Happy Birthday United States Army

June 14th, besides being the birthday of my pride and joy, is also the birthday of the Army. How hardcore was I? My only child was born on the birthday of the army. That piece of knowledge helped me on many a promotion and Soldier/NCO of the Month boards. Our Army was actually created before we had a nation, and the Infantry was the first branch formed of all volunteers. The pay wasn’t much different then what it is today.

That the pay of the Officers and privates be as follows, viz. a captain @ 20 dollars per month; a lieutenant @ 132 dollars; a serjeant @ 8 dollars; a corporal @ 72 dollars; drummer or [trumpeter] @ 72 doll.; privates @ 6B dollars; to find their own arms and cloaths.


A LT makes 6 times as much as a CPT and a CPL making more then a sergeant?? That had to have an effect on folks wanting to get promoted.

Today that army that started as an All Volunteer force is once again an All Volunteer Force. The weapons have changed, the tactics have changed, but the citizen who volunteers to serve has not. It takes a special kind of person to wear the uniform of their country. It doesn’t take long after donning it that a realization sinks in that YOU now represent the United States of America. Everything you say and do has a chance of being printed in every newspaper, presented on every news cast and used by every sort of person with an agenda for their needs. The mere presence of a soldier wearing that uniform has kept countries safe, inspired fear in our enemies and during my term of service served as a beacon of democracy to the citizens of countries living under the oppressive boot of the Soviet Union. Somedays you wonder if you can bear to wear that uniform one more day. The weight of that cloth makes you wonder if maybe it is made out of spun lead. To be 18 or 19 years old and to be patrolling down the dangerous streets of Baghdad or facing across a border at a foe who could begin shooting is frightening, but not as frightening as the prospect of knowing that the simplest misstep on your part could produce what is called an “international incident” that could lead to war.

So to those who went before me, a silent toast to your service, that gave birth to a nation and sustained her through some dark days, to those now serving, a salute for your service and sacrifice that ensures this nation will survive and to those yet to come a challenge to pick up the mantle so that this country, “of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth”.

So long as that flag adorns the sleeve of one soldier there will be a United States of America.

Besides I don’t look so old for somebody who is 232 years old! HOOAH!