Meeting Joshua LaViolette

After spending eight years in the navy, Joshua LaViolette changed careers. He discussed how if he moved up in the army ranks, he would lose contact with his friends who worked alongside him. The brotherhood that they were a part of was one of the things that LaViolette loved most about the navy. After spending all semester learning about the negative side of war, (aside from the small instances of beauty that can be found during wartime) the discussion with LaViolette was certainly different. He did not describe any major negative experiences in detail, although he did mention how some of the troops were killed, and how he had to shout at another soldier for hiding behind a car in cowardice. Overall, LaViolette was fortunate in his positive experiences in the army that he shared with us. He did not see a single woman working while he served, so perhaps if there was a woman working alongside him in the navy, we may imagine that the experience could have been different for him. LaViolette commented that he was in a position where he had to put his life on the line for others. This is definitely admirable and makes us consider how difficult it must be not to be the soldier hiding behind the car.