The Catholic Defender: Combat Medic was my profession in the Army

I am so thankful that I was solid in my Catholic Faith years before I enlisted in the United States Army. Between October 2002 - 2005 I was stationed at the MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Stations) and my Wife Gigi and I lived on the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NAS JRB), New Orleans. During this time we enlisted some 8,000 troops who entered the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, the Coast Guard, National Guard and the Reserves. That was a high honor.

When I enlisted, the Combat Life Saver Program was developing as we worked to improve the medical support of our units. This would be a major support during the Gulf War. What we accomplished in our medical support turned how wars were fought. In times past armies could be stalled because of the disease that affected campaigns such as what we had in Saudi Arabia. Dysentery would be a massive killer but because of our support, we maximized troop strength at high levels. I am honored to have served with the best.

I served under some of the greatest military leaders of all time. I served under five presidents, despite two of them, we were able to hold the line. What an honor to have served under General Norman Schwarzkopf and General David Petraeous! I took the Oath of Enlistment as a solemn vow:

"I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

My last unit Platoon Motto was "Grave Robber" our goal was to save every person we can to send them home back to their families. Not only did we save many lives, I was positioned to help many Iraqi children born with birth defects getting them help outside Iraq where Israeli Doctors were able to treat them. That is a highlight. We did much to help the local population changing the mindset of Americans as conquerors to Americans as liberators.

I am thankful for all our Veterans who served our Country and fully support our Military today. It is so important that our Nation continues to be strong because the world is a very dangerous place. The world does better when America is strong. This is a major reason this Midterm Election is the most important in our life time. Our ability to vote is our freedom to rise up in support of agendas or to rise up against an agenda.

Pray for our Country, pray for our Troops, pray for our freedoms to follow our faith. If we want to hold onto the success the past two years, then the Republicans will win, if people want to reward those who are about resist as opposed to results, then the Democrats will win. It's hard to find a middle ground.

Election Season, you got to love it!

Almighty God, bless our nation and make it true to the ideas of freedom and justice and brotherhood for all who make it great. Guard us from war, from fire and wind, from compromise, fear, confusion. Be close to our president and our statesmen; give them vision and courage, as they ponder decisions affecting peace and the future of the world. Make me more deeply aware of my heritage; realizing not only my rights but also my duties and responsibilities as a citizen. Make this great land and all its people know clearly Your will, that they may fulfill the destiny ordained for us in the salvation of the nations, and the restoring of all things in Christ. Amen