Random acts of kindness

It's a tough, but heart-warming story...with a picture of John Gebhardt in Iraq



The story goes that this little girl's entire family was executed. The insurgents intended to execute the little girl also, and shot her in the head...but they failed to kill her. She was cared for in John's hospital and is healing up, but continues to cry and moan. The nurses said John is the only one who seems to calm her down, so John has spent the last four nights holding her while they both slept in that chair.

John didn't have to hold her, he never had to enlist in the military. I have people coming up to me at least weekly, while I'm in uniform, thanking me for my service. I respond with, "you're welcome," because I'm not sure what else to say. I feel like the thanks should be more for the ones out on the front lines. My job is to train those to detect aircraft. I mentioned how I felt to a senior NCO and they said no matter what the job is we're all in this war together.

Many people I know right now are deployed, some on the front lines others in the back supporting them and I'm proud of all. Other times when people thank me I feel undeserving, because I'm trying to get out of the military. I feel they should be thanking someone else who is more dedicated to the fight. But no matter what your job is in the military, it's a huge sacrafice most can't understand. Until you feel it you can never know it. I feel honored for being able to serve but now I feel my life is going in another direction. And anyone who has enlisted and taken the oath to serve deserves respect for their self- sacrificing dedication. Because nothing is easy about being in the military, especially having a family in the military. And as a last word, it's a noble enlistment and a certain respect all service members deserve. Because if there was anything average about it, everyone would be doing it.