My Veterans Essay

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to put your life on the line not knowing if your going to die and what threats lie in wait for you? Patriotism keeps our country up, running and safe.
This first story is a story of patriotism that says that other people matter no matter how they treat you or their rank in society. It is in the midst of World War II, and an American squadron is waiting behind a corner to ambush the Japanese that come through that valley at that time. In the squad is a young man, he is not the leader he is not second or third in command. He was the last recruited in the squadron by the draft, he was not trained, and the army just gave him a machine gun and told him to shoot the bad guys. While the squad is sneaking along, looking forward and to the sides the young cadet was looking down to the ground, too scared to look up. Then he saw a grenade implanted in the ground, he called out, no response. The young cadet then made the most important and last decision of his life. He ran up to the front of the squadron and while being yelled at to get back in line he threw himself over the grenade. He and the grenade exploded leaving his squad staring in awe at where the cadet and the landmine used to be. The squad went on to ambush the Japanese squad that would have gone on to kill the man and squad that would have lead D-day to victory. That didn’t happen because of that cadet. That takes true patriotism, that you love your country so much that you would be willing to die to save people who you didn’t like so they would live and could finish what they started. A lot of people if you mention him they don’t know who he is or what he did but his memory will always live on in my heart.
So does patriotism still matter? I think it does. Patriotism keeps our country running because without it, the young cadet wouldn’t have thrown himself over the grenade and D-day would have failed. I think that proves my point.