QW: Knowing Yourself

"Hence the saying:

If you know the enemy and know yourself,

you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

If you know yourself but not the enemy,

for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.

If you know neither the enemy nor yourself,

you will succumb in every battle."

- Sun Tzu

CHRISTMAS DUTY

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,

I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.

My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,

My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,

Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,

Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,

Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.

In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,

So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,

But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.

Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,

Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,

And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,

A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,

Perhaps Canadian, huddled here in the cold.

Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!

"For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said,
"Its really all right, I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at 'Dieppe on a day in December,
"Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers.
"My dad stood his watch in that Korean Land',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures,
he's sure got her smile.


Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
Something red and, white, ... a Canadian flag.
"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a trench with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbour no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."


"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?

"It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

- Unknown Author -

ALL SECURE: THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

The Night Before Christmas

T'was the night before Christmas,

He lived all alone,

In a one bedroom house,

Made of plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney,

With presents to give,

And to see just who,

In this home did live.

I looked all about,

A strange sight I did see,

No tinsel, no presents,

Not even a tree.

No stocking by the mantle,

Just boots filled with sand,

On the wall hung pictures,

Of far distant lands.

With medals and badges,

Awards of all kinds,

A sober thought,

Came through my mind.

For this house was different,

It was dark and dreary,

I found the home of a soldier,

Once I could see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping,

Silent, alone, Curled up on the floor,

In this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle,

The room in such disorder,

Not how I pictured,

A Canadian soldier.

Was this the hero,

Of whom I'd just read?,

Curled up on a poncho,

The floor for a bed?

I realized the families,

That I saw this night,

Owed their lives to these soldiers,

Who were willing to fight.

Soon round the world,

The children would play,

And grownups would celebrate,

A bright Christmas Day.

They all enjoyed freedom,

Each month of the year,

Because of the soldiers,

Like the one lying here.

I couldn't help wonder,

How many lay alone,

On a cold Christmas Eve,

In a land far from home.

The very thought brought

A tear to my eye,

I dropped to my knees,

And started to cry.

The soldier awakened,

And I heard a rough voice,

'Santa, don't cry.

This life is my choice.

I fight for freedom,

I don't ask for more,

My life is my God,

My country, my corps.

'The soldier rolled over,

And drifted to sleep,

I couldn't control it,

I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours,

So silent and still,

And we both shivered,

From the cold night's chill.

I didn't want to leave,

On that cold, dark night,

This guardian of honor,

So willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over,

With a voice, soft and pure,

Whispered,

'Carry on Santa,

It's Christmas Day, all is secure.'

One look at my watch,

And I knew he was right,

'Merry Christmas my friend,

And to all a good night.'

QW: Optamism

"All right, they're on our left,

they're on our right, they're in front of us,

they're behind us...they can't get away this time."

- Lt Gen Lewis B. Puller, USMC

QW: Assault vs Leadership

"You do not lead by hitting people over the head - that's assault, not leadership."

- Dwight D. Eisenhower

QW: Task Charge

"When placed in command - take charge."

- Norman Schwarzkopf

SOLDIER AT THE GATES

The soldier stood and faced his God

Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as brightly as his brass

"Step forward now you soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek,
And to my church have you been true?

"The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
"No Lord, I guess I ain't,
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be saints

"I've had to work most Sundays
And at times my talk was tough
And sometimes I've been violent
Because the streets were awfully rough

"But I never took a penny,
That wasn’t mine to keep
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills just got to steep,

And I never passed a cry for help
Although, at times I shook with fear
And sometimes, God forgive
I've wept unmanly tears

I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here
That never wanted me around
Except to calm there fears

If you have a place for me here O' Lord
It needn't be so grand
I've never expected, or had so much
But if you don't I'll understand"

There was a silence all around the throne
Where the Saints had often trod
As this soldier waited quietly
For the judgment from his God

"Step forward now you soldier,
You've borne your burdens well
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell"

QW: Action vs Reaction

"A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow."

- unknown

TIME CHECK

I arose early in the morning with a chill. Then looking at my watch for the time, which was 0445 that gave me just over an hour before I really had to get up. Trying to fall back to sleep the real reason for waking became apparent. I had to go to the bathroom, damn. I squirm my way out of my sleeping bag and then slip into my boots. At least it is only a short distance to the “blue rockets” but that doesn’t make the trip any more inviting.

As I bolt back to the tent after completing my task I noticed how clear the morning sky was and that the moon was full. It was giving of so much ambient light that the requirement for my head lamp was not even necessary. If this was another place, another time, and if it wasn’t -20 someone would stop to admire the beauty. In this case since sleep was in short supply along with the fact that the cold was quickly settling into my bones, my only thought was getting back to the warmth and into my sleeping bag.

After what only seems to be minutes my alarm is going off and I’m up again. Welcome to a new day and with some entirely new challenges. I double of the showers to clean up as well as drop off some laundry. Then it’s to the mess tent to down some grub before I check out what is up for the day.

There are a few up coming events that require prep. I quickly gather up the pertinent info that we have to have for our mission. After that it’s back to the tent lines to give the troops a quick brief along with some duties that need attention before we head out. While they are working away I labour over my plan of action. I check my watch, still plenty of time to go.

Once completed a myriad of events follow; orders, rehearsals, and then various checks upon checks to ensure that everything is good to go before we depart. Upon completion I once again check my watch, time is running short.

Now that all the prep has been completed and the vehicles are in position it is time to put on my own load. I then ensure that I have all the essentials and that they are on or in the right place. I check the various hardware on my rifle and that it is secure and that I have water. Last, I run through the key info in my head. I’m set; I check my watch, 10 mins to go, so I turn my attention back to the troops. “Confirm final checks, and mount up”. One by one they report, “roger, good to go”.

We check all our comms with a short time to go before mission commencement. The troops mount their “gun ships” and await my final command. There is some idle banter from the troops as they load up in the vehicles but I let is slide as we wait for the final member.

Not long after, I check my watch again, and as if on queue, he approaches our trucks. As he adjusts his equipment he gives me a nod and a smile while he checks his comms with a, “we good?” “Ya”, is my response. He gives me another nod and a thumbs up. Now, it’s time for me to earn my pay.

I bark over the radio, “Prepare to move”, then wrestle my body and equipment into the cab of my vehicle. “Lock and Load, boys!” A final time check, its time to go. “Move, now.”
So begins another training day, and another day closer to our adventure in a far off land.

BOH

A CIVIL THANK YOU

Last week, while travelling in Canada on business, I noticed a soldier traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together. After we boarded our flight, I turned to the soldier, who'd been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home.

"No," he responded.

"Heading out," I asked?

"No. I'm escorting a soldier home."

"Going to pick him up?"

"No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Afghanistan. I'm taking him home to his family."

The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days.

I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, "Thank you. Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do."

Upon landing in Canada the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom. "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the Canadian Armed Forces join us on this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign."

Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be a Canadian.

So, here's a public "Thank You" to our military Men and Women for what you do so we can live the way we do.

QW: War is Cruel

"War is cruelty.

There is no use trying to reform it.

The crueler it is,

the sooner it will be over."

- General William T. Sherman