Would you be scared putting your life on the line to protect the freedoms of people you haven’t met, or perhaps aren’t even born yet? This is a significantly honorable decision that many brave people have made. Honor isn’t defined by who you are; it is what you’ve chosen to do in order to protect others.

One of those brave men who served in the U.S military to protect others is Mr.Robert W. Cloninger. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1967 to 1969. His service during this time included active combat in the Vietnam War.

Mr. Cloninger decided to enlist in the Marines after finding out he was supposed to be drafted into the United States Army. He knew he did not want to serve in the Army, so he took the initiative to join the Marines instead. 

Once enlisted, Mr. Cloninger completed basic training on Parris Island. Following that, his provisional training took place at Camp Lejeune. He completed more training at Camp Pendleton before traveling to Vietnam for active service.

The Vietnam War was a long, costly conflict that took a toll on everyone who fought in it. The American death toll of this War was around 58,000 men. That may seem like a small number compared to the some 405,000 American lives lost in World War II, but can you imagine how you would feel if one of those 58,000 men was one of your family members?

Thankfully, Mr. Cloninger made it home safe. However, he was wounded after an ambush made by the North Vietnamese Army. This occurrence earned him a Purple Heart as well as a Navy Commendation Medal with a Combat “V” for Valor.

“Everyone is always a Marine. You have each other’s backs, you take care of them,” says Mr. Cloninger about the brotherhood present in the United States Marine Corps.

He learned the importance of friendship while serving next to other men. Mr. Cloninger is to this day friends with people he met during service. “ You learn to depend on one another,” he says. Having a good friend to share experiences with is important, especially when dealing with something as heavy as the horrors of war.

While Mr. Cloninger believes serving in the Marines made him a better man, it also had serious effects on his mental health. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health disorder that can develop as a result of witnessing a particularly traumatic event. According to the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs, 7% of veterans will experience PTSD at some point in their lives after service.

“Memories from 50 years ago are as clear in my mind today as they were then,” says Mr. Cloninger. Because of what he saw all those years ago, he likes to see but not to be seen. Being snuck up on is a big trigger for him as well. The things that he saw in war were not only scarring but completely life-altering. Mr. Cloninger attributes his wife as well as his family for saving his life and for helping him get the help he needed once he returned.

Serving in the military is a choice that makes one’s home country proud. It shows one’s patriotism towards their country, so much so, they are willing to die to defend it. Despite this, Mr. Cloninger, as well as many other soldiers who fought in the Vietnam War, were not welcomed back when they returned. Mr. Cloninger says that this made it even harder to come back and begin adjusting to the non-military world.

“We just weren’t accepted. That’s what made it really hard to come back,” says Mr. Cloninger.

How do you think it would affect your mental health if you had just come back from trying to make your country proud, and all these people were lined up to push you aside and blatantly ignore your sacrifices?

Mr. Cloninger also proposed a veterans’ perspective on acts of protest. He wishes people understood that he, as well as so many others, fought extremely hard for all of the freedoms that they have in America; thus citizens should not spend time on what they don’t have or don’t agree with, but rather the freedoms they do get to enjoy everyday because of people like him.

Despite serving in the military being hard on the mind and body, it is also a great place for soldiers to learn discipline, as well as build meaningful relationships with their peers. Lighthearted, happy moments can be shared amidst all the chaos. For Mr. Cloninger, one of those funny memories is when he feasted on an unlikely breakfast.

One day, he went down to the mess hall for breakfast. When he arrived, he was served beans and cornbread. Not what comes to mind when you think of breakfast is it?

“That was one of the best breakfasts I ever had,” says Mr Cloninger about that meal.

Mr. Cloninger retired from the Marines with the rank of Corporal. Now he enjoys his days spending time with his family, including his wife, who he believes saved his life.

Veteran is not a title that is just handed to someone. It is earned through tireless effort and compromise. When you choose to serve, you give up comfort and become a part of something bigger. May we all be proud of what Mr. Cloninger did to ensure our freedom and safety. To him, as well as all the veterans out there, thank you.