I joined the U.S. Army on April 1st, 1997. It wasn’t any sort of prank, I was in a rut in life. I had been out of high school for 2 years, renting apartments and duplexes with friends. I was taking a lot of drugs and drinking a lot of alcohol. We worked when we had to cover the bills, and ran up debt on gas station credit cards.
I had a vision of my future, a vision of working as a Graphic Designer for a Design or Advertising Agency, but I had no way to realize that vision. Both my father and step-father served in the U.S. Army and I knew I could get money for college if I served too. I didn’t have a sense of patriotic duty, I wasn’t trying to honor their legacy, I was simply trying to get out of the dead end I found myself in.
I was already self identifying as a Satanist, and made a few pretty substantial waves when I announced that I was a Satanist to the Chaplain during his first presentation, and to my platoon on the first day of Basic Training. I didn’t have to ‘out’ myself, as I had a large Sigil of Baphomet tattooed on the lower right side of my back that my fellow soldiers were already whispering about from our open showers. It was actually the cause of my rejection from the U.S. Air Force in MEPS.
My drill sergeant immediately ‘got me’ and when I learned of my father’s death during Basic Training, he allowed me a day to process it while I painted a mural on the barracks floor. It was a series of images depicting bloody battle and victory with a quote from the Book of Satan in The Satanic Bible.
The U.S. Army was a means to an end for me. The lessons it taught me about myself, my fellow soldiers and my country are ingrained into my perspective to this day. I am a partner in an Advertising Agency with a beautiful family and an individual drive that I cannot say I would have if it weren’t for my service.
To all of my fellow soldiers, thank you for your service, regardless of why you served. If you are a Satanist and a Veteran, I would encourage you to learn more about the Infernal Legion, a Satanic non-profit Veteran’s service organization.
Hail America’s Veterans!
Hail the Infernal Legion!
Hail Satan!