You
know. The guy that was born in some
backwater place you never heard of.
He had four kids and a wife to
support so he joined the Army. He
started as a grunt. He was moved
around the world, often with his
family in tow. He never really had a
chance to own anything because he
kept getting transferred. Never
really thinking that he may actually
be called into harm’s way.
But then the call comes and
regardless of his own personal fears
and the fears of his family, he asks
no questions because his country has
called upon him, and he does what he
believes is the right thing. The
same thing millions of men and women
have done before him, he goes to a
foreign place he never really heard
of, to defend his country from
people he personally has no grudge
with. However he knows that freedom
is a fleeting thing and that his
sacrifices are small compared to the
total price that has already been
paid to acquire it and to defend it.
So the Regular Joe continues to do
what he believes to be the right
thing. And throughout the war he
does the jobs and tasks he is called
on to do. Raise that communications
tower, fix that radio, tote this,
carry that, march here, go there,
fight this day, carry the wounded,
tend the infirmed, pass the ammo and
a thousand other things that it
takes to fight a war and defend
freedom. None of these things ever
did nor ever will mark the Regular
Joe in the ranks of the likes of
Patton, Nimitz, or MacArthur. Nor
even the Chesty Pullers, Pappy
Boyingtons, or Alvin Yorks. Most
would not consider this Regular Joe
a hero.
Not all wars are popular to 'We the
People'. This Regular Joe happened
to serve two tours in a war in
Southeast Asia and just like any
other war, this Regular Joe saw
friends and foe alike, dismembered,
bloody, scarred and scared. Never
knowing what frightened him more,
believing that tomorrow would never
come, or knowing that it inevitably
would. Often, the only thing that
kept him going was his own internal
strength, the support of his family,
the belief that he was defending
something larger than himself, and
that his country needed him.
The Regular Joe was often in harm’s
way. Shot down twice in helicopters,
he knows firsthand that any landing
you can walk away from is a good
one. But luck was not always on his
side. In a hail of incoming fire,
shrapnel cut through his flesh and
he paid a price for freedom that
day. But thankfully it was not the
ultimate price. Awarded a Purple
Heart, he was thanked for his
sacrifice and was again asked to
pass the ammo. Eventually,
thankfully, the war came to an end.
In this case victory was really
never won by either side.
Since this was not a popular war,
there was no one there to greet him
when he came home. His country had
shunned him, his wife had forsaken
him, his friends, those that were
not left behind, had forgotten him.
The Regular Joe knew that he would
never be considered a hero. He knew
that protesters reviled him, and
that in the streets of the country
he loved, they burned the flag that
represents the freedom he sacrificed
so much to protect. At first, all
this infuriated him and he berated
those that would protest him.
But then the Regular Joe smiled. It
did not matter that no one came to
greet him. It did not matter that
the People burned flags in the
street. It also did not matter that
people reviled him and consider him
and those he fought with,
barbarians. This regular Joe could
hold his head up high because he
knew what many of those that
protested him forget. The only
reason that the People have the
Freedom to protest in the streets is
because he and millions of other
Regular Joes just like him protect
that freedom, regardless of the
sacrifice.
This Regular Joe knew that what he
went to Vietnam to do was to protect
the rights of the protesters and
provide them with the Liberty to
despise him so. He knew that he had
defended Freedom so that anyone in
this country could express freely
and without fear of retribution,
whatever they believed, even if it
was something he did not agree with.
For this Regular Joe knew that no
person nor country can truly be free
unless we ourselves are willing to
accept those that we disagree with
and who are different from us. The
Regular Joe knows that the most
honorable thing he could ever have
done, was to have fought for and
protected, the freedom of someone he
does not even know.
With the war behind him the Regular
Joe continues to serve. He and his
like stand watch over our shores and
keep the Torch of Liberty burning
lest it be snuffed out. He rebuilds
his life; after all, he still has
four boys to bring up. As is typical
today, the Regular Joe remarries and
now with a new wife and three more
kids, he does the best he can to get
a piece of the American Dream.
After 26 years the Regular Joe
leaves the Army and starts a small
handyman business built on the
skills he learned working with his
father while he was growing up and
on the skills he learned on his own
through books and classes. It was a
successful enterprise built on the
ethos that any job worth doing is
worth doing well. Over 25 years, the
small business grew and transformed
as all things do, eventually
focusing on heating and air
conditioning.
Throughout all of those years, the
Regular Joe was involved in his
community. He was a Moose, an Elk,
and a Mason. He also never forgot
those that serve their country as a
member of The American Legion.
The Regular Joe finally decided he
had earned his retirement and was
ready to reap the rewards he and his
wife worked so hard to enjoy.
Traveling, seeing the world,
visiting family and friends in
faraway places. Or best of all,
spending time by the lake at the
cabin he loved so much.
Unfortunately, the time for such
enjoyment was short. The Regular Joe
was struck down in his sunset years
by a disease that stole his past,
his present and his future. It came
into his life like a shroud that
grew ever darker, stealing his
memories, and eventually his life.
The disease caused profound changes
in the Regular Joe. It forced him to
do things he would not normally do
and endure attentions that he might
find humiliating. Things one might
say would cause a loss of dignity.
However, dignity can only be lost if
those closest to the Regular Joe
allow that dignity to be diminished.
This Regular Joe has lost no
dignity. He stands as tall and proud
as ever before in his life through
his legacy of a loving wife, six
sons, a daughter, twelve
grandchildren, and four great
grandchildren.
It is fitting that this memorial
takes place in a military town where
the traditions of service run deep.
This is one of the greatest legacies
of the Regular Joe. One that should
be honored and held in the highest
esteem. Three of his sons and two
step sons, also became Regular Joes.
Two followed his footsteps into the
Army, two joined the Marines, one
joined the Navy, and a grandson
joined the Air Force. It is this
tradition that lives on in this
country which keeps us free. And
it's not just the sons that are
Regular Joes. Many women have
scarified every bit as much as men.
It's unfortunate that we may never
know just how many of us are Regular
Joes.
Most people never hear about the
Regular Joe. To me, it is the story
of the Regular Joe that needs to be
told to 'We the People' so that we
are reminded that it is the Regular
Joes who protect our Freedom and are
every bit the hero as any one that
was ever celebrated. Even if the
Veteran never sees combat, that
individual, could at any moment, be
just like the Regular Joe and taken
into harm’s way. It is an ironic
thing that those who have been
there, the most battle-harden of
men, the best fighting force ever to
take the field of battle, are the
ones who want peace the most.
As a former Marine, I have been in
harm’s way. Though I never faced the
reality of war the way the Regular
Joe did, I still know what it is to
sacrifice for freedom, for country,
for family. Along the way, I had
help from many service men and
women. Not to mention, I too, enjoy
Freedom because of the sacrifices of
those who came before me. The least
I can do, the least any of us can
do, is not forget the sacrifice of
those who fought for and continue to
defend our Freedom.
I want to personally thank you,
Regular Joe, and all those just like
you. I know that I enjoy the
freedoms, possessions, and
privileges I have because of your
sacrifices. I also know that I am
able to have a loving family and
share the traditions and values of
Freedom and Liberty because of you.
Although no one else may tell you
this, and even if I never told you
while I was growing up, to me you
are not just a Regular Joe, you are
a hero.
But even more importantly, you are
my dad.
It is said that old soldiers never
die, they just fade away. But this
is only true if we allow them to die
in our hearts and fade from our
memories.
I for one shall never forget you, I
will always hold you in my heart,
and I salute you First Sergeant Joe
E. Browning.
