Letter to an American Warrior, from an old American Citizen, with Love.

An old man's advice to a young man, sent in a letter to an American Warrior.

Vic Biorseth, Sunday, January 11, 2015
https://www.catholicamericanthinker.com/

My dear young man: It is a wonderful thing you do, in serving and protecting your nation. It is questionable what America might be like, if indeed she would still exist, if not for the valiant historical efforts of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard.

Whatever your race, whatever your ethnicity, whatever your background, whatever your education level, whatever your social status, whatever your family or lack of family - I want you to take this very personally. Take it as if it were written to you alone, as an individual, because it was. We are talking man to man here. Whatever your age, you are definitely younger than me. This is personal advice from an old man who loves you.

My Marcie and I were never blessed with children; we accept God's will for us and serve Him and each other as best we can. Our beloved nephew Mark has partially filled that void by making of us a more complete family, and filling that empty spot in our hearts. But you are part of this family, too. We have adopted you, in our hearts. Know this: We couldn't love you more if you were our only son.

You are on our minds and in our hearts, and we pray for you. Not only for your safety and physical well being, and not only for the success of your mission, but for your immortal soul. We pray that if you fall in some hostile place, that the Lord see not your sins, but your magnificent sacrifice, for no greater love hath any man than this: that he lay down his life for his friends.

This is the vital thing that you must know, and never forget:

If that were not true, there would be no need for you to wear that uniform. There would be no need for any armed forces at all. But Evil exists, Evil rules the world, and that will not change until the end of time. Until that day, Evil will never be eliminated; it can only be driven into the dark recesses and shadows of the world, but not entirely out of it.

It is your job to kill people and break things. That is your chosen profession, and that is your mission. For that purpose, you have mastered all the martial sciences, from the most advanced weapon systems to your bare hands, from the loftiest of grand strategies to the simplest of immediate tactics.

In the performance of your mission you will encounter Evil, up close and personal. Evil takes many forms, but this is what you must know first: Evil can turn you. It can fill you with revulsion and disgust; it can fill you with anger that threatens to become rage; it can fill you with hate, and induce you to fierce vengeance, and change your personal mission to a mission of revenge.

Evil can make you become what you fight; but only if you allow it.

You must be ever on guard against Evil controlling you. If you go Evil, all is lost. There will eventually be no difference between you and the real enemy, which is Evil. You are the good guy on the scene. Never forget that. We are depending on you to protect us from Evil, not to become Evil inside.

How do you fight this internal evil; this inner sense of revenge that always threatens to become uncontrolled hatred? With the exercise of extreme self control and self mastery, particularly control of your emotions. You are in charge of you. Stay that way. Remember that nothing is impossible, with God.

If you pray for calmness and steadiness in the midst of the insanity of war, calmness and steadiness under stress will be given you.

You must consciously and purposely bury all the evil you will encounter with Good. You must seek out and encounter all in the world that is clean, and bright, and majestic, and uplifting and beautiful. All of Creation was good in the beginning, but much of it is now corrupted. You must avoid this corruption when it is possible to do so.

Associate yourself with all that is Good, bright and clean, and all that is spiritually uplifting, in art, in literature, in music, in architecture, in nature, and in the company you keep. Do not be a stranger to Holy Scripture. Establish a relationship with your Priest, Minister or Rabbi. Do not be a stranger to your Chaplain.

Do not seek all this Goodness in Hollywood; you will not find it there. But there is much that is beautiful and uplifting and Good in this world. If you seek it, you will find it.

Remember the old Boy Scout Motto: Be Prepared.

Your combat kit is, or it had better be, in good order and ready to go at a moment's notice. It is also important to keep your spiritual bags packed and ready to go, for you know not the hour nor the day when you will stand before the ultimate Judge of all. Always be prepared.

Remember, in those dark, lonely hours, when you feel most alone and forgotten, that God is with you, and that we love you, we are thinking about you and we are praying for you. You are never totally alone, my son.

Before closing, one last thing I ask, just as a small favor to an old man who loves you.

You know, everywhere you go, everything you do, someone is watching you. You are our hero; our heroic figure. We all all look up to you. We admire you; we wish we could be like you. You are our champion, who sallies forth to destroy our enemies. You are an example to many.

When you go to Church or to Synagogue, wear your full dress uniform. Let those who look up to you know that a mighty warrior can be a Godly man, and that those two things go together. You represent the Champion Of Good, and the Enemy Of Evil. Let younger generations see that, and admire it, and aspire to it.

In closing, I wish for you the finest thing any man could ever wish for another: That you may please God, and that you may live forever.

May the Lord bless and keep you.

(Continue Reading at Original Source: To an American Warrior).

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