In my Father's Footsteps

For generations my family has upheld a time honor tradition of service to our country. We have lived up to this legacy for as long as I can remember and it all began with my great grandfather during the First World War and has lasted until my time.

This time honor tradition of service to our country is one that I respect with my whole heart. I give thanks everyday to my great grandfather and to all the members of my family for the enduring sacrifices they have made.

But I ask the question. Is this the right path for me? Throughout the years I have watched my brothers serve this country with incredible strength, but I have also watched then come home haunted by what they have seen and the truth is, it scares me.

You see I don't want to let my family down. I want my father and those that came before me to be proud of me like I am proud of them. The stories I heard about my great grandfather's heroics as a pilot during the First World War is the stuff of legend. I never get tired of hearing those stories and there are plenty of more stories.

From my great grandfather's heroics to my grandfather landing on Omaha Beach, to my father's service in the jungles of Vietnam to my brother's continuous service today, they have all lived up to a legacy no one can match and now it's my turn to continue that legacy.

My twenty-first birthday is rapidly approaching and when that day comes, I have to decide whether to continue my families legacy or break their hearts.

So, how am I going to decide what to do? My great grandfather all the way to my brothers are heroes. I'm not like them. I can't live up to them and that's what scares me.

I'm afraid I'm going to fail my family. I'm afraid I'm going to tarnish all they have built. I'm no hero. I'm just plain old Adam Hudson.

Today I have come to my grandparents house to look for anything that might help me make this decision that will impact my life for years to come.

My grandparents are not home, but I still go. I have the key to their house. I unlock the door and enter. I love the way my grandparents house looks. The old world charm fits the house.

I remember spending my summers in this house with my brothers hearing my grandfather's stories and I use to tell myself I want to be just like him. I want to be the hero my grandfather is. But now standing in the living room remembering the stories I feel like I can't live up to the type of man my family wants me to be.

Look at all these pictures. My grandfather proudly wearing his uniform. I look at one of the pictures closely. My grandfather is standing next to my grandmother and I sense of bit of fear, but that was to be expected.

I think that was the only time my grandfather was ever afraid. I do remember my grandmother telling me how proud she was that the love of her life was fighting for their country, for their freedom.

My mother had a similar experience with my father during the dark days of the Vietnam War.My father wasn't drafted like the millions of American boys who were drafted. My father saw it as his patriotic duty to serve. My mother stood by him. She never gave up hope.

All these pictures are amazing, a photographic history of my family's service. Maybe this photo album can help me make my decision. This album I'm holding is very precious to my grandfather.

I go and sit on the couch. I open the album and on the first page is a picture of my great grandfather and a letter written by my great grandfather titled To the Generation that comes after me may you serve well and honorable. I begin reading the letter.

"To my sons and daughters, this letter is a testament to who I am as a person and to what I want you to become. My sons and daughters I want you all to become great men and women not because of who I was, but by what you can become.

War is nothing to wish for even upon your worst enemies. Certainly, I didn't wish for this war. When the Great War started the U.S. and its military were unknown to the world. We as a people didn't want to be dragged into a war we didn't ask for.

I had my dreams just like any person who had dreams. I wanted to be a pilot. So, I studied and worked hard to become a pilot and during that time I met an incredible woman who would become the love of my life.

By the time I became a pilot the U.S. entered the war and now we were truly at war. We didn't have a strong military to match the European armies. So, there was a draft, millions were drafted including myself.

As you can imagine I was scared to go, but as scared as I was, I saw this as my patriotic duty to serve my country. I trained and trained as much as possible. Months after I got drafted myself and thousands of my peers set sail for France. When we got to France we saw the carnage of war. It was something I never would wish upon anyone.

I was one of the lucky few who never experience life in the trenches. I was a pilot and that's what I became during my military career. I flew countless of missions downing over 20 planes.

Ace was my nickname to all the pilots who flew next to me. I lost many friends, but I gain something more, something that will last me a lifetime and that is respect and title of Ace pilot.

I not only gained the respect of my fellow pilots, but also the military commanders and a grateful nation.

1918 is when the war ended and I thought my flying days were over, I was wrong. I got the opportunity to stay in the military as a flight instructor. I took this opportunity and taught future generations the joys of being a pilot.

Being a pilot was the highlight of my career, two things took its place. One was marrying the love of my life and the second becoming a father.

I had a new purpose in life and that's to teach my children my love of flying and to instill in them a duty of service to your country. It's hard and it takes you away from everything you love, but it is worth it, putting on the uniform everyday gives you a sense of pride.

I was scared to go to war because I was inexperience, during your time my sons and daughters it won't be like how it was for me because you will have all the training in the world and a great group of people behind you.

Don't take the decision of serving lightly because it's not. Don't make this decision because it's expected of you, but because you want to.

Always remember to be proud of who you are and what you can do as an individual."

All my love

Raymond Alexander Hudson 1920

Wow, this letter is incredible. My great grandfather was scared like I am scared. He served with great courage and so can I.

Reading this letter makes it okay for me to follow in my father's footsteps and serve my country with honor and courage.

I can now proudly say I will serve my country and uphold the legacy of all those who came before me.

Thank you great grandfather for showing me the way to something amazing.