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Antonio Ruiz

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We Fight Monsters: Wisdom and inspiration that speak to the warrior's soul

by Michael Kurcina (Goodreads Author)

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May 11, 2021 05:28AM

“SEALs are warriors in every sense of the word: men who actually go into combat on missions that bring them eye to eye with their enemy, up close and personal. Even their methods of insertion are extremely dangerous; parachute jumps, submarine launches, and ocean swims in treacherous seas are very serious business. I guess that's why I find it hard to accept how our society tosses around the word "warrior" when describing an athlete, businessman, or even a politician. To me the term "warrior" is a sacred one characterizing a lifestyle of personal sacrifice. A warrior's training is continuous in order to maintain a constant state of readiness, often taking him away from the ones he loves and those he's sworn to protect. A warrior does this not for reward but for a chance to join his brothers on a high-risk mission. It doesn't sound like any civilian occupation I know of.”
― Mark L. Donald, Battle Ready: Memoir of a SEAL Warrior Medic

2 likes

“All the sins I've committed, I've done them with one objective: to keep my men alive. Those kids in my squad, those kids of mine, they are everything. My wife doesn't understand this job or why I do it. My son is too young. My dad wouldn't get it if I tried to explain. My mom would have a heart attack. The need to keep my men alive makes everything else negotiable, and everyone and everything a potential threat.”
― David Bellavia, House to House: An Epic Memoir of War

11 likes

“I am a Christian, but my time in Iraq has convinced me that God doesn't want to hear from me anymore. I've done things that He can never forgive. I've done them consciously. I've made decisions I must live with for years to come. I am not a victim. In each instance, I heard my conscience call for restraint, I told it to shut the fuck up and let me handle my business. All the sins I've committed, I've done with one objective: to keep my men alive.”
― David Bellavia, House to House: An Epic Memoir of War

tags: army, conscience, god, iraq, life, military, soldiers, terrorism, war

7 likes

“Savage, despicable evil. That's what we were fighting in Iraq.”
― Chris Kyle, American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History

27 likes

“Evan stares at me.
I try to hug him. He takes a step back. I pause, my heart in my throat. I’ve got to reach out to him, let myself be vulnerable. I find the courage, but he backs up again.
“You can’t go to Iraq anymore.”
“I know.”
He looks up at Deanna, then back to me. “Did you fight bad guys? You told me you weren’t.” His voice is suspicious, full of accusation. He doesn’t trust me, and I don’t blame him for that.
“No, Evan. I didn’t fight bad guys.”
I can’t bring myself to tell him the complete truth. I want so desperately to go back into this fight. I miss it every day. I always felt I could change the world with a rifle in my hands and our flag on my shoulder.
“Did you get shot?” he looks me over, apparently searching for bullet wounds.
I grin a little. “No, Bud, I didn’t get shot.”
“People get shot in Iraq.”
“Yes, they do.”
It strikes me then that Evan for the first time has a grasp on the dangers that are faced over there. He’s six now, and the world is coming into focus for him.
“People get shot, Daddy. They die. Bad guys kill them.”
I think of Edward Iwan and Sean Sims.
“Yeah, I know they do, Evan.”
― David Bellavia, House to House: An Epic Memoir of War