MY PERSPECTIVE
JESUIT PERSPECTIVES • FALL 2021 43
When asked to provide
my perspective about
how my military
career connected with my time
at Jesuit, I thought, that’s easy –
Jesuit has everything to do with
my calling to military service.
So there I was, a senior, with
no clue where I wanted to go
to college. I was getting ready
for football practice when head
coach “Wild Bill” Minahan
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There’s a coach from Navy who
wants to talk with you.”
That meeting led to an
appointment to the United States
Naval Academy, where I played
football for one year, rugby for
three years, earned a degree in
economics, and a commission as
a second lieutenant in the United
States Marine Corps.
I know in my heart that our
motto – ‘Men for Others’ – led
me to military service. I ended
up spending 20 years in the
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states and Japan, and traveling
all over the world to include
three combat deployments. It
was awesome! Every day I went
to work with men and women
living Jesuit’s motto.
Although there were many,
two experiences in particular
at Jesuit involving teamwork
shaped my military service.
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Coach Minahan instilled in all
of us that team mattered most
of all, and that we were part of
something bigger than ourselves.
Our defensive coordinator, coach
Sonny Hester, taught us that we
succeeded when we focused
on playing our position for the
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Another valuable lesson came
from being part of The Tiger
newspaper. Back then we would
meet on Saturday mornings to
literally cut and paste articles
and photos onto the galleys that
would be sent to the printer. It
was tedious work that called for
several do-overs and re-typing
of articles in order to make
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taught me that sometimes
you have to just have to do the
grunt work that no one notices
in order to get the job done.
Teamwork – and Mr. Ernie
Charette’s wry humor – made
the work go fast.
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foot on the Jesuit campus, I
know that ‘Men for Others’ is
more than a motto – it’s our
calling. I believe that we all
should say "yes" when called
to serve, and each of us should
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particular talents. I am fortunate
to continue to serve as a civilian
at the U.S. Central Command
here in Tampa, and I enjoy the
fraternity of fellow Catholic men
through parish and community
service with the Knights of
Columbus.
Often when we serve, we
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position with all eyes upon you.
We thrive because as Jesuit
alumni, we know that we serve
not for our own sake, but with
AMDG, “For the Greater Glory of
God,” tattooed on our hearts.
BRUCE CZAJA ’85