Happy Vet's Day

[sonic1]

Wherever my dad is now, happy vets day.

My dad fought two terms in Vietnam as an "A" gunner, a sniper shooter. He of course didn't come back sane. He left my mom when I was two and I didn't meet him until I was 19. He sleeps with the fisherman's radio on memorizing weather patterns while he sleeps. I spent a week with him and didn't see him eat any food, but consuming a lot of beer. He's a biker dude now. Been to prison and still works shrapnel out of his body.

Through all his fucked up stories, drunk demeanor, and total out of controlness, I knew my dad was a good man. I will never forget him telling me that if I ever joined any of the armed forces, he would kick my ass.

I didn't keep in contact with him. His phone was disconnected and well, him and I don't have a lot of common ground if you know what I mean.

But Happy Vets day dad.

[Monte Smith]

Indeed, thanks to all the vets and Happy Veteran's Day.

And Happy Remembrance Sunday...that's got to be happening soon, yeah?

[clinthopson]

As a Korean war vet, thank you and thanks from all my WWII friends.

[Jimmy Cantiello]

Well, I'd just like to add my voice to this thread to thank all our past, current, and future veterans for serving their country while so many of their fellow citizens have taken their service for granted. Please excuse my cynicism but I mourn the fact that it's no longer fashionable to serve one's country and it's considered quaint to recognize the sacrifices that our military veterans have made and will continue to make.

Oh, and BTW, thanks for your thoughtfulness for starting this thread, Jared....................

[sonic1]

After seeing how this country treated my dad, I have to say that it didn't make me want to serve this country. It isn't fashionable for a reason. My father lost his mind for a stupid fucking war most people now will admit was stupid for us to engage in the first place. Now we have Iraq-which everyone is jumping to say is not another Vietnam. Yeah, well see what everyone will say about this in a few decades. But at least kids fighting over there won't come home and be treated badly. Because people learned after the deplorable behavior of some during Vietnam to separate the warrior from the administration. My brother just came back from service in both iraq and afghanistan and thinks the Iraq war is bogus. He is very pissed at Bush's lame ass excuse for going to war in Iraq-which if yal' weren't paying attention, was a total flip-flop.

But if I believed in our government, and if this was WWII, or even if we were deployed to fight the real enemies of freedom rather than protecting oil feilds and politically manipulating the middle east creating further hatred for the US and thus future terrorists, I might be so inclined to serve.

But I don't believe the intentions of our current administration are good.




But regardless of my overcalculated observations and choices I respect the fact some men, regardless of the political environment will serve this country. They are mostly very good people and always have been.

I just hope we treat the new soldiers better than my dad was treated and many of the other Vietnam vets in my life who have struggled since they came home from that terrible war. And I mean by that no just that we give them nice parties when they come home, but that they get all the other help they may need...

[Ron Thorne]

Jared, I think that I understand and respect the reason for your anger, frustration and feeling of hopelessness. At least from a distance.

Your father served our country well and proudly. So did my father, though in a different war, WWII. My father was treated far better than yours upon his return to the U.S., without question. That's not the fault of either man, of course.

I also agree with your general assertion that the intentions of this administration are not good, at least as far as my priorities are concerned. Or yours, obviously.

I also hope that we treat our returning military personnel with far more respect and dignity than those who served in Vietnam. And, I hope they get the treatment they require and deserve, no matter the cost. I'll gladly contribute, especially if I'm included in the storyline.

[Gary Sisco]

If you want vets treated right, make some noise. The Bushites have a standing order to the VA that forbids it to do any outreach to vets re their health benefits -- one of the more outrageous things any admin has ever done. This admin for all of its talk has been the worst since maybe Hoover so far as vets' issues goes. It's a real scandal, but outside vets' groups, not a public one.

I thank you too, as another vet. I feel the same way Jimmy does.