what is a soldier?  a soldier is somebody that can come from any walk of life.  they may have been the poor redneck trying to escape from their small town, rich kid trying to piss off mommy and daddy, or even the gangbanger trying to escape from an early grave and do something better with their life.  it’s usually the kid fresh from high school or even a drop out with nothing better waiting for them.  they always have a story to tell, if someone will listen, and sometimes you have to get past the shell they have put up to protect themselves.  they have many reasons for joining, whether it be a better life, wanting to serve their country, free college, there are numerous reasons.  but there is one constant with all of them, they have answered their nations call for their own reasons, selfish or selfless.  they are the ones that are roaming the streets of baghdad, the hills in kosovo, the mountains of afghanistan.  they return home heroes to someone, whether they see it or not.  they are what makes our country great, even fighting for the liberties of people who call them babykillers and warmongers.  how many other countries can people speak out so freely about their protectors?  let those outspoken firebrands go to pre-war afghanistan or iraq and say such fiery remarks, dressed the way they want to dress.  especially the women!  let us see how far they would have gone speaking out against those regimes and their militaries.  it may hurt these brave young souls to have people speak of them such, but it comes with the job and the job will be accomplished.  a soldier may not always agree with the mission or the reasons behind it, but will always do what they can do ensure the job is done.  (albeit many of the times complaining, but that is also part of being a soldier)  there is no braver soul in the world than a U.S. soldier.  a member of the greatest military the world has ever seen, fighting to make other countries safe and attempt to give them the freedoms civilians enjoy sometimes at the expense of their own lives.  when i say soldier i know everyone thinks of the Army, but i also refer to my brothers and sisters in arms in the Navy, Marines, Air Force, even the Coast Guard, not to mention the civilians that accomplish so much for our forces behind the scenes, freeing up more to go to the fight.  i have been doing this job for my share of years and am proud of all those who have chosen to fight with me.  i wish i could do it all myself so i could ensure they all come home, but it is a risk we all willingly take, and i thank all those that have made the ultimate sacrifice for my family and i.  i know that they never are thanked enough for the thankless jobs they perform and can not say enough of how proud i am of every one that has signed that dotted line.  thank you, every one of you that has answered the call, and may your god or gods watch over you.  if you don’t make it home, i’ll see you on the other side, where we can swap stories amongst ourselves and our loved ones while throwing a few back and laughing with our friends for eternity.