Lewis Green: Service Matters in People’s Lives

In 1965 I enlisted in the Air Force, following in the footsteps of my aunts and uncles on the Green side of my family. And although my mother was concerned because I abandoned college to do so and because the Vietnam War was heating up, she understood my reasons. It was expected that young men serve; at least that was the expectation in my small New Hampshire town and in my family.

Like everyone who disembarked the bus at San Antonio’s Lackland A.F.B. for basic training, I was scared. A feeling that was so new, I didn’t have words for it. Within a few seconds, we went from hometown heroes to scared zeroes. My high school sports letters didn’t impress the TI’s (training instructors). They yelled, screamed and harassed us all the way to the supply depot, where our hair was shorn and our identities replaced by drab, over-sized fatigues.

Seven-plus years later, in 1972, that 19-year-old child that arrived at Lackland seven years earlier had been made over into a 26-year-old adult who understood and personally experienced for the only time in his life the meaning of sacrifice for an ideal based on a 200-plus-year-old document that promises hope and freedom. In May of that year, I left the military for the University of Florida, where I excelled primarily because of my military service and what those TIs, and then later my fellow sergeants and officers taught me by example—sacrifice, hard work and individual responsibility are required of every person to protect freedom and to achieve personal success. Today, as I run my third consulting firm, I attribute much of who I am to those years of service.

One need not serve in the military to display those qualities or to learn the importance of responsibility in achieving our goals, in serving our families and friends, and in showing those who might not have the advantages that come with gaining those attributes in their youth how to secure a better life. What I did for seven-plus years and what I gave in military service were insignificant and minuscule compared to the many fallen veterans and their families and those civilians who give so much every day of their lives as volunteers, moms and dads, and everyday good people.

Through military service with other men and women and the examples given by so many Americans who never wore a uniform but who understand the ongoing and urgent need to serve both ideals and their fellow humans, I and many like me are far better people.

So, during this Memorial Day Week, please join me in prayer of thanks for all those who have given and continue to give so much, so others can live a better life. - Lewis Green

Lewis Green is an author and Air Force veteran who runs his own PR consulting company and blogs regularly at bizsolutionsplus and Marketing Profs Daily Fix. His latest book, Lead With Your Heart, is available at Amazon.

Photos downloaded from http://www.af.mil

Comments

[Lewis Green]

Cam,

Semper Fi from a Zoomie, my brother. I'm on the left coast for the next week without computer. Catch up with you when I return.

[Cam Beck]

Lewis - Thank you once again for the very thoughtful piece.

[Trish]

Excellent post and so very true. Not everyone has to have military service under their belt to understand the ongoing and urgent need to serve both ideals and their fellow humans.

[Lewis Green]

Trish,

Thank you for getting it.

Lewis

[Brisbane Marketing Consultant]

Military service is a great foundation for achievement in life. I joined the Royal Australian navy at 15 and spent 12 years there. It taught me a lot of things including how to get along with people, how to study and how to serve and feel good about it.

Thanks for a great post.

[Australian Web Directory]

Thanks for reminding us of those who have serve, and continue to serve.

[RSA training]

Nice post. It's amazing the number of people who serve in the military and go on to high posts in business and the professions.