Thanks for Coming
Wars are not over when the shooting stops--Max Cleland
____________________
We used to have two classes of medals in the Army:
- Thanks for Coming
- I Been There
That's the cut, pure and simple, that separates all of us from all of them. So what are people saying when they say, "Thanks for your service"? Do they mean:
- Thanks for giving up your youth?
- Thanks for doing what I didn't want to do, couldn't so, or felt best avoiding doing?
- Thanks for serving since this relieved my son from doing so?
- Thanks for . . .
What Ranger really desires is for people to stop laying this crap on my ears. It's rather tiresome and feels as unsatisfying as a wet dream. Of course, if that's all you've got . . .
Labels: thanks for your service
posted by rangeragainstwar at 9:46 PM
7 Comments:
Yep, that about sums up my opinion. It appears, to me, that the more inflamed the "patriot" the less likely that they or theirs have military service and almost guarantees that no combat service exists.
Jay in N.C.
I had my left leg amputated below the knee when I was eighteen months old. Learned to walk with an artificial leg. Tried to enlist when I turned eighteen years old - twice - and was turned down twice.
I have always had great respect for America's soldiers, both men and women.
That said, it gets my shorts in a serious twist that you don't think much of my sincere thanks for your service to our country.
JEG,
Words are only words and they are cheap. Usually.
How can any one thank you for something that may be beyond their comprehension?
Hell, it's all beyond my understanding.
jim
Well,
Amen, and again.
"Service?"--for what? To Whom?
Nary a one of this country's wars since the Great One, including the ones we're involved in now, were/are for a goddam thing save the empirical thrust and the almighty dollar.
White man's burden.
We went over to another man's home and kicked it in, burned his crops, poisoned his fields, raped his women, rounded up the people and herded them in concentration camps. Shot up the whole damn country then left...poof..gone. Took our money and ran.
Lot of people made a lot of money on that one. Lot of people died, maimed, crippled in body and soul. Still.
And a one-legged man gets his pants in a wad 'cause he couldn't sign up for the mayhem? Or was it the money?
All I can say JEG, is that it's too bad, cause you would have been awful busy in that ass-kickin' contest.
yessir Jim, --incomprehensible...and sad.
There it is.
Deryle
Caskets look better draped in a flag, don't you think?
I have had veterans "Thank" me for my service, and very young lady cashiers at places like Home Depot. But they are the exception.
When men in their 40s & 50s thank me, I wonder WTF they did with their lives.
I thank the Navy for guiding me into being a responsible adult. Of course, there were several crusty old Chiefs who were the ones that did it.
Curious what your thoughts are on DADT? Our experiences were probably different parts of the same side of the same coin.
Chief,
Sorry for the delay in answering your letter. We were on the road.
I have answered your question re:dadt by doing a rather complete essay on the topic.
This entry is a reply to a oped piece in yesterdays USA TODAY wwhich was written by a former Marine who opposes dadt.
Our writings at RAW have consistently opposed dadt policies.
jim
Chief,
Correction- the Marine cited opposes REPEAL of dadt.
Sorry, sometimes i get plum et up with the paralyzed dumbass.
jim
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