Hi Tim,
Thanks for sharing your stories.
Guess you and I (and so many others) are splinters that comprise the "handle" S&WsRsweet mentions at the end of his post. I'm okay with that. No regrets.
Bob
I Want To Say About The Military Folks
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Hi Tim,
Thanks for sharing your stories.
Guess you and I (and so many others) are splinters that comprise the "handle" S&WsRsweet mentions at the end of his post. I'm okay with that. No regrets.
Bob
Several years ago, shortly after the WWII monument was opened in DC, I took my father to see it. He was in an assisted living home in NC at the time. I had brought him a WWII Veteran hat with a 88th ID pin and the silver oak leaf that he earned later in life. We stayed in a hotel in MD and while descending in the elevator a woman leaned over to her child and said "that man fought in WWII to keep us free." My dad was visibly touched by her statement.
There was a French film crew doing a story on the NYFD on September 11. When the call for all engines to respond to the WTC they went along. They shot footage of the event and of the firefighters at the scene. In the commentary they named the engine crews as they proceeded to enter the buildings. Those firefighters knew that it was grim and they were unlikely to survive, yet they entered the burning buildings anyway.
I served 33 years as a police officer and 22 years as a soldier in the Guard and Reserve. By no means do I think that my sacrifice is in anyway equal to my father or those police and firefighters at ground zero. I am proud to have my service recognized and do my best to recognize the service of others and I inclued police and firefighters too.
There was a French film crew doing a story on the NYFD on September 11. When the call for all engines to respond to the WTC they went along. They shot footage of the event and of the firefighters at the scene. In the commentary they named the engine crews as they proceeded to enter the buildings. Those firefighters knew that it was grim and they were unlikely to survive, yet they entered the burning buildings anyway.
I served 33 years as a police officer and 22 years as a soldier in the Guard and Reserve. By no means do I think that my sacrifice is in anyway equal to my father or those police and firefighters at ground zero. I am proud to have my service recognized and do my best to recognize the service of others and I inclued police and firefighters too.
codenamedave
Member
I read decades ago (the numbers have likely changed), that only something like 10% of military members are even in "trigger-puller" jobs, let alone in a combat zone, let alone in action. And remember that "trigger-puller" doesn't just mean infantry, it includes artillery, rocketry and all that, besides things like AF F/A guys or naval gunners, or even Marines, I guess some of them qualify. (Sorry, couldn't help it! 
) I always mention that it's kinda hard to get into & out of action without that 90%, and the beans, bullets and toilet paper are always appreciated.
two-bit cowboy's frank admission of "I didn't serve for you" kind of hit home. Post 9/11 I suppose things were different, but when I was in I knew a lot of guys like me who had volunteered basically for the adventure. Heck I knew a couple guys in the 82d and the 2d/75th who had signed up for jump school just for the extra $12 a month or whatever it was jump pay. Then there are the legions who actually sign up for three hots and a cot, but you didn't tend to see them in the Infantry.
That's some Tango Mike Mike sh... stuff right there.
I had one top sergeant who told the company that a salute had to do with respect, not just rank. If we saw an enlisted man, E-1 or whatever, who we thought deserved it, a salute would be fine. I've never knowingly met an MoH awardee, but it would certainly merit a salute in my book.
) I always mention that it's kinda hard to get into & out of action without that 90%, and the beans, bullets and toilet paper are always appreciated.two-bit cowboy's frank admission of "I didn't serve for you" kind of hit home. Post 9/11 I suppose things were different, but when I was in I knew a lot of guys like me who had volunteered basically for the adventure. Heck I knew a couple guys in the 82d and the 2d/75th who had signed up for jump school just for the extra $12 a month or whatever it was jump pay. Then there are the legions who actually sign up for three hots and a cot, but you didn't tend to see them in the Infantry.
That's some Tango Mike Mike sh... stuff right there.
I had one top sergeant who told the company that a salute had to do with respect, not just rank. If we saw an enlisted man, E-1 or whatever, who we thought deserved it, a salute would be fine. I've never knowingly met an MoH awardee, but it would certainly merit a salute in my book.
i wasnt thanked for my service then...no big deal....and i dont need to be thanked now.......
all this ..."Thank you for your service" is just another popular nervous tick....like "have a nice day"; "no problem".....
all this ..."Thank you for your service" is just another popular nervous tick....like "have a nice day"; "no problem".....
My Dad was a WWII vet, served in the Aleutians, Normandy invasion, and died in service many years later. A Medal of Honor (Army) recipient pinned my Eagle Scout Badge on me. When it came time to go, the Army didn't want me. So I chose a different route.
Something was said in the thread about perhaps a connection between civilian and military - I can assure you that is not a "perhaps". The National Guard units that have provided a lot of our front line troops in these last few years may be local policemen, firemen, or just get activated to help them at the flood, tornado, or riot of the day.
What I am saying is that they are often the same guys.
I remember that for a long time our State Troopers had parallel ranks in the National Guard to facilitate their being able to serve regardless of who was in command, civilian or military.
Just some thoughts from the past ....
Something was said in the thread about perhaps a connection between civilian and military - I can assure you that is not a "perhaps". The National Guard units that have provided a lot of our front line troops in these last few years may be local policemen, firemen, or just get activated to help them at the flood, tornado, or riot of the day.
What I am saying is that they are often the same guys.
I remember that for a long time our State Troopers had parallel ranks in the National Guard to facilitate their being able to serve regardless of who was in command, civilian or military.
Just some thoughts from the past ....
At the local Cracker Barrel you have people coming through on 70 and when we go there for lunch in uniform, it is not uncommon to have our meals paid for and people walk up to us and talk, including veterans. It is a humbling experience and I feel guilty going there in ABUs, but sometimes the pull for biscuits and gravy is inescapable after our morning PT smoke session!
It sure is a lot different these days than when we had a draft.
Maybe it's a way of saying because you volunteered I can do something else and I appreciate that.
I'm not saying that something else isn't important, because it is. We need LE, firefighters and civil servants of all types to make it click. To me it's all the same if you work for the government.
All of these folks sacrifice something for the greater good whether they realize it or not. Secret service is a good example of that right now.
Maybe it's a way of saying because you volunteered I can do something else and I appreciate that.
I'm not saying that something else isn't important, because it is. We need LE, firefighters and civil servants of all types to make it click. To me it's all the same if you work for the government.
All of these folks sacrifice something for the greater good whether they realize it or not. Secret service is a good example of that right now.
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I generally thank anyone in uniform for serving - and it is not lip service - it is genuine. I never served myself because I was too young for Vietnam and too old for Desert Storm.
I particularly like to thank those wearing hats that identify them as 'Nam vets - because we all know they didn't get the thanks they deserved when they came home.
I particularly like to thank those wearing hats that identify them as 'Nam vets - because we all know they didn't get the thanks they deserved when they came home.
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