What is a “Smage”? All Sergeants in the army are properly addressed as Sergeant, and Sarge for Short. Only First Sergeants and Sergeant Majors are addressed by their full title. I personally preferred that, but now I prefer “Smage” which is similar to “Sarge”.

You may notice I did not mess with the First Sergeant’s title…… No body messes with the First Sergeant, why; because almost all Sergeants Major were at one time a First Sergeant (two to three years at least). We have great respect for that position and what it entails.

This is a journey for me. It will not be as long as my other journeys thru life. But one I want to get right.

I am a proud American and a Vietnam Veteran. I have served this country for over thirty years in the United States Army. To this day, I cannot visit the “Vietnam War Memorial”. The thought of touching “The Wall” is so emotionally overpowering, I am afraid I would break down and cry. For years, I never understood why I felt this way. But maturation and introspection have helped me understand these strong feelings. I think now, I know why. I feel guilty that I was not hurt or harmed in some way in that war. It’s not that I did not do my duty. I did. But somehow I made it home with no visible wounds or scars. I am not psychologically wounded. I suffer from no syndromes. I just can’t visit “The Wall”, and somehow I do not feel that I am the only Veteran who may feel this way. As a soldier, I think I could have done more and as a nation, we could have done more. It is now over thirty years later and I feel better. It is because of a chance meeting with another veteran at an unexpected moment. It took place twenty-five years after my return from the war, in the University of Georgia’s Sanford Stadium after a football game. As any good fan, I wear school colors in support of our team and a “UGA” cap on my head. This particular Saturday, I felt a tap on my left shoulder and turned to hear a man ask if I was a Vietnam Vet. He had noticed the pin affixed to my cap – a Vietnam Service Ribbon with the year 1969. I said “Yes.” He shook my hand and said “Welcome Home, brother.” We talked a little bit about the service and that was it. But his three opening words had a profound impact. He was the first person to say “Welcome Home” to me besides my wife. Vietnam Veterans have an understanding of each other. There is a bond between us. We did our duty for our country and in doing so we wanted to ensure freedom for America and the Vietnamese people. But, we also know that it was an unpopular war and not everyone went. Many avoided combat duty in Vietnam, protested our service and scorned us. Now anytime I meet a “Vietnam Vet” for the first time, I always shake their hand and say “Welcome Home Brother”. I know he or she knows what I mean and shares my pride. We share a brotherhood created by our mutual respect for our country and our service and sacrifice. We know the price of freedom. I think I can best tell you how I feel by quoting the historian Stephen B. Ambrose. In his Citizen Soldiers, a World War II soldier tells the author, “I am truly not a hero, but I have walked in the company of real heroes.”