Destiny or Stupidity?

I was drafted the first year they actually pulled your number by birth date. Mine came up as a 50-50 chance of getting drafted. Well, I was called up in the March/April time frame. Before I left for Basic Training everyone told me, don't sign up for additional time. They will ask you to, but don't do it. Well, that first week of orientation, I did sign up for additional time just before we actually got into actually Basic Training. Why? I was uneducated and had worked since I was a sophomore. Pretty much 40 weeks as well as school. I don't remember that education was important in my family. Family was big, we were poor and the money was needed. I thought that by signing up for that extra year I would be able to get a school and learn a trade and get an education. Make something out of myself. So I signed up for Communications Center Specialist.

Close to graduation from Basic Training I get called in. They want to know if I want to continue to stay at Ft. Lewis for pretty much the remainder of my time. Well, apparently they were not aware that I signed up for the extra year and school. Once I told them that, poof, that offer was gone. So off to Ft. Gordon and just finishing training, most of my fellow GI's got Germany, Italy and Belgium Civilian Status. I waited for 3 weeks or so and got Vietnam.

So the question is "Was this my Destiny?" As I said in a early post, I always knew I would go to war - even at a very young age and had actually talked about that happening. Now it was coming true. I guess one could say it was stupidity for signing up for another year but I believe it was my Destiny, a plan for my life from a Higher Being. As I do more posts I'll explain this a little more and give my reasoning on why I believe it was my Destiny and my Destiny played hand and hand with the Destiny of my fellow Brothers.

Well, time to get some Zzzzzzzzzzzzs. It's late and quiet and the night brings me back to basic training. One night it seemed to be especially quiet and I was sitting outside with a fellow Brother from Maine as Taps was being played. We had a very quiet conversation regarding the night and Taps. Somehow I knew right at that time that although I had no knowledge or meaning of Taps that it would become one of the emotional and gut wrenching things I could ever imagine. But it can also bring peace and comfort as well.

So as I fall asleep tonight, my Brothers will be in my thoughts and prayers as they always are. And although no one is outside playing Taps I still hear it and hear the words as I fall to sleep.

Day is Done,

Gone the Sun,

From the Hills,

From the Lake,

From the Skies,

All is Well,

Safely Rest,

God is Nigh.