Col. (Ret) Nate Slate: Free at Last
I have a friend who is an accomplished writer. He is an older man. He is at terms with himself. He tells me that to be a good writer, you must be able to walk naked down Main Street on Sunday afternoon. It is a metaphor, of course. However, he makes a salient point. One must be comfortable with the truth about who he or she is.
It seemed to me that the environment in Iraq exposed people. Given the constant assault of challenges, it was impossible to pretend to be someone you were not all the time. The circumstances would expose you.
It was interesting to watch the way people reacted to the pressures of a combat zone. The outcomes were sometimes surprising. Some of the brash talkers in garrison proved to be timid in a combat zone. They avoided duty outside the gates of the forward operating base and became uncharacteristically quiet. In contrast, some quiet, self-effacing personalities adjusted quite easily to the stress of combat.
I had a battery commander who exemplified this latter personality. He was a quiet young man, hard-working and dedicated to his troops. In garrison, his performance was in the middle of the pack. In combat, he proved to be peerless. Having volunteered to create the quick reaction force for the Taji area, he led his force into harm’s way again and again.
One day, I decided to make the time to thank him for his great service. Whatever happened next, I wanted him to know how much I appreciated his exemplary service. When I finished my words, he responded with all sincerity that he thanked God every day that he had the great honor to serve his country in combat. He meant it. You only had to watch him perform his duties to know that he meant every word.
When the environment wears down your ego to the point you can no longer recognize it, you gain a sense of freedom. You trust your motives completely. Everything becomes easier. You live without fear or worry. You have a newfound sense of consanguinity with everyone around you. You have an emotional detachment from your image of self.
It seemed to me that the detachment served as a shield.
I have a friend who is an accomplished writer. He is an older man. He is at terms with himself. He tells me that to be a good writer, you must be able to walk naked down Main Street on Sunday afternoon. It is a metaphor, of course. However, he makes a salient point. One must be comfortable with the truth about who he or she is.
It seemed to me that the environment in Iraq exposed people. Given the constant assault of challenges, it was impossible to pretend to be someone you were not all the time. The circumstances would expose you.
It was interesting to watch the way people reacted to the pressures of a combat zone. The outcomes were sometimes surprising. Some of the brash talkers in garrison proved to be timid in a combat zone. They avoided duty outside the gates of the forward operating base and became uncharacteristically quiet. In contrast, some quiet, self-effacing personalities adjusted quite easily to the stress of combat.
I had a battery commander who exemplified this latter personality. He was a quiet young man, hard-working and dedicated to his troops. In garrison, his performance was in the middle of the pack. In combat, he proved to be peerless. Having volunteered to create the quick reaction force for the Taji area, he led his force into harm’s way again and again.
One day, I decided to make the time to thank him for his great service. Whatever happened next, I wanted him to know how much I appreciated his exemplary service. When I finished my words, he responded with all sincerity that he thanked God every day that he had the great honor to serve his country in combat. He meant it. You only had to watch him perform his duties to know that he meant every word.
When the environment wears down your ego to the point you can no longer recognize it, you gain a sense of freedom. You trust your motives completely. Everything becomes easier. You live without fear or worry. You have a newfound sense of consanguinity with everyone around you. You have an emotional detachment from your image of self.
It seemed to me that the detachment served as a shield.
FREE AT LAST
Stripped down by adversity
naked in the desert sun
Polished like an ancient stone
in the stream of consciousness
Unafraid
armed only with heart in hand
No politics, no sense of self
joined in consanguinity with all humanity
Unashamed
of who you are
Unattached
to the mortal ego
Pure motives free you
guiltless
Blood cannot stain you
spotless
Your would be enemies
see deep into your soul
Their condemnation cannot hurt you
the truth, a wonderful shield
