My grandfather fought in WWI and another in WWII. Three cousins served in the Gulf War. I’m glad each of them made it back alive and unscathed, and thankful that they, and others like them, answered the Call of Duty.
I don’t talk about this often, but I’m a veteran. Sort of. I too have answered the Call of Duty, specifically Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Call of Duty: World at War.
Today, I’d like to reflect and remember some of the guys I proudly served with, men who patrolled beautifully rendered streets in consoles far and wide.
There was Oddbody, toughest guy you’ll ever meet. He’s 8 – 10 tops – and he’s there 2, 3 hours a night, 4 if his mother’s working late. We call him “The Latch Key Commando.”
King Lou, stationed out of Brooklyn. Wife, two kids under 4. After the family’s gone to bed he’ll slug it out in the shit until all hours of the night. If we needed something done, we could always count on King Lou.
Poopypants. A well-deserved name as every time things got frantic, you’d hear him say “I’ve got to go, I’ve got to go!” but still, good guy.
And then to those we lost…
E1987563. Helluva guy. We were both young snipers once. He was like a brother to me, probably because he was actually my brother, and we’d fight alongside one another online. Sadly, he hasn’t signed in in over 75 days….
The call went out again earlier this week, and one by one, we’re leaving our loved ones behind - who can say for how long? - and making our way back to the consoles. I made it out alive the first time, but not unscathed. Meetings are hard, I can’t walk into one without first wanting to throw a stun or frag grenade in there. You just never know what’s waiting for you on the other side of that door.
But here’s what scares me most.
Monday night, dead asleep, and a mosquito flies past my ear. Bzzzzzzzzzz. I leap up screaming “Incoming! Incoming!”
I’ve served, but at what cost?
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