[antimedia] antimedia: Where do we get people like this?....

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Posted by antimedia:
Where do we get people like this?....
http://www.antimedia.us/posts/1176143474.shtml


   ....From my mailbag

     Dear Friends:
     On Wednesday of this next week, I will be traveling to Fort
     Benning, GA to be a part of the Officer Candidate graduation
     exercises. That's right! Jonathan, at age 35, will graduate on
     April 12 (Thursday) as a commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Army.
     Jonathan finished his Master's almost a year ago and made the
     decision to leave his almost 15-year career with the Knox County
     (TN) Sheriff's Department to join the Army. He wrestled with this
     decision for some time due to his age and the sacrifices he and his
     family would have to make. However, the need to "give back" and be
     an example for his three sons made his decision easier. Of course,
     his brothers and I argued with him that he was already "giving
     back" due to his work with law enforcement.
     Jonathan was accepted into officer candidate school in September
     and then had to obtain a special waiver due to his age (35).
     Jonathan completed basic training at Fort Benning in December. He
     began OCS in January and as stated above, will graduate on April
     12. He has done well competing with the "youngsters" - many of whom
     are recently out of college. I'm so very proud of him. His dad
     would be so proud of him. And his grandfather (Milton's dad whom
     many of you knew), served in the Army during World War II, and
     would be very very proud of Jonathan.
     After graduation, he will be home in Oak Ridge with his family for
     three weeks, then on to Fort Sill for a few weeks; then to Fort
     Eustis for about three plus months; then to his permanent duty
     station, the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell in late September or
     early October.
     The graduation festivities will first have the swearing in ceremony
     outside where the guys are sworn in as commissioned officers. After
     lunch, we move inside where the Army Band plays and many of the
     "big whigs" take part in the actual graduation ceremony. Then, we
     move to some cannon outdoors where Jonathan's wife, his three sons
     and I will pin on his bars - that's mostly for pictures I think.
     This past week and graduation week have been mostly celebratory
     activities - or that's what I call them. Jonathan calls them some
     Army term, which I have yet to adapt. His wife will arrive in Fort
     Benning on Monday for different activities -- mainly at the
     Officers Club for a formal, and other events. Steven, Benji and his
     family, and I will arrive on Wednesday with Jonathan's three sons.
     Can you tell I'm excited???
     Jonathan sent me two pictures that I am sharing with you. The first
     one is a picture of him at the "dining in" celebration that was
     held a few weeks ago. And the second is a picture of his platoon in
     front of the US Army Maneuver Center. In the "dining in" picture,
     Jonathan is on the far right end --- the tall one with the graying
     temples - and the wedding ring. In the platoon picture, he is the
     third guy from the left on the top row. (All of them seem to have
     the same short no-style haircut!!!)

   How does a man who is already serving in the Sheriff's Department
   think that he's not doing enough and that he needs to give back and
   set an example to his sons?
   I'm sure Jonathan will be another exemplary officer leading his troops
   into battle. I wish him Godspeed, fair winds and following seas. His
   family is obviously bursting with pride, and well they should be.