Gratitude

I have a young guy in the Guard who works for me, and his fiancee does as well. When I hired him, he kept repeating," Are you sure? I will have duty one weekend a month and I am gone for a couple weeks during the summer..." I run a marina dock staff, summer biz- I hired him because of his qualifications, and because of his service. His girlfriend has been turned down time and time again, told point blank that her service time would be unacceptable.

People, we can run our businesses BECAUSE of people like this. In years past, they have fought and defended our way of life around the world, so we can worry about the stupid petty crap in our lives and work.

It's not much, but it's all I can do to help thank and support and show my appreciation for our men and women in uniform. My father -three tours 'Nam 101ST Airborne, Screamin' Eagles, grandfather- WWII 82nd Airborne......

We miss you and pray for your safe return. Also, we have adopted a military family to try and help with baby clothes, toys at Xmas etc.
 
kjm,
You said it better than I could. I recently had the honor of working with a young man who was injured in Iraq. My coworkers thought I would be the perfect person to work with him because of my service in the first war.
They had no idea that I was and am humbled by this young man's sacrifice, not only of his body and mind, but also of his plans for his future. My service was not even close to being in the same league. This country has an obligation to show these men the respect and honor they have earned, and to take care of them and their families. There are no excuses, It must be done.
 
Americans Today Want "Instant Everything"

We could learn some lessons from those who came before us. I often remind the liberal whiners I hear complain that unlike 30-minute TV series or 90 minute movies, war has no music in the background and it doesn't end up in an hour with the good guy walking off into the sunset wtih the girl while the music plays.

War is, as George W says, "Hard Work." It is gritty, tiring, frightening, exhilarating, inspiring, fearful, boring, busy and too long. All the in the same conflict.

No one who has ever gone in harm's way for his country and thought he might not ever see his loved ones again can ever take for granted the freedom we have. That's one thing that we all can agree on, I believe.

I make it a point when talking to others about my age or younger or older to inquire whether they have served their country, and if so, where and how. I shake the hands of every veteran I meet, even if they served long long ago. And I say "Thankyou for your service to our Country". Some acknowledge it with quiet pride and say "Your Welcome". Others don't know what to say because they're shocked anyone would say Thank You. Others are proud and pleased, and they agree to pass it on.

I salute my fellow veterans on this Forum, and whether we ever meet in person at a TFL event, SHOT Show, range match, or some other event, I want you to know how much I appreciate the sacrifice you've been willing to make -- and still are. THANK YOU for your service to our Country.
 
Our Troops

Though I consider myself an individual, some here might call me a liberal. Some liberals have called me a conservative, but labels aside, we should all respect the brave men & women of the armed forces.

Many conservatives are fond of saying, "I support the troops," as though liberals scorn them. I've never met anyone who condemned our soldiers as barbarous, but would quickly curb their tongues if any did. (Even in the case of Abu Graib, I place the blame squarely on the heads of Rumsfeld & his cronies.) The liberals I know likewise support the troops & would like to see them brought home now, alive & well.

I joined the Army at seventeen. Not only did I hope to get a boost up for college, but also to do something righteous & honorable.

Many of my friends were taken aback at my decision, & pointed me to numerous historical everts which caused me to question my faith in our leaders. I arrived at the conclusion that as much as I love my country & what it stands for, I could not trust the motives of the government. I decided to withdraw from the delayed entry program.

This surely earns me the contempt of some here, but if it might mitigate my seeming lack of patriotism, you can count on me, should these shores ever be invaded, to grab my guns & head for the hills, to win victory or die trying. I am neither coward nor conscientious objector. I love the flag even if I do often disagree with the Bushes & Clintons alike.

Moreover, I am grateful that an ample number of Americans see fit to defend our country despite the madness of those in power. They will always have my respect & even some of my envy. I bow to you all.

If any care to criticize me, please keep it pithy & rational.
 
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This surely earns me the contempt of some here, but if it might mitigate my seeming lack of patriotism, you can count on me, should these shores ever be invaded, to grab my guns & head for the hills, to win victory or die trying. I am neither coward nor conscientious objector. I love the flag even if I do often disagree with the Bushes & Clintons alike.
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I think it is better that you backed out on your obligation when you did. The last thing any military person ever hopes for is to be assigned to a unit that contains people who will cut and run.

My personal favorite is when it always comes down to how people are going to fight from the hills with their last ounce of courage. I love that. It makes it hard to type through all the tears of laughter of course, but I love it nonetheless.

Our country will fall, as all countries eventually do, but it won't be from some sort of "Red Dawn" style apocalyptic battle. So never fear, you can put away your survivalist kit. It will fall one little shred of dignity at a time while the inhabitants console each other about how bravely they will fight "someday".

The good news is that human nature is such that the yearning for human freedom will find fertile soil some other time, some other place, so long as humans exist.
 
Life Choices

Fred, I'm glad you get a kick out of my position, but I think you misjudge me.
I simply don't believe this war is helping protect the American people. Quite the opposite.

If you think me such a coward, that's your opinion. My father & brother (both veterans, WWII & Nam) commended me for my decision. Your speculation upon what my performance might be as a soldier is just that. Speculation. Put me in a conflict that I could believe in, the War for Independence for example, & I would make you proud. In fact, if I had chosen to continue on the military path, I know I'd have been an excellent soldier.

There are many ways one can improve our country aside from being a soldier: teaching children, apprehending criminals, & yes, at times vocally disagreeing with our leaders. These are some of the things I've done with my life outside the military.

If we suffered a dearth of people choosing a career in military service, your implication might carry more weight. But we do not. We have plenty of men & women who, like me, are willing to defend their country, and who, unlike me, are in sufficient agreement with our government.

I agree that our country has problems, but lack of courage is not one of them. Rather, I see greed, corruption, pollution, elitism & dehumanization as more prevalent.

I also agree that freedom must be maintained. This is why I oppose the constant, gradual decay of our Constitution by our elected officials. There lies the true threat to the ideals of our flag. Not within me.
 
Put me in a conflict that I could believe in, the War for Independence for example, & I would make you proud. In fact, if I had chosen to continue on the military path, I know I'd have been an excellent soldier.
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Aye, there's the rub. People involved in wars throughout history had/have no way to know what august conflict they have embarked upon. Well, maybe Nostradamus would have - if he was ever a soldier, but I digress.

It's like the guys at Pearl Harbor December 7th, 1941. While they knew they were at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, they had no way to understand that the were at the Battle Of Pearl Harbor. But because they were, that station felt the brunt of the Imperial Japanese Navy rather than oh, let's say Long Beach, California.

It is only in hindsight that things like the Battle of Pearl Harbor are truly seen for what they are. It is in times like those that military members can not afford to be around people who might second guess their level of committment. And yet it happens even then; people freeze up, become indecisive, wish to run... etc. mayhem and chaos gain the upper hand. Stuff happens.
Fred, I'm glad you get a kick out of my position, but I think you misjudge me.
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It's nothing against you personally, I just find the idea of people thinking they are going to somehow know when it is time to defend their nation so hysterically funny. Billions of people do it every day. It's the way of the world. On the other hand one's nation needs protecting everyday. Some people get that, some don't.

It's a free country. Do whatever you see fit for you; in the end (as I said above) that also ends up being what is best for those you would have served with. And while I still don't buy your rationale, it works for you. Nothing wrong with that.
 
Personal Conflict

I appreciate your candor, Fred. And you make excellent points such that you stir everything that makes me want to protect my country, makes me long for a leader I can believe in enough to devote my life to.

On the other hand one's nation needs protecting everyday. Some people get that, some don't.
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Absolutely. I truly desire to protect my country, but for me this includes deciding what is protective. Obviously I cannot have it both ways, being an autonomous protector.

While it's certainly true that only being at war would reveal my grit, I continue to believe I would be an intrepid soldier.

I want you to know that I respect not only our armed forces, but you as well. Thank you for providing such cogent feedback. In fact, I regret derailing this noble topic with my personal conflict on the issue. The bottom line is that our military men & women are heroes who deserve the thanks of all Americans. The ways I try to improve the world will never compare to what they have done for us.
 
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The ways I try to improve the world will never compare to what they have done for us.
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Well said, but there will always be people greater than ourselves that we should feel obliged to no matter what our station in life. Don't be too hard on yourself, you are more honest (at least) than about 99.999% of the human population. There is plenty to be said for that.
 
One night I will always remember is December 21, 1989. I was delivering papers and I caught the headline of the invasion of Panama. I thought to myself that now would be an excellent time to join up for college money etc... I didn't figure we'd see another conflict for 20 years and hence, it was a safe time to enlist.

I enlisted like most, not to serve my country. Not to serve a political ideology, but simply for money, benefits and other secondary stuff. I went Airborne thinking that jump school would be a fun "once-in-a-lifetime" thrill and that I'd be sent to Fort Hood after jump school (not knowing that the 82nd had artillerymen too). So off I went on my self-serving mission.

How shocked I was to be standing in the desert outside of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia just nine months after the invasion of Panama was over, with the 82nd Airborne. Nobody I knew joined for patriotic reasons. They did it for the fun or the stable benefits and most stayed because they liked it and it liked them.

Few soldiers join up hoping to go to war. Fred is right that you don't know until years later if the war you were in was justified or not, or if what you did was all that special. It isn't a soldier's place to question those things, and soldiers who do aren't that great. Soldiers only perform pursuant to orders and the only time orders are questioned is if they are life-or-death immoral, or there is a much better alternative.

Most of my time serving was under Bill Clinton. I hated that man. I hated his policies. I lost 18 brothers, 12 of whom could have been saved if he would have approved one-single Bradley fighting vehicle for Moghadishu. Coulda, shoulda... but didn't. Do you think the Rangers fighting on the street that day were pro-Clinton (even before the struggle)? As was said earlier in the thread, the country needs defending whether it is a Democrat or a Republican in office.

Even those who never saw a shot fired in anger defended her through their presence in Uniform that makes for a dreadful deterrent of aggression. I tend to not agree with many wars except those fought for defense of country, but it isn't the war that matters, nor is it the President's political party that matters.

The point of this thread was to convey my feelings that I have struggled in circumstances that were light compared to the struggles of those there now. I don't like going up and shaking hands and saying thank-you, but I want the men who are reading this from Nassyria or Sadr City to know that there are a bunch of us who won't come up and say it, but I feel it, and I will be there for them when they return home to broken or damaged families, shredded finances, and a life turned upside down.

PTSD is more common than many think and it shows up many, many years later making life for your wife not a cakewalk either. The VA likes to send these guys to some Shrink fresh out of Grad-school, but they get the most relief from talking to the crusties from 'nam who have lived life in a bottle, and have drank themselves into a stupor trying to sleep just one night peacefully.

When they get back, I will not assess their performance by that of GW Bush. I will simply be there to listen if they need to talk, because they WILL need to talk to somebody (without getting all political and stupid).
 
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