SOLDIER

A Soldier

There is discipline in A Soldier
you can see it when he walks,
There is honor in A Soldier
you hear it when he talks.
There is courage in A Soldier
you can see it in his eyes,
There is loyalty in A Soldier
that he will not compromise.
There is something in A Soldier
that makes him stand apart,
There is strength in A Soldier
that beats from his heart.
A Soldier isn't a title any man
can be hired to do,
A Soldier is the soul of that man
buried deep inside of you.
A Soldier's job isn't finished after
an 8 hour day or a 40 hour week,
A Soldier is always A Soldier
even while he sleeps.
A Soldier serves his country first
and his life is left behind,
A Soldier has to sacrifice what
comes first in a civilian's mind.
If you are civilian -
I am saying this to you.....
next time you see A Soldier
remember what they do.
A Soldier is the reason our land
is 'Home of the free',
A Soldier is the one that is brave
protecting you and me.
If you are A Soldier -
I am saying this to you.....
Thank God for EVERY SOLDIER
Thank God for what YOU do!

Angela Goodwin

FOR ALL SOLDIERS!

For all the soldiers :

You stay up for 16 hours

He stays up for days on end.

*****
You take a warm shower to help you wake up.

He goes days or weeks without running water.
*****
You complain of a 'headache', and call in sick.

He gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.
*****
You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends.

He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.
*****
You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.

He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.
*****
You talk trash about your 'buddies' that aren't with you.

He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.
*****
You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.

He patrols the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.
*****
You complain about how hot it is.

He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.
*****
You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.

He doesn't get to eat today.
*****
Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.

He wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are clean.
*****
You go to the mall and get your hair redone.

He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.
*****
You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.

He's told he will be held over an extra 2 months.
*****
You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight.

He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.
*****
You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.

He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.
*****
You roll your eyes as a baby cries.

He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet.
*****
You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.

He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and remembers why he is fighting.
*****
You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men like him.

He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded.
*****
You see only what the media wants you to see.

He sees the broken bodies lying around him.
*****
You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.

He does exactly what he is told even if it puts his life in danger.
*****
You stay at home and watch TV.

He takes whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep, and eat.
*****
You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get comfortable.

He tries to sleep but gets woken by mortars and helicopters all night long

Ronin

well it is again with the deepest regreat and with the upmost respect, that we at Ronin are sending our sympathies to families and friends, through our web site that is for The welfare of British UK forces

We hear that today Sarah Bryant, is the first female soldier to be killed in afghanistan. A brilliant tribute was written by her father. Other soldiers were also killed in the explosion, reported to be SAS. Again another blow for British Troops. We hope that people will read these bloggs and sign up to Ronin

Our official title being Ronin Reunited. Additionally in the news that relates to the region is that the Afghan government are looking to gain help from Pakistan in seek the Taliban over their border. Pakistan have said that they resent the Afghanistan government sending troops over the border, however they will do nothing to stop this.

That is obvious, as the build up of our troops will be there for the next 10 years plus, and they don't need to get on the wrong side of them.

We at www.roninreunited.com will continue to build our web site to enable it to be used as a platform to support serving men and women from UK and around the Globe.......help us help them........send our link everywhere!

Dirty tactics claims 100th British life

Military leaders and politicians have paid tribute to the 100 British troops killed in Afghanistan since 2001 after a suicide blast claimed another three soldiers' lives.

The sad milestone came when a lone insurgent detonated an explosive device as a foot patrol from 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment was returning to base.
Four soldiers were involved in the attack in the Upper Sangin Valley, Helmand Province. They were evacuated to Camp Bastion for treatment.
One was pronounced dead on arrival, and despite medics' efforts another two died from their wounds. The fourth soldier is expected to make a good recovery. Next of kin have been informed and the soldiers are likely to be named tonight, the Ministry of Defence said.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, Chief of the Defence Staff, said: "Every one of those deaths is a tragedy. Nothing can ever compensate for the loss felt by their loved ones and to them all I extend my deepest sympathies. But make no mistake, the Taliban influence is waning, and through British blood, determination and grit, a window of opportunity has been opened."
But he warned that this progress could "quickly unravel" without a "continuing and energised" international commitment.
Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith, commander of Task Force Helmand, said the 100th death "needed to be set in the perspective of what we are seeking to achieve here". He said the use of suicide tactics showed the Taliban "no longer enjoy the popular support of the Afghan people".
Defence Secretary Des Browne expressed his sympathy for the relatives, comrades and friends of the three soldiers killed on Sunday.
But the father of a British soldier killed in Afghanistan two years ago predicted that the conflict would turn into "as big a disaster as Iraq".
Anthony Philippson, from St Albans, Herts, said: "They have never learnt from Vietnam. The trouble with guerillas is they never wear uniforms - they disappear into the trees then come back and fight when they want to. The whole thing is an utter waste of time."

waste of time or not, our troops choose a career not the conflicts they fight in...............

We at Ronin salute you!

We are Ronin are you?

from all at Ronin: Our thoughts go out to the families and the men and women at the unit of all the soldiers involved!

"give them more pay!"

it has been said in todays papers that british soldiers get less than a traffic warden............this is not an advantage that the forces need to see, as 1000's upon 1000's leave every year. I have a security company and pay my officers around £19k a year. At roninreunited .com we want to be a voice of the forces. "We are ronin" will become an household phrase if i had anything to do with it.

Mr.prime minister, let's sort this one out.

more pay for our forces Mr PM

"We Are Ronin.....are you?

Painfull memories

Soldier weeps recalling Afghanistan suicide bomb attack

A soldier wept as he recalled his decision to get life-saving treatment for a colleague wounded in a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan – while leaving another soldier behind.
WO Simon Edgell, of 1st Bn Grenadier Guards, was faced with the choice of searching the area for Sgt David Wilkinson, 33, who was thrown from his vehicle, or leaving him there and getting another colleague medical care.
He told an inquest at Trowbridge town hall in Wiltshire that, fearing Sgt Wilkinson was dead, he decided to get medical help for Sgt Carl Shadrake, who was bleeding badly from a ruptured windpipe and neck artery.
WO Edgell said he was unable to radio for help because he had to maintain pressure on Sgt Shadrake's wound. He opted instead to alert colleagues at Price base about 10 minutes drive from Gereshk, Helmand Province, where the incident happened last summer.
WO Edgell, who was in a vehicle that had been in front of Sgt Wilkinson's, said: "I made the decision that I had to get the casualties – one bleeding very badly – back to Price.'
"I made the decision to get Sgt Shadrake medical treatment without delay, otherwise I thought he might die."
He broke down as he recalled telling a colleague: "I can't find Dave."
Sgt Wilkinson's body was later found in a drainage ditch. The cause of death was confirmed to be as a result of head injuries.
His widow, Rachel, who was attending the hearing, also burst into tears as she heard surviving soldiers' accounts. Sgt Wilkinson, of 19 Regiment Royal Artillery, had been driving a weapon-mounted Land Rover when a device containing ball bearings was detonated.
The blast, on July 1 last year, injured four other soldiers, one seriously.
Sgt Wilkinson, based at Larkhill, Wilts, had been part of a Grenadier Guards team training the Afghan National Army.
A pair of sandals was found between two sacks beside the road where the explosion occurred. It is thought the bomber hid between the sacks, detonating the device as Sgt Wilkinson's vehicle passed.
David Masters, the Wiltshire coroner, recorded a verdict of unlawful killing.
On WO Edgell's decision to leave Sgt Wilkinson behind, he said: "In the agony of that moment he has to make a decision.
''He knows that he has one serviceman very seriously injured. He knows he must get to the medical centre as quickly as possible, and that he did – understandably, in my opinion."
The hearing heard that Sgt Shadrake survived his wounds.


"brave on the day....memories to the end"

You are a Ronin!

help for heros..............

charity, servicemen and women,lost limb,PDST, post traumatic stress disorder, army wifes, forces sweethearts,soldiers returning home, military funeral, military honnors,military cross,under fire, away at sea, ....

looks like keywords, well it may but this is the life of our modern Ronin Warriors.....are you ronin? ....We are.... http://www.roninreunited.com

What is a Ronin..............

We use the name Ronin... but why?
Ronin is a Japanese term for master-less samurai. Literally, "one adrift on the waves". Historically members of the samurai caste that have become 'master-less' through the death of their master. However a samurai could also become 'Ronin' due to expulsion for misbehaviour... Cool eh?
We intend to rewite the definition to include modern warriors like you whether you are still serving or have returned to civvy street and need some support and entertainment.
We Are Ronin... Are You?

So in todays world, in the british military, the uk forces, and infact international forces.....prove beyond reasonable doubt that they are the modern day, Ronin........

Many servicemen and women loose their way through life once, they have left the military.........Some need a caring hand. At Ronin http://www.roninreunited.com/ we will try to improve the lives of many servicemen and women, regardless if it was the army, navy, royal Air Force or royal marines....Join us on our mission "WE ARE RONIN!..ARE YOU?.... http://www.weareronin.cp.uk/ .....Sign up NOW!

A week at Ronin

We started the site at Ronin just over a week now, and in this time we have nearly 40 users. We were hoping for more, however we appreciate that the site may not be attracting as many members as we initially thought. Ronin, is about the voice of the service men and women that have served and in the next few weeks we want to try and show the direction of the site and how we hope to develop.

In addition, Ronin has helped me considerably in finding my old unit comrades, and if anything is achieved it eill be that alone. Already I am looking at attending 2 reunions this year....

So lets continue over the next few weeks to build..."WE ARE RONIN ARE YOU?....you can find us at http://www.weareronin.co.uk or our preferred title http://www.roninreunited.com

Join Ronin in their journey across the globe of conflict