As Hans reclined in his bed ready for fatigue to take over his thoughts, he could not help but ponder the way his host left their conversation. War? He lived the army life by proxy through his father and never really considered the politics. That just wasn’t his thing. He cared nothing for the politics. His father did share with him tips on the tactical employment of infantry at the various echelons and the use of artillery. These were issues, he expected to be taught to use if there was no option but war. He was not concerned about this. This would not prevent him from sleeping.

There comes a time in every young man’s life when he must turn his back on the frivolities of youth; to place them on a shelf to one day hopefully return to. A young man must go out into the world and get beat down. To have the realities of life beat him senseless, to bloody his nose and concuss his brain into submission. Then the young man must stand. Necessary to muster the strength to rise up against the admonishment and face it with dignity and grace. The young man does have te option to remain down, but then his growth is stunted. To rely on a crutch to get you through the hard times will keep the young man deceived and distracted by the frivolities of youth.

How would he handle himself in a war? What would he do? He resolved that he would stand. Like the ancient Japanese proverb he learned about in school. [i]Fall seven times and stand up eight.[/i] In other words, “when life knocks you down, stand back up; what matters is not the bad that happened, but what one does after." It is most important to stand. Hans resolved to stand.