"Sometimes the worst scars are those you cannot see-----" P. Baker was a loner. He did not have a family. He did not, according to him, have a life until the age of sixteen. This is when he enlisted and fudged on his age. He needed a place to sleep, food and a feeling of security. He was a foster child, and had hardly any place to be other than a school where he felt safe for a few hours in the day. Baker knew it was screwed up. He tried to protect the younger ones. So when the chance came for him to leave. He took it. The fight for even one single thing would no longer be a problem for him. He had thought and executed his plan. He could not look back because he could not take another with him where he was going. It hurt. But he made a note to himself that when he got the chance, he would check on the others. And prayed that they would live and grow and become a better person than the idiots that ran the house. The Army became his family. These people were real. When they spoke Baker knew exactly what they meant and how to interpret it. No more guessing games. Regulated. From the back area of Texas, from the wrong side of the tracks (where that even came from confused him), but he was more or less a hillbilly when it came to lots of things. He was naive in lots of ways. But fighting was not one of them. His tone, his speech, his interpretations of people may be limited, but his mind was there and he learned. Grew. Grabbed any and all information thrown at him. He left the home where he had stayed. Walked for two days to get there. It was late when he arrived so he slept at the back of the building. Huddled against a wall. Held his bag of belongings to his chest as he slept. Waited for the sun to raise then stood. Swiped the dirt off his pants and went in the front door. He had considered the Air Force which was next door. But Baker was a big young man. 6'6" and all brawn. He had worked construction for his last job. He could get books. Books that he read at night with a flash light. He learned what he wanted. Medical information. He had two tucked away in his pack right now. As a child he had mended bird's wings, helped neighborhood pets that needed it. Would set a broken finger, hand or arm. Worked with the Vet who came and even help birth cattle, sheep, and pigs. Looking back at Baker the Army Sergeant said, "The bus comes weekly. You are lucky that it comes today. If you are packed ...... They shook hands, the man stood and looked at the boy in front of him. Not the first child he had met that was looking for something better. And having to look up? Another new thing for him. The Sargent knew that the young man in front of him would survive. Handle the next step. So he stated, "When you swear in, there will be no turning back." Needing to know if this would be good for the boy. He saw the nod. Stepping back he said, "Stand tall. I will give you the oath, you repeat and give your name, and that is it." They both stood. Baker took a deep breath and smiled. Took the oath and felt the weight come off his chest. Baker, P. It was done. He was in the Army now. He gave the man in front of him a full smile. Years came and went, Baker learned and healed many. His hands knew what to do and those that met him learned that the big man had a heart of gold and hands that healed. He became a great surgeon even with no college training. It was natural to him. But there was another step. His heart that was still in Texas no matter where he lived, his next step was there ... to become a Texas Ranger. And Baker followed through.