The Military?
Continued from Opportunities, Obstacles
While still at college, and much to the chagrin of my professors, I decided to do a crazy thing. I went off and I joined the infantry.
The US Army National Guard.
What was I thinking?
Tim O’Brien, author of “The Things They Carried,” – a book of short stories about his experiences in Vietnam — and a philosophy professor by the name of Dr. Robin King, took me out for a couple of beers in an attempt to cure me of this most recent insanity.
“Why would you want to do something like that and waste your college years?” Robin asked.
Tim was even more adamant — “You really don’t want to do this,” he said.
My reply to Tim was — “Look what it did for you?”
He had, after all, subsequently published many very successful novels. Most were about his experiences as a soldier in Vietnam.
I thought experience would have a way of enriching me, of bringing out inspirations that were lurking just beneath the surface. I thought the military would offer me up some adventure and excitement. I thought it would make me stronger, more resolute. I thought the experiences would give me great material for writing.
What I discovered at a place called Sand Hill in Fort Benning, GA, was not, necessary, all the adventure and the excitement I was after. There certainly was some — road marches at midnight, training in every kind of weapon system, hand-to-hand combat. But what I also discovered there was mostly a lot of hard work. A lot of late nights. Certainly not a lot of sleep. And a heck of a lot of yelling.
Another one of my college professors sent me a post card while I was undergoing basic infantry school. It was a picture of minimalist artwork depicting a red painted room, an empty chair, and a single unadorned light bulb. On the back was a note –
“The Military?” it read. ”Sounds like an exercise in repetition and boredom.”
And she was partly right too. There were certainly a lot of blank rooms that looked like interrogation chambers.
The whole military training experience was a strange mish-mash of combat exercises, living like an aesthetic, and mad episodes of ‘hurry up and wait.’
But what struck me most about this place — Sand Hill, Fort Benning, GA — was that it was a world completely devoid of any female influence whatsoever. You see, there were no girls at Fort Benning, GA in basic and advanced infantry school.
Now this lack came to me as a bit of a shock. For one reason, I had been fortunate to have strong women in my life throughout. A strong mother. A sister whom I thought highly of. An aunt who taught me how to surf. A grandmother who helped save me from some bad choices.
For another — up until that point, I’d lived my life as kind of a minstrel. Poetry and song was my code of honor, altruistic love — my ideal.
Though I knew it in my head that there were no women in infantry school, I didn’t really know it in my heart.
So as I was going through this process. A young man enduring a test. A trial by fire. I began to think about what I was missing in this male-dominated place. Faced with a desert female spirit, I began to think about what it really meant to me in life. I began to think about a story. I had a vision – of a strong young lady going through some tough times. Some adventures. And through it all becoming a hero.
She would not be an object — a personification of some male sexual fantasy toting a sword. She would have beauty but of a deep, personal, and enduring sort — a kind, I hoped, that would touch people to their hearts. She would, at the same time, be both human and real, but also represent a kind of ideal. An ideal of feminine divinity and heroism that I was trying to capture.
I did not, in any way, realize what a crazy and difficult thing I was attempting. I was deeply and irrevocably inspired.
So when I returned to Flagler College, I returned with the idea to write her story.
As some of you already know, I stumbled upon the name Luthiel doing an internet search not long after. I found it was an old German word which meant — ‘one for good.’ I thought it was a fantastic name for my heroine. So I put my hand on my heart. I stuck with it. And I began, at the age of 22, to pen her song.
(to be continued)
July 17th, 2007 at 9:52 am
You couldn’t pay me enough to join the military. not that they’d accept me except in the most dire circumstance.
July 17th, 2007 at 11:04 am
If they started drafting I’d move to Australia. I hate this country, anyways.
Keep ‘em coming.
July 17th, 2007 at 11:47 am
You don’t know how much I love it when guys say something like what you said. That you really missed girls–and not their bodies.
I don’t agree that the military is completely stupid. There are obviously some people that pride themselves upon having defended the country (though the military is currently terrorizing middle easterners), or, in my aunt’s case, being the person that rushes right into the attack by jet and tries to heal wounded soldiers.
But for someone like you (although I don’t know you fully, of course), that did seem a pretty dumb thing to do. It’s obvious that you are not the sort to enjoy testing your endurance in the same ways day after day after day.
July 17th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Well, OK, I’m gonna jump in here.
Sorry, but some of the most outstanding people I have ever met are in the military. I have served my own state for over 19 years, and will continue to until they run me off!
It’s a great life, though admittedly, not for everyone.
Terrorizing Middle easterners??? Excuse me, but WE are not the one who put children in cars loaded with explosives and blow them up in hopes on killing a few soldiers. WE don’t bake kids in ovens and serve them to the families of those who do not cooperate with us. And the last time I looked we haven’t sawed off the heads of folks who don’t live their lives just like we want them to (Like a female Iraqi reporter) with a butcher knife.
Sorry Dara, you hit a nerve. I know WAY too many men and woman in uniform who are doing WAY too many good things over there. Get your fact straight, please.
Oh, and Orophin, if you really hate this place, then why do you still live here??
July 17th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
This lovely blog is certainly not the place for debate on the Middle East. Things like that are best done privately or on forums where such is expected. Rather, this place is a haven built of beautiful words and inspiring messages. Would you not agree?
Robert, recently you replied to an inquiry of mine and you stated that your focus for Luthiel was more about her as a person than as an “object.” I knew what you meant, but this story sheds even more light on that statement. I think I know now exactly how you feel about her. Thank you!
July 17th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
The military does give you a prospective that you really can’t find in the civilian world, it’s not for everybody though. But what the military does need is more readers and writers, around 5 to 10 per cent of any unit I’ve been with has been made up of regular readers and maybe 1-2 percent are avid readers.
July 17th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Onward to Glory, solider. May the blood of your enemies drip from your weapon.
Strength and Honour.
July 17th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Ha. I’ve gone and done just what you described…but I joined the Navy. I don’t leave until I finish school though.
Currently, I attend a predominantly female school, Texas Woman’s University, and I’ve never experienced the ‘manly’ side of things. When I got here, I really missed boys. REALLY. I needed someone to randomly beat on every now and then…If you do that to a girl, someone cries and someone looses a bit of hair…Not my kind of fight.
I’m not hoping for any inspiration from this, so maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised. I figure I have enough whimsy to flood a ship, so I might as well live on one.
oh yeah–yeah for strong women!
July 17th, 2007 at 10:27 pm
I look forward more and more to reading your book/s. I enjoy good Fantasy books that are based around good ideals. It gives the writer more freedom to show their veiws on things. Your writings and the stories behind what / how you write is a nice thing to know. Keep up the good work
July 17th, 2007 at 10:36 pm
Hey I was in R.O.T.C. in High school.
that was enough for me but I feel I need to thank you for going out their…In the deep… were not many woman have gone before. I know that you are not a woman but I think it takes a real man to go out in the woods and life with out women when they are use to being around woman all their life.
Type at you later,
l.Cear
July 18th, 2007 at 5:25 am
Regardless of the people who stare down their noses at the military I’ve found it an awesome experience. I’m Air Force myself and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Some of the best men and women you could ever meet put on a uniform every day.
July 18th, 2007 at 8:26 am
Just for clairification –
I do NOT hate the military. The experience tested me in more ways than one. In all, I served for 8 years. By the time I’d left, I knew my limits and a lot more about myself. I’d also had the chance to help a lot of people. Most of the missions I was called up for were disaster related. I’m not going to make a political statement about wars here either. But I do feel sometimes wars are justified even though I think the thought of a ‘just’ or ‘holy’ war is folly.
I wouldn’t say I was completely unsuited for the military. My disposition and personality have so many facets. I found more than a few I could apply to military life. One was my love of being tested and challenged. Another was my love of self-improvement. I ran into difficulty because I don’t take orders without question and like to keep my creativity and individuality.
But please do not take the above as me bashing the military or the United States. A number of my very good friends still serve and I respect them for what they do even though I may not, necessarily, agree with our current political posture. As for the United States — this is my home and I still have a great love for and hope in her.
July 18th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Ah. Sorry for assuming.
July 18th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Thanks for that information. Because of it your book becomes my next purchase. I spent 10yrs active duty and 2 tours in Vietnam. Needless to say my view point differs greatly from some on here, but one of the reasons I served was to protect the right of the indiviual to have their own opions without persecution. I would just remind them that it is the strong military that protects their rights, and they are assisted by many writers who have the vision to see what is real, and communicate it through many mechanisms.
July 18th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
For Dara –
No worries!
I know it’s a contraversial topic and a lot of folks have feelings and opinions — which I certainly respect.
Best to you!
July 19th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
War is a game of chance and alchemy–the object–turn Blood into Gold and Positions of Power…if you can do that you are a Five Star General!
July 20th, 2007 at 9:35 am
Well said Peter!
June 27th, 2010 at 11:10 am
I cannot thank you enough for the blog article.Much thanks again. Will read on…
November 20th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
Hi there, - found your blog by pure luck when searching round the web this evening, and pleased that i did! I do like the page layout and colours, but I should mention that I’m having problems when it loads. I’m using Sunrise 2 web browser for mac, and the menu bit doesn’t align completely. i’m confident I’ve applied exactly the same layout on a customer’s online site, but the menu seems Ok on mine. I have an idea the fault is at this end & I reckon that it is time to upgrade!