freedoms of religion, speech and so many more, then I think we all would agree that we must continue to defend the way of life we all hold dear. As I write this I realize that the future battles of the United States will not be fought by myself or my military brothers. It will be up to future generations to carry on the tradition of service, sacrifice and duty. This could include our own children. While this thought makes me cringe inside as a parent,I know that the freedoms we hold dear will not go without future attacks. 

So this Veteran’s Day take the time to thank those who served our county. As a group, they are special and are worthy of our gratitude. Also take a moment to discuss with your children what this day means and why it is so important. For it is their generation that the responsibility of our freedom will be handed to one day. 

Praying that God continues to bless America! 

                     –Andrew Smith


Andrew Smith is an Executive Coach and Leadership speaker with the John Maxwell Team, as well as the Director of Rooftop India, an organization that seeks to train leaders internationally, as well as care for orphans through the ministry of the Azlynn Noelle Children’s Home.

https://give.rooftopmissions.com/rooftopmissions

Smith served as an Infantry soldier with the Army’s 10th Mountain Division from 2002-2005. Wounded in Fallujah, Iraq in 2003 by shrapnel from an IED, he is the recipient of the Purple Heart.
Because of his military experience, he now assists as a mentor with Honor & Courage (Operation Ward 57), a non-profit organization that financially assists Wounded Warriors and their families.
http://www.johnmaxwellgroup.com/asmith
http://www.facebook.com/thepurpleheartvet 

Life as a Combat Veteran: When We Fail To Respond 

Posted on by purpleheartvet

  

If you read any of my blog posts, make it this one. Veteran’s Day is approaching and I want to share something that has been on my heart for a long time. 

Many times throughout the year I will have  someone post a comment or send me a message thanking me for my service in the Armed Forces. When I see these comments I am humbled, grateful and most of the time unsure of how to respond. It is many times awkward. Here is why: 

1. When I share a picture of my time in the service, I am not looking for a response. 

OK, OK,  I do enjoy getting a few likes, but that is not why most of us veterans share pictures. Sometimes we come across an old photo that never made it to social media. Sometimes something happens where we feel the need to post something encouraging for the brothers we served with. Every once in awhile we just need to go on an old fashioned rant to clear up where we stand on an issue. Other times we simply want to remember an anniversary that is meaningful to us. 

2. Your simple “Thank You” means more than you will ever know. 

It’s not that you said “Thank You” to me, it is just the fact that you took the time to say it. Every time someone thanks me for my service, deep down I am praying that other veterans are thanked just as often as I am. I feel proud to know so many people that appreciate the sacrifices that have been made on their behalf. 

3. Your words about my service bring up memories and emotion. 

When someone says, “I’m sure you saw some terrible things over there”, usually I immediately start to think about some of those moments. Ask any combat veteran, and they will tell you, once the memories start rolling it usually takes awhile to process all the emotion it brings to the surface. After reading some messages of thanks, it may be hours before I move on to something else. Which brings me to my last point. 

4. Sometimes I don’t know how to respond. 

I can’t just say “You’re Welcome”. I want to say, “No, Thank You” but that just seems weird. I want to pour my heart out to each and every person and tell them about how much I loved serving in the military and how I miss it more than they could possibly understand. I really want to defer the attention off of myself and ask that people look up the names of Tyler Southern, Omar Avila and Jason Redman so that they can meet some true heroes. I think about guys like Ross McGinnis and Patrick Lybert who gave the ultimate sacrifice, and I pray deep down that people don’t forget to be thankful for what they gave so that we could be free. 

With a post like this, I am sure there will be some of you who want to thank me or the veteran who shares this link but here is what I challenge you to do instead. This Veteran’s Day, stop by a VA hospital near where you live or maybe even a local nursing home, and find a veteran who could really use your thanks. Find a WW2, Korean or Vietnam vet who doesn’t have social media and take the time to be perhaps the only person who will show appreciation for what they did in service to our country. If you want to thank me, thank them, because that would be the greatest way to show your appreciation this Veteran’s Day and everyday. 

-Andrew Smith

Andrew Smith is an Executive Coach and Leadership speaker with the John Maxwell Team, as well as the Director of Rooftop India, an organization that seeks to train leaders internationally, as well as care for orphans through the ministry of the Azlynn Noelle Children’s Home.
https://give.rooftopmissions.com/rooftopmissions
Smith served as an Infantry soldier with the Army’s 10th Mountain Division from 2002-2005. Wounded in Fallujah, Iraq in 2003 by shrapnel from an IED, he is the recipient of the Purple Heart.
Because of his military experience, he now assists as a mentor with Honor & Courage (Operation Ward 57), a non-profit organization that financially assists Wounded Warriors and their families.
http://www.johnmaxwellgroup.com/asmith

Life as a Combat Veteran: Dates You Never Forget 

Posted on by purpleheartvet

  

November 2, 2003 is a date that I will never forget. I had just been released from a hospital in Fallujah a few days earlier and I was excited to be back with the guys. We were eating breakfast when we heard a loud explosion off in the distance. Knowing that we were QRF (Quick Reaction Force) that day, we immediately turned up our radios to get any information about what had happened. It didn’t take long to find out and also to know that we were about to find ourselves right in the middle of it. 
USA Today later described what had happened like this: 

“FALLUJAH, Iraq — A U.S. Army Chinook helicopter ferrying troops out of Iraq for leave was shot down near a stronghold of Saddam Hussein loyalists Sunday, killing 16 soldiers and injuring 20. It was the single deadliest attack against U.S. forces in Iraq and the latest calling card of an increasingly clever and deadly insurgency.”

As we threw on our gear and crammed the rest of our hot breakfast in our mouths we had no idea what was waiting for us. As we approached what was supposed to be a downed helicopter we only saw scattered debris. With an approaching enemy, we quickly began rescue operations while others scrambled into fighting positions. The KIA were placed together and we did our best to treat the wounded. As medical help arrived in the form of Air Force PJs, us infantry guys focused on doing what we could to assist them as they fought to save the lives of those most severely injured. 

I was tasked with helping identify the bodies of those killed. When I got to the first one, I was not ready for what I saw. Being Infantry, I was used to a unit of all men. Now laying before me, I found a young female soldier who didn’t seem to have a scratch on her. I will never forget how beautiful she was and how it seemed so surreal that she could be dead. As we moved down the line of bodies, I saw faces of what seemed to be young kids. Their uniforms bearing names that I will never forget. On many nights I have googled their names, read their stories and even seen their parents standing in their childhood bedrooms talking about how much they miss their son or daughter. 

But on November 2, 2003 I did not yet know their hometowns or the family members that they were going home to see. On that day as I walked around, I noticed teddy bears and other gifts that they had packed to share with those they loved once they got back to the states. 

On that day I sat with my brothers as we tried our best to remove the blood that covered our uniforms. I watched as our medics treated the hands of infantryman who had grabbed pieces of a burning helicopter in an effort to reach those trapped inside the wreckage. After the last of the bodies was airlifted away from the crash site, we continued to guard what remained. We were determined that the enemy would not touch one piece of the debris that littered the ground around us. That day, no enemy of the United States was going to dance on a propeller and they certainly weren’t going to touch one of the teddy bears or disposable cameras lying at our feet. Covered in blood, we stayed for days until the last piece of evidence was removed. 

That is why I will never forget 11/2/03. 

**Update** Because this article was shared so many times last year, I received messages from family members of those killed in this crash. The talks we were able to have meant so much to them and myself. I cannot thank you enough for making this possible. 

The fact is that every combat veteran has these dates in their minds. It could be the day they were wounded or lost a friend, a day of a feirce firefight or a horrible ambush. Sometimes they post a picture or talk to a friend but more often than not they usually just go about their day and quietly remember all they have seen sacrificed for the freedoms that so many seem to take for granted. 

If you are a veteran then I encourage you to share these dates with some close family and friends. Let them remember with you. And if you ever need to talk, know that there are plenty of us who are here to listen. 

http://www.operationward57.org

In Memory of: 

Army Staff Sgt. Daniel A. Bader, 28, of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Army Staff Sgt. Ernest G. Bucklew, 33, of Enon Valley, Pennsylvania.

Army Spc. Steven D. Conover, 21, of Wilmington, Ohio.

Army Pfc. Anthony D. Dagostino, 20, of Waterbury, Connecticut.

Army Spc. Darius T. Jennings, 22, of Cordova, South Carolina.

Army Pfc. Karina S. Lau, 20, of Livingston, California.

Army Sgt. Keelan L. Moss, 23, of Houston, Texas.

Army Spc. Brian H. Penisten, 28, of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Army Sgt. Ross A. Pennanen, 36, of Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Army Sgt. Joel Perez, 25, of Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.

Army 1st Lt. Brian D. Slavenas, 30, of Genoa, Illinois.

Army CW4 Bruce A. Smith, 41, of West Liberty, Iowa.

Army Spc. Frances M. Vega, 20, of Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico.

Army Staff Sgt. Paul A. Velazquez, 29, of California.

Army Staff Sgt. Joe N. Wilson, 30, of Mississippi.


-Andrew Smith


Andrew Smith is an Executive Coach and Leadership speaker with the John Maxwell Team, as well as the Director of Rooftop India, an organization that seeks to train leaders internationally, as well as care for orphans through the ministry of the Azlynn Noelle Children’s Home.

Smith served as an Infantry soldier with the Army’s 10th Mountain Division from 2002-2005. Wounded in Fallujah, Iraq in 2003 by shrapnel from an IED, he is the recipient of the Purple Heart.

Because of his military experience, he now assists as a mentor with Honor & Courage (Operation Ward 57), a non-profit organization that financially assists Wounded Warriors and their families.

He has also owns and operates a small business -Yellow Dawg Striping – in Southwest Virginia.


http://www.johnmaxwellgroup.com/asmith


http://www.facebook.com/thepurpleheartvet 


When Success Isn’t Worth the Sacrifice 

Posted on by purpleheartvet

    Last night a friend suggested that I do something. Okay, he actually CHALLENGED me to do it and to guys that small word can make a big difference. 

    You see, guys love a challenge. From the time we are little, we dare each other to do really stupid stuff. The problem is that instead of thinking about the consequences of accepting the challenge, we usually only picture what the completion of the challenge will look like. 

    I still remember as a young infantry soldier just how bad I wanted to close with and destroy the enemy. I saw war as the ultimate challenge and surviving it would be the victory of a lifetime. Little did I know that the consequences of going to war would mean PTSD, TBI’s and injuries to myself and many of my friends. 

    But back to last night’s challenge. My friend wanted me to do something special for a family member. It could be anyone that I chose, but I had to agree to 2 conditions. 

    1. I would give them some of my time. 

    2. I would write them a note. 
    Now last night was not the best time for me to do something like this. My back is messed up and I am on medicine that makes me really tired, I had a ton of work to get done and many phone calls to return. But I accepted his challenge. 

    My daughter, Addi, is always asking for a special bedtime story. Not the usual kind from a book or a short one from memory. She likes it when I take the time to tell a long story complete with different voices and exciting plot twists. And last night when she went to bed, here is the note that she found. 

     
    After finding it, she came flying into the living room. She said, “Dad, are you serious about this?”. It was then that I realized just how long it had been since our last “special bedtime story”. I had done my duties as a normal dad would, but I had failed to be the best dad that I knew to be. 

    Many times in life we are distracted by success. We dream about it and can’t wait to reach the end of our goals. The problem is that we often fail to see the consequences of what that success may be.  

    We have all been challenged by society to be successful. That is defined many different ways but the fact remains that most of those definitions are not good ones. 

    There is nothing wrong with striving to be successful, but we must realize this:

    Success requires sacrifice. Before you decide to strive for success, make sure what you are letting go of isn’t more valuable than what you are reaching toward. 

    So last night I decided that work could wait. I also decided that ministry could be put on hold as well. You see, I love my jobs, but I love my family more. 

    Addi was sitting up in bed when I walked into her room. The smile on her face was the biggest I had seen in a long time. As I sat down beside her, she let out one of those ear piercing screams of excitement and I couldn’t help but smile myself. She could have cared less about what my current job title is, how many miles my car has on it or how much money we have in the bank. The only things she wanted from me were my time and a horrible story about a talking dog and its quest to find his home. 

    The challenge that I accepted was simple but it has changed my life. It showed me that most of the world is wrong. Success isn’t always worth the Sacrifice. 

    If at the end of the day I still have my faith, family, friends and health then I will go to bed a very rich man…regardless of how others define my accomplishments. 

    -Andrew Smith

    Andrew Smith is an Executive Coach and Leadership speaker with the John Maxwell Team, as well as the Director of Rooftop India, an organization that seeks to train leaders internationally, as well as care for orphans through the ministry of the Azlynn Noelle Children’s Home.
    Smith served as an Infantry soldier with the Army’s 10th Mountain Division from 2002-2005. Wounded in Fallujah, Iraq in 2003 by shrapnel from an IED, he is the recipient of the Purple Heart.
    Because of his military experience, he now assists as a mentor with Honor & Courage (Operation Ward 57), a non-profit organization that financially assists Wounded Warriors and their families.
    He has also owns a small business -Yellow Dawg Striping – in Southwest Virginia.