To all the Veterans out there, we raise our glasses and offer our sincere thanks for your service. Happy Veterans Day!
Many workplaces throughout the United States, and abroad, employ Veterans. If you’re a Veteran, then this is the day that we recognize, and thank you for your service. Often on Veterans Day, Veterans are asked what their service meant to them. This Veterans day we decided to share what Military service meant (and still means) for both Erik and me.
Scott Witner
Beginning with Bootcamp at Parris Island and through all subsequent training, you develop a strong bond, a brotherhood with those that you train, and serve with. In some cases, it’s a stronger bond than that of your own family. When you bleed alongside one another and trust each other with your life, you develop an unbreakable bond. When something happens that takes the life of one of your brothers it will shake your foundation as it did with me, but it will also make that bond you have with the others much stronger. To those that have served and sacrificed you know exactly what I’m talking about.
During my years of active duty in the Marine Corps I learned some valuable lessons. One of those lessons was just how frail human life is. During the early morning hours (0200) of 10 May 1996, we were conducting a training mission (Exercise Purple Star) prior to our deployment to the Mediterranean for 6 months. This was to simulate an amphibious assault which included Cobra Attack Helicopters, and three CH-46 troop carriers. We lifted off the USS Saipan around 0200 headed for the coast. As we approached the coast the Cobra Attack Helicopter cleared the LZ prior to the CH-46 helos landing. As the Cobra finished its gun run and headed back out to the sea it collided with the first CH-46 helo approaching the LZ. Our helo made an abrupt steep left bank to avoid the mid-air collision. As it did, I noticed outside the small window the fireball in the sky – we just lost a helo full of our brothers.
The following day myself and several others from my unit were tasked with recovering the remaining bodies and gear from the crash site. I still remember trying to organize the gear as we found it, trying to identify who it belonged to. Up until that point, like many others, I took a lot of things in life for granted. After witnessing that horrific accident I realized just how valuable life is, and how quickly life can be taken from us. I gained a different perspective on life from that point forward. While in the military, and now as a Veteran when I call someone ‘brother’ it means a hell of a lot more than just a name. It means I’ve got your back. It means I’m here for anything even if it’s a phone call at 2am. I will continue to honor that brotherhood until the day I die.
Erik Meisner
I joined the Army in 1993 after attending Colorado State University with the sole purpose of doing something exciting. My initial enlistment was for 4 years with 3rd Platoon Alpha Co. 2nd Ranger Battalion. But I extended for a couple of additional years to explore the possibility of attending the Warrant Officer Flight Course. Looking back, my time at 2nd Ranger Battalion was spent with some of the best men I’ll ever have the honor of associating with. Now that I’ve been living in the civilian world, I realize that more than ever.
What I miss the most is the “brotherhood”. When I refer to them as my brothers, that word holds meaning only we can understand. My brothers will always be there for me, they will always have my back on, and off the battlefield, and will never ask “why?” After training as hard and long as Rangers do, an unbreakable bond is formed. We call it the “brotherhood”. Once you’ve endured the emotional highs and lows that an elite fighting force will experience, your brothers are always there for you. Although I’ve closed that chapter of my life long ago, when I run into my brothers at a Ranger function or chat with them on the phone, we pick up right where we left off. Like time stood still. Rangers Lead the Way. Happy Veterans Day!
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