Posted on 12/01/2005 3:24:32 PM PST by SandRat
MIDDLETOWN, NY -- John Simar woke up in Kuwait this morning – a 55-year-old soldier – one order away from risking his life on the bloody streets of Baghdad.
His journey from civilian to soldier began with a phone call to the Pentagon's personnel office in August. Simar asked if he could do anything to help with the war effort in Iraq.
He figured he might not even hear back. Four days later, his phone rang. The voice on the other end said: "We have a job for you."
Just like that, Simar retired from the military more than a decade ago, went from athletic director at the Lawrenceville School (N.J.) to a morale welfare recreation coordinator for the U.S. Army.
He left for Kuwait as a volunteer last weekend.
"I didn't want to do a fund-raiser or send handy wipes over," said Simar, a 1972 West Point graduate who played wide receiver and served as running backs coach from 1987-94. "I think all (West Point graduates) owe a service that never ends. I see all these 25-year-old young men with two tours in Iraq, some going on three. I wanted to help them in some way."
Still, the question has to be asked: Did Simar hesitate for even a second when asked to go overseas? Most men with a life like his would run from the assignment.
Simar is wealthy and successful. His wife, Jeanie, is both loving and beautiful. They've been married for 33 years.
Simar never had second thoughts. He was proud to take his marching orders and gladly gave up his seats on the 50-yard line for Saturday's Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
"I wasn't shocked," Jeanie Simar said. "I know John loves his country and all the kids fighting over there. I'm very proud he is doing this."
Simar trained at Fort Benning, Ga., and Fort Bliss, Texas, earlier this month before departing. He is due back home next Nov. 5. Simar's duties include coordinating sports and fitness activities for troops, organizing celebrity visits and counseling soldiers. He is based in Kuwait, but is expected to spend weeks at a time in Baghdad, and possibly fly to Afghanistan.
"There is no safe job over there, there is no clear battle line," said former Army running back Mike Mayweather, who played for four years (1987-90) under Simar. "A lot of people would say thanks, but no thanks. But John is just selfless. I've worked in corporate America and I've never seen people as selfless as John and other Academy people."
But Simar did have one request for his mission.
"I don't want to work with the people in the rear area, who have it fat and happy, who work a 9-to-5 shift," said Simar, who retired from the Army as a major in 1993.
"I want to work with the soldiers who are on the front lines, the kids who are getting shot at every day. I want to help the troops over there."
(This article originally appeared in the November 29 edition of the Middletown, NY Times Herald-Record and is republished here with permission. If you would like to comment on this story, the author can be reached at jrodriguez@th-record.com.)
Ping for an old soldier returning to serve once again.
Another great story. What a man!
Very nice....a true American.
Can Roger Staubach be far behind?
Heard a report earlier on FNC about a shooting at FT Worth naval base but can not find a thing on it. Anybody??
BTTT
http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/12839
Check this from google news
He figured he might not even hear back. Four days later, his phone rang. The voice on the other end said: "We have a job for you."
Just like that, Simar retired from the military more than a decade ago, went from athletic director at the Lawrenceville School (N.J.) to a morale welfare recreation coordinator for the U.S. Army.
ping. Great story.
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