A little rant on the eve of Veterans Day

[pineappleshooter]

Depends on who thanks me for my service. I had a Navy LT (Academy class of 42) who served on submarines thank me for my service. I was pretty embarassed because I knew he saw combat in the Pacific onboard subs while I had never really heard a shot fired in anger while I was on my submarines. When I asked him why he was thanking me instead of vice versa he said, "Chief, you retired, I got out the first chance they game me"! I told him he was smarter than me but I was better looking and said your welcome.

I have also had a young girl in a cheerleader outfit come up to me and thank me. I was a little leary at first, thinking her friends put her up to it but, come to find out, her brother was a Marine who had been pretty badly messed up by an IED over in the sandbox and she was very grateful for everyone's service. I told her God bless you and your brother. I still see here in the store I work in and I go out of the way to help her and her friends and to inquire about her brother.

Life is too short to be bitter, there are plenty of good, honest, hard working folks out there (young and old) who support our military and is was my pleasure to serve them.

Anytime I hear any anti war/military guff I address the person by telling them it was my pleasure to serve my country so you could have the right to disagree with all it stands for. That usually bamboozles them and ends the conversation.

 

[pineappleshooter]

...oh, I don't have problems with freebies. I would much rather have a year round discount like Lowes and Home Depot offer. I did stop at starbucks today to get a free cup of coffee. Yes, I was carrying, and no, no liberals heads exploded.

 

[wbraswell]

OM, I thank you for your service to MY country. If you have to ridicule it, I'm sorry for your bitterness and hatred. I'm so glad that over 90% of the veterans I've known wouldn't agree with you.

 

[shouldazagged]

Kinda funny to hear wisdom from non hackers. Like I stated before, your thanks mean nothing to me and 90% of vets. As for poking me in the eye, HAHAHA. Needed a good laugh. Thank you for your ??? What is it you've done for the country? Educate us bitter vets.

Is respectful gratitude, or is it not, better than being spat on and called a "babykiller"?

I'm genuinely sorry you're so bitter, whatever caused it.

I guess I've said enough on this thread.

 

[DeathGrip]

Where is that fashionable? I don't see it. I see Congress letting them down in many ways, but I damn sure haven't seen it "fashionable to hate them" since during and immediately after the Vietnam War, and that wasn't universal. And where, besides in the form of neglect, do people find it popular or a good idea to "target" veterans?

Not anywhere I go.

I was disgusted and appalled by the treatment the guys returning from Vietnam received. Interestingly, so was my much-younger sister (she's only 65), who was a hippie and protested against a war she believed we shouldn't have been stuck in. She thought the way some people called them names and spat on them when they came home was inexcusable and horribly unfair, and does to this day.

Fashionable to hate veterans? Not today. The "thank you for your service" stuff may be a marketing ploy for some people and mere reflex for others, but for a lot of Americans it's heartfelt.

As for me, I rarely can afford to buy a vet a meal, partly because I contribute all I can every month to DAV. But when I saw an old man wearing a "WWII Veteran" cap in a restaurant I walked over to his table, came to attention and snapped off a salute, to his delight. If I had been driving that day instead of riding with a friend who needed to leave I'd have sat and listened to the stories he clearly wanted to tell.

If you're seeing a lot of people hating and targeting veterans today, I really don't want to visit your neck of the woods.

Through the Vietnam era the draft was in effect and many young men didn't have a choice about military service, though many enlisted. Now, with an all-volunteer (and overstretched) military of men and women, I think it behooves civilians to respect and value the ones who chose to serve. I certainly do. But everyone, male or female, who has given portions of his or her life to military service gets a vote of thanks from me.

You're right. I shouldn't have used fashionable for the vets.

But do take a minute or ten to search disrespect veterans.

The first one that comes up is Frat Boys disrespect wounded warriors at Warrior Beach.

You're right again. Florida. But they were from outta town.

There's more stories out there but not "fashionable" by any sense of the term.

 

[Rastoff]

I didn't join up to get discounts. I don't go looking for them, but I try to be a gracious recipient if someone finds out and gives me a discount.

I was in Baker, CA a few weeks ago ordering some food. I hand the lady my card and she asks if I'm a Vet. Surprised, I say that I am, but I have no proof. She says, "That's OK, you wouldn't have this card if you weren't," and took 40% off the bill. I was stunned, but thankful. It certainly wasn't necessary and I told her so.

I'm humbled by those who are truly grateful. I only regret I couldn't do more.

 

[Capt Steve]

You're welcome.

I enlisted in the middle of my senior year of high school and was on a bus to Fort Ord one week after graduation (1969). While I gave no thought whatsoever to future benefits when I enlisted they have been substantial having improved dramatically over the years. My college degree, first house and now full medical coverage all continue to serve me and my family well.

For the first time in the 43 years that have passed since I got out of the army my bride and I went to lunch on Veteran's day and allowed my self to be treated (by Appleby's). We arrived early and had no problem being seated but by the time we finished our meal the place was packed. All around were obvious veterans, some wearing caps or pins, many far older than I at 64.

I appreciated the gesture by Appleby's but know that they did not lose a dime. My bride enjoyed her lunch and I a large beer ($7), and with tax and tip my free burger and fries was a long way from free. It was a pleasure and a privilege to be the company of so many other veterans and to hear "Thank you for your service". I never tire of being told that and read no malice into those words.

 

[vito]

Similar experience for me. I went to lunch at Red Robin with my wife and daughter. My burger and fries were free, but of course they enjoyed the revenue from my wife's and daughter's meals as well. But it was also nice to be in the presence of many veterans, both younger and older than myself (I'm 72).

But I owe much more to the military that it owes to me. I went in as a naive young lieutenant, but I guess I was mature enough to know that serving as a small cog in a big wheel, and where that wheel was doing something truly important for our nation, ended up making me choose to stay for what turned out to be 24 years. After military "retirement", with both my experience and the security of a nice pension, I was able to begin a totally new career from which I retired two years ago after 24 years in civilian life. Between the health care benefits for both myself and my wife, as well as my pension for 24 years in the military, my life is immeasurably richer and more comfortable than it would have been without my service.

But more than anything, I feel proud that I was able to serve the country that welcomed my grandfather from the poverty and discrimination he left in Russia in 1911. This country offered my family freedom to worship as we desired, freedom to live as we desired, and opportunity unmatched in human history. My dad was a blue collar worker who raised a family and proudly served in WWII. I graduated college and served in Vietnam and beyond (and Uncle Sam actually sent me to grad school while I was on active duty to earn a Master's Degree while being paid to do it!).

My best wishes and thoughts and prayers to all of my fellow veterans.

 

[rwsmith]

1st Amendment....

Free Speech, right??? This 'argument' sort of reminds me of, "I don't agree with what you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."

 

[Rastoff]

I appreciated the gesture by Appleby's but know that they did not lose a dime.

Roger that.

The last time I "took advantage" of one of these discounts, it cost me over $70. My wife likes the Olive Garden and they were offering free meals for Vets. We went, but somehow the in-laws, the kid and a "friend" came along. I'm not sure how it happened, but I ended up paying for the whole outing. It's a lot cheaper if I just sneak out with my wife for a nice meal.

 

[jimmyj]

Speaking of Spitting on Soldiers:
During the Vietnam War I was with my Father ( old horse soldier limping on a cane) when several returning soldiers came by and a long haired hippy stepped out and spit on one of the soldiers. My Father swung his cane and laid the "Spitter" DOWN ! and kept limping on his way. Looking around I observed two Police Officers, however they happened (?) to be looking in another direction. This totally surprise me as my Father was normally a quiet calm person and mostly could only stand and walk by using a cane.

 

[wbraswell]

Jimmy, that's what should have happened to all of those twerps. That seems to me to be as troubling as the spitters, that those witnessing such things would not react. In my little town, we never had any of that. I would expect that if someone had, they might not walk away very easily.

 

[Rustyt1953]

When I came back, my dad, a WWII vet and lifer, took me to his VFW. Dad was very proud. After the drinks were flowing, dad said I should join up. Several "museum pieces" at the bar said Nam wasn't a real war and they would not want me.

My dad tore up his membership card, threw it on the bar and vowed never to come back. He never did nor have I.

 

[Rastoff]

Rustyt1953,
That's a shame, but common in the world. A few guys have their comfortable little club and they don't want anyone to come in and "mess" it up. I can assure you that it was a local thing and not the feeling of the larger VFW organization.

I spent 5 years in the USAF. I spent two years overseas in the Netherlands. I was never in combat, nor did I serve during a war (got out about 6 months prior to Desert Storm). Still, I have continued to work for the Air Force these past many years. I've worked with lots of guys who've been over there and seen the results that combat has on them. They have my eternal respect and you do too.

 

[Captain O]

To all other Veterans:

Welcome Home. (Overseas deployment or not). We all served. Some gave all, all gave some.