We can't forget to say thank you to our Vets!
- Thread starter r.w.landau
- Start date
- Status
Veterans
Together Veteran and citizen honor with grace and dignity the liberty representing wars end goal of a longer lasting peace. Stand ready to defend. Fall not prey to weakness, division of purpose or sense of outcome. Never lose resolve to seek peace. Our sailboat, documented with the Coast Guard, will be able and willing to come to the aid of our country if needed. As Veterans remember your highest appreciation, dedicate some regard to those who serve decision making. May the collective wisdom of freedom sounded by warrior and objector give strength to protect, defend and advance Democracy.
Together Veteran and citizen honor with grace and dignity the liberty representing wars end goal of a longer lasting peace. Stand ready to defend. Fall not prey to weakness, division of purpose or sense of outcome. Never lose resolve to seek peace. Our sailboat, documented with the Coast Guard, will be able and willing to come to the aid of our country if needed. As Veterans remember your highest appreciation, dedicate some regard to those who serve decision making. May the collective wisdom of freedom sounded by warrior and objector give strength to protect, defend and advance Democracy.
These words were sent to me from a Vet.
I hope it puts it in perspective... Interesting definition of Veteran: A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his/her life, wrote a blank check made payable to: "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life." That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it. Author unknown. Thank you all for your service Please forward to other veterans.
I hope it puts it in perspective... Interesting definition of Veteran: A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his/her life, wrote a blank check made payable to: "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life." That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it. Author unknown. Thank you all for your service Please forward to other veterans.
"It was the veteran..."
It was the Veteran, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It was the Veteran, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It was the Veteran, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to fair trial. It was the Veteran, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to demonstrate. It is the Veteran, who salutes the flag, who served under the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag. Written by: Father Denis Edward O'Brien, USMC
It was the Veteran, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It was the Veteran, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It was the Veteran, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to fair trial. It was the Veteran, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to demonstrate. It is the Veteran, who salutes the flag, who served under the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag. Written by: Father Denis Edward O'Brien, USMC
wish I could say thanks to our...
diplomatic corps.... but I can't say anything nice about those whiners... especially since my son has been serving his country in the Bagdad area for the past year. Sorry for the politics guys... but this stuff is too close to me.
diplomatic corps.... but I can't say anything nice about those whiners... especially since my son has been serving his country in the Bagdad area for the past year. Sorry for the politics guys... but this stuff is too close to me.
Veterans are a Mixed Bag
Some are patriotic others got drafted..Others like me were born poor with very few options in life. My Dad was drafted and went to kill German soldiers who were drafted to fight for their country. My uncle was drafted to go kill Japanese who were drafted to fight for their country. If your side wins you are a HERO if your side loses you are a bad guy. Both my Dad and uncle came back messed up alcoholics. Dad said that he couldn't forget using his flame thrower to burn other men alive...he said that the Germans looked just like us. I am sure that they both were suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. Dad said that before he went to Africa he was on duty gathering up draft dodgers. He said that he almost shot one women who pulled a shotgun on him trying to prevent her son from being dragged off to war. Dad said that when he and his buddy aimed their rifles at the woman and told her to drop the gun or that they would shoot her she gave up. Dad had no ideal if her son died during the war. A friend of a friend is an Iragi Veteran. Some veterans I am sure are heros. But most are just men placed in an awful situation by their leaders and lucky to survive. Leaders should make sure that the wars they fight are worth the lives that will be lost. In WWII we had little choice once we were attacked by Japan. Maybe even in Korea we were right to help South Korea. Vietmnam I am not sure about. 50,000 men is a high price to pay to delay the inevitable. Afghanistan ..maybe we did need to try and catch the leaders of Al qaeda but that was blundered and Osama is still alive and free. Irag no way we really had no reason to invade and occupy Irag. Now Iragi citizens have a choice of fighting for their country or submiting to a foriegn occupation. Again people put in an awful situation by their leaders. From our perspective the Iragis that are fighting our occupation are terrorists just like the British wanted to catch and hang George Washington. Since washington won he is celebrated as a hero. If the american revolution had failed then Washington would be pretty much forgotten. I am sure that the British soldiers that died while killing American revolutionaries were considered heros back in England. The number 1 rule of being a veteran. BE ON THE WINNING SIDE!!!
Some are patriotic others got drafted..Others like me were born poor with very few options in life. My Dad was drafted and went to kill German soldiers who were drafted to fight for their country. My uncle was drafted to go kill Japanese who were drafted to fight for their country. If your side wins you are a HERO if your side loses you are a bad guy. Both my Dad and uncle came back messed up alcoholics. Dad said that he couldn't forget using his flame thrower to burn other men alive...he said that the Germans looked just like us. I am sure that they both were suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. Dad said that before he went to Africa he was on duty gathering up draft dodgers. He said that he almost shot one women who pulled a shotgun on him trying to prevent her son from being dragged off to war. Dad said that when he and his buddy aimed their rifles at the woman and told her to drop the gun or that they would shoot her she gave up. Dad had no ideal if her son died during the war. A friend of a friend is an Iragi Veteran. Some veterans I am sure are heros. But most are just men placed in an awful situation by their leaders and lucky to survive. Leaders should make sure that the wars they fight are worth the lives that will be lost. In WWII we had little choice once we were attacked by Japan. Maybe even in Korea we were right to help South Korea. Vietmnam I am not sure about. 50,000 men is a high price to pay to delay the inevitable. Afghanistan ..maybe we did need to try and catch the leaders of Al qaeda but that was blundered and Osama is still alive and free. Irag no way we really had no reason to invade and occupy Irag. Now Iragi citizens have a choice of fighting for their country or submiting to a foriegn occupation. Again people put in an awful situation by their leaders. From our perspective the Iragis that are fighting our occupation are terrorists just like the British wanted to catch and hang George Washington. Since washington won he is celebrated as a hero. If the american revolution had failed then Washington would be pretty much forgotten. I am sure that the British soldiers that died while killing American revolutionaries were considered heros back in England. The number 1 rule of being a veteran. BE ON THE WINNING SIDE!!!
Peggie: Thanks to Father O'Brien
Having spent time during the Vietnam War both in college and in the service, I can really relate to what he wrote. Not having been born with a silver spoon and not being a son of a Senator, I felt I was just "doing my duty". Others took the easy path and went abroad before the draft could nab them. My brother-in-law's brother was drafted and he wasn't even an American citizen. He had come over from Norway. After being wounded three times and getting a number of decorations including the purple heart, he was assigned to duty on a base as was custom of the time. That was short-lived; however, and he was then ordered back out into the field but, and I don't know the whole story on this but it was somehow related to the being wounded three times, there was some dispute and he wound up being court-martialed. Fortunately for me, Uncle had different plans. While I was in Transient status waiting for orders everybody that came in at the same time I did were shipped out and I was still left waiting. Over a month went by and others came and went while I was still there. I was starting to become an "oldtimer" at the base and then, finally, my orders came in: Antarctica! So, instead of the heat, humidity, bugs, etc. I got Operation Deep Freeze. Besides doing construction and maintenance down under and supporting the scientists, I got to learn about the eco systems, degree-days as related to freezing and thawing, and, interestingly, glaciers and glacier tongues. Found out that Antarctica had even had a petrified trees. Also worked with a Russian "scientist", no, he was not a KGB agent I was assured. (Ha!) We had a radio tech that was born an American but immigrated to Canada, I think this was in connection with his parents, and he was serving a six year stint as part of becoming an American citizen again. I couldn't believe it. A couple years later it was back to school and I'll be dammed, they took away about 3/4ths of a year of credits because I had a break in my college education, they said, so I had to start over again on a new Catalog and these courses I lost the credits for no longer existed. Now that's a lot of thanks for serving your country. The one good thing about going back to school, however, were the mini skirts and no bras. Unfortunately for me I was in the wrong major and carrying too many units to appreciate things. What MoonSailor said is pretty true. I never joined the VFW - that was more for the WWII vets, they won their war. Vietnam was basically a looser, not because of the military but more because of Congress and the public who couldn't come up with a plan so we had one foot on the dock and the other on the boat. Since then I've learned about the Senators Son - it's called special assignments. No flying bullets or 12-on, 12-off, 7-day weeks, and easy to go home every night to your wife or parents. I never met any rich kids in the service or sons of rich dads. I wonder about Elvis and how they got him in. Today we have millions of immigrants, legal and illegal, so how many of them serve time in the service? For many the time in military is a real mind bender and I can sure understand how so many Vets have problems. It's a whole different culture and unless you've been through it and done your time it can be really difficult to understand. What O'Brien wrote is spot on. Thanks, Peggie, for posting it.
Having spent time during the Vietnam War both in college and in the service, I can really relate to what he wrote. Not having been born with a silver spoon and not being a son of a Senator, I felt I was just "doing my duty". Others took the easy path and went abroad before the draft could nab them. My brother-in-law's brother was drafted and he wasn't even an American citizen. He had come over from Norway. After being wounded three times and getting a number of decorations including the purple heart, he was assigned to duty on a base as was custom of the time. That was short-lived; however, and he was then ordered back out into the field but, and I don't know the whole story on this but it was somehow related to the being wounded three times, there was some dispute and he wound up being court-martialed. Fortunately for me, Uncle had different plans. While I was in Transient status waiting for orders everybody that came in at the same time I did were shipped out and I was still left waiting. Over a month went by and others came and went while I was still there. I was starting to become an "oldtimer" at the base and then, finally, my orders came in: Antarctica! So, instead of the heat, humidity, bugs, etc. I got Operation Deep Freeze. Besides doing construction and maintenance down under and supporting the scientists, I got to learn about the eco systems, degree-days as related to freezing and thawing, and, interestingly, glaciers and glacier tongues. Found out that Antarctica had even had a petrified trees. Also worked with a Russian "scientist", no, he was not a KGB agent I was assured. (Ha!) We had a radio tech that was born an American but immigrated to Canada, I think this was in connection with his parents, and he was serving a six year stint as part of becoming an American citizen again. I couldn't believe it. A couple years later it was back to school and I'll be dammed, they took away about 3/4ths of a year of credits because I had a break in my college education, they said, so I had to start over again on a new Catalog and these courses I lost the credits for no longer existed. Now that's a lot of thanks for serving your country. The one good thing about going back to school, however, were the mini skirts and no bras. Unfortunately for me I was in the wrong major and carrying too many units to appreciate things. What MoonSailor said is pretty true. I never joined the VFW - that was more for the WWII vets, they won their war. Vietnam was basically a looser, not because of the military but more because of Congress and the public who couldn't come up with a plan so we had one foot on the dock and the other on the boat. Since then I've learned about the Senators Son - it's called special assignments. No flying bullets or 12-on, 12-off, 7-day weeks, and easy to go home every night to your wife or parents. I never met any rich kids in the service or sons of rich dads. I wonder about Elvis and how they got him in. Today we have millions of immigrants, legal and illegal, so how many of them serve time in the service? For many the time in military is a real mind bender and I can sure understand how so many Vets have problems. It's a whole different culture and unless you've been through it and done your time it can be really difficult to understand. What O'Brien wrote is spot on. Thanks, Peggie, for posting it.
sorry moonsailor, I must disagree
you don't have to be on the winning side to be a hero.(Robert E. Lee, Baron von Richthoven, for instance} And being on the winning side doesn't make you a hero(Joseph Stalin). We honor all veterans who've served in all wars.... none of them had the gift of your hindsight.... they honored their country and their fellow soldiers by doing their duty. None of them chose the wars they fought in, the wars chose them and they responded heroically. None knew what the outcome would be when they put their lives on the line. So please don't put any of us in a bag and mix it. The tragedies you mentioned are proof of the difficult task our veterans experienced. That's why they are all important and worthy of your esteem and support.
you don't have to be on the winning side to be a hero.(Robert E. Lee, Baron von Richthoven, for instance} And being on the winning side doesn't make you a hero(Joseph Stalin). We honor all veterans who've served in all wars.... none of them had the gift of your hindsight.... they honored their country and their fellow soldiers by doing their duty. None of them chose the wars they fought in, the wars chose them and they responded heroically. None knew what the outcome would be when they put their lives on the line. So please don't put any of us in a bag and mix it. The tragedies you mentioned are proof of the difficult task our veterans experienced. That's why they are all important and worthy of your esteem and support.
Joe so you really think
You really think that the British considered Washington a hero??? I do agree that some outstanding soldiers are respected even by their enemies. But you would be hard pressed to convince my uncle that Tojo was a hero. Da sure as hell didn't consider Rommel a hero while he was in Africa. But my major point was that war is a terrible thing and that soldiers should not be asked to die in unjust wars. I was lucky that during vietnam I was sent to the Phillipines. But both of my brothers were in vietanm. Two of my nephews were in desert storm. Fortunately they all came home unharmed. We celebrate the veterans and that is good. But we shouldnot forget that most of the people that die in modern wars are women and children. 60 million died in WWII mostly civillians. The same in Irag many people are dying for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sleeping in their beds the little children die when their home is destroyed. Collateral damage is a horrible thing. Truman deliberately destroyed two Japanese cities that were not military targets. Remember the children of war and the mothers of war.
You really think that the British considered Washington a hero??? I do agree that some outstanding soldiers are respected even by their enemies. But you would be hard pressed to convince my uncle that Tojo was a hero. Da sure as hell didn't consider Rommel a hero while he was in Africa. But my major point was that war is a terrible thing and that soldiers should not be asked to die in unjust wars. I was lucky that during vietnam I was sent to the Phillipines. But both of my brothers were in vietanm. Two of my nephews were in desert storm. Fortunately they all came home unharmed. We celebrate the veterans and that is good. But we shouldnot forget that most of the people that die in modern wars are women and children. 60 million died in WWII mostly civillians. The same in Irag many people are dying for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sleeping in their beds the little children die when their home is destroyed. Collateral damage is a horrible thing. Truman deliberately destroyed two Japanese cities that were not military targets. Remember the children of war and the mothers of war.
You got to be kidding!
Phil, If you will permit a Vet(66-89) to comment - So, Moonsailer, It pretty much sounds like you really don't see a difference between freedom and tyranny. It also sounds like you don't care much either. I guess if the enemies of the US win, we will all just have a big laugh about it on the sailing message board. After all, life couldn't have been that bad under the National Socialism of Hitler, the Communism of Stalin, Gorby, Mao or Uncle Ho. And the people under the Taliban and Al Queida party all day long. It is amazing you don't know the difference.
Phil, If you will permit a Vet(66-89) to comment - So, Moonsailer, It pretty much sounds like you really don't see a difference between freedom and tyranny. It also sounds like you don't care much either. I guess if the enemies of the US win, we will all just have a big laugh about it on the sailing message board. After all, life couldn't have been that bad under the National Socialism of Hitler, the Communism of Stalin, Gorby, Mao or Uncle Ho. And the people under the Taliban and Al Queida party all day long. It is amazing you don't know the difference.
Life is complicated
I had the honor of serving for 23 years. I think that allows me an opinion. Moonsailer is right. Randy is right. Joe is right. Life's complicated. I think the lesson we can learn is that many have made sacrifices. Assuming that my country (the U.S.) is always on the moral high ground is shortsighted. We, as a nation, have erred. In some parts of the world we are seen as the salvation of mankind. In others, we are seen as the bully on the playground. Both of those perspectives have legitimacy depending on your point of view. Because someone disagrees or takes a different approach to life doesn't make them a bad person. AND, it doesn't necessarily make them wrong. Randy, to the Germans that benefitted from Hitler's National Socialism, he was a hero. After all, he brought Germany out of the depression and gave Germans a sense of pride. To the millions that suffered because of his perversions, he was evil personified. The same holds true for the other despots you mentioned. It is when taken as a broader view that gives us the perspective that these men were evil. I think that's all that Moonsailer has been trying to say. This veteran thanks you for your kind thoughts. Oh, yeah, Fr. Denis was right too.
I had the honor of serving for 23 years. I think that allows me an opinion. Moonsailer is right. Randy is right. Joe is right. Life's complicated. I think the lesson we can learn is that many have made sacrifices. Assuming that my country (the U.S.) is always on the moral high ground is shortsighted. We, as a nation, have erred. In some parts of the world we are seen as the salvation of mankind. In others, we are seen as the bully on the playground. Both of those perspectives have legitimacy depending on your point of view. Because someone disagrees or takes a different approach to life doesn't make them a bad person. AND, it doesn't necessarily make them wrong. Randy, to the Germans that benefitted from Hitler's National Socialism, he was a hero. After all, he brought Germany out of the depression and gave Germans a sense of pride. To the millions that suffered because of his perversions, he was evil personified. The same holds true for the other despots you mentioned. It is when taken as a broader view that gives us the perspective that these men were evil. I think that's all that Moonsailer has been trying to say. This veteran thanks you for your kind thoughts. Oh, yeah, Fr. Denis was right too.
Randy Everyone fights for what they believe
Even Osama is fighting to end the terrible sins of the west. Stalin was fighting to right the wrongs that the people of Russia had endured under the Czar. Even Hitler the devil himself was fighting for room for the German people to grow and prosper. Japan felt trapped by a lack of natural resources and was fighting for those resources. To me it is totally ironic that we fought Korea and Vietnam to stop Communism. But now communist China has most favored trading status. The Chinese army kicked our ass in Korea and now almost everything you buy at Wal-mart is made in China. China is now kicking our ass economically. Probably in the next 20 years the USA will fade to number two status economically and militarily. But down on the level of the individual soldier there is no choice. You are born in a country and pretty much follow what the leaders demand. If you are a Russian and your leaders say we must save the Afghani people from religuos fanatics then you go to Afghanistan. If you are an American soldier and your leaders say we must go to Afghanistan to kill Osama then you go to Afghanistan. The leaders always paint a picture that they are the good guys fighting for the right reasons. The winners then write the history books. I was in the Air Force from 1972-1976 some of my buddies went to Vietnam and Thailand. But by 72 the war was winding down. My brother was in Vietnam in 69 and 70 and saw a lot of fighting. But if you did a body count you would find that more civillians died in vietnam than soldiers. They are still having horrible birth defects from our agent orange....and they are still communist. From the length of your service it seems that you are a ""lifer"" . Lifers are different than the average recruit who serves for four years and tehn goes back to the real world. Military life especially for lifers is different. I met some lifers that I really respected. Dedicated hard working they would be a success anywhere. But there were a lot of drunks and losers who were lifers. The 20 year staff sargents with drinking problems. I considered a military carreer but at the time right after Vietnam there were sooo many drunks and druggies in the Air Force that I wanted out. Also I knew several staff sargents that got booted out during the reduction in force. Now that is thanks. Serve during the war and then get kicked out as soon as the war is over...a grateful nation??
Even Osama is fighting to end the terrible sins of the west. Stalin was fighting to right the wrongs that the people of Russia had endured under the Czar. Even Hitler the devil himself was fighting for room for the German people to grow and prosper. Japan felt trapped by a lack of natural resources and was fighting for those resources. To me it is totally ironic that we fought Korea and Vietnam to stop Communism. But now communist China has most favored trading status. The Chinese army kicked our ass in Korea and now almost everything you buy at Wal-mart is made in China. China is now kicking our ass economically. Probably in the next 20 years the USA will fade to number two status economically and militarily. But down on the level of the individual soldier there is no choice. You are born in a country and pretty much follow what the leaders demand. If you are a Russian and your leaders say we must save the Afghani people from religuos fanatics then you go to Afghanistan. If you are an American soldier and your leaders say we must go to Afghanistan to kill Osama then you go to Afghanistan. The leaders always paint a picture that they are the good guys fighting for the right reasons. The winners then write the history books. I was in the Air Force from 1972-1976 some of my buddies went to Vietnam and Thailand. But by 72 the war was winding down. My brother was in Vietnam in 69 and 70 and saw a lot of fighting. But if you did a body count you would find that more civillians died in vietnam than soldiers. They are still having horrible birth defects from our agent orange....and they are still communist. From the length of your service it seems that you are a ""lifer"" . Lifers are different than the average recruit who serves for four years and tehn goes back to the real world. Military life especially for lifers is different. I met some lifers that I really respected. Dedicated hard working they would be a success anywhere. But there were a lot of drunks and losers who were lifers. The 20 year staff sargents with drinking problems. I considered a military carreer but at the time right after Vietnam there were sooo many drunks and druggies in the Air Force that I wanted out. Also I knew several staff sargents that got booted out during the reduction in force. Now that is thanks. Serve during the war and then get kicked out as soon as the war is over...a grateful nation??
Confused
Moonsailer I think you have confused Veteran with Hero. They are not one in the same. Most all vets will tell you they are not heroes. They did what they did because someone had to. You can chose to run and hide to avoid your duty or you can pay your dues to have the life we all cherish. It doesn't matter if you were drafted or volunteered, you did what was/is asked of you. There are only a few Heroes in a war but many survivors. War is a sad necessity in the world that we live in..it is now and always will be. There will always be a Hitler, or Osama over the horizon. Maybe we should have stayed out of Iraq...It didn't really effect us. Hitler was concerned with Europe..maybe we should have let him have it...I mean it is a long way away. The truth is the world is getting smaller. things that happen half way around this planet do effect us and the world we live in. Today we are learning about things that happened in WWII that helped to get us into the war in Europe and I promise you, in years to come you will hear of damming reasons to go into Iraq. If they will bury their Air Force to hide it just imagine what else is buried or hidden away. Someone mentioned hind sight and it is true. It is always easier to find fault than to be part of the solution. I would hate to be the one making the decision for this great nation to go to war or not. Most heroes do what they do out of the love and respect of the men they are serving with..the "so that others may live" mantra. Most veterans do it out of a love and respect for their country and their families. I have been in the military for the past 28 years and have had my share of wars, it sucks, but my bags are packed and I am ready to defend my country, freedom and my family. That doesn't make me a hero...it makes me an American
Moonsailer I think you have confused Veteran with Hero. They are not one in the same. Most all vets will tell you they are not heroes. They did what they did because someone had to. You can chose to run and hide to avoid your duty or you can pay your dues to have the life we all cherish. It doesn't matter if you were drafted or volunteered, you did what was/is asked of you. There are only a few Heroes in a war but many survivors. War is a sad necessity in the world that we live in..it is now and always will be. There will always be a Hitler, or Osama over the horizon. Maybe we should have stayed out of Iraq...It didn't really effect us. Hitler was concerned with Europe..maybe we should have let him have it...I mean it is a long way away. The truth is the world is getting smaller. things that happen half way around this planet do effect us and the world we live in. Today we are learning about things that happened in WWII that helped to get us into the war in Europe and I promise you, in years to come you will hear of damming reasons to go into Iraq. If they will bury their Air Force to hide it just imagine what else is buried or hidden away. Someone mentioned hind sight and it is true. It is always easier to find fault than to be part of the solution. I would hate to be the one making the decision for this great nation to go to war or not. Most heroes do what they do out of the love and respect of the men they are serving with..the "so that others may live" mantra. Most veterans do it out of a love and respect for their country and their families. I have been in the military for the past 28 years and have had my share of wars, it sucks, but my bags are packed and I am ready to defend my country, freedom and my family. That doesn't make me a hero...it makes me an American
William no Confusion here
Bill you are right that you are no hero. You are a professional soldier. You chose to be a soldier as a career. Also the term veteran should be reserved for combat veterans. My Dad and Uncle were combat veterans their buddies died beside them in battle. My nephew was a combat veteran in desert storm. He was the one up front shinning his laser and using his GPS to point out targets for the helicopters and jets flying overhead. He was far ahead of the rest of the troops scouting out targets. Tim made e-6 in 4 years. Tim is a combat veteran. I knew a lot of career soldiers that had never been shot at by the enemy. Paper pushers that never left an office. The Air Force has a lot of airmen that are never in much danger. My other nephew was a bomb loader in Saudi Arabia during desert storm. He was loading bombs but was in little danger. I wouldn't consider him a combat veteran. Even though a few scud missles hit nearby. No one ever shot at me. I was in during vietnam and would have went there if sent but never was anywhere near combat. I don't consider myself a veteran even though I served during the vietnam war. Now a hero is a combat veteran that took extraordinary risks and hopefully lived to tell the tale. Probably less than 10% of people that have been in the military have ever been shot at by the enemy. My son was a marine for four years and did his duty well...but no one ever shot at him. He is a marine but not a veteran.
Bill you are right that you are no hero. You are a professional soldier. You chose to be a soldier as a career. Also the term veteran should be reserved for combat veterans. My Dad and Uncle were combat veterans their buddies died beside them in battle. My nephew was a combat veteran in desert storm. He was the one up front shinning his laser and using his GPS to point out targets for the helicopters and jets flying overhead. He was far ahead of the rest of the troops scouting out targets. Tim made e-6 in 4 years. Tim is a combat veteran. I knew a lot of career soldiers that had never been shot at by the enemy. Paper pushers that never left an office. The Air Force has a lot of airmen that are never in much danger. My other nephew was a bomb loader in Saudi Arabia during desert storm. He was loading bombs but was in little danger. I wouldn't consider him a combat veteran. Even though a few scud missles hit nearby. No one ever shot at me. I was in during vietnam and would have went there if sent but never was anywhere near combat. I don't consider myself a veteran even though I served during the vietnam war. Now a hero is a combat veteran that took extraordinary risks and hopefully lived to tell the tale. Probably less than 10% of people that have been in the military have ever been shot at by the enemy. My son was a marine for four years and did his duty well...but no one ever shot at him. He is a marine but not a veteran.
- Status