Johnny on patrol
If you have ever read one of my journal posts, please read this one all the way through.
So, I don't know if I've told you about my cousin Johnny. (Most people call him John these days, but i grew up with him)
Basically, he's my brother - our families lived together for all but a few years from before Elementary until post High School. The best way to describe him is to say he's my opposite. That's not to say he's a jerk while I'm a nice guy. Where I'm subtle he's up front. I wear turtle necks and khakis - he wears cowboy boots and belt buckles. I tend to be passive, and he active - case in point:
On September 11th, he joined the military. He felt the need to protect the country on that day, while the rest of us stared at the television in horror. His car was toast at the time, and no one was available to drive him to the recruiter - so he walked 23 miles or so. He chose to be a Medic, he wanted to be able to save lives and not just be there to take them (as well as have the disctintion of carrying the biggest packs in the field). He has been demoted several times, and promoted even more, for doing what he feels is right. He even passed every test to become a sniper, but he can't be stationed as one as his role as Medic prohibits it. (I'll tell you the story about his Sniper test sometime, just ask.)
He is currently stationed in Iraq as you can see in this picture. (I give you my word this picture and those that follow are not doctored in anyway)
That doesn't really tell the whole story though.
Recently he was chatting with a friend in their tent, the friend got out to use the bathroom - my cousin ran out to find his best friend in that part of the world missing his arms and legs. He didn't manage to save him, but he's going to get a medal for his efforts - which he's going to mail to his friends widow and son. (There has to be more to that story I know, but Johnny and I suffer from the same inability to sing our own praises. So that's all we really know.)
http://news.yahoo.com/photo/050619/ids_photos_wl/r1037605451.jpg
I think you'll agree he had his proper place on this page, even if the story wasn't based on his heroics - I'd say my cousin has more of a right to be sitting on that page then Tom Cruise or Condaleeza. (That's the, Monday June 20th issue, btw)
So, I don't know if I've told you about my cousin Johnny. (Most people call him John these days, but i grew up with him)
Basically, he's my brother - our families lived together for all but a few years from before Elementary until post High School. The best way to describe him is to say he's my opposite. That's not to say he's a jerk while I'm a nice guy. Where I'm subtle he's up front. I wear turtle necks and khakis - he wears cowboy boots and belt buckles. I tend to be passive, and he active - case in point:
On September 11th, he joined the military. He felt the need to protect the country on that day, while the rest of us stared at the television in horror. His car was toast at the time, and no one was available to drive him to the recruiter - so he walked 23 miles or so. He chose to be a Medic, he wanted to be able to save lives and not just be there to take them (as well as have the disctintion of carrying the biggest packs in the field). He has been demoted several times, and promoted even more, for doing what he feels is right. He even passed every test to become a sniper, but he can't be stationed as one as his role as Medic prohibits it. (I'll tell you the story about his Sniper test sometime, just ask.)
He is currently stationed in Iraq as you can see in this picture. (I give you my word this picture and those that follow are not doctored in anyway)
That doesn't really tell the whole story though.
Recently he was chatting with a friend in their tent, the friend got out to use the bathroom - my cousin ran out to find his best friend in that part of the world missing his arms and legs. He didn't manage to save him, but he's going to get a medal for his efforts - which he's going to mail to his friends widow and son. (There has to be more to that story I know, but Johnny and I suffer from the same inability to sing our own praises. So that's all we really know.)
http://news.yahoo.com/photo/050619/ids_photos_wl/r1037605451.jpg
I think you'll agree he had his proper place on this page, even if the story wasn't based on his heroics - I'd say my cousin has more of a right to be sitting on that page then Tom Cruise or Condaleeza. (That's the, Monday June 20th issue, btw)