Clothes Don’t Make the Man
U.S. Army Spc. Zachary Boyd in the Pink
When I first saw this photo in today’s paper I laughed, thinking it was an example of dereliction of duty. I began forming a Blog post in my mind about how important dress codes are. But as I looked at it further and read the story, my eyes watered up; they still are. Here we see a 20 year old boy hunkered down in a fox hole, exchanging deadly fire with the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Young Zachary was sleepng when the shooting started. He leapt from his bed and grabbed his helmet, vest and rifle, but not his pants and shoes as he took his station behind sandbags. His comrads didn’t seem to see any difference.
I found myself thinking, “This kid should be on the beach somewhere, or out on a date with his girlfriend, or having dinner with his family back in Fort Worth, Texas.” All of that was far from real for this young MAN, and this photo truly does bring home the reality of the serious dangers being faced in Iraq and Afghanistan.
His mom was contacted and she said she hopes to see her son back home by the Fourth of July. She was asked if he would he be wearing pink boxers in any Independence Day parades? “Don’t challenge him,” she said, laughing. “He just may do it.” I too hope that he is home as well as all of the others, and I don’t care what they are wearing.
May 25th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
If I was his commanding officer he would be in the brig. What if he had to run in those flip flops and tripped in front of some other soldiers? They are issued those boots for a reason and it’s not to leave them behind.
May 26th, 2009 at 7:27 am
What planet are you from anyway? Get a grip! I suspect you wouldn’t succeed at cleaning the latrines, let alone be a commanding officer.
November 21st, 2011 at 2:24 pm
I agree, it would have been great if he had time to get his boots on… maybe someone should have suggested sleeping with them on as I did when deployed… but I’m sure he was concerned about his teammates when he heard the incoming rounds and chose to run to be by their side - to save them if he could. Honor doesn’t have a dress code. If I had the choice of a Soldier who always showed up with complete uniform and thought only of himself… or this Soldier… guess who I would pick… and I served in uniform for over 30 years.