Seargant Dawes

I was thinking of people that crossed my path and how thankful I was that they did. One of those was Sargent Dawes. I had gotten in some trouble at my last duty station, Ft. Carson. Looking back I now realize what a mental mess I was but at the time I just didn't realize it or understand it. I was falling apart mentally and was just really lost. As a result of the trouble I had gotten into I was reassigned within my Company to Sgt. Dawes in the Training Room. I was so afraid of everything and everyone. I felt as if I was hanging on by a thread. When I went into the training room I met Sgt. Dawes. He was an older Sgt. who had a very quiet / different sounding voice which actually sounded as if something had happened to his throat causing this problem. (I seem to remember he had a scar on his neck.) I liked him from the very start. I noticed his quiet, soft spoken voice and his calm demeanor immediately. We talked some about the training room, what I would be doing, etc. It was hard not to feel at ease with him as he actually had a very calming effect on me. As the days and weeks moved on I began to feel like I'd make it through my tour, that the walls weren't crashing down on me and that I fit in as a part of this small group that consisted of me, Sgt. Vasquez and Sgt. Dawes. Sgt. Dawes even put me in for some type of recognition due to my performance and what I was doing. He told me it was denied because of the trouble I had been in and he felt it should have been approved. I soon realized that no matter how well I performed, that issue would always have a negative impact. Sgt. Dawes and another lifer who actually kind of scared me and who came across as a tough guy, talked to me. They told me that they felt I was given such harsh treatment for the trouble I got into because I was a Vietnam Vet. They told me how other GI's, and one in particular, who did the same thing I did but in a bigger way were only given an Article 15. The one particular GI actually received a suspended Article 15. I was court-martialed. They said they believed I was used as an example and things were harder for those who served in Vietnam and they were not treated as fairly. Just before getting out they both spoke with me again and the gruff Sgt. told me he tried to fix my records regarding the trouble I was in. That ended up being unsuccessful. I am so thankful my path crossed with Sgt. Dawes. I'm not sure I would have made it if it weren't for him. I can still see him in my mind and hear him speak and remember his big blue Chrysler he drove. I'm am also thankful for the gruff old Sgt. who really ended up being one of the good guys. I am honored to have met them.