Be a hero

The year is 1941. World War 2 has begun. And the allied forces have begun to unite against the oncoming threat of Germany, Italy, and Japan. Countries are being invaded. And young Frank Burns, that's me by the way, is eager to go fight in the war. To do his part, to serve his country. To be a hero.





I was 15 at the time living in Bayview, California. My mother and father were owners of the local general mill. I was loved. I loved my parents, they were the best. Plain and simple. I had a good upbringing. I was your local kid next door. I had a paper route. I was in football, I was captain actually. I was Mr. All American. And I wanted more. There was something missing in my life, I just didn't know what.





So when the war came along and I saw all my friends and neighbors enlisting. I wanted to go too, but I wasn't old enough yet. But my Pa being my Pa decided his boy needed to go out and fight, and so he helped me forge my birth certificate, and the Army didn't really take a close look at it, a wink and a nod, they were just happy to have another able bodied man in their ranks. After basic training I was put into the 72nd infantry. I was sent to Anzio, and if you don't know the place look it up, many of us died on those foreign grounds, including me.





I was there only 3 days. I died 3 days after arriving. Shot through my stomach and shoulder and I bled out right there, but hours earlier I had pushed my Sargent out of the way of a sniper shot, missed him but got me, but the sniper wouldn't give up, he had me in his sights and as men were tugging at my pants trying to drag me behind some large rocks they were hunkered over, I got shot again in the shoulder.





I was scared for a moment with all the blood. The guys were all around me telling me to stay calm that I was going to be OK. But they were even more scared than I was. Sarge came up to ear and said “kid, you’re my angel, and god is my witness, if you go today, I will make sure you are not forgotten. I will tell your family and everyone that I come across and tell them about what you did today. He kissed my cheek with tears in his eyes. I think he was sad I was dying but a part of him glad for my sacrifice.





No one wants to die. He didn't want to die. But a part of me did. And so I guess if I had to go, I should go out helping others. Its what I have always done, in each of my lives. Help others and help me go out with purpose for my death.





Sarge kept his word. He made it back home and went to see my parents. He told them what I did. Told him I was the best type of man, the one who would do anything for his brothers in arms. Sarge got married, named his first born son after me. And Sarge lived a good long life, and kept his word, and never forgot me.





What else can I ask for? Really?





So Emerson that is what this is about. You want to be remembered for being some sort of hero. You want to be known for being the good guy who never gave up. Well I am here to tell you, that's exactly who you are. No one roots against you. Everyone in the back even the heels always slap high fives when you win or score a big move. Why? Because its almost impossible to hate you. Every heel whose ever stepped in the ring with you always has nice words about you. You are like that classic underdog who keeps getting beat down but keeps getting up, and after a while your heart hurts, and you just want to see him give up so the pain can stop, but he wont, and after loss after loss you keep getting up and when you win, when you win those matches, even that heel will offer you his hand, because if you can get up and keep going and still hold your head up high, no one can look down on you. No one.





See Em you will be remembered, believe it or not. And as much as this match means to both of us, no matter who wins, we’ll both shake hands afterwards and thatll be enough, that will be enough.





Goodluck Em





Fade to light