Epilogue.

I began rewriting my version of “Another Cold War” in a format suitable for web site use and using a very faded and beat up paper copy of the story from when I wrote it first fifteen years ago. I realized how intense my hatred had become for Sergeant Henry at the time of the events even though now I look back at many of them as comical. After discharge I dealt with that hatred for several years. I had deep rooted inferiority issues for a while until an old friend named Neil Davis, in Houston, saw enough of something in me that made him think it would worthwhile to talk to me and get me pointed in the right direction. As I aged, I always remembered the things he told me. I came to understand how that much hate can be so detrimental to ones mental and physical being. I guess the moral of this whole thing is that hatred brings you down to the level of those you hate and you can very easily become that which you hate. Earl Nightingale, a motivational speaker, in his presentation called “The Strangest Secret” says, “We become what we think about most of the time.” So, the bootstrap is to know and think and believe that you are not as inferior as you are made to be by someone like Sergeant Henry. And to disassociate yourself from his kind. Hard to do in the old Army of 1958. I don't think it is that hard anymore if you decide not to let it be. There is a lot more support for the “all volunteer” military these days. Sadly we often hear of servicemen in preventable trouble losing it all. So if you recognize this in a fellow human being, do all you can to help steer that person in the right direction. Spiritual, psychological or medical-whatever it takes.

With that in mind, I would like to thank all of those men and women who followed me to Thule for their sacrifice with the hope that none of them ever had a Sergeant Henry to deal with. Even more, I wish to thank all of the brave young “volunteers” who have put it all on the line for the freedoms and lifestyle we all enjoy. Thank you for your service to our country and may God bless each and every one of you.

Respectfully,

Gary Foster