army pvt kelley s. prewitt, branden f. oberleitner

[questionallthings]

I can tell you a personal story of why I joined the military and you may take it anyway you wish. I fair warn you that many of you will find faults in my story in fear of the truth. Some of you may look at it and see what it is like to go from a low-middle/upper-low class citizen to a middle/upper-middle class citizen within 6 years. However way you wish to take it, please understand that this is all truth and nothing is exagerated:

I grew up in Canton, OH being raised alongside my older and younger sister with my low-income parents. We struggled like everyone else did during the 90s and I finally graduated High School with decent grades. My family expecting me to attend college (rich white boy my ass) and I went to Kent State University for about 1 semester and realize it was not for me.

I left Kent and began working at Taco Bell trying to make ends meet and my parents told me I had two options - leave and find my own place or join the military. After about 10 seconds of thought I realized my life wasn't going to go anywhere unless I did something and the military was that thing.

I joined the US Air Force on 9 Sep 98 and went to Lackland then Keesler AFB for my training as a Tech Controller. After 6 months total traing time I was assigned the Pentagon. As you can imagine everyone in my family was excited that I was going to work at THE Pentagon. We were just jumping for joy.

Then something happened that changed not only myself but the world. We all know what happened on Sept 11th and a good 80% of us were americans. I remember working in the Pentagon that day and not being able to see within 2 feet of myself because of all the smoke. My lungs were blazing hot from the inhalation I had to deal with. My job was so important that I know I had to be there. If I wasn't there people out in the field wouldn't be able to communicate.

People say that it was a terrible day in history and I wish they knew just what it was like to be there. I see people today and it amazes me that the majority of them were supportive of anything that dealt with taking out those terrorists and anyone associated with them. Now they want nothing to do with fighting.

It saddens me to see my brothers and sisters of the military fighting a just war only to have the people they are fighting for bash the military. I hear some people now " but that's ok because we are not bashing them just there leaders". But those people don't realize when you bash our leaders and our government you ARE bashing us because we chose to fight for them and for you.

I now work for a government agency making a more then decent living. And I thank the US Government (particularly the military) for where I am at. I mean where else can you be a low-class income citizen and turn around 6 years later making 60K a year with only a high school education?

Thank you for your time.