Finally got it after 6 years of working and wishing for it.
As we stood around waiting for graduation rehearsal to I started to think back at my last 61 days. I remembered huddled up as close as possible with 15 guys trying to stay warm during the Bayonet Assault course all the way back on March 8. We were huddled in a group complaining and shaking from the cold when three Blackhawk helicopters flew overhead and we saw a few legs dangling out the doors. Our instructors told us that they were on their way to the previous Ranger School classes’ graduation. The sight of those ‘birds and the thought of graduation seemed so far away from us while in that puddle of water. Yet, here I stood on May 6, 2006 at graduation watching those same helicopters fly overhead and ready to receive my Ranger Tab.
Friends and family are allowed to come to the graduation ceremony and prior to the actual graduation 3rd Ranger Battalion comes and performs for the crowd.
One of my old buddies from college. With me in Iraq now.
They do several demonstrations with explosives, helicopters, fighting, and rappelling. The crowd loves it and most of the Ranger Students sleep through it since we never really slept during the school. After the demonstration we are given a few minuets to fall into formation and the actual graduation ceremony begins.
The speaker at my graduation was General Patraeus who is now the commander of all of Iraq. I wish that I could say I learned something from his speech and that it motivated me to become an even better soldier but then I would be lying. Truth is that, I was asleep the whole time. My Mom even has video of my standing there swaying back and forth a bit completely asleep through the whole thing. When they called us to attention though I woke up and stood up straight and proud ready to finally pin my tab on.
Dad giving his approval.
At that time they allowed family and friends to come out of the stands and pin the new Ranger Tabs on us. I had my Dad pin mine on and then we took pictures I got my first hug from my now ex-girlfriend and life was perfect. I felt free and on top of the world I had two of my best friends there, I had my entire family there, even my uncle made a trip up to see it. It was a good day.
All told my Ranger School class started with 400+ students and only 83 of us made it straight through the class. On graduation about 120 new Rangers were putting their tabs on but only 83 of us went straight through the course. I only spent 62 days in Ranger School but there were several people that had been there for 6 months. For those men I have the utmost respect for; they never quit, never failed and earned their Tab. After the ceremony I got in my car and headed for Athens do celebrate, because I knew I would be in Iraq within the next two months. I had to make sure I enjoyed my last few weeks in the States.
