Wow! I was looking for a different forum, but I stumbled upon this forum. After reading through several times, I was amused, perplexed and angered.
First, I will get the anger out. As 20+ military , both enlisted and officer, I was angered by @tolik‘s characterization of military members as “misfits” who didn’t take high school serious and had no other options. I graduated high school top 5%, top1% on ACT, 99%on ASVAB, and MENSA. I like the vast majority of my basic training class we’re not screw ups or misfits without other opportunities.</p
In the service, I excelled. The vast majority of veterans I know excelled and are proud of our service. Personally, I went from E-1 to O-5. I retired earlier than I had hoped. I was tapped for general ranks. Yes, I was injured overseas and bled for this country. If asked, I would do it again. I stayed because I believed in having some of the brightest there. I helped craft policy and saved lives, both military and civilian.</p>
<p style=”text-align: left;”>I am also not a sheep. If I took the advice of @Molly Malone and others above, I would have been a sheep and sold my attributes to the highest bidder and never entered the service. Lol. Like many of my military brothers and sisters, HONOR DUTY COUNTRY are not just hallow words. You would never understand a friend of mine who on 9/11 launched her F-16 (along with another higher ranking officer). Without the necessary weapons to shoot down, they planned on ramming the airliner, if necessary. Why? To save all of your ungrateful people as I am sure you would do the same? Lol. @Molly Maline and@DF would have been running the other way to save themselves. Why did three young elisted members jump a wannabe terrorist on French train? Why did I spend numerous years on deployments to Bosnia and the Persian Gulf? So could make a difference. HONOR DUTY COUNTRY.</p>
<p style=”text-align: left;”>I would live to live in a peaceful society where we didn’t need a standing military. Many a thesis has been written on the need for a standing military. Sorry, just not going to happen. We need a military, both active and reserve.</p>
Having served part of my pre-9/11 career in the National Guard, I have also participated in various national disasters. Yes, those misfits go out and put their lives on the line to help their fellow citizens in times of natural disasters and war. I dropped many pallets of relief aid in countries torn apart by war and natural disasters.
I could write so much more. I will simply say I am proud to have served. I would suggest that upon meeting a vet, the best thing you can do is say, “Thank you are your service.”
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This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by
Loving Life.
