"Maybe not, but do you realize that only about one percent of people in America will actually ever serve and go to war? Look outside. This place sucks. You don't have to feel bad for thinking it sucks just because you're not driving around with your head popped out of some gunner's hatch." He nodded his head again as he listened but his gaze remained on the floor between his boots.

"Hey" I said, and paused and waited for him to lift his head and look at me as I spoke. "I guarantee you some asshole back home will be complaining about the butter being too hard to spread on his toast this morning." I squinted. "You know what I mean?" He nodded again. "Don't feel ashamed that you don't like it here just because people have it harder than you." I paused for a moment again. "Are you doing your job? I mean, do your supervisors think you are doing a good job?"

"Yes, sir."

"That's great. We're here to help you keep doing it."

"To be honest sir, I just want to get back and be done with the military. I want to use my GI Bill for college and move on. When I get back I will have six months left on four years."

"Good for you. Sounds like a good plan," I replied.

"Honestly, sir, if there is one thing this experience has taught me it's that I value my freedom and my own independence."

"I get the feeling that maybe you beat yourself up a little bit for joining in the first place."

He nodded and said, "I do."

"Listen, you don't have to look back on the military badly just because you didn't like it. You can still be proud of it whether you liked it or not. It will just be like 'hey, I did it, I went to war, and did what I was told, and I'm glad it's over.' You still did it. Do you understand?" He nodded again. "Years from now you can still be proud of it even if you hated it."

We talked a little more about his home life, how he passes his free time here, and his general medical history. Eventually, things sort of wrapped themselves up and he stood up to leave. As he began to walk out of the tent I said, "Hey, don't forget, we walk through the mud to get 'our' butter right?"

He smiled, turned, and walked out.