Veterans Day: Service & Sacrifice
The Mission Continues
My time in service was relatively short at 13yrs 1mo 9d. I really was just another cog in the machine and did my job. I wasn’t Special Forces or in “Special Operations” or any of the cool things you read about in published books or blockbuster movies. I was fortunate to be a Paratrooper, but beyond all that, I was blessed and privileged to serve with some of the greatest warriors and men I’ve ever met. I had phenomenal leaders, my peers were professionals who sought excellence and my subordinates were proactive and ambitious.
From me, to you all. Thank you.
“Thank you for your service and sacrifice.”
At 18 years old, it wasn’t the smartest decision I had ever made. Joining the U.S. Army. However, in the entire culmination of my life up to that point. It was the best decision I ever made.
Back in 1999, I didn’t run. I couldn’t run. I also couldn’t pass High School American History, a class I failed twice. A choice that subsequently resulted in my failing High School and finishing my senior year, literally one class short of meeting the requirements. I didn’t graduate. I didn’t get selected to go play College Baseball, a dream of mine. I was good, but regionally good at best and certainly not good enough for college ball. My SAT scores were surprisingly high, the highest in my class, but college wasn’t an option.
The recruiters were busy at our school, despite the graduating class of 55 people. Sorry, graduating class of 53, Ben and I failed out before graduation day. Of those 55 people, nearly 20 of us were “12 year seniors”. Meaning we had gone from 1st grade through 12th grade together. We were close.
The recruiters were busy because this was a poor town, full of poor kids with little to no hope of a fruitful and meaningful future. Prime pickings for the recruiters.
High School ended in May of 1999 and by June 1st I was basically living on my friends couch and at my girlfriends house. It wasn’t a sustainable situation as my friends parents, while helpful, didn’t want another teenager taking up their resources. I had no job, was hungry a lot and basically survived by my friends parents feeding me. Of course my girlfriends parents didn’t like me. I don’t blame them.
By August, half of my friends had joined the Military another third were off to college and the rest had picked up construction jobs or entered the logging industry. I however, was still quasi-homeless and didn’t have anything going on.
I remember distinctly my friends dad, Jake Sr or “Big Jake” as we called him, telling me how he went to Basic Training at Fort Sill, OK and they gave him three hot meals a day and as much milk as he could drink. He said it was great and he got to shoot Howitzers!
Honestly, this sounded pretty damn good.
So I went to the recruiter, SSG Curnutt and told him, “I’ll join your damn Army, as long as I can go Airborne” - He grinned, said “of course” then asked for my High School Diploma, of which I had none.
In the same manner I took the SAT’s, I had a hard night of drinking Vodka and Cranberry and woke up hungover and headed to the local community college and proceeded to take my GED tests. I was the last person to enter the testing room and the first person to leave. I remember distinctly, thinking the GED tests were a joke.
I passed. 100% on each of the tests and I received my G.E.D.
With my G.E.D in hand, I stumbled directly to SSG Curnutt’s office, a short one-mile walk away and joined the U.S. Army in August of 1999 with a ship date of October 5th, 1999.
I was going to get those three hot meals a day, a measly paycheck, but what I really wanted was out of my current situation. I was homeless, hungry and most people looked down on me. I hated it. Everyone expected me to fail and I had no guidance or clear vision of a future in Idaho.
“Thank you for your service and sacrifice.”
I really do appreciate it. While my military career didn’t start with “service” in mind and I didn’t even know what sacrifice was, war would arrive soon and the meanings were soon actualized and felt.
A short timeline of my short service period.
1999-2003: 4yrs of training.
Met my wife in October, 2002.
2003: OIF I - Invasion: 4 months.
Home for 90 days.
2003-2004: OIF II ~ 8 months. (Fallujah)
Daughter was born in 2004.
Married in 2004.
2005-2006: Republic of Korea (ROK) Tour of Duty (Solo) ~ 12 months
Son was born in 2006.
2007-2008: OIF IV ~ 15 months. (Sadr City / Baghdad)
My son was 6 months old when I left and almost 2yrs old when I got home.
2009: Haiti ~ 2 months
2009-2012: Training, Schools and ETS. ~ 36 months.
I joined the U.S. Army as a lost 18yr old kid looking for stability, direction, food and money. I left the U.S. Army a 31yr old Combat Veteran with a wife and two kids.
During all of it, I was a Runner. I was also a Rugby Player.
Two sports that would later save my life and give me purpose.
Running, Rugby and Resiliency
I didn’t become a “runner” until good ole Uncle Sam forced me. It was my time in the Army, specifically in the 82nd Airborne Division that transformed me into a runner. You can read about my the beginnings of my running life at The Trailhead, where you’ll meet Ozzy and get a clear description of how I started running.
Running has been a constant in my life for the last quarter-century. In the military Running served a purpose. It established fitness, built mental and emotionally resiliency and brought into focus those who had the fortitude to persevere and those that would quit. It established a clear distinction between leaders and subordinates, with leaders up-front setting the pace and subordinates meeting the challenge or falling out.
Once I left the Army, I found myself disoriented and a little lost. I’d often find myself asking “Why should I run? What’s the purpose? Why get up at 5am anymore?”.
Running wasn’t the first social sport I picked up after separating from the service.
I went back to Rugby. A sport I played for 10 years with Bragg Rugby and 2ID Rugby in Korea. Rugby had been a big part of my life during my time in the Army. I loved it. In North Carolina I found the Clayton Rugby Football Club where I played with them for approximately 5yrs.
Coincidentally, it was while I was a part of the Bootleggers that I first saw the Clayton Area Runners meetup at Deep River Brewing Co. Often on Thursdays after Rugby practice the team would head over to Deep River for a post-practice social and in those days I would see a large group of runners. It caught my interest, because before I was a Rugger, I was a Runner.
After an injury in Rugby, I decided to dial back and take on something that wouldn’t leave my mouth swollen shut and my jaw knocked out of alignment. It was time to get back to running.
It was in 2018 that I first started running with Clayton Area Runners. I found a group of people who talked about running and racing, enjoyed pushing themselves to achieve new goals and were consistent and disciplined. Not only did they enjoy physical activity, they enjoyed a post-run beer which was something I could get onboard with.
In the last seven years, I’ve made great friendships and have found myself to be a part of a community that does great things. Yes, my running has improved, but more than that I am part of something that’s bigger than myself that helps our community.
A Run Club, Rugby Football Club and Military Service have a lot in common.
Everyone Volunteers to be there.
It takes individual effort, discipline and tenacity to do well.
Effort is respected. Results are products of effort and discipline.
In all three, functioning as a team produces greater results.
It’s the incredible people you’re there with that makes the experience.
There is great potential to make lifelong friends.
You’ll make sacrifices that are selfless.
Running and Rugby are two sports that can envelope you in their community and culture. Creating a unique place, and in my opinion a place for Veterans looking to stay active, physical and find a community that is similar to the small team cohesion you may have had while serving.
The Mission Continues
If you are a Veteran and reading this, I encourage you to find a mission that aligns with your passions and interests and take action. Veterans are a diverse group and our experiences in service very greatly. Veterans are from all corners of America and the world. I once served with a guy who was an 18yr old Soldier in the Soviet Army in the early 80’s. He wouldn’t let his thick Russian accent fool you, he was from New Jersey and certainly not Russia.
I’ve served with people from the inner city to the mountains of Tennessee and the beaches of the Dominican Republic. I once met a Soldier who’s last name was “Whitekillers”, he was Native American who had the calling to serve. It was clear the origins of his name. My first NCO was of Mexican decent and grew up in Los Angeles. I’ve served with Democrats, Republicans and Libertarians and many who just didn’t care.
Veterans are a diverse group of people and experiences vary.
As diverse as Veterans are, the spectrum of opportunities to serve your community is wide enough to accommodate nearly all passions and interests.
As a Veteran, strive to be an ambassador and a great example in your community.
The Mission Continues. Use the skills and knowledge acquired during your service as the catalyst to effect positive change in your life and community around you.
This is a great piece Jesse! One of my favorites to be sure.