September 11, 2017

 

"Patriots and Diligence"

 {This is a partial, but not exact...excerpt of my upcoming autobiography: "To Three Hells and Back" that I will try with all my earnest efforts to publish by December of this year....}

 Sixteen years ago, I was a US Government Employee, as well as a member of the US Army Reserve, in the role of a Chief Movement Control Supervisor.

I worked for the US Government at an Army Reserve equipment storage facility, and attended training and duty periods in Manhattan, Kansas at a local USAR facility.
On September 11, 2001, I was washing a big truck that is designed for one purpose, to haul the M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank. It has a tractor with four massive axles, and a trailer with 40 wheels across five axle lines. Needless to say, if that beast is dirty, it takes a while to wash it.
My partner came rolling up in our team pickup truck to tell me that "some planes just crashed into some buildings," and that we were supposed to go to the office and report to the supervisor. Less than a few hours later, Threat Condition Delta had been ordered across military bases all over the USA, as well as the world. That Threat Condition means that things are locked down, and armed guards are placed at any security checkpoint, and things take on a different status for an un-foretold amount of time.
I wondered what my wife was thinking, and how things would go from then on.
One year and roughly six months later, my team and I were heading to Iraq, and assist in movement control of the invasion and occupation of that vast piece of what was once ancient Mesopotamia. My team of sixteen men; officers, NCOS, and troops, would spend the next two years of our lives in Mobilization, Deployment, Occupation, Re-Deployment, and Reintegration. Our lives, or at least, my life, would never be the same.
I was a new man, and my eyes had been opened.
September 11th of 2001 was a tragic event. We must never forget the lives that were lost. I swear that as a diligent man of my word.
The events of September 11, 2001 were also grossly mis-portrayed to the citizens of the United States of America, and need to be confessed, told factually, and made public record to the same. I swear that I will attempt to make that come to pass as a Patriot of this great nation. I recall the oath I took so many years ago, in a MEPS center in El Paso, Texas, when I was the ripe old age of 18 years.

"I, James Matthew Culp, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

I took that oath very seriously then, and as a retired Senior Non-Commissioned Officer, hold to it now. I will tell the truth. The citizens of the USA deserve to know it.