Am I a Midshipman?

Amber waves of grain

Accepting a military life is a serious choice. A USNA Midshipman lives the life of a warrior for four years during college, and then commits to five more afterward in the Field. That means in the Marines, flying, in a ship. I can’t make this decision for my daughter. She’s taking time this summer to look into those who have served. Is that her? Is she patriotic? Will she follow orders she might not believe in? Will she set her desires and choices aside to serve the greater needs of her country?

She is pro-America, never reads or listens to the anti-stuff, but it’s time she did. Listen and evaluate. Do they have a point? If they can convince her, then she shouldn’t go military. If she stands firm against their arguments, she takes the next step.

The book has a couple of great quotes from military people. I’ll put them here:

I am an American. I serve in the forces which

guard my country and our way of life.

I am prepared to give my life in their defense.

I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command,

I will never surrender the members of my command

while they still have the means to resist.

— USNA Code of Conduct

It is the soldier, not the poet, who gives us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the reporter, who gives us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us freedom to protest. It is the soldier who serves beneath the flag, who salutes the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who gives the demonstrator the right to burn the flag.

— Charles M. Province

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

– Edmund Burke

“Success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm”

-Winston Churchill

These two are not warriors…

Do not go gentle into that good night.”

–Dylan Thomas

“Life is not tried; it is merely survived
If you’re standing outside the fire.”

—Garth Brooks