The War Isn’t Over–It’s HALF-TIME!

by Ryan ‘Dino’ Norm

9-11-21 has been hard. So has the past few weeks.

It’s been extremely difficult.

The end of the war in Afghanistan has been extremely hard and painful to watch. It’s hard not to be in your head or in your feels constantly. Just know it is our duty and responsibility to teach this next generation, show them, and remind them what happened and why we fight.

Leadership goes beyond service. Understand this, everyone, as you reflect on those memories from 20 years of war. We were spared on the battlefield that day for a reason. God’s plan for us was different. God doesn’t give his toughest warriors the hardest battles. He creates the toughest warriors through life’s hardest battles.

It is imperative we continue to hold the line and we continue to teach, coach, and mentor as much as possible. Our lessons learned are now their tools. It is up to them when to use them. Teach them. If we don’t then it really was all for nothing. If we do not continue or we don’t hold ownership and accountability and teach such, no one will have any in the future.

I refuse, till my last breath, to hand this country down lessened; I will help make it greater than I received it. Our children will know of giants. I will tell their stories. I will show them. I was afforded the opportunity to walk among them and our children will know their names. They will know of their heroism, bravery, sacrifice, and all the lessons they taught to me.

People say that the war is over, but those people know nothing of war. We were raised in it. We grew up in it. We spent most of our adult life fighting in it. We left home as boys and became men in it. We have experienced helplessness. We have experienced humility. We have experienced loss on a level most will never truly understand unless you were there on the battlefield.

Boys it has been an absolute honor to know each and every one of you. It was an honor to serve with you, next to you, and fight with you as the devil knocked on the door.

We have a new mission gentlemen.

The War isn’t over…

IT’S FUCKING HALF-TIME!