Sheepdogs Must Take A Stand

Essay by MadMaxKUniversity, Bachelor'sB+, September 2014

download word file, 4 pages 0.0

Maximilian C. Kaehler

Phil 3108 Ethics

16 Sept 2014

Sheepdogs Must Take a Stand

"Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident…Then there are the wolves and the wolves feed on the sheep without mercy. Then there are sheepdogs, and I'm a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf. We intimidate those who intimidate others." ("On Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs") Lt. Col. Dave Grossman talked about this theory and the way a Vietnam War Veteran saw the world. I read this in high school and this quote stood out to me, it made me stand back and think to myself about what I wanted to be in this world. Over months and years after reading "On Combat" by Lt. Col. Grossman, I decided that it was my duty to do what I was put here to do, be a sheepdog.

So on October 21st, 2010 I joined the United States Army. In March of 2012 I was stationed in Ghazni Province Afghanistan and put on a protective service detail. On that protective service detail I was assigned to protect high -value visitors and suspects, that's where the real story begins. It was a cold night when the door was of our tent was kicked open. The cold desert air sent chills through my bones and shocked me awake. I didn't want to leave the warmth and safety of my sleeping bag but a booming voice began talking in our tent.

"Come on fellas, we've got actionable intel on a scumbag. It's time to have some fun!" our platoon sergeant shouted as he began kicking bunks.

We all got up immediately, beginning to frantically get ready for whatever what was on...