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"Corporal Poindexter, do you know what happened up there? The number of casualties is far too high. This shouldn't have happened. Something went wrong and I'm hoping you know what it is."

"Yeah, I know what went wrong, General," I said, and proceeded to tell him what I knew.

After telling him, I could see a wave of understanding come over his face. He knew that what I was telling him was probably true and would explain why the number of casualties were so high. He told me that those responsible would be hearing from him.

At that point, I realized the General was a sincere man, a kind man and yes, a superior man. I had to ask the general;

"General, you seem like a kind man and a capable man who is not happy with this job. How can you be a part of all this insanity? What drives you to stay here and live this life?" His answer would forever ring in my heart when ever I was faced with hard decisions in my own life.

"Corporal Poindexter, I don't make wars. Wars are made in places like Moscow, Hanoi and Washington. I hope that someday mankind will figure out how to solve their differences without making war on one another. But as long as there is a war the United States is involved in, then I must be a part of it. The reason is because I am good at what I do, Corporal. I don't look at my job as seeing how many of the enemy I can kill, but at how many of our own men I can keep alive and still win the war. I'm good at what I do. I save lives. Believe me, if someone came along who is better at my job than I am, I wouldn't hesitate to turn my command over to him and go on home. But until that happens, I am obligated to stay here and do what I can for the men under my command."

Never in my life had I felt such sincerity literally glow from another human being. I knew, without a shred of doubt, that General Davis was telling the truth and that he was the most honorable man I had ever met.

I paused for a moment, stunned by what I had just experienced, then said, "General, I want you to know that I believe you. I also want to thank you for your service to your men. I don't know what these injuries will let me do, in the future, but if I can ever be of assistance to you in any way, please don't hesitate to contact me."

"Thank you, Corporal Poindexter. That's nice to hear. And thanks for the information. It will help me get a few things straightened out." He patted my shoulder and stood up. "I better get to work now. Good luck to you, Corporal Poindexter. I hope you have a speedy recovery."

"Oh, your cigarettes, General," I said, handing the pack up to him.

"Keep 'em. I'll get another pack."

"Thank you, General. It was an honor to meet you, Sir," I responded, in all sincerity. "Likewise, Corporal Poindexter," he responded with a smile. Then he turned and walked back up the hallway, turned right and vanished from my view, but would never vanish from my life. His memory would serve as a constant inspiration to always act upon the truth in my heart, regardless of popular expectations to the contrary.

Corporal Poindexter is the Webmaster of LZ Russell. At this writing he was 52 years old… just about the same age General Davis was, when he met him in Quang Tri Hospital.