I'd Go Back
Since this COVID crisis went sideways; since it became a pandemic, I’ve been waiting for the inevitable call back from the military. I’ve thought long and hard about it. I’ve prayed about it and meditated on it. I’ve considered the implications, were, I to be called back and what that would look like; for me, and for my family. I thought about all of the other Veterans, like me, who have broken brains and broken bodies, and how they would respond to a call back. I considered how, maybe if others went back willingly first, some of those people wouldn’t have to go back, at all; unless it turned into World War Z. I thought about all of my friends still serving; with broken brains and broken bodies, and what it would do to them, to be understaffed and overworked.
While being underequipped and ill-prepared for this kind of thing; realistically, who could have been? Doesn’t seem any country, world-wide truly knows how to respond to such a thing; not with the true reality of what this thing is really like. I thought about it long and hard, and I prayed and meditated on it long and hard, and I was given one overarching message.
I’d go back.
My entire family, on both sides served their country. Grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and, even my own daughter, and I. My grandfather served in World War I and, when World War II happened, he tried to go back. But when he went to join, he was told he was too old. So, he went back to another recruiter and lied about his age because he held the same duty to service, as I did/do. A duty to serve, with and for; his comrades, his country, and to be with his sons. To do his duty to our country in a time of war. Well, we are at war again. But this time, with an invisible enemy.
And, like both World Wars, this time, we need all hands-on deck again, if we want our country, our comrades, our serving family members to survive. Because, even if the virus doesn’t get to them, there is a massive potential of this thing leaving our military and our country, devastated; with more broken brains and bodies than we can help to heal. And, because I signed up for this, when I joined the military. When I joined, I knew there was a possibility that, were there to be a large scale domestic threat or another World War, that there was a potential of being called back to active service. While the virus was spreading through China, back in February, I started considering the idea of call-backs. And, the very minute the virus spread to the point that we started calling Canadians home, and shutting down borders, I knew there was a very real potential of being called back. And, I started thinking of how I would respond; thinking, praying and meditating. And, as I said; I’d go back.
I’d go back for; my country, my comrades, my family and for my calling to serve. I'd go back to serve alongside my comrades, again and help to ease their burden. I'd go back, despite everything I'd been through; for them. I'd go back, to ease their family's burden. I’d go back, so my friends with kids wouldn’t be overwhelmed with work, and miss out on being able to be a family. I’d go back for my friends whose brains were broken more than my own, so, they didn’t have to try to deal with the added stress of front-line duty; or any additional stress, at all. I’d go back, for the families that have been apart, more than they’ve been together, throughout their military service. Because, as you know, the whole family serves; even though they don’t all sign up for it.
I’d go back for their spouses, and their kids; with the hope that maybe they would get some relief and be able to have some semblance of a life throughout the chaos. I’d go back for the ones who are trying to get out because they’ve done enough and are burnt out, but can’t; unless someone goes back and takes their place. Like my Grandfather, I’d go back, especially for my kin; my daughter. To serve alongside her where and when possible. As a method of continued support for her. I’d go back for my children who aren’t serving; to help my comrades and my country secure a better future for them; for my son and daughter-in-law and my daughter and son-in-law, and especially for my soon-to-be granddaughter.
To give them; especially her, a chance at a good, healthy life, free of constant isolation, risk of infection, and depleted resources. I’d go back to make sure that her ‘normal’ was a good ‘normal’; where families are strong, communities come together, selfishness is rare and people step up to help where they can. I’d go back so she could one day, proudly proclaim that her Grandmother volunteered to go back; that her duty to service, to her country, community, comrades and family was like her own Grandfather’s, and that she did everything she could to fight this ‘War’ so, that she, herself could be healthy, free, happy and live a healthy, ‘normal’ life.