Like many soldiers Jose Munoz decided he had a patriotic duty to fulfill after the September 11 attacks. He would fulfill this duty through full-time military service in the Army. Now he is a sergeant who has greatly matured emotionally during the course of his military career.
Munoz has encountered life-threatening situations during his deployments. This is because his conveys had been hit more than once by explosives. However, they were able to avoid getting hit and ended up being able to travel almost a million miles in Iraq.
The soldier wants to share his story to the American public in hopes of getting them to think differently about the military. He is not the only one. Ten other servicepersons who have been deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq or the Horn of Africa also want to share their tales through a special program called “Why We Serve.â€Â Sponsored by the Defense Department, “Why We Serve†is meant to allow the public to see the more human side associated with military service.
Munoz’s had his first Why We Serve speech October 25. He was very pleased with the reception he received. The audience viewed him not as a villain, but as a hero. They developed greater respect for both him and the military in general. In fact, they were so interested in Munoz’s experiences that they had a slew of questions after the young man spoke.
Another advantage with Munoz telling his story is the awareness he brings towards foreigners who serve in the military. These people are often forgotten, as immigrants in general are often seen as being the cause of America’s employment problems. Through the Munozes of the world, Americans can see that the immigrant can be just as patriotic and important to preserving America’s freedom as those who were born on her soil.
