This is veteran's day of course, and I am, like many others mindful of vets; I always am, but especially today.
I spent quite a bit of time today with an Army career man, 20 plus years, went in 1949; apparently around age 17, and is now 82 years old. Still spry, active, good humor, no regrets about life.
He; like every oldster I talk to lately, including me, laments his loss of memory-command on a few names and places, never the less, an interesting fellow to talk with.(Our first meeting).
We were not talking about veterans, politics, the state of today's world at all, but instead his fine collection of 1911 pistols, stretching from Colt Gold Cups to pre-ban Norincos. He knows a lot about not only the 1911 form but others as well.
Our dogs and a former wife or two, plus grown kids and their attributes were discussed also.
Here now is the point of my post.
In the final few minutes of conversation, we thanked each other for our mutual service to our country; and these were my words to him as I was leaving.
"Well once again, thanks for your service; there has been a lot of guys who gave their life in "wars" FOR OUR Country; thankfully, you and I are able to stand here in the warm sun talking today because of them".
What he said in reply has stuck with me the rest of this day, and it never occurred to me before.
He looked at me curiously, and said:"When you think about it that's not really true ! We have not really fought a war of the last four or five for THIS country."
He was not angry,nor bitching, nor even lamenting our involvement.
He followed with: "name me which one, since WWII, we actually tried to win,(as a WAR), for the betterment of OUR Country."
On this day among all others, his statement keeps echoing, when I just think a bit about
:
Korea- thousands dead.
Viet-Nam -thousands
Iran-?
Irag-??
Afghanistan-???
Gave me something to "chew on" for a few days. Happy veterans day folks.
Comment by an 82 yr old vet
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