Logan Goodwin
Pre-AP English 1
4/13/15
The Hardest Job
Cannons rock and shatter the Earth as massive fireballs blaze in the distance… this is war. This struggle of life and death, power and weakness, and bravery has only be seen by those who made it, soldiers. The soldier has the hardest job in the world because he must be able to face unknown obstacles in front of him and a love for the men beside him.
A soldier’s capability to “adapt and overcome” can be his tool to survive and win the battle or in the long run the war. For example, John is a soldier fresh out of basic sent to the front of some unknown nameless country to fight a faceless enemy. Many soldiers in John’s place can relate that this mission of winning-the-hearts-and-minds attitude doesn’t come lightly to locals who will attempt to kill him at any moment. Soldiers like John must have the will and the courage to fight and overcome an enemy no matter what the odds, which can be easier said than done. In addition, since the beginning of time, soldiers have faced war after war, some not even remembered, to dominate. Soldiers of the ancient world had to deal with the stresses of long treks, disease, and the elements months before even facing their enemy. The soldier’s ability to keep trekking even if the wears and tears of the world weigh on his shoulders. Therefore, a soldier’s ability to face a faceless enemy or the weight of the outside world and still fight and overcome makes his job one of the hardest in the world.
Along with a soldier’s ability to deal with what is in front and around him he must also have a deep love and loyalty for those beside him. For example, in the times of Sparta and Athens Spartan soldiers would war and live together for years on end built and bond of brother ship and equality in the face of great enemies. The fact that men from different parts of a country can come together as brothers and fight for a common good makes the bond between soldiers paramount for success. In fact, the famous movie “Band of Brothers” emphasizes the bonds between soldiers fighting in WW2. The movie especially highlights a scene in the winters of Belgium to soldiers huddling together in a fox hole and sharing cigarettes and stories. This built in “pre-fight” relationship foreshadows their bond for each other from the beaches of Normandy all the way into the heart of Berlin. These bonds created between soldiers instills trust and love in one another and can mean everything in a firefight where the cold and heartless can steal anyone at any moment.
In conclusion, the soldier has the hardest job on the planet because he must be able to face the enemies that threaten his livelihood and must share and protect the bonds of brotherhood. These values to a soldier make the pain of blood, bombs, and fireballs all the more worth it.