It is not our technology, impressive as our equipment may be. It is not our spending, even if we are willing to spend more in total and per capita than any other free country in the world. It is because of our brave volunteer soldiers who are willing to put their lives in danger for the rest of us.
When 1st Sgt. David Henry heard Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Cooke had been killed outside the wire in Iraq, he wasn’t surprised.
Cooke was that kind of sergeant major, Henry said. He was a leader who went where his soldiers went and took the risks they took even though he didn’t have to.
“He didn’t have to be out there with soldiers manning checkpoints, checking on soldiers during cordon searches,” said Henry, 1st Squadron, 1st U.S. Cavalry Regiment rear detachment noncommissioned officer in charge at Büdingen. “But that’s what he liked to do.”
May God be with you Sergeant Major. And many thanks to all our brave soldiers for putting their lives on the line to make the world a safer place.
A tip of the helm to Sir Dave for bringing this story to my attention.