Brothers in Arms. . .
Sitting next to my son, USAF Staff Sgt. Matthew Perdew, I watched as my youngest son, Seaman Ryan Perdew, marched onto the quarterdeck with his division.
Matt wiped a tear from his eye when he saw his younger brother dressed in white, wearing a sailor's cap, standing at attention in a sea of white uniforms. Ryan was completing his 8-week training at Great Lakes Naval Station north of Chicago to become a real sailor.
The national anthem played and . . .
. . .my boys snapped to attention, saluting the flag.
Tears streamed down my face as I was overwhelmed with pride. Grown men, brothers -- my sons, who just a few years ago chased each other with a raggedy soccer ball in the backyard. Now, embarking on the long journey we adults share, they serve their country in wartime.
I served in the Air Force during Viet Nam. My dad was in the Army Air Corps immediately after WWII. Five of his seven brothers served in different branches of the military before and after him. (Two died before they came of age.)
Watching Ryan take his place in formation, snapping to attention, saluting, marching. . .conforming. . .stirred up a lot of familiar feelings in me.
Ryan will tell you that he doesn't do well with authority figures. So watching him conform to the authority figures in charge of his division was a comforting sight.
But I knew a secret. . .
It's an act. He's a smart kid. He'll do what's necessary to maintain, but he'll never stop being Ryan. That's why I'm particularly proud of him. I'd have it no other way.
He's learning how to be himself in the real world -- the great challenge for most of us.
There they are. My two boys in uniform. Brothers in arms. Just like when they were kids. Fighting. Laughing.
Sharing a difficult childhood and unstable parents. Bonding with their older sister and learning to survive.
They remain close, and open their hearts to their mom, dad, and step parents, living proof that it's never too late to build a close family. It's never too late to learn that family means more than anything.
I hope your family is as close as ours and that you, too, can feel the pride that ours felt on a cold, wet day in Chicago.
Congratulations! Saw your dads link in Willies forum.
Sombody has to pay for freedom, thanks for your payment.
charles Switzer
USMC 66-70 Viet Nam 68-69
then USN 74-90 retired.
Posted by: chuck s | November 30, 2007 at 08:41 AM
David,
Congratulations! I don't think there is a more important job than protecting our nation. Thank you for your past service and for raising two boys that have followed in your footsteps.
Posted by: Roger Carr | October 16, 2006 at 11:57 AM