Category: Uncategorized
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In My Foxhole……..An essay by William Marshall
My foxhole held many Americans and a few who weren’t. It held many colors, creeds, and religions. My foxhole held many weapons, both mass destructive and personal protective. When I look at where I was, I’m so proud of those I was in the foxhole with. We made it. Well, most of us… On this…
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I want Door Position……….. An essay by William Marshall
If you are not on the Jumpmaster team, then the only other places to be were door position or stick pusher. Stick pusher meant that you were one of the last guys out the door. You sit in the front of the aircraft, walk a long way to the door, and also a long way…
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The Airborne Soldier: Unified by Shared Hardship
The life of an Airborne Soldier is one defined by a unique blend of discipline, courage, and camaraderie. What sets the Airborne apart is not just the physical demands of jumping from an aircraft or the rigorous training required, but the shared hardships that transcend rank, creating a bond that is difficult to replicate in…
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My squad was the best…….. An essay by William Marshall
I remember a challenge by my first squad leader. He asked me, “Which squad is the best squad in this unit?” I was confused. I was brand new, I really didn’t know what to say. I was a private in the 82nd Airborne Division. I was a young trooper stepping into a legacy that few…
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What it means to be Airborne……. An essay by William Marshall
It is one thing to jump out of an airplane, it is one thing to volunteer to serve your country. It is one thing to raise your right hand, it is another to take the next step. Many ask me about jumping from a plane and how we ever got the guts to do…
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Whispers in the Wind……. An essay by William Marshall
Fifteen-year-old Ava stood at the edge of the small cliff, peering over the precipice to the winding river below. Her heart raced, not from fear but from excitement. Her friends had dared her to leap from the cliff, a rite of passage in their small town. Many had done it before, but not her. Yet.…
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I spent the weekend in Heaven………. An essay by William Marshall
SGM(R) Bobby Howard is one year older than my dad. He was the Soldier of the Year and the NCO of the Year and Drill Sergeant of the Year in every unit that he was in. He joined the Army in 1963 at age 17. He talked about how Korea didn’t have any trees left…
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Can a Warrior beg for Peace, who can speak out?…… An essay by William Marshall
As I sit here tonight, my mind is troubled by a conversation I had with a friend, a fellow warrior. He told me that I should leave the country because I spoke out against our country’s warmongering ways. He compared me to Eric Snowden and called me a hypocrite. But is it hypocritical to want…
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Cherryyyyyyyy!!!!!! An essay by William Marshall
The Cherryyyyyyyy just seemed to go on and on. In my world of the 82nd, if you dropped something in the mess hall, fumbled your weapon, messed up just a little somehow, and you heard it from your buddies……. Cherryyyyy!!!@@@@ AATW!
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Sergeant’s Time……. An essay by William Marshall
I remember the first time I heard the term, I think I was a SSG. I thought, this is kinda silly, isn’t every day SGTs time. Turns out, looking back, SGTs time was a great program. It made you stop, prepare for, and conduct training at a level that previously was overlooked. SGTs time allowed…