What Does It Take To Be Free?

What Does It Take To Be Free?

* It takes leavin the only place u have ever known as home to go live in a 3rd world country you have barely even heard of.

*It takes havin to say goodbye to the ppl u love and not knowin if u will ever see them again.

*It takes gettin used to the feelin that everyone is out to get u and being alert 24/7 in case they are.

*It takes livin on a run-down military base in the middle of no where on a cot made of nothin but a piece of woven material.

*It takes gettin used to the idea that the closest thing to a hot dog u will be gettin anytime soon is the dog ur Company adopted named Shaft.

*It takes losing ur best friend to an IED, hostile fire, or a simple vehicle accident.

*It takes sittin through a field funeral while his name is called out over and over and no one answers.

*It takes bringin his body back home to his family b/c that was their last request of the Army so u could be there to present his body and the flag at the funeral. And the whole time ur heart is breakin while doin this...

*It takes gettin used to the guilt u feel b/c it was him, not you.

*It takes courage to get back on that plane after only two weeks to finish the job.

*It takes strength to "soldier on" after a loss like that.

*It takes lyin awake many nights dreamin of the sweetheart u left behind.

*It takes the tears that fall when u get a letter or package that smells like that special someone.

*It takes dreamin of the day that they will be back in ur arms again.

*It takes self-control to hold it together when u see them for the first time.

*It takes breakin down in front of them b/c after a year at war, u can't hold it in any longer.

*It takes accepting that u will never be the same b/c the war has changed u.

*It takes knowin that is was all worth it b/c u are now at home in a free country with the ppl u love.