Quotes July 12, 2019

Military deployments have never been something to enjoy, but the consequence of the actions, the shared nature of the sacrifices, and the nobility of the cause are invigorating. To be clear, I’m not talking about the killing and the death; rather, the sense of purpose that pervades every action, reaction, and outcome.
Pete Hegseth
 
 
 
 
“It is something that cannot be explained or even understood until you’ve lived it; a man can’t know or fully appreciate his life until he’s been close enough to taste the end of it, and the bonds forged in battle are some of the strongest a man could ever have. We are brothers, the men of ODA 022, and though we didn’t have the same blood running through our veins, we had all shed the blood of others together, and knew that none of us would hesitate to step in the way of fate and take a round or jump on a grenade to save one another.”
Robert Patrick Lewis, Love Me When I’m Gone: The true story of life, love and loss for a Green Beret in post-9/11 war
 
 
 
 
“I’m obsessed with trying to recount events as accurately and honestly as possible, but in practice the only thing I’m really any good at is telling you how I feel.”
Jason Christopher Hartley, Just Another Soldier: A Year on the Ground in Iraq
 
 
 
 
“There are two things a combat deployment offers which all of us strongly desire. The first, being purpose. Every morning we woke up and knew why we were there. It is immediate and unavoidable. Although, it is extreme and unpleasant, there is a comfort in that purpose. The second, is simplicity. We have one goal. There are relatively simple rules on how to accomplish it, and we understand that just about everything will go wrong. Pretty simple.”
Adam Fenner, Post-Deployment Wisdom For Those Expecting A Returning Service Member
 
 
 
 
“Each month has an average of 30 days. Except the last month of deployment which has 2,794 days.”
Unknown