In the Footsteps of My Fathers

They say that war runs in the family line. I believe this to be true. We are, after all, influenced by our parents, who were influenced by theirs, and so on. Culturally we feel this as well. Large conflicts, such asThe Civil War, World War One, and World War Two, involve entire generations. They become part of the fabric of our collective conscious, our cultural identity, and our character. And finally, being a man draws one in as well. I have no doubt that buried in our primordial DNA is thenatural instinct to hunt, fight, and defend. It is ourancient role in our tribes, regardless of geography orculture. So herein is the story of my fathers. FromFredericksburg to Fallujah, the path was there, if notclear. Ultimately there was no corner of the earth ourboots did not tread upon. It is not a story of glory, butone of fate. Something that pushed myself, and manyothers, forward into things and places we knew were there, but could never fully understand until our ownday arrived.