Harry Braxton:  

Life If one word could summarize the greatest change in my life since my graduation from Northwestern, it would be responsibility. After trying to work my way through Bowie State College from 1969 through 1974 as an education major, I decided to join the Regular Army for the G.I. Bill and was "seduced". I served as junior enlisted (Armor), Commissioned Officer (Transportation Corps) and finally as a Senior NCO(Cavalry and Military Intelligence) retiring after 22 years of active service in July 1997. Through some bad personal choices, my Commissioned Officer career left a lot to be desired but my love for the Army wouldn't let me go home and be happy as a civilian. While not perfect in the area of equal opportunity, the U.S. Army was the most fair working environment I had ever experienced. I achieved certain personal goals which I doubt would have been achieved otherwise. All said, I got as much out of the Army as I put into it. Perhaps,I owe it my very life! If I can't lay claim to anything else, I'm an unrepentant patriot primarily due to the last 12 years of my military career being in military intelligence. Consequently, I had access to information which normal American citizens wouldn't have access to. Liberalism is a disease that will destroy this country from within. I love George W. Bush and his "daddy"! I was forced to divorce my first wife; Bonita, in 1982 when she failed to adapt to military life and caused me some problems. The Army "issued" me this soldier named Loretta Harviley in August 1987 and on July 8, 1989 we were married. Just like Travis Tritt says, "The Love of a Woman " has kept me very happy ever since. Whenever Billy Joel sings " She's Got A Way", it always brings tears to my eyes as the goodness in this marriage more than makes up for the pain in my first one. We live in Elizabethtown, KY; a small town close to Fort Knox and a very affordable place to live. In September 2009, we paid the mortgage on our home in just over 13 years. Try that in Maryland! I'm a proud old American Legionaire and VFW Life Member. During my career in the Army, I received the Bronze Star Medal for combat in Desert Storm, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Military Order of Saint Barbara, the Military Order of Saint George, the Imjin Scout Award (Korean DMZ), and numerous other awards. Since my retirement from the Army in 1997, I have served in Hardin County, Kentucky as a deputy sheriff. The military had prepared me for this responsibility and I pledge to never unholster my gun against anyone unless I intend to at least either arrest or kill with no forgiveness or playing around at that point. I lost a friend when I explained that use of force philosophy to her but but that's life. In 1954, someone at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in French Indo - China (Viet Nam for those who aren't familiar with history) once wrote on a wall in a bunker something like "FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FOUGHT FOR IT, FREEDOM HAS A TASTE THE PROTECTED WILL NEVER KNOW"! I firmly believe that. The worst thing that ever happened to this country was the deactivation of the draft as there are just too many people who don't know the cost of the freedom which they enjoy while they talk their left wing trash! It is my destiny to be a fighter for the underdog. I know how it feels to be the little guy fighting back for dignity and hon...Expand for more