The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

A Veterans Perspective

Written by Veteran Gary Jackson, La Harpe

"After high school, my friends went to college, got married, etc. I enlisted in the U.S. Army. They woke up each day to decide if they'd go to school or work. I'd already been at work for hours. Their alarms woke them up; my alarm sent me to formations and duty. They made plans on how they felt; I made plans based on the needs of my country. They couldn't wait to leave their homes; I couldn't wait to get back."

"When we look back on our respective lives, they may wonder if they've ever made a difference. I've never had that problem! SOLDIER for life. If I die and come back, I would do it all over again.

I joined the Army in January, 1991 and retired in January, 2011. When I initially joined the military, I had no intention of making a career out of it. The reason I joined was I had no intentions of going to college and was working at a nowhere job. I attended Basic Training and AIT in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.

The duty stations I served at were Ft. Campbell, Kentucky (three times); Schweinfurt, Germany; Ft. Riley, Kansas (twice); Camp Casey, South Korea (twice); Ft. Bliss, Texas; Ft. Sill, Oklahoma; and Ft. Drum, New York.

Some of the highlights of my career were being stationed at Ft. Sill as an AIT instructor later in my career.

It was always enjoyable to teach and share your personal experiences with new soldiers and then, later in my career, seeing my former students in regular Army units. While stationed in Ft. Bliss, Texas, I was assigned to a brand new unit the Army was starting where all we did was text and evaluate new and futuristic Army equipment.

Out of all my duty stations and worldly adventures, I would honestly have to say the best duty stations I had were my numerous deployments to combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Something about being in the situation where you don't even question or think about the loyalty and competence of the men and women next to you. Knowing that when, and if need be, they have your back and you have theirs. I would do it again in a heartbeat; wouldn't even hesitate.

The one thing that kept me going all the time was the love and support of my family and friends at home and all over. You, my friends, are why we do what we do.

I have always questioned why people do what they do to recognize servicemen and women and all the parades and everything.

I remember coming home from my last deployment and coming into town being escorted by the fire trucks with sirens and people lining the streets yelling and cheering. I asked what they were doing and why. I was told it is for you. My response was simple, why? I was just doing my job. It never really set in with me the whole glamour and all with it. In my opinion, I am no one special or anything. I'm just a guy that was doing his job.

But, as I said, the friends and family are the reason I did it. There is a saying I really admire and live by:"I'm not a hero, but I have walked beside a few". That is how I have always felt. I didn't do what I did for the fame or notoriety of any of that. I did what I did so others wouldn't have to. Also, because I got to blow things up and travel the world and got paid to do it!