10-4 Magazine / November 2025 51 deck of a ship or the floor of a plane). Probably the most significant thing every “Field Grunt” has in his possession when facing an enemy, next to the weapon or firearm that protects him, is the E-tool (entrenching tool). To the non-believer, it’s hard to imagine a single piece of equipment that can rally the morale of threatening forces faster when faced with possible destruction. The same tool (which is a folding shovel) is often used to dig the latrine (temporary restroom in the wild), to chop away unwanted brush when clearing a field of fire down range, and yes, to scrap a burrow large enough to use as a protective mound or rampart from incoming rounds from a foe. The depression left is not a scar upon the earth, but a rallying cry for those who will follow in battles yet to happen. It is the signature of those who paid a price for our freedoms. Most foxholes are no larger than the men who dug them. In many cases, the deeper the depression, the longer the time it was occupied. They doubled as their bed, their mess hall (the place military people eat), and in the most extreme of cases, the place they gave their all. To every soldier, sailor, airman, and marine we owe a debt that cannot be repaid. Now comes the hard part – connecting my military experience to trucking. In the most recent past, we have seen violence erupt in the streets, on college campuses, and in the very places we conduct our business. This vile example is being done by the very same people who are too scared to volunteer for military service. They claim to be the ones who are protecting democracy, but they are the ones most responsible for its demise. Like the rabbits on my walk, they run and hide at the first sign of any resistance and take pot shots at the peaceful and unsuspecting opposition from a hidden point of security. This is a cowardly act and not one representative of valor. On a battlefield, the opposition is clearly marked and the “rules of engagement” are well defined. But these sinister and cowardly acts, perpetrated by those who openly use the protection of law to cover their actions, are despicable and need to be prosecuted. Regardless of your personal stance on the man who was gunned down in Utah, you must admit murder is wrong. To take the law into your own hands is evil, and to kill someone in hopes of silencing their voice is not progress, it is representative of the worst in mankind. Charlie Kirk was such a man – one who spoke his mind, but also allowed his opponents to have their say, as well. He professed his faith in God and his belief in the foundation of family. An open mic with dialogue is the best way to honor your ideas. There will be some who simply cannot except ideas counter to their own, and they will continue to spread mistruths and, in some cases, outright lies. That hatred will harden their heart to the point of validating the killer and heap praise on the worthless soul who pulled the trigger. I must state for the record I followed Charlie Kirk for some time and found his message to be very inspiring – it caused me to question my place and purpose in this life. His belief in the Christian values and faith, along with his devotion to family, were his most enduring characteristics. Much of America is praying for Charlie’s family regardless of their viewpoint. We often offer up the words “we will keep you in our thoughts and prayers” but what does that mean? Do we really stop what we are doing and lift our thoughts to heaven as we bow our heads in reverence, or do we just give lip service to be polite? Recently, I have been reminded of my time in the corps and, more importantly, my time “over there” in a foreign land. My generation was sent to the Far East and all points along the coast from Russia south to the South China Sea. It was there I learned to really pray. From a point of necessity, fear was a constant companion, and one we never fully overcame. Fear is not a sign of cowardice or failure, it is a normal reaction to anxiety due to your inability to see the future, much the same as many who read this article have when living and/or working on the road. The fear of failure, of missing the next payment, or of not witnessing the growth of your family are all real, along with the anxiety these fears create. It is the most devastating emotion we witness. Anxiety, along with depression, are constantly controlling our emotions. It is ever present on my mind, as I know how dangerous these two emotions can be. “Lord grant me the strength to understand my situation, to overcome my desires, and to not destroy what opposes me.” Fast forward to 2025. I am no longer in the jungles over there, but I still
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