Marines over a Mission

[DrW]

With advancing age one tends to look back over the decisions made at the turning points in their life and wonder how things might have turned out had they chosen the other fork in the road.

I chose military service instead of a mission. At that age, I was more comfortable with the idea of being a Marine, and possibly a Marine aviator, than being a guy in a suit and hat knocking on the doors of strangers who would rather that I didn't.

Having done splits with the missionaries, I found the work stressful and tedious, to say the least. And I'll admit that the idea of making money instead of spending your savings for two years was attractive as well.

As the LDS Church has drifted right, slipping into irrelevance and even disrepute in the wider world, I'm more grateful each year for the choice I made. That said, it has been a long time (if ever) that a Marine has made me as proud to be in that fraternity as the Staff Sergeant pictured below.

[msnobody]

That is something to proud of.

You too, have lifelong benefits you wouldn’t have otherwise had. Thank you for your service to our great nation.

The most touching part of my dad’s funeral service was the young man who said,”On behalf of the President of the The United States, the U.S. Army, and a grateful nation…” presenting the folded flag to my mother. It was even more touching because we were expecting a big snow and ice event that day, and they did their duty and honored my dad.

Another event that was special to me was when my FIL passed away in a state V A nursing home. They had a service where taps was played, they rolled all the Veteran residents out in the hallway, and honored him as his body was rolled out of the facility. Cool thing was that the dementia residents, etc. still had the wherewithal to salute him as his body was escorted out. <<You know that made Ms. Nobody tearful, actually sobbing.

[DrW]

The most touching part of my dad’s funeral service was the young man who said,”On behalf of the President of the The United States, the U.S. Army, and a grateful nation…” presenting the folded flag to my mother. It was even more touching because we were expecting a big snow and ice event that day, and they did their duty and honored my dad.

Another event that was special to me was when my FIL passed away in a state V A nursing home. They had a service where taps was played, they rolled all the Veteran residents out in the hallway, and honored him as his body was rolled out of the facility. Cool thing was that the dementia residents, etc. still had the wherewithal to salute him as his body was escorted out. <<You know that made Ms. Nobody tearful, actually sobbing.

Shedding a tear at a time like that is appropriate and healing. I hope that both your father and FIL passed away from natural causes comfortably and at a ripe old age and not from combat injuries.

Some of those residents you referred to were probably WWII or Korean War vets, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of them were shedding tears as well. I'm not surprised that they saluted.

Neuroscientists know that long-term memories are potentiated by adrenaline. You never forget the first time you come upon a rattlesnake while hiking. The habits you form and the friends you make under the stress often encountered in the military result in life-long memories and behaviors. Ask anyone who has experienced it.

[tapirrider]

I too chose military service over a mission. My regret is that I chose a temple wedding at the expense of my wife's non-Mormon family.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmTqubjaIks

[DrW]

I too chose military service over a mission. My regret is that I chose a temple wedding at the expense of my wife's non-Mormon family.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmTqubjaIks

Thanks for posting a link to that video. Fifty years on it is truly hard to watch. It reflects (to me, at least) the boundless arrogance and lack of self-awareness of the Church leadership that has become such a drag on the Church in the intervening years.

I hope that no lasting harm resulted from your decision and that you and your wife's parents have reconciled.

[canpakes]

I appreciate this, as several members of our family are USMC vets.

Thank you for your service and commitment, DrW.

[dastardly stem]

I too chose military service over a mission. My regret is that I chose a temple wedding at the expense of my wife's non-Mormon family.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmTqubjaIks

You got married the same month as my parents. September 15, 1970 Salt Lake Temple.

Yes. I myself can't decide how badly I regret going on a mission. If I went straight to school or the military I certainly would have picked up plenty of good things and would have moved on forward in life. It was overall a pretty good experience for me. I enjoyed people I got to know. I enjoyed trying to dig into what was important to people. I regret some of what I said and how much the two year service tied me to the Church. That was hard to shake. I figure if I didn't go on a mission I wouldn't have struggled for so many years trying to make church work for me. I likely would have more easily been able to put it behind me at a much younger age. Regrets are tough, though. You gotta accept that what's happened in your life is what's made you, and there's no changing any of it.

Thanks for your guys' choices going into the military. I imagine, in the grand scheme, it was a good choice.

[DrW]

I too chose military service over a mission.

Tapirrider,

There was a subtle bit of symbolism in the image that really hit home on second look. Did you notice it? While I never made Staff Sergeant, I knew full well that one of their responsibilities, especially in front-line combat organizations, was to watch out for the Second Lieutenants - even before the Privates (we Sergeants could look out for them). Loss of a second lieutenant would be taken especially hard by the senior NCOs.

Chances are that there was another Staff Sergeant somewhere in Iraq who felt the same kind of responsibility that the individual standing guard felt. I'm sure he would have been somewhat comforted to know that another Staff Sergeant was watching out for the widow on that last night.

[Rivendale]

My son was teetering towards church attendance and possibly a mission. What changed him? He signed up for the army and did two tours in Iraq. During his first tour he was the lead armed vehicle of a convoy at night. The convoy was attacked and he and his gunner became separated from the group. His vehicle ran over an IED and received damage. They had no radio control and were essentially trapped as other vehicles approached. They were under orders to avoid at all costs capture because of the current propaganda videos being used against them. As the vehicles approached they were preparing for suicide but at the last moment it was American forces. That experience and being trapped for days in their vehicle because of sniper fire changed him forever. He is now approaching his 20th year in the army and is atheist. Thank you for your service.

[Kishkumen]

I regret neither my mission nor my temple marriage. At the same time, I think the military, which I did consider at the time, would have been an excellent choice, too. I came close to enlisting in the Air Force, but I decided to go on a mission. I hold those who serve our country honorably in the Armed Forces in high regard, and I appreciate their willingness to do a difficult job.