Have you ever...
- Thread starter TheLonelySquire
- Start date
no.
Nope. Never met one.
Except my father, but I was too young to know much about that. And given the choice, I would have elected he stay home to care for his young family - fat lot of good his efforts resulted in for his country. Hindsight is 20/20 though, so I give him kudos for fighting for his believes.
Except my father, but I was too young to know much about that. And given the choice, I would have elected he stay home to care for his young family - fat lot of good his efforts resulted in for his country. Hindsight is 20/20 though, so I give him kudos for fighting for his believes.
A lot of folks are saying that they have never met a member of their country's military, but I wouldn't be surprised if you have met one, or many, and don't know it. Veterans look just like anyone else - any age, any race, either sex, doing any job in civilan life. The most recent veteran I met was a 23 year old mother, who looked to me like a little slip of a girl, not someone who'd repaired army jeeps and tanks for a living until she'd been bombed out in Iraq.
No, because...
a) we have a draft, so it's not such a big deal to have served.
b) it's their job. Firefighters put their lives on the line, too, and for a less questionable cause.
c) only few of them actually do put their lives on the line, at all. Until recently, our military hadn't been involved in any real military operation.
d) while I feel sorry for those soldiers that died and I agree with most of the missions we're currently involved in, I don't see the army really defending much of anything. Germany wouldn't be in danger if they all came home tomorrow.
a) we have a draft, so it's not such a big deal to have served.
b) it's their job. Firefighters put their lives on the line, too, and for a less questionable cause.
c) only few of them actually do put their lives on the line, at all. Until recently, our military hadn't been involved in any real military operation.
d) while I feel sorry for those soldiers that died and I agree with most of the missions we're currently involved in, I don't see the army really defending much of anything. Germany wouldn't be in danger if they all came home tomorrow.
That's an incredibly warped view of this discussion. This isn't a Greek Epic we're talking about here, individual soldiers aren't charging enemy lines in search of glory.
You owe our soldiers your thanks for having the courage and dedication to serve our country and protect your freedom. They certainly don't need to pull a William Wallace to deserve your appreciation.
I've worked for the Marine Corps for 7 years. My job is such that I assist with the management of 10 installations and commands. I'd say I'm doing my part to make sure they can do what they do every day.
No, because I've never really thought about it.
I've been thanked a bunch of times once people found out I once served. I was recently thanked at Disneyworld by a high school kid whose dad is deployed to Iraq.
^That's good to hear!
The oppritunity has not come up, and as with any genuine "thank you", I am not going to force it.
A
Amaris
Guest
I have, yes.
J.
J.
Of course I have. My father fought in World war Two, Korea and Vietnam (twice). One brother-in-law served in Vietnam, another in Desert Storm. I grew up on military bases. I respect those who serve and I can recognize those who would use the service of others to score cheap political 'points'.
No soldier has ever died for my freedom. My freedom has never been under attack from any foreign power. Outside of warring, being in the military is just a job, the kind that everyone does on a daily basis. Let me add that I have had a lot of friends who were in the military and a lot of their service seemed to involve banging hookers in Manila and Okinawa.
You live on Mars or something?
Yes, I have, and not just because it crosses off a box on "The Great Big Checklist of Things You Have to Do to Appear Patriotic Without Really Understanding the Meaning of the Word" that some here seem to subscribe to, judging by their question.
TheLonelySquire
Vice Admiral
Excellent!
Of course.
In fact, I thanked my uncle Nguyen for his service in the NVA just the other day.
And I've always regretted not thanking my Opa for all his good work with the Waffen-SS on the Eastern Front.
