by Nick Sitting in the front row of the UWC Fights in Fairfax, Virginia this past Saturday, I couldn’t help but think that this was the kind of day that we envisioned when we started Ranger Up two and a half years ago. SPC Kris McCray, the newest member of the Ranger Up Fighter Family, had just won the first match of the night in dominant fashion. He stood in the ring, Ranger Up logo emblazoned across his chest, with his arms held high in victory. Sitting to my left was Tommy Batboy and to my right was Tim Kennedy. Tim was one of the guests of honor at the fights. We had spent the morning with our wounded soldiers at Walter Reed and had given out about a hundred shirts, each of which was signed by nine-time UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes and Tim, the only three-time All Army Combatives Champion. Kelly Crigger and Soldier's Angels had spoken with the UWC about a discounted ticket price for our wounded heroes and they had graciously provided 25 free tickets. Uncle Jimbo from Blackfive was there covering the entire event, and he and I spent an hour with the Walter Reed CSM as well as the Regional CSM to determine what else we could do to help the boys and girls of Malogne House. There had been one bleak moment when, after all the effort everyone put in; Soldier’s Angels couldn’t find transportation for our heroes to get to the fights. Ranger Up chartered a bus. I sat there and thought that with every day that goes by, Ranger Up is making more and more of a difference. We’re taking care of our own. I was proud. This is what it was all about. This is why we existed. Tommy looked over his shoulder and then hopped up. He said he’d be back in a few. I figured he’d gone to hit the head or get a beer or do something obnoxious. About ten minutes later, one of our wounded soldiers showed up. He had Tommy’s ticket. I looked back and saw that Tommy had gone to sit with our wounded heroes. He had given his ticket up. For the rest of the night, they would take turns sitting in Tommy’s chair, only a few feet away from the cage. Tommy is the biggest fight fan I know. Now, understand that I am writing this behind Tommy’s back, and when he sees his name posted next to our other heroes, who have saved lives, generally at great risk to their own, and oftentimes paid the ultimate sacrifice, he will be upset. He won’t want his name on the site next to theirs, and I appreciate that sentiment. But this acknowledgement is not just for Tommy. I’ve been out of active duty for a few years now, and sometimes you forget what it’s like – you forget the men you served with. You forget the quality of their character. In the NCO Creed there is a stanza that states, All soldiers are entitled to outstanding leadership; I will provide that leadership. I know my soldiers and I will always place their needs above my own. Tommy lived the creed without fanfare. No one asked Tommy to relinquish his seat. He didn’t call attention to himself when he did it. He just quietly stood up and attended to the business of being a great NCO – and didn’t even realize that there is something special about that. I grinned a little as I remembered my first platoon sergeant, SFC Stewart, explaining to me that it was his job to train me to be a good platoon leader. He taught me most often not by sitting down and giving speeches on leadership, but by quietly doing his job at a high level and taking care of our guys, whether they liked him for it or not. Looks like no matter where I go, I can’t shake having an NCO remind me of what’s important. Quit smirking. Tommy’s favorite toast is “Here’s to us and those like us. We grow fewer every day.” I’d like to modify that a little. To Tommy and the Gentlemen (term used loosely, of course) and Ladies of the NCO Corps, here’s to you. Never forget who you are and what you stand for – no matter where life takes you. You gentlemen make all the difference, and if you grow fewer, we’re in a whole lot of trouble, because quite frankly, there is no one else like you. |
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