Ties That Bind

This past weekend I had the honor to attend a cook-out held by some of the retired veterans from the 1133. Some of them I haven't seen or had a chance to talk to in the last five years, some I haven't seen in almost ten. All together a good three generations of our unit were present. It felt more like a family reunion than a gathering of friends. For those of us still serving, ranks were put aside for the night and for all of us the jokes and usual grief-giving was picked up right where it had left off all those years ago. Personally, it was one of the happiest times I've ever had.

A common theme I come across when reading about units from previous wars is the bonds that develop between soldiers. I know civilians often don't understand those bonds and in all honesty I am not quite sure how to explain them other than after you spend months and years with people training, sweating, and at times bleeding together there starts to develop a family-like bond. Its a bond that goes beyond just team work. We get to know each other pretty well, we share our joys, our tears, and mistakes together. We watch each other's children grow up (and sometimes join the unit).

To go along with the family analogy, its been my observation over the years that certain soldiers will take on different family-like roles. There are the parent-like mentors, the helpful uncles/aunts, the siblings, and even the youngsters still learning. Looking around at everyone last night I could still see the characteristics of the roles present...and like with the jokes the roles were picked right up where they were left off at. I could also see however, which roles are currently being filled by those of us still in the unit. As I had mentioned to OP, the majority of those present last night were at the point in their careers that when we first joined the unit that him and I are now. As odd as it seems we are now "the old guys" and those under us are now the "kids" so to speak. The time may have gone by fast, but the cycle continues and will keep going long after we are the retired guys. My hope is that we will be able to mentor, guide, and share what we know with the younger troops as well as the current retired guys did with us.

I think Heabie said it best though when he responded to a comment made by a civilian that was with us about the unit seeming like a family when he replied "yes it is...and you know, it never goes away."

~~~