Oh, is THAT what we're calling it now?!?






I'd have to say my Hero is my Dad. His mom died before he could remember her and his Father when he was 6. His older sister took care of the family (She was 16, taking care of 6 brothers and a sister!) His brothers had a LOT of problems...Alcholism, drug addiction, domestic issues with their families. Many of them had multiple wives and kids they abused and left. Dad never learned to read and write. He was thrown out of shool in the 9th grade, but he worked hard his whole life. He taught me what being a REAL man is all about....not being tough, not being a bad@$$, but owning up to the responsibilities you create. Putting the welfare of your family above your own comfort. Doing jobs you hate to take care of those you love. He gave me the strength to make it through Army Basic training, French Commando School and Marine Boot Camp, and I never realized it. I never realized how his example taught me how to survive. He never was really harsh or strict on me, and he TRIED to give me everything I wanted as a kid, because he never had much growing up. I grew up hating him for being uneducated and telling me that education was the key to sucess. I hated him for calling me lazy when I wouldn't help around the house and for the few times he couldn't get me what I wanted. I hated him for making me stack wood in the fall and doing my chores....living up to my responsibilities. I grew up hating him for all the things that helped shape me into the man I am today. I have been all over the world, survived in places that would make most people fold and I still laugh and smile about it, all because of the things I hated him for growing up. I only hope my son will grow up to realize, as I do now, that the lessons that do us the most good are the ones that are hardest on us and our loved ones!