Of Mind and Fate

                                                                          Of Mind and Fate

      It is said that a journey of a thousand miles; begins with a single step. True it is, that if we dare not take it, we will never arrive.  It is also said:  That if we think we are beaten; we will be. If we think we are out-classed, we are. And that if we do not think we can win… we have already lost.

     And so un-appreciated, it is today in this life; that success can be achieved with nothing more than a simple will to try. And where all we must do to reach it, is to “think that we can.”  And so innocuous it has become, in this life, that if we choose not to try, and surrender to what we deem to be fate, we simply accept our station,  the struggles it comes with, and life goes on.

     But In this profession; that, which we have chosen, our journey is of a thousand miles… and the choice of which road we should take, will not be offered. And yet hard on those we will leave behind, we march with our faith and with their hearts… they knowing, that after that last farewell, the last hug, thru rivers of tears we ride out with arrow and sword in hand; towards the molten lairs of fang and fire- to face the dragons.

     The gravity of that which we may sacrifice, we willingly risk in defense for the future of the things we cherish most.  And although we know that some among us will stray, and that some among us will fall, we are calmed with the knowledge that in whole, we are complete and that we will move as one, in the direction of good, and right. Henceforth, with mustered courage we will push into that field, and into the night, for our families, our homes, for our neighbors, and for our way of life.

      In cadence, the platoons in companies assemble, and ready. For the honor of battle and the duty of victory against this perilous adversary, lies ahead. With arms locked we know that we can forward and permeate and endure. And we know... We know that with little room for fear we must fight and hold the lines in as hard and for as long as it takes.  For now... the thunder rumbles in the horizon. Beyond the hills and at his gate- trained, and armed, and hardened, and ready- the enemy awaits. 

     And on that moment, when our Bugle and Colors rise to the rush of the double-quick: In that flash of a second; We Must know that we can. And without trepidation we must know in certain that we rise into the fray towards the open hand of God with an unbending charge of mind and fate- without waver and in absolute- as anything less... cannot be an option.

     And so un-like it is, in that other world; where effort is elective and time is boundless, In this world:  If we do not choose to try; If we do not choose to win;  If we do not know that we can; the only opposites of triumph and victory, will be death and defeat.

Al Ramirez Jr

Cpt, QM, 

Company Commander

HHC 111th Area Support Group, TXANG 

Taszar Hungary, December 24, 1997

Of Mind and Fate    

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