[Old Sarge]

THE ARMY OF ONE

An Open Letter to Our Patriotic FRiends

I indeed remember September 11th, 2001. I was on leave from an Active Guard assignment. I had just dropped The Boy off at his school, and just got in the kitchen door, when The Missus called me from work, exclaiming, "You've got to find out what's going on!" I turned on the TV, and the radio, and hopped on the 'Net, and the horror unfolded in my home, just like it did in yours.

I remember watching as the South Tower collapsed, then later, her sister. I remember my knees giving way, and sitting hard on the living room floor, eyes never leaving the images on the screen, glorious and horrible.

But, I didn't feel, and still don't feel, the things you all have told me. I have never shed a single tear for the fallen of September 11th. I have never grieved once over their murders. I have never known numbing fear of the future. At that moment, on that day, and every day since, I have known only this...

Anger.

Rage.

Fist-clenching, jaw-grinding, impotent rage at the assault on my home. Pacing through the house like a caged beast, screaming curses in a dozen languages at the obscenities flashing before my eyes. Vowing vengeance and justice for my country and my neighbors, to whichever diety was listening.

Sound good to you? Does to me.

Yes, I want war. I demand it. I demand that violence be visited upon the enemies of my nation. I demand that I be one of the fortunate ones who get the chance to face the foes of America, and hurl them screaming into Allah's arms.

Yes, I'm an intelligence geek. I work with information. But knowledge is my weapon of mass destruction, for with my knowledge I can tell the shooters exactly where these demonic tools of evil lurk, and I can cheer my comrades on as Death comes to embrace the foe.

But their ends, for all my labors, would be too quick. I want death for the enemy to be a lingering, burning, screaming, pleading death, just like the 3,000 who were murdered two years ago.

Just like my relatives who died in 1956 in Budapest, aunts and uncles and cousins I shall never know, except for letters and legends.

Just like the 11 million who perished in camps named Buchenwald and Treblinka, and gulags near places named Sary Sagahn and Krasnoyarsk.

And not long ago, I got to see it, live and in flaming color. I revelled in the vengeance from the skies, thundering gouts of flames like the anger of God.

And I get to hear it, too. Stories men bring back to us Guardsmen from across the planet, from places that end in -stan. Places where only the strong have survived, since the time of Alexander, and the Americans are proving to be the strongest of all.

I want war. I want vengeance. I want flaming holy justice to descend upon the enemies of freedom, be they Muslim or Marxist. I want blood in their streets. I want ash in their skies. And I want the cry to ring througout the land, from the book of Revalations: "Lord, Your anger is upon the wicked is righteous and just!"

If that disturbs, offends, or troubles anyone, tough. Soldiers have 1st Amendment rights, just like YOU do. Your rights are guaranteed by people like me, here and abroad. You FReep tonight, because we are ready to keep you safe to do so. Remind a soldier today, how you feel.

No, Folks, I won't forget or forgive, either. I join you today, and every day, in the loss and the anger. The job's not done. I won't stop, either.

Thank you, FRiend jriemer, for the chance to talk and to be read by all my new FRiends.

Yours,

SARGE

[DooDahhhh]

well stated.

[spookycc]

But, I didn't feel, and still don't feel, the things you all have told me. I have never shed a single tear for the fallen of September 11th. I have never grieved once over their murders.

I did not choose whether to cry or not to cry. The tears came, and kept coming. My soulmate and I wondered at the end of September, 2001, if our tears, and the anger, would ever end. Now we don't care if they *never* do.

I've cried more over 9/11 than over everything else in my life before and since, combined. I buried a brother on October 11, 2001. I buried my father on March 11, 2002. I don't think those dates were insignificant. I feel linked to 9/11 even though I live nowhere near NYC or DC.

[Soaring Feather]

Great letter Sarge. Thank you.

[Wild Thing]

Old Sarge what you wrote is how we felt too.I had been out riding my bicycle early that morning and got home and my husband was furious and also he did have tears in his eyes, BUT not tears of saddness as much as anger and rage.

We waited to hear from my Uncles son, my cousin one of the firefighters. He was safe but he lost 11 of his friends and two of his Chiefs in the stairway that day .

I will NEVER stop being outraged and never stop wanting to seek out the terrorists and get everyone of them. They worship death and I am all for giving it to them.

Wild Thing

[AFPhys]

The tears running down both of my cheeks - now down to my chin - are a tribute to the how well you have expressed my deepest thoughts about this attack on the America and our whole way of life.

[itsLUCKY2B]

Your words are eloquent. Thank you Sarge, I like the cut of your jib!
from a former NYPD

[Fawnn]

Well said. (Your anger is far more productive than the depression this event can trigger in me. Soldier on for those of us who can only cheer from the sidelines!)

[MEG33]

The impotent rage was the hardest to deal with for me as I could not exact vengence or plan or help.Prayers for the ones who could became the avenue I found.They continue.God bless those who serve and protect.