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Ryan是美軍前方觀察員,他是第503步兵團第二營作戰連中第三位獲得榮譽勳章的人,也是第九位活著獲得此勳章的人。很榮幸能在這裡向Ryan和他的同僚致敬,感謝他們的犧牲與奉獻,也十分榮幸邀請你們和我一起歡迎這位勇敢的新罕布夏校友-Ryan Pitts上士。
早安,感謝Huddleston校長、尊貴的來賓、全體教職員、家長,最重要的是你們-2015年畢業生,恭喜各位。我也要提一下今天畢業的44位退役軍人,感謝你們的奉獻,感謝所有人。很榮幸今天來到這裡祝賀2015年畢業生的非凡成就,事實上我才從UNH畢業2年,我還沒忘記你們現在感受到的興奮與自豪。你們已在通往未來的成功道路上獲得重要的成就,就個人而言,我一直很欽佩那些從高中直接進入大學並完成學業的學生,因為我並非其中之一。追求大學學位值得欽佩,因為它不像小學或高中是強制出勤的。當你進入大學,決定為了更光明的未來付出金錢、時間和努力,請為了這個決定、努力和付出感到自豪,並承諾貫徹這個決定。你做到了,這個得之不易的成就隨即給你一個光明的未來,但重要的是明白我們的未來由我們的過去所塑造。大學畢業後,每個人都走上不同的道路:企業、非盈利事業、教育事業、自行創業或其他眾多選擇之一。我知道這是個慶典,但我認為我能給你們最好的建議來自我生命中最有挑戰性、也是最悲慘的一天。
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Good morning. A warm welcome to President Huddleston, distinguished guests, university faculty and staff, parents and, most importantly, the graduating class of 2015 – congratulations! I would also like to recognize the 44 veterans who are graduating today. Thank you. And thank you, everyone.I am honored to be here today to help celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of the Class of 2015. Exactly 2 years have passed since I graduated from UNH and I have not forgotten the excitement and pride you feel right now. You have achieved an important accomplishment on your path to a successful future. Personally, I have always admired those students who transitioned from high school straight to college and completed their degree, because I wasn’t one of them. The pursuit of a college degree is admirable because it’s not like grade school or high school where attendance is compulsory. When you go to college, you make a decision that costs money, time, and effort, all for the sake of a brighter future. Be proud of the decision you made and the hard work, dedication, and commitment to see that decision through. You made it and this difficult accomplishment immediately gives you a bright future. But it is important to understand that our futures are shaped by our past. We all take different paths after college: corporate, non-profit, educational, entrepreneurial, or one of many others. I understand this is a celebration, but I felt that the best advice I can offer you comes from the most challenging and tragic day of my life.
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2008年7月,我們執行15個月派駐期中第14個月的最終任務。我們疲憊不堪,準備回家,但任務尚未結束。頭4天的任務包括修築工事、挖散兵坑和填沙袋,這是件累人的工作,包括忍受華氏100多度的高溫。白天我們盡量減少休息,輪流負責安全和建設工作,夜晚輪流守夜。這一切都是為了可能的攻擊做準備,這場攻擊在第5天早上到來。凌晨4:30左右,我們正在站崗,一陣機槍掃射聲打破了寂靜的清晨,然後是天地變色。200名敵軍攻擊48名美國人,轉瞬間,火箭推進式榴彈和手榴彈在我和其他8名士兵駐守的據點爆炸,我隨即在爆炸中尋找掩護。我感到彷彿在令人透不過氣來的雷雨中穿過,進入作戰陣地後,我試圖搞清楚所在方位,在更多的爆炸和爆炸所產生之令人窒息的煙霧中喘息。當我冷靜下來後,發現自己身受重傷。手榴彈彈片嵌入我的左腳跟和小腿肚,從臀部到腳的整隻右腿,還有左手臂與額頭。我的左手行動不便,我的腿無法移動,一位同僚Jason Bogar為我的右腿綁上止血帶。我以為我不用戰鬥了,直到我環顧四周,發現其他人都在拼命戰鬥。
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In July 2008, we were on the final mission in the 14th month of our 15 month deployment. We were tired and ready to go home, but the mission wasn’t over. The first 4 days of the mission were spent fortifying our positions, digging foxholes and filling sandbags. It was exhausting work completed in 100 plus degree temperatures with minimal rest as we rotated through security and building during the days, and guard rotations throughout the nights. It was all in preparation for a potential attack, which came on the morning of the 5th day.We were standing watch at around 4:30 in the morning when a burst of machine gun fire broke the morning silence and then all hell broke loose as 200 enemy fighters attacked 48 Americans. A split-second later, rocket-propelled grenades and hand grenades exploded within a position I occupied with 8 other soldiers. Immediately, I was immersed in explosions as I dived for cover. I felt like I had just passed through the middle of a thunderstorm that knocked the wind out of me. Landing in a fighting position, I attempted to regain my bearings and catch my breath amidst more incoming explosions and the suffocating smoke they produced. As I collected myself, I realized that I had been seriously wounded. I had taken grenade shrapnel in my left heel and calf, entire right leg hip to foot, left arm and forehead. There was limited dexterity in my left hand and I was unable to move my legs. A fellow solider, Jason Bogar, placed a tourniquet on my right leg and I thought I was out of the fight until I looked around and watched everyone else fighting with everything they had.
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我的兄弟們無視彷彿猛烈夏日雷雨的敵方炮火,我所有的兄弟都在我見過最慘烈的情況下持續盡自己的責任。我們彼此依靠,他們的奉獻迫使我盡自己的責任,他們永遠不會讓我失望,我對他們也一樣。就在此時,我爬回我的戰鬥位置,重新加入戰鬥。站立已不可行,但我可以拖動自己,在需要時擺出跪姿。我以這種方式與兄弟們並肩作戰了一段時間,直到我們的據點在周遭戰火聲中顯得出奇地安靜。我四處爬行,這時我才發現自己是這個據點唯一的倖存者。我的兄弟們沒有拋棄我,他們貫徹了他們的職責。這是我一生中最悲慘的時刻,我獨自一人,身受重傷,我能聽見敵人在附近交談,我用無線電向指揮官報告情況,他告訴我無法派遣援軍。我沒有生氣,我明白這場戰鬥的規模和我們的處境,我接受自己將死的事實,準備進行最後的抵抗,但結果並非如此。
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My brothers were undeterred by the enemy fire raining down on us like the violent summer thunderstorms that come out of nowhere. All my brothers were continuing to do their duty in the most hellish conditions I have ever seen. We counted on each other and their dedication compelled me to do my part. They would never let me down and I owed them the same. It was at this point that I crawled back to my fighting position and rejoined the fight. Standing wasn’t physically possible, but I was able to drag myself around and pull myself into a kneeling position when needed. I fought alongside my brothers like this for a while until our position sounded eerily quiet given the fight raging around us. I crawled around and it was at this point that I discovered I was the only man left alive at the position. My brothers didn’t abandon me; they had seen their duties through to the end. This was the most terrifying moment of my life, I was alone, injured and I could hear the enemy talking around me. I radioed my situation to my commander and he informed me that there wasn’t anyone to send. I wasn’t angry, I understood the scale of the fight and the situation we were in. I accepted that I was going to die and I prepared to make my last stand, but it didn’t come to that.
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四位兄弟前來救我:Sean Samaroo、Israel Garcia、Mike Denton和Jacob Sones。我這一生不曾感到如此安心,沒人命令他們來救我,他們決定冒著生命危險來救我。他們抵達後不久,另一波火箭推進式榴彈轟炸我們的據點,每個人都受了傷,Israel戰亡,他為我犧牲了自己的生命。我們整合在其中一個作戰陣地,用無線電將情況報告給指揮官。此時援軍抵達,開始移向我們的據點。他們一批批前來,我驚訝地發現一架直升機在我們和敵人之間降落,醫務人員下機時知道自己可能再也回不去,Sean、Mike、Jacob和我在他們協助下登上直升機,飛到野戰醫院接受治療。一架又一架直升機同時降落,隨後還有更多直升機。我和許多人在撤退前至少帶傷戰鬥了90分鐘,對我們來說戰鬥已結束,但留下的人繼續戰鬥了好幾小時。
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Four of my brothers came for me: Sean Samaroo, Israel Garcia, Mike Denton and Jacob Sones. I have never felt more relieved in my life. No one ordered them to do it. They decided to risk their lives to save mine. Shortly after they arrived, another volley of rocket-propelled grenades slammed our position. Everyone was wounded, Israel mortally. He sacrificed his life for mine. We consolidated in one of the fighting positions and radioed the situation to our commander. Reinforcements had arrived around this time and men began to move to our position. They came one after another. Then to my further amazement a helicopter landed between us and the enemy. The medics disembarked knowing they might not be able to leave. Sean, Mike, Jacob and I were helped onto that helicopter and flown to a field hospital for treatment. Others followed on another helicopter that landed at the same time, and there were more on subsequent helicopters. I along with many others had fought wounded for as long as 90 minutes before being evacuated. The fight was over for us, but it raged on for hours for those who stayed behind.
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這是個沉重的故事,但我相信我學會的教訓能應用到人生當中,我希望它們能在你們追求個人成就時提供一些指導。所以我學到了什麼?我不曾想過我會在受傷時被迫戰鬥,更別提我能做到這一點。這項任務看似難以達成,但這場經歷使我超越自我認定的能力極限。我發現我們可以大膽超越我們認知的能力界限,做到超越我們自認能力範圍的事。每當我們克服看似超出能力範圍的挑戰,就在不知不覺中達成這個發現。你必須注意和體會這些有時看似微不足道的成就,珍惜超越自我的事實,尋找下一個目標,永不退縮。那天兄弟們的無私總是令我震驚,無論情況多糟,他們不曾放棄我。回想那天和與我並肩作戰的夥伴,只要我們一起,沒有做不到的事。我們感受到這一點,共同目標和對彼此的無私奉獻讓我們擁有這個信念。
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This is an emotionally heavy story, but I believe the lessons that I learned apply to life. My hope is that they can provide some guidance as each of you pursues your individual endeavors. So what did I learn? I never imagined that I would be forced to fight while wounded, let alone that I was even capable of it. The task seemed insurmountable, but that experience took me beyond the edge of what I believed I was capable. I discovered that we can venture beyond the horizon of our perceived capabilities and do more than we ever thought possible. We unknowingly achieve this discovery every time we accomplish a challenge that appears to exceed our abilities. You must pay attention and appreciate these sometimes seemingly insignificant accomplishments. Treasure the fact that you have just exceeded your horizon. Search for the next one and never back down. It always amazes me how selfless my brothers were that day and that no matter how bad the situation got, they never gave up. I reflect on that day and the men I served with, and there was nothing we couldn’t accomplish together. We felt it. Shared purpose and selfless dedication to each other brought us to that point.
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我們的單位有無神論者和虔誠教徒、鄉下人和都市人、本國人和外國人,我們擁有不同的信仰、出身和背景,但我們都是美國人。我們共同的力量比個人力量更強大,當我們專注於共同的目標、尊重彼此的差異、視他人重於自我,沒有做不到的事。當我們那天面對最大的恐懼-朋友受到傷害時,勇氣無所不在。勇氣與恐懼密不可分,恐懼在生活中隨處可見:恐懼失敗、恐懼失去、恐懼被拒絕,關鍵是拒絕恐懼達成阻止我們的目的。我不曾看見那天我的同僚心懷恐懼,他們向我展現了勇氣的真正定義。勇氣並非無所畏懼,而是面對恐懼的能力,這就是其定義的美妙之處,因為勇氣體現於我們每天所做的決定;勇氣體現於接受自我本質、在面對拒絕時坦然追尋想要的人生;勇氣體現於挑戰自我觀點、接受自己並非完美者。做個有勇氣的人,欣賞那些面對恐懼時採取行動的人。
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Our unit had atheists and devout Christians, farm boys and metropolitans, men born here and abroad. We varied in beliefs, origins and backgrounds, but we were all Americans. We were stronger together than we ever could have been individually. When we focus on a shared purpose, respect our differences, and put others before self, nothing is impossible. Valor was everywhere that day in the face of our greatest fear – harm to our friends. Courage cannot exist without fear and fear is everywhere in life - fear of failure, fear of loss, fear of rejection. The key is to deny fear its purpose which is to hold us back. If the men I served with were afraid that day, I never saw it. They showed me the true definition of courage. Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the ability to move forward in the face of it. There is beauty in this definition, because courage can exist in the decisions we make every day. Courage exists in the individual who accepts who they are and openly lives the life they want in the face of rejection. Courage exists in those who challenge their own perceptions in the face of accepting they are not infallible. Be courageous and appreciate courage in others who take action in the face of fear.
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對國家的愛是導致我們從軍的原因之一,但我可以誠實地說,在戰鬥中,我腦海裡不曾浮現我的國家。很多朋友都有和我相同的感受,我們愛美國,這份愛是我們承諾的目標,但在實際戰鬥中,重要的是與我們並肩作戰的人。無私奉獻會得到值得你奉獻之人的回報,人與人際關係是最大的財富。
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Love for our Country was one of the reasons that led us to join the military. But I can honestly say, that my country was never once in my mind during a battle. Many of my friends have shared the same sentiment with me. We love America and that love was the purpose of our commitment, but it was the men to our left and right that mattered when the rubber met the road. Altruistic dedication to others will be reciprocated by those worthy of your dedication. People and the relationships we have with them are the greatest treasure.
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我想與你們分享的最後一點是:千萬別忘了幫助你達成如今成就的人。只要談到7月13日的事件,我就必須提到讓我有機會擁有如今一切的人:Sergio Abad、Jonathan Ayers、Jason Bogar、Jonathan Brostrom、Israel Garcia、Jason Hovater、Matthew Phillips、Pruitt Rainey和Gunnar Zwilling。我的建議很簡單:感謝他人的貢獻及他們對你人生的影響,僅此而已。因此當你在畢業後繼續前進、回顧過去的成就時,記得尋找下一個極限,自信能達成目標,優先考慮他人,做個勇敢的人,在面對恐懼時採取行動。千萬別忘了,在你追逐野心、目標和成就時,其他人及你與他們的關係是最重要而不朽的財富。當你慶祝個人成就時,請向那些讓這一切成為可能的人致敬,謝謝。祝你們一切順利。
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The last thought I will leave you with is more a matter of character: never forget those who helped you reach where you are. I cannot talk about the events of July 13th without acknowledging the men who are responsible for providing the opportunity for everything I have today: Sergio Abad, Jonathan Ayers, Jason Bogar, Jonathan Brostrom, Israel Garcia, Jason Hovater, Matthew Phillips, Pruitt Rainey and Gunnar Zwilling. The advice here is simple, appreciate the contributions of others and the impacts they make in your life. That’s it.So as you move forward from graduation, and reflect on your past accomplishments, remember to look for that next horizon and be confident you can get there, put others first, be courageous and take action in the face of fear. Never forget in your own ambitions, goals, and accomplishments that other people and your relationships with them are the greatest enduring treasure. And, as you celebrate personal progress, pay homage to those who made it possible.Thank you and I wish you all the best.