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Thank You, Sargent Larry

My grandfather Ro was a soldier, and he and my grandmother raised seven children together. My dad grew up as a military brat, and he thought the constant moving was bad for a child. 

My grandfather Ro was in Korea when my dad was born, and this wasn't his last tour of duty. My father detested the way my granddad was treated, because he thought a hero deserved better. I never knew my dad felt this way until I found a nearly twenty-two year old letter that he wrote to his older brother Ro Jr. he was till in high school when he wrote the letter, fifteen years old just like I was when I found the letter. 

In the letter, my dad ripped into my uncle for joining the service, giving great detail on why a man of color should never be in the army. Until then, I didn't know my dad never wanted to be a soldier. However, I still struggled to understand why he would join the army and expose his children to the same unstable childhood that he had. My dad fought in Dessert Storm (the first Iraq war) and he was deployed for six months when I was thirteen. 

I always thought the government and the US citizens were inappreciative of the sacrifices the soldiers make. I decided at a young age that I could never be a soldier. I could never leave my children for months on end. I could never fight in wars for people who didn't appreciate it. 

What I didn't know is that my father had felt these exact sentiments when his father was deployed during confrontations. As I read the letter, I could relate to my father's emotions, but I couldn't figure out why he, himself chose to join the service when I was just a baby. Troubled, I showed the letter to my grandmother, and her explanation gave me a new appreciation for the man who had basically laid his life down for me.

I was born to two high school graduates who didn't have so much as a college credit between them. My mother and father met while working at a national department store and they wed less than two years after finishing high school. Their first child was a premature baby girl who weighed a mere 4 lbs. 8 ounces. My sister went on to live a normal life, but early medical complications had all but depleted my parents' savings. 

It was nearly two years later when I made my debut into the world as a healthy, 8 lbs. 4 ounce bundle of joy. My parents were relieved that I went to term, but they would soon find out that their experience with my sister hadn't prepared them for my sickly first year of life. 

Before I was four months old, I was diagnosed with the deadly disease spinal meningitis. At this time, both parents were still earning modest salaries and we lived in an unsightly trailer park. Therefore, the prospect of paying my medical bills was threatening to bankrupt the family. The administrators at the hospital were even threatening to send a dying infant home, because my parents weren't paying the bills. My father has never said to me that he joined the Army to save my life, so I was in high school, before I learned the truth.

I was about five months old when my dad joined the army in 1979. He went in as an engineer, a career path that took advantage of his mechanical skills. Though he was making less money as an E1 private, the excellent health benefits supplemented the military salary. The US government took over the medical expenses and I -- thanks to my father -- made a full recovery. 

My father's incredible work ethic quickly propelled him through the ranks of Charlie company. By the time I was 18 months old, he had become a spec. Sergeant (E4) and we were transferred to Germany. Living overseas meant that I wasn't exposed to the inner city turmoil like my cousins. I attended excellent schools while they attended broken schools. I now have a career as a writer and I realized at an early age the extremely positive impact that my father's career choice had upon my life. However, it wasn't until I was fifteen that I found out just how much Larry Sr. had given up for my sister and I. 

Words could never express the level of reverence I feel for my father. This feeling of admiration is only increased as I raise my own children. I love my children dearly, but I couldn't imagine doing what Big Larry did for me. I was in high school before I realized that my dad had taken on a life he detested in order to save the life of his only son. He would never say to me " I did this for you." Heck, he didn't even admit to it when I asked him, but I know this. I wouldn't be here to write this article if my dad hadn't made a sacrifice, even if he's too proud to admit it.
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