Knock. Knock. Knock. Who could that be at 4 a.m.?
Well, for those who are military bound like 21-year-old University of Memphis student Wes Cofer, that early morning knock could be a staunchly uniformed Marine calling them to fill out paperwork or perhaps leave for active duty.
Cofer was greeted with a 4 a.m. wake-up call from his home in Fayette County in November 2001. The following summer he braved boot camp. Less than a year later, Cofer's class graduated early to go to Iraq.
The knock awakened more than just an eager Marine hoping to serve his country. The duty call interrupted a family. Dad was pretty mad about his son's decision to eagerly enlist and head overseas. Mom longed for Wes to follow his dreams but secretly hoped those dreams would keep him planted in Tennessee.
But for Cofer, there was never a question about whether he would join the military -- just which branch to join. The military movie "Full Metal Jacket" helped influence Cofer to join the Marines. The opening scene presents a fresh batch of recruits facing the grueling challenges of boot camp.
"The first 15 minutes, when R. Lee Ermey is on his little spout, I didn't realize that's how it really is," he said. "It's one of those things that you kind of laugh at, but when it's happening to you, it isn't that funny."
The three phases of boot camp are designed to create men from boys. For Cofer this meant letting go of mom's hand and clinging to God's.
"When I was little I always wanted to be around my mother, but I'm a lot more independent," he said. He was brought up in a Christian home and was made to go to church as a kid.
"In high school I never really did. But in boot camp, I went every Sunday. My faith definitely increased a lot."
"They say boot camp doesn't actually get easier. You just adapt to it. You get used to the yelling and spitting in your face," Cofer said. "It's complete hell pretty much."
However, that hell didn't dampen his excitement. He was 19 and straight out of infantry school when he went to Iraq. "I was still motivated and had more of a rush going through me, so I wasn't really scared. I was more excited when we went over there," Cofer said. "I was the one constantly asking, 'when are we going?'"
More than a year later, Cofer is now asking "when are we returning?" Other Marines share this same sentiment. One of his Marine buddies, Steve Ross, a senior at Ole Miss, never thought he would want to return.
"But after the invasion into Fallujah in November, I couldn't help but want to be over there," Ross said. "I actually felt bad for not being over there. I have heard this same statement from several Marines."
Cofer's section went to Iraq during a U.S. police action. Although they were not waging war during Spring 2003, danger was just a heartbeat away.
"The first night we were there, we had car bombs going off," he said. "You'd have bullets coming within an arm's reach of you."
While bullets frequently flew through the air, Cofer said the enemy's aim was never very good. "Nothing was very organized. They might pop around the corner and fire off a few rounds and then pop right back."
A Marine's role includes more than just self-protection in chaotic shooting situations. Ross said it was extremely important that Marines watch each other's backs.
"It literally means 'my life is in your hands.' If you let your guard down, that could potentially mean the life of yourself or a fellow devil dog," he said. "In times like this, you really understand the term 'Band of Brothers.' Wes is one for sure."
Loyalty seems to be burned into Cofer's character according to one of his Pi Kappa Phi brothers, junior business major Ryan Smith.
"Being a Marine has made him really loyal to whatever he does, like his loyalty to the fraternity," Smith said. "Anything he does, he does to 100 percent. I think his experience with the military has really helped instill this loyalty."
After living in such a dangerous and difficult environment, Cofer said he gained a greater appreciation for, "anything and everything. It just makes you appreciate life a lot better."
He slept on a concrete floor for the first two months until they received cots.
"But all they did was really just keep you off the ground from the scorpions and camel spiders," he said.
Before going to Iraq, Coffer said he took for granted the simple pleasures of life like a cool breeze, soft mattress and comfortable tennis shoes.
But he noted that the decrease in comfort brought an increase in his faith.
"There were things there that you just had to thank God for," Cofer said. "I remember just laying on my cot and feeling a cool breeze blow over and just being thankful to God that he's given me that."
The results of the recent Iraqi elections are still not clear, but Cofer was surprised about how smoothly the whole process ran. He is still skeptical about democracy taking over, but he said Saddam's cruelty was so severe that regardless of the presence or absence of weapons of mass destruction, the United States should fight for Iraq's freedom.
"We need to get them (the insurgents) out of power," he said. Fighting for freedom as a Marine and attending college can be taxing on students.
"It is tough. Each is very stressful in different ways," Ross said.Most 21-year-olds are still worried about finding something to do on the weekends. Occasionally the 'what in the world am I going to do with my life?' question taints the fresh freedom the post-teenage years offer.
But for Cofer, childhood dreams of playing soldier have turned into a clear and present danger. The warrior role provides direction for his future.
"I plan on majoring in political science, because I plan on staying in the military as long as they let me," Cofer said.
Thanksgiving leave two years ago prompted a trip to Main Street where he visited a local tattoo parlor. A daily reminder of his life motto crawls up his forearm.
"Death before dishonor," waves over the Marine Corps seal -- the eagle, globe and anchor.
