Semper Fidelis: Always Faithful
by Haley Scott
In the aftermath of Osama bin Laden’s death, it’s difficult to guess what the future will hold for the United States and its armed forces. Sergeant Justin Parker* of the United States Marine Corps said “it could make huge changes on future deployments and it could bring on very likely retaliation against the U.S. by al Qaeda. Only time will tell the effects it will have.” Even so, the 23-year old Iraq veteran does not seem afraid, even in light of his upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.
Brothers, sisters, sons, daughters—thousands of men and women risk their lives for our country each day. They aren’t trained killers or brutes; they are the heartbeat of America. They are our family members and loved ones, and they are just like any other person, except that they feel a sense of duty that they must fulfill for our country. Sergeant Parker, like many others, felt driven to serve from a very young age.
Sergeant Parker joined the Marine Corps in November 2004, when he was only 17 years old—with his mother’s signature, of course. He said, “I joined partially because of 9/11, and also because I felt that it was something that I owed to those who have served in the past and given their lives and it’s a way that I could show a little gratitude for their sacrifices.” He left for basic training in August 2005 and has since worked his way up in rank from infantryman to corporal, then later to sergeant.
There are so many branches of the military, each surely just as honorable as the rest. “I chose the Marines because it’s notorious for being the hardest and most intense [branch of the military]. I spoke with members of different branches before making my decision and every Marine seemed to have more pride in what he did. I didn’t really get that from other branches, and one of the biggest reasons [I joined] is that the Marine Corps was offering no bonus at all,” said Sergeant Parker.
This may not seem logical to most, but he went on to explain: “I would rather be surrounded in combat by men who are doing their job because they have a true interest and passion in it rather than somebody who’s joining the military simply for monetary incentives or for college.” Sergeant Parker certainly takes pride in his military background, and dons several tattoos that lend honor to the Marine Corps.
While Sergeant Parker may be a gung-ho Marine, training one weekend a month and pumping iron daily with a fierceness not known to most, he is still a human being. After his Iraq deployment, he had to readjust to civilian life back home. While most would think of the Middle East as a terrible, scary place, he actually speaks fondly of his experience. “My experience in Iraq was by far the best experience in my life. Not to say that it was fun and exciting the whole time—it was great in the sense that it was very difficult not just physically but emotionally,” said Sergeant Parker.
“Being away from home and fearing that you may not make it to the next day will make you step back and look at your life and really prioritize everything. It gives you a whole new perspective. I now take fewer things for granted and appreciate everything I have. I was able to see and learn about a third world country and their culture and beliefs,” Sergeant Parker said. “Being over there actually gave me somewhat of a new respect for Iraqis. I realized that it wasn’t the Iraqi people we were fighting; it was the insurgents that were moving in from bordering countries and reeking havoc; they were dealing with the Taliban coming into their space, along with the Americans coming in to fight the Taliban.”
Many Americans have a very different view of Iraqis and people from the Middle East in general. We tend to associate them all with the evil people who attacked our country, but that isn’t the case. Being a Marine has taught Sergeant Parker a whole new perspective and has allowed him to grow and mature in ways that he probably wouldn’t have otherwise. He said, “It brought me to try to view situations not just from my perspective but from every perspective. I try not to complain as much about the little things because I know firsthand that it could always be worse. The summer heat of Arkansas seems bad but then I think of all the patrols we went on where it was between 125 and 135 degrees while we wore over 100 pounds of gear and had about 10 miles to travel. I can always use that as an experience to look back on and realize that I don’t have it so bad.”
When he came home, it was really disorienting because while home life had frozen for him while he was away, he realized that it didn’t freeze for everyone else. Sergeant Parker commented, “For family and friends, life goes on. Their life never stopped and so much has changed. When you return, you hear of people who have gotten married, divorced, and even died. It feels like you have to try to catch up with everyone and make up for time lost.”
Sergeant Parker describes a common problem for many service members. “I’m basically living two separate lives. I get caught up in school and personal life and everything goes smoothly, but then I have to cut into it with training, where I have to leave either just for a weekend, two weeks, a month, or even a year. It can definitely put a strain on relationships, but on the plus side it has brought me to be more decisive and more confident with making quick and confident decisions.” He mentions that it opens up several job opportunities as well.
He also mentioned the strange habits he brings back with him: “I remember leaving the house to go to the store and I would reach down before walking out the front door to grab my rifle and halfway to it I would realize it wasn’t there anymore. I got back just before the 4th of July and, honestly, fireworks suck. Bottle rockets sound like AK-47 fire in the distance and big fireworks are like explosions, so needless to say I was a little on edge.” Overall, he said the transition wasn’t that bad, but it was the little things that took time adjusting to.
For many, they complete their contract by deploying overseas and then they are finished. Especially after his promotion, Sergeant Parker doesn’t feel as if his duty is over. The Iraq mission was a part of his contract when he joined, but he will soon leave for a two-month intensive training program to prepare for his deployment to Afghanistan next year. He commented, “The upcoming Afghanistan deployment is just after my contract ends. I may not be required to go but now I’m in a leadership role and I’ve trained with these guys and helped to build them up to where they are today, and I feel that if I bail out at the last minute and don’t go with them then I’m neglecting them and my duty. I think that if I choose not to go then I will regret it later on in life, especially if they are to lose anyone while in combat.”
No doubt Sergeant Parker would be a very different man if he had never joined the Marines. It helped him to grow and mature in ways that ordinary civilian life could not. He confessed, “I have grown to be much more independent and less reliable on other people. I’m much more likely to step up and give my opinion of something and in situations step up as a leader. I have more respect for life and the little things.” He isn’t a superhero, and neither are the many other members of the military. They have their own faults and weaknesses just like all the rest of us. They may be afraid at times, but they have more courage in one pinky finger than many other Americans will ever know.
Even though Osama bin Laden is dead, the war is far from over for Sergeant Parker and many others like him.
*Author’s Note: Sergeant Parker is my (step) brother.
