With Honor and Courage

Tmac54

Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2019
Messages
34
No agenda. No political statements. Just a heartfelt rest in peace to Josshua Kaleb Watson and prayers and condolences to his family and loved ones. Honor and Courage until the very end.
God bless all of those who were lost and prayers to their families.
 
I have been reflecting on the actions of Joshua Kaleb Watson since he was identified as both a victim and hero of the cowardly Saudi terrorist on the Pensacola NAS this week.

More than 40 years with the military taught me that our sons and daughters will be put into danger many times in their careers. The same politicians providing nominations will decide the places our sons and daughters will deploy. Many of the places are quite dark and significantly less safe than colleges and corporate America. Yet, the "Applicants" take extreme measures to reach these dark places on the earth. In various ways, our "Applicants" will be asked to make the world better. We parents encourage our "Applicants" to leave home, surmount the rigors of a SA and lead the American charge toward the guns. We are proud and speak fondly of their accomplishments. Yet, the risk of this path resides with the "Applicant." When things go bad around the world, our "Applicants" will be tasked to suit up, deploy, fight and win. I was struggling with whether or not my encouragement also highlighted the risk to the prospect. This terror attack brought this thought to the forefront.

I attempt to placate myself with a belief that I provided adequate warning to my "Applicant." It was possible that "Applicant" could end up in a very dangerous hand-to-hand fight with a strong and respected adversary. "Applicant" needed to understand that it would be terrible for me if final thoughts were that I pushed him into this career path, that this horrible predicament was a result of my egotistical needs. I wanted to know that the risks were understood and accepted by the "Applicant" and, more importantly, that this path was a clear calling.

I knew when "Applicant" accepted an appointment what was ahead. "Applicant" was leaving home and the bedroom was henceforth only for an occasional visiting place of refuge. "Applicant" was not going to be down the street and available to help mow the lawn or volunteer on Thanksgiving at the church. The path was very far away from home in perpetuity. It was important to me that I convey the significance of accepting an offer to the "Candidate." Accepting meant we would not have a family in our small community, that a Service family would be there instead. The "Candidate" would leave home and visit us for short periods of time. The adventure and peril would be significant on each end of a continuum. The risk and reward were "Candidates" to bear.

I asked "Candidate" to consider motives and those heroic actions of Joshua Kaleb Watson. "Candidate" needed to have the physical, mental and spiritual composition to fight tooth and nail with his brothers and sisters to lead American power around the world. "Candidate" would be asked to lead a fight against evil, to build nations and to help Americans and others in many ways. For my peace of mind, I needed "Candidate" to respond like, "Old Yeller," when a rabid wolf attacked the family. I needed "Candidate's" gut reaction to be a swift, unrelenting and over-powering attack on the future, and yet unknown, threat. "Candidate" assured me the repercussions of accepting his application were well-understood and it was time for me to move aside so that "Candidate" could move out and get on with this fantastic opportunity to serve. I was dismissed as being over-sentimental in my dotage. I settled in with the knowledge that "Candidate" was informed and understood completely the difficulties and rewards offered. I stepped aside with a final message that the Line would be difficult, he was not alone, he could do it and to look for greater rewards when the situation got very tough. I think my message was heard.

I think Joshua Kaleb Watson's selfless actions to thwart the terrorist in Florida highlight the commitment and selflessness of these young people. I am very proud of the Naval Officer (who is unknown to me) and I feel a terrible pain for his loss and the loss his family now suffers. Joshua's heroic actions reflect upon each of us. The shadow cast where he was standing is why fight. His light reflects on all military families and the horrific loss saddens me as we continue the march.
 
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I have been reflecting on the actions of Joshua Kaleb Watson since he was identified as both a victim and hero of the cowardly Saudi terrorist on the Pensacola NAS this week.

More than 40 years with the military taught me that our sons and daughters will be put into danger many times in their careers. The same politicians providing nominations will decide the places our sons and daughters will deploy. Many of the places are quite dark and significantly less safe than colleges and corporate America. Yet, the "Applicants" take extreme measures to reach these dark places on the earth. In various ways, our "Applicants" will be asked to make the world better. We parents encourage our "Applicants" to leave home, surmount the rigors of a SA and lead the American charge toward the guns. We are proud and speak fondly of their accomplishments. Yet, the risk of this path resides with the "Applicant." When things go bad around the world, our "Applicants" will be tasked to suit up, deploy, fight and win. I was struggling with whether or not my encouragement also highlighted the risk to the prospect. This terror attack brought this thought to the forefront.

I attempt to placate myself with a belief that I provided adequate warning to my "Applicant." It was possible that "Applicant" could end up in a very dangerous hand-to-hand fight with a strong and respected adversary. "Applicant" needed to understand that it would be terrible for me if final thoughts were that I pushed him into this career path, that this horrible predicament was a result of my egotistical needs. I wanted to know that the risks were understood and accepted by the "Applicant" and, more importantly, that this path was a clear calling.

I knew when "Applicant" accepted an appointment what was ahead. "Applicant" was leaving home and the bedroom was henceforth only for an occasional visiting place of refuge. "Applicant" was not going to be down the street and available to help mow the lawn or volunteer on Thanksgiving at the church. The path was very far away from home in perpetuity. It was important to me that I convey the significance of accepting an offer to the "Candidate." Accepting meant we would not have a family in our small community, that a Service family would be there instead. The "Candidate" would leave home and visit us for short periods of time. The adventure and peril would be significant on each end of a continuum. The risk and reward were "Candidates" to bear.

I asked "Candidate" to consider motives and those heroic actions of Joshua Kaleb Watson. "Candidate" needed to have the physical, mental and spiritual composition to fight tooth and nail with his brothers and sisters to lead American power around the world. "Candidate" would be asked to lead a fight against evil, to build nations and to help Americans and others in many ways. For my peace of mind, I needed "Candidate" to respond like, "Old Yeller," when a rabid wolf attacked the family. I needed "Candidate's" gut reaction to be a swift, unrelenting and over-powering attack on the future, and yet unknown, threat. "Candidate" assured me the repercussions of accepting his application were well-understood and it was time for me to move aside so that "Candidate" could move out and get on with this fantastic opportunity to serve. I was dismissed as being over-sentimental in my dotage. I settled in with the knowledge that "Candidate" was informed and understood completely the difficulties and rewards offered. I stepped aside with a final message that the Line would be difficult, he was not alone, he could do it and to look for greater rewards when the situation got very tough. I think my message was heard.

I think Joshua Kaleb Watson's selfless actions to thwart the terrorist in Florida highlight the commitment and selflessness of these young people. I am very proud of the Naval Officer (who is unknown to me) and I feel a terrible pain for his loss and the loss his family now suffers. Joshua's heroic actions reflect upon each of us. The shadow cast where he was standing is why fight. His light reflects on all military families and the horrific loss saddens me as we continue the march.
Amen.
 
God bless all of those who were lost and prayers to their families.
 
To Joshua Kaleb Watson and to all those in morning at the Yard and in Coffee County, Alabama.
 
I did not have the privilege of knowing this fine Officer. But reading about his bravery and the ultimate sacrifice he gave has had me in tears, sporadically, all weekend. We send our "kids" to these SA's saying we know what they are committing to, but times like this, frankly, I'm a coward. My heart, my thoughts and my prayers go out to this young man's family as well as the other 2 sailors who gave their lives in this terrorist attack. Fair winds and following seas young men. The MIDS and your brothers and sisters across the services have this watch.
 
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