The Gist of Life: Chapter IV
The Love of Life and Liberty
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The energies of his life emanate from the land of his birth. Openness broadens the horizon,
as well as his mind, the breadth of which he welcomes, and his physical abilities to entertain
themselves free from any inhibitions. There are minor imperfections that present a challenging
feat to perform, which he accomplishes without taking a second breath. His dexterity is
admirable, and his adeptness was swift due to his structural physique. The remarkable balance
that he shared with nature drew attention to his family and friends.
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The school, of course, became his playground, and all the sports came to his beck and call.
He has proven his every ability and agility, while he excelled at everything that they threw at
him. He made school history by breaking records and several State records as well. He has the
heart of his school and the envy of the people. His stellar achievements made the local
newspapers during the period when newspapers ruled the communicative domain. Despite
anything to the contrary, his contributions extended beyond the community.
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Young Kyle grew up as an avid all-around sportsman, primarily with a focus on the open sea.
He loves surfing the big waves, riding through the pipelines, bringing it all the way in from when
it crested until it is about to surge onto the beach, he would spin out his board and paddle out
again. Then comes his love for fishing, from a fishing rod, line, and hook, then throwing a fish
net, to scuba dive or natural underwater swimming, and going spear-gun fishing. Kyle also
loves small game hunting, from pheasants, rabbits, wild goats, and wild boars with tusks.
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Even though the locals maintained a social structure, the majority remained informed about
current events. One of those events, literally, tore the country apart. It was the war in Vietnam
that divided the nation, becoming more unpopular day by day, labeling our fighting troops as
baby killers. It was the movement of the left party, an opportunistic anarchist. Deliberately
dividing the nation by turning Americans against each other with outlandish propaganda that is
purposely directed at the heart of the people.
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He saw through all their lies and decided to volunteer into the Marine Corps. He reports to
the U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Station in Albany, Georgia. Afterwards, he was sent to the
U.S. Marine Corps Base in Marietta, Georgia. His fast-track pace within the Corps was due to
his volunteering for the Corps. His initiative was exemplary, exhibiting fortitude and integrity.
Such stamina brought his determination forthwith, which added clarity and perspective to his
individualistic traits. At age seventeen, he became Lance Corporal James Kyle Pettigrew.
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Undoubtedly, his hunting skills earned him the sharpshooter’s badge and the scouting badge
before he was shipped out to Vietnam in sixty-eight, when he turned eighteen. It was easy for
Kyle to have made a lot of friends in and out of the Corps, particularly within his own unit. He
automatically took a leadership role ahead of the unit, while the rest of the troops waited until
Kyle gave the all-clear signal for them to advance just short of his position. Two other guys
would be with him as back-up.
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It was late in the war, and the North Vietnamese were rapidly moving southwards. The
dilemma in the South worsens, with unpopular leadership and mass mayhem as desperate people
seek to leave the country. Back near the disintegrating border, a somewhat formidable enemy
faces a strong-willed Kyle, unwilling to back down, while encouraging the rest of the troops to
fight it out and hold their position. However, the rest of the soldiers along the border fell back as
the rest of the border collapsed. Kyle and his unit saw their hold was futile, and they too fell
back to join with their retreating troops.
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Kyle found himself in a growingly unpopular war, both here and back home. Being on the
other end of the spectrum, Kyle found the experience regrettable and unhealthy for him. He
needs to distance himself from further disillusionment and find an alternative to his present
eroding predicament. As that reality became prevalent, he decided to head further south and help
the people fleeing the country. They were flying out, which was chaotic as most were panicked-
stricken because of the present situation, as well as most of them never flew on a plane before.
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So, he tried to lessen their fears by calming them down, knowing many of them knew the
English language, saying, “You are all leaving a place where you don’t know how your lives will
be living under the North Vietnamese regime, so calm down.” It worked as he deboarded the
plane so it could take off. Sadly, when he left the evacuation zone, he learned that one of those
flights had crashed on takeoff, killing all on board. He headed back to the frontlines, which were
close to Saigon, the capital city.
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Getting back into the fighting, he found it severely chaotic, where command was
interchangeable, and fighting on the frontline was intense. While there, he realized that the men
and women fighting on either side of the lines were like claiming their own personal glory,
making a name for themselves. It may look suicidal, and it might. Every one of them was determined to take out an enemy’s life before taking their own life. Seeing the way
the tables have turned from fighting with your men behind your back to basically fighting all on
your own.
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Either scenario gave him a fighting chance to prove himself, with the help of the powers
beyond, to the powers within, and the powers from those you love and those who love you. He
knew, let come what may, with the future that comes, and he’s not there, that means he’s in it,
and all else matters not. So, Kyle fought his fight, no glory, no fanfare, nothing but the life with
him that was taking him forward. There he was with all his zeal, prepped for what waits beyond
the present, doing what it takes to come out alive.
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Kyle’s discernment of the war coming to an end did come to pass, but before then, on that
particular day, it became irrelevant as it became his final battle. In the forward position during
the gun battle, he was the first to fall, and those behind him saw him fall and didn’t move
thereafter. They knew he was gone and left him lying there throughout the night because the
fierce gun battle was ongoing. By dawn, the field medics confirmed that Kyle was gone, and
soon after, a gurney carried his lifeless body to a waiting helicopter, and soon back to the States.
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He was flown to Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay for proper identification. Afterwards,
he was flown back to his hometown. When the news of Kyle’s passing broke out, the entire
community was greatly saddened. When the funeral took place, it was standing room only,
needless to say. Attendees were all given a pamphlet outlining the program of his funeral
service. On the front were his graduation and military pictures, with his birth date and the day he
died. That had many shaking their heads, realizing that he was only eighteen years old. And on
the top was his U.S. Marine Corps rank and name: Lance Corporal James Kyle Pettigrew.
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The mortician remarked to his mother, “This is the most floral wreaths and flowers that our
funeral parlor has ever seen.” Every one of his classmates came and occupied several rows. It
was a sealed casket, as the military predetermined it at Treasure Island, that the decedent
suffered a head wound. It was sad that nobody would be able to look upon his face at this
juncture. The wake was held on Friday night, with funeral services concluding on Saturday
morning, followed by his burial in their largest town, where the Veterans Cemetery is located.
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The Vietnam War ended with the Paris Peace Accord signed by President Richard M. Nixon,
four years later in seventy-three. Kyle was also awarded the Purple Heart, the Vietnam
Campaign Medal, including two other medals. At the time of this writing, all of Kyle’s family
has passed away, except his kid brother and nieces and nephews. He is loved and still being
missed by all those who remembered the remarkable kid who placed his hometown on the map.
Time comes and goes, but when it pauses, take a look, there’s always a story waiting to be told.
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