(1/5) “My father was a platoon sergeant in the Pennsylvania...

(1/5) “My father was a platoon sergeant in the Pennsylvania National Guard. But nobody ever thought I’d join the military. I was too sensitive. I was into painting and illustration and theater. Plus I was a total goofball. I barely finished high school. I didn’t have any direction. I got fired from TCBY for giving out too much ice cream. You’re supposed to scoop a certain amount every time and I was just scooping all I could. So nobody thought I’d join the military. But one day I walked into our living room and there was a kid sitting on our couch. My father was giving him advice about joining the military. This kid was a grade below me, and I barely knew him, but my father’s hand was on his shoulder. And I suddenly felt this territorial feeling. Like he had a connection with my dad that should have been mine. And I wanted that too. So I decided to enlist.”