Long Way Round

Over the weekend I met another young Marine at this wedding in Berkeley. He was an infrantryman who decided to fight in the frontlines instead of taking the relatively more comfortable route of OCS (officer candidate school). He completed his tour of duty in Iraq.

 He knew of Andy.

 It made me think how two very similar persons (both Korean American, college educated, love for country, and a strong sense of duty) went to Iraq and experienced very different fates.

 Many Iranians have died and are dying for a free Iran. One can argue American boys and girls are dying for a war (in Iraq) that is not theirs. Is it wasted? Perhaps. But without their heroism, sacrifice and a sense of calling, we would not have a free America.

 So to that, their labor (and death) is not in vain. Providence is hard to understand at times.