What it means to thank a veteran; from a veteranWhat do soldiers get for their sacrifice? They give America a chance to be great...
By Dale Hartt, former U.S. Navy and UFC fighter I grew up on a farm in Dixmont, Maine, in the 1980s. Dixmont had a population of 800 people and lots of trees. My parents were often at work or traveling. Fortunately, I wasn’t the only kid in the neighborhood left unsupervised. We had a great group of kids that all loved to play rough. Many of the kids I played with were 4 years older than me and much further along in puberty-sadly. Since most of our games were outside and involved battling; I took frequent and hardy beatings. I was lucky to have them as friends, and they prepared me well for the military. At 19, my grandfather David was diagnosed with lung cancer. He was my patron saint. When he died, I felt very alone in a scary world. A few days later, my friend Tom and I were watching a Discovery Channel special about BUD/S class 234. Ten minutes into the episode I decided it looked like so much fun, I was going to join the military. I looked at Tom and told him I was going to go blow some shit up.
Being a good soldier is often about embracing the suck. The Penobscot natives give people a new name when they come back from war because they are now a new person. One of my dearest friends was a forward-deployed Marine stationed in Iraq and Haiti. He commonly has shortness of breath, severe anxiety, and goes running out of places randomly. We were watching Indian Jones once, and he told me he was going to the bathroom. Instead of going to the bathroom, he sprinted home. It was not easy for him to get his head right. It was not easy for many of us. Dale served as an interior communications man in the U.S. Navy for 4 years and was deployed on the USS Gettysburg. Afterwards, he began a professional MMA fighting career which lead him to the UFC. Help our Navy SEALS reenter society: Beyond the Brotherhood
Navy SEALs have a vast array of marketable skillsets and expertise, there is little to no guidance, support or network when they transition out of the SEAL Teams and into the private sector. For SEALs with entrepreneurial aspirations, there is even less guidance. The operational tempo and clandestine nature of their work prevents them from building the social fabric that most of the world enjoys. Navy SEALs are forged in a crucible of service, their exceptional skills honed for a unique mission. As they transition to civilian life, a new chapter beckons – a chance to leverage their strengths in a supportive community. Through personalized career guidance and mentorship, we help SEALs translate their remarkable experiences into fulfilling goals. BTB empowers them to find purpose and camaraderie beyond the battlefield. Even a small donation goes a long way to helping those who gave everything for us. You're currently a free subscriber to PolitiBrawl. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription.
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Sunday, January 5, 2025
What it means to thank a veteran; from a veteran
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