Kyle’s Blog

The Last Romantic War – Part One – By Kyle Tennyson

“War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. ” John Stewart Mill

War is a necessary means to an end. Unfortunately, we may have long seen the last of the “Romantic Wars”. World War II, to be exact. The last war where patriotism was a disease. Where our brothers in arms, fated themselves to become heroes in a time where the world was changing, the powers shifting.

Yes we have had hard battles, and wars, even if you want to go as far as naming undeclared police actions such as Vietnam and Korea. Striving to better our world, we leave out the mere fact that we became who we are by holding a rifle in the direction of our enemies, the Tyrants who want mass genocide and expansion of resources and land not of their own.

The last of them, ended in 1945 after the “Twin Shocks”, and the signing of the Instrument of Surrender by General MacArthur and the Japanese.
So I use the term “Romantic” in a way many may not understand. Imagine your world today, and go back 71 years to the dawn of a new era of war. Where air raid sirens frighten families into their basements, and the thought of invasion left many with a bad taste in their mouth, knowing that had there been one, the enemy could have reached as far as the Mississippi before we could stop them from the west.

Think of the soldier today, who feels the urgency of protecting himself before his flag. Saving his children before a faith. Today is a world without sacrifice. We subject ourselves to a way of life not discerning other men who gloriously and poetically died to preserve their very own way of life.

Those men, fought to become adversaries of their enemies of the past. Many fell apart and even cried or worse when they were told they were not fit to fight the Nazis in Europe or the Japanese in the Pacific.
Men fought with passion. They took aim against their enemy with belligerence and left with them a scar that the heart of an American soldier is just as enduring and unfaltering as the flag before him. A Japanese soldier could see the patriotic symbol growing in the horizon, appearing closer as bomb shells burst around it, and bullets streak past it, with a hint of fear not understanding that the man before him ran forward into the grips of death with a mind that not only was it his duty to fulfill but his destiny.

Whether it was the 101st lasting out the constant shelling during the suffering days of Bastogne, or the Marines withstanding amidst the Guadalcanal campaign. Through perseverance these men held out through the toughest of situations, with the thoughts and dreams of their loved ones back home, and the courage to stand before men that had no other desire than to spill their enemies blood before them.
These heroes of men, the true Band of Brothers that fought in such a personal way left our world’s history with a moment of pause that personal war, personal battles, fuel the hearts of men, and make them the saviors that we so lack in a world today.

Modern Warfare is less personal. Yes there are troops in the field, snipers in a birds nest, and modern armor that carry groups of soldiers to their CP. But when you fly an F-14 Tomcat over land you are more concerned about SAM’s than you are the pilot before you. You’re not looking out for Manfred von Richthofen as you bank and roll over the English Channel. Today’s war is technological. Whether it be the laser guided missile to the barren rooftop hiding twenty militia, or the RAM’s defending the USS Ronald Reagan. Technology has only proven one thing, battles are quicker, safer, and they lack “heart”.

Legends came from soldiers of yesteryear. Soliders such as Vasili Zaitsev whom was involved in a standoff with Erwin Konig. Two snipers known for their games of cat and mouse during the battle of Stalingrad. Even though many say that Major Erwin Konig never existed, Vasili did and his record kills of possibly up to 400 were very well known and documented.

Leaders became heroes, whether it be the proclaimed hero General George S. Patton, Hermann Goering, (number two to Hitler and commander of the Luftwaffe and pilot ace), or Major Richard Winters whom eventually commanded the entire 101st Airborne, starting from Normandy all the way to the “Eagle’s Nest”. These men became true legends, their names whispered in the shadows by their enemies, famed by their actions of war, leadership and ability. With no room for arrogance, no room for malice. They were tasked to complete a goal, a mission, and did so without any disdain.

Yes, absolutely there were men who would have rather been at home, loving their wives and children, who shared fears of death and sometimes would wonder their very own purpose. Although they still held their heads up higher than a soldier would today, and regardless of situation, regardless of opposition, still fought with victory in his grasp.
They knew their enemy, the hatred they shared for one another, yet the possibility that had circumstances been different, they might of just been friends. You could see your enemy, you could feel their presence. It’s different than a bomb going off in Gaza strip.

Running off a Higgins boat onto the beach, comrades falling around him, mass chaos, bullets and blood everywhere, he could see the gunner atop a hill from a bunker. Artillery surrounding, shells falling, tank busters, blood in his eyes, on his hands, shell shocked for a moment, shouting, yet even though there was fear, there was an objective. Not just to fend for his life, and the lives of his friends, but to secure the beach so that armor could come ashore, and to kill a few Nazi’s. It builds up, the adrenaline, the sense of urgency. Fire one.. Get to the top of the hill. Get to the top of the beach. You will not die today. Standing, running through plumes of ash and soiled mud, fast as he can. His assault rifle hoisted, firing, diving, jumping, and finally succeeding.

The dark of night lit by anti-aircraft fire, the door is open and the light turns green. “GO! GO! GO!”, he runs out the door into the air. This is only the beginning, falling through the sky with a parachute, same effect, bullets whizzing by, flak, blinding lights from below, his buddy 30 yards before him explodes into dust, his best friend’s plane crashing right before him, the wing missing. He lands in a field, way off course, his squad and CO nowhere in sight. The objective is clear. There is no hiding deep within enemy territory, there is only the code, the mission, the reason for volunteering in the first place.

These great men, these noble and honorable men, did what they must not only to survive, but because it needed to be done. The difference? The enemy was in plain sight, not afraid to show their faces, their opposition. Yes there were ambushes, but battles were fought as they should have been fought. Tactics dictate the victor, passion, skill, and numbers.

You knew not only who your enemy was, you knew what he was about. You wanted to show him what you were made of, the challenge, the duel, not just for revenge, not just with anger, but because you were an American. You might have been Christian, Jewish, Agnostic, even though it doesn’t really matter. Whether a Kraut, a Jap, a war hero, or a scout, men took pride in their work, they had strong feeling against their enemy yet respect. They knew that the man aiming right down at him from a bell tower might have two children and a beautiful wife, with the same desires as he to return home alive. But one of them would make the story end for the other. Regardless, their stories accounted for, their lives remembered, and the celebration of bravery and strength of a soldier.

Men injured and close to death dreamed of returning to the lines, fulfilling their mission, their destiny. Willing to give their lives for their country, and the success of the campaign. It didn’t matter if you were in Northern Africa, or smack in the middle of the battle of Midway, the Philippines, France, England, or even in Berlin.

I’m not going as far to say today we have no heroes, or there were no honorable or strong-minded soldiers during Vietnam, Korea, even Operation Desert Storm. I’m just saying wars lack a certain specific substance. They lack a real villain, a real legend. Today we fight battles against flagless militia, whom flaunt no uniform. Yes you can say there might be a passion behind events such as 9/11, although not to the taste of Pearl Harbor. You just do not have the bittersweet taste of victory, no real outcome or victor regardless of ending. A terrorist is not a true villain; no matter which way you slice it. The war history community has no given respect or even recognition of a terrorist such as Osama Bin Laden. He is nothing more than a sporadic stain with a delusion that his guerilla tactics have any effect on destroying a nation. No substance, no legend, no hero.

Adolf Hitler was actually a war hero as well. He was the Supreme Chancellor of Germany. His dreams, a New Order over Europe and the forming of racial hygiene. Although he also proved to be an enemy worthy of war. His conquest across the fields of Europe disposing of armies in the world circles, demonstrated his purpose and his mindset of military power.

American troops abroad, prided themselves upon the thought that they could eventually destroy the Reich, and seek out and take vengeance upon Hitler and his Nazi party.

It wasn’t until the end of the war, did they discover his true nature of horror and the spilt blood of thousands of Jews across all of Germany.
Today we leave no room for a true arch enemy. Even though the hearts of evil men flourish, the side has yet to be decided as well as the victor. Today evil is on all sides, home and abroad. Citizens fight what is in our nature, they balk at war veterans, baby killers. The heroes of the past are as common names as household branding yet we have forgotten them. We have misplaced our pride and glory of our origins, and shut out self sacrifice. We are destined and bound by natures laws as a warring race, yet fear and lack of faith holds us back, in regression of a species.

One day, maybe history will repeat itself, and bring forth true honorable men, those that are selfless, that maintain a certain noble character and seek out the victory in a raging battle of the world. Until then, we must remember those that did so with pride and shook their fist in the face of a true enemy. The true legends of heroes from World Wars, Civil wars, Revolutionary Wars, and as far back as history can take us. The man behind the flag is only a statue remembered, and the blood he shed shall never be forgotten.

There are still bold and honorable men today, everywhere in the world, yet we just lack the romantic flavor of the glorious few that brought us here. I would never say that the men and women of the armed forces are any less than heroes. I will only go as far as to say we have no true enemy.

[real life interview with Winters where he quotes Mike Ranney on how Ranney answered a question his grandson once asked him] I treasure my remark to my grandson who asked, “Grandpa, were you a hero in the war?” Grandpa said, “No… but I served in a company of heroes”.

Just a song I really enjoy.

It’s been such a long time since I had updated my blog site.  Let alone my portfolio, etc..  It was at least a once a week thing.  So I’ve decided, after a little extra curricular activity and a long day of work that I need to write out my thoughts once again.  Once more into the breach, dear friends.

A week and a half now, I’ve gone without a cigarette completely.  Life is changing so rapidly for me as of late.  With new ideas, money, career, dating and friends.

It’s been a blast so far.  And the right people are in my life.  The other know they aren’t for a reason, and I make it very apparent they are not welcome.  Forgive my bluntness.

My most significant change has been quitting smoking.  I was on my last pack at the office, and I just decided no more purchases.  I would not smoke ever again.  I finished the pack, with help from others, and left for Walgreens.  I purchased one pack only, to keep the mental condition of panic at bay that I would not have anything in my possession.  I purchased a box of nicotine gum, as an aid to curb the cravings and went home.

Since that day I’ve been extremely strong.  Even when the urges return, I pop a piece of gum, and they vanish.  Life smells better.  Life is better.  I’ve been jogging with Cheyenne on a nightly basis, working out, eating better, and in general living better.

Cigarettes now smell nasty, and since my taste buds have returns as well as my general senses (ALREADY), I have no desire to pick up a single cigarette. 

One thing many thing is crazy, but works for me, is not changing anything else in my life.

I still drink coffee, I still drink when I go out whether wine or pints, I still sit on the back patio and hang out with Cheyenne, I am associated with people who smoke and it doesn’t kill me, I tempt myself and even carry that pack of smokes in my car at all times.  It’s there..for me to fall off the wagon.  However, my mental strength (not to brag) is astoundingly strong.  When I decide something..I do it.  Regardless of anyone Else’s input. 

Although, I have to thank one person in particular for being there 24/7, even when she wasn’t needed.  The one person in my life who is my outside conscious.  Thank you Ashlyn!

I can’t even express how tired I actually am today.  It’s not any one’s fault but my own.  It’s been one of those couple days where you just are ready for the weekend to begin, kick back, relax and unwind.  Let out a little steam as well.

Starts off with a busy week, a speeding ticket, no coffee for the entire week at the office.  Sending engineers out on Starbuck’s runs per my order, Cheyenne hitting that tear it all up phase, and then a lot of long phone calls both personal and business.  I’m so ready to just pass out.  I’m sitting at the office, taking a moment to re-collect my thoughts.  What have I accomplished this week? 

To my own knowledge, I know I have completed many tasks and made some great big changes around the office.  However I cannot remember them right this very moment.  All I can say is my mind is blank, and nothing seems interesting at the moment…

As the day progresses, I’m becoming more and more cynical.

So here we are stuck in another spring of bad weather. The last flooding even close to this was during tropical storm Allison.

Yes I’m at work but an hour late based on intersection flooding around my neighborhood.

I always manage to take late pictures. And miss the fun ones. These are not so bad.

It has come to my attention certain customers feel that I am not doing my job completely.  It surely is a Monday.  Specifically “cough cough” Jennifer.  Well looks like i’ll have to roll out the red carpet and make sure they know we are on top of things.

Bad Service