Thoughts on Latino’s Service in the Military

I am a Mexican (born in Mexico). I am also a sergeant in the U.S. Marines. I am about to celebrate 10 years of service, and I’d like to state that not all Mexicans, or Hispanics, or Latinos, or Chicanos, or whatever each one wants to call himself, go into the service just because they have no other way to make a life (for themselves).

In some ways it is a job like any other; it has its responsibilities and obligations, and one knows what one is getting into when he signs the papers and takes his oath to this nation.

Nor is it because I watched a lot of “Rambo” movies or anything like that. Rather, it is because somebody has to protect this nation.

The decisions about who one is going to fight or when are not one’s to make. One is here to take orders, and to carry them out, period.

Now that I have been over there in “Desert Shield” since Aug. 17, I’ve had the opportunity to see these so-called “conscientious objectors,” who suddenly became very religious and don’t believe in killing and I don’t know what else. Actually, they smell like chicken to me.

I am very proud to serve this country, which gives the chance to better oneself to anyone who really has the desire to fight on his own and get ahead. If I come back alright from this one, good. If I don’t, then my number was up.

But meanwhile, I’m over there doing what I swore to do and not playing the politician or the religious, which is not my mission.

SGT. JOSE M. DE LEON, U.S. Marine Corps