We can't forget to say thank you to our Vets!

[Ross]

Moonsailor the Department of Veterans Affairs

would disagree with you. If you served in any of the armed forces and were honorably discharged you are defined as a veteran. They have theater ribbons for areas of sevice and there are devises that are attached for the number of landings, battles and duration of service. The combat riflemans badge is hard won by many days in combat, not by vertue of being in a reserve company that is never called up. Even the Bronze Star is awarded with or without a "V" for valor. When I served we were constantly aware that our bombers were in the air and ready to go into harms way and we had the responsibility to make sure that mechanically they were ready. I knew a machinist while I was in the Air Force . During world war 2 he was an ordinance repairman. He told of an occassion when he and 3 other men were sent out to make repairs and got lost in France. When they finally found an identifiable land mark and radioed for directions. He said they were told to get the hell out of there . They were twenty miles behind German lines. Tell me that he wasn't a veteran.

 

[MoonSailer]

Enough Said......

I am sorry if I offended anyone who considers themselves a veteran. But I do not consider myself a veteran in the same sense as a Col that I worked for. He was a navigator on a bomber in WWII and was shot down and was a POW for 2 years. He was an exceptional man and was in the air force for 33 years until forced to retire. I also worked with a Japanese man and his father was a veteran of WWII. He was an engineer with the Japanese occupying China. I very seriously doubt that many CHinese consider him a hero. But he did his duty for his country and was respected in Japan. A teacher after the war.All veterans served their country, Combat veterans served a little harder. Most of the WWII vets are now dead. All of my uncles are now dead as is my father. My present boss is a vet. An ex marine that got his jaw broken as he was killing a viet cong. He says that his only consolation is that the VC that broke his jaw died that day. I don't know all of the details but it seems that he got into hand to hand combat and the VC hit him with his rifle butt. the VC got ran through with a bayonet during the fight and bled out. This was in 67. That was the end of my bosses career in the marines.

 

[John24107]

Crossed over, Moonsailer

I understand the importance of the combat veteran. I, too, recognize a difference between my service and those that have been shot at. However, please don't discount the service I provided in Air Force medical centers when I unloaded C-141's loaded with Vietnam wounded or prepared for the expected (but, thankully never occured) multitude of wounded during the First Gulf War. Or, when I deployed and set up camouflage and razor wire in exercises just to be prepared for the onslaught across the inter-German border that, thankfully, never came. Or, when I ...... You've made many valid points, but don't diminish my service nor your own and many others by saying that I'm not a veteran. The airplane won't fly and the bombs won't drop without the Airman in the personnel office doing his thing too. Don't try to tell my Retired AF wife that what she did for 20 years in Air Force Command posts doesn't make her a veteran.By the way, I served many years but was never a "lifer" as you phrased it. My service was a conscious, chosen career. It was never my life.Guys, let's go sailing!

 

[John5961]

Vets

Moonsailer, I am an ex-marine, Viet Nam Veteran (Da Nang and Chu Li 1965-1966).Although you may not consider yourself a veteran, I want to thank you for serving your country. You stepped up even though they didn't send you in harms way.

 

[T37 Phil]

Veterans and "patriotism"

The last few posts are an attempt to parse out who deserves our good thoughts and feelings and at what level the praise should flow. These threads generally start with honor to those who "lay their lives on the line". The fact is that the veteran wouldn't be a veteran without the country and all its citizens, visitors, illegals, legal guest workers, etc... and the long history of their comings and goings. It saddens me no end that people have such a fervant desire to push some group up by pushing others down. It smacks of the recent political appropriation of the word patriotism. Let's honor urban teachers next veteran's day. They go to war without any recognition at all; even to the point of losing their lives.

 

[Bob]

Vietnam Veteran

I do not differentiate between a combat veteran from one who was not in combat. If you served in any capacity in any service, simply you were a veteran. Could I not say that when we were rocketed by 122 MM's and we had to grab our M-16s and shoot to protect our perimeter then I was not a combat veteran? Nuts!!! Bottom line, war affected everyone in different ways. I was in Vietnam from 1968-1969 during the Tet Offensive and coming home I was branded a looser! Ignored in uniform at the airports and even by old friends, it was not until I was in Washington during the dedication of the Vietnam Memorial that I realized I was not alone! I was not a believer in the Vietnam campaign, but I was called to go anyways. For those who served, thank you. We all share a common bond, an experience, a time in our lives unparalled from any other experience. No matter what branch of service, no matter what war, no matter what duty, if you served in uniform your entitled to be called a veteran. Plain and simple.Bob

 

[John5961]

Saddens you?

So tell me this Phil. Do you think having one day a year to honor our veterans (living and dead) is an attempt to "push down" others? Your ungrateful attitude saddens me.

 

[Ross]

Can you vote on election day? thank a vet!

can you read the ballot? thank your teachers. Can you buy the food you want ? thank the farmers. Do you have the money you need to buy your food, pay for your housing? thank the business men and women that make the economy work. Can you get the medical care you need? thank your Doctors. Can you get the prescription medication you need ? Thank a pharmacist. Can you get your car repaired ? thank the mechanics and distributors and makers of all of the bits and pieces that are needed. If I have left anyone out please forgive me and make additions as you see fit.

 

[bill@tahoe]

Thank A Marine

If you can read, thank a teacher. If you can read in ENGLISH, Thanl A MarineUSMC 1961 / 1964

 

[Ross]

Bill, Looks like you served about the same time as

I did and used good judgement at the end of your enlistment. I was discharged in Sept. '63 and "knew" that if I re-upped I would go back to the far east.

 

[bill@tahoe]

Ross

Ross, Yea, I got out in Dec, 64

 

[Ross in Tampa]

Thank you all veterans, past present and future

Thank you to all the Veterans, past present and future. I truly do not take you and what you do for granted.I am just playing devils advocate and with all due respect to R.W. and everyone on this board. But, technically, is this a topic for this particular board. Don't get me wrong, I am in full support of our troops, today, tomorrow and yesterday. But, like many other topics that have been banned to sub-boards, this doesn't really have a lot to do with sailing.Thanks guys and gals again.my 2 cents.

 

[Eddie7045]

Wouldn't this thread fit better on the

"Sails Call Lounge" discussion board?

 

[Ross]

Tampa Ross and Eddie, You can say anything you

please with the full assurance that you won't be dragged out of your house in the middle of the night and beaten with "BOAT HOOKS" (there now we are back on track)because a whole bunch of folks stepped up when there was a need and swore to do what ever was asked to make sure.

 

[r.w.landau]

Ross, we can sail because we had Vets!

Hopefully we will be able to sail in the future because men keep stepping up to the plate. I am hoping my grand children will have the opportunity, also. That is why I posted here.These guys made it possible. As far as I am concerned, it is indisputable.r.w.landau

 

[T37 Phil]

Look farther

I hope for a future where armed conflict is unthinkable, where veteran is a word that only hard core geneologists will recognize. Sailing on open waters, no hint of a boundary. Call me an inveterate dreamer, I can clap to that tune.

 

[Rick1198]

We are lost

I am sitting here at Ft Bragg NC. And there are a bunch of Heros here. You will not hear their names nor know of their deeds. But they do not ask that you do. Nor do they ask if you think it is righ or wrong. They know Right and they know wrong. They are the ones that keep little pups free. Has the country gone to hell? Are we lost? NO I say! Real men stand guard over us. They stand with a rifle and guts. So write what you like, what you think. There are many men that i respect, and many are not Amercian. I would pop a cap on them if I could, but i still respect them. Some of us were/are professional soldiers. I have read the post here. I agree with and disagree with some of them. But your are free to say what you like. But do not try to tell us what is right or wrong unless you have stood the line. To all Vets. Thank YouRick SmithUS Army Special Forces1973 - 2000

 

[r.w.landau]

There will always be an aggressor.

Look at the middle east. If there is an aggressor, I hope there will be a defender!r.w.landau

 

[Ross]

Rick, I salute you!

Keep the faith! Carry on.Ross

 

[T37 Phil]

Too close

It's that attitude that feeds the monster. I'm not suggesting that all US military personnel should drop their weapons immediately and plant flowers. I like your posts r.w. (even the sailing related ones ) and imagine that you are a reasonable person. I wonder if you suppose that conflict is inevitable, that peace by the sword is the only peace imaginable (while sailing on your boat that is of course - for eddie). I wonder if your most cherished values apply in a restricted way; who do you leave out of that circle? If you sow and fertilize aggression, to better defend against the next aggressor, is the whole better off in the end? Isn't there a famous image of a snake eating its own tail? What's that all about? Ouroboros? Self-consuming existence.I'm sure I've gone too far for this site. You have my email, I think, if you wanted to pursue it a bit.Wishing peace of all kinds, to vets past and present and everyone they have ever encountered, 6 ways to infinity.