[Drjones]

I feel guilt, gratitude, shame, and a multitude of other feelings all at once.

I was at the gym when I heard of the Tomahawks hitting Baghdad.

Then I picked up a nice, hot meal.

Went home and ate it.

Sat at home, dry, safe, warm, well fed, and comfortable on my big fat couch.

Watching our troops on TV out there fighting for me to live a peaceful life.

Risking life and limb, leaving friends, family, and the comforts of home.

Makes me want to join up to "earn my keep," so to speak.

I wish I could express the gratitude and guilt I feel.

:(

Just thought I'd share.

[twoblink]

THANK GOD, there are brave men and women who risk their lives so you can do all that.

[arinvolvo]

"Watching our troops on TV out there fighting for me to live a peaceful life."

You must remember, we are also out there fighting for Iraqi citizens to lead a peaceful life without the tyranny of Saddam.

[Raymond VanDerLinden]

Just be Thankful that there are young men and women willing to place themselves "between their loved homes and the wars conflagration".

If you are of an age that you could Join, there are many worse things you could do. But don't Join because you feel guilty. Your feelings of guilt are misplaced. You have not been ask to serve (yet). Support the Troops, enjoy and help Defend our Freedom as best you can.

And thank the Heavenly Father you live in a Country where you can do that.

[Drjones]

Thank you for your kind words, Raymond.

I could very well join.

I'm 22 years young.

But I am a full-time student, and have a wonderful job that I love, and will probably turn into an excellent career for me, so I'm not chugging beer, going to frat parties, and otherwise doing nothing with my life like so many my age.

Still....

[Raymond VanDerLinden]

Finish school

We need Officers too!!!

At least that's what the Lieutenants always told me. :D

[Lennyjoe]

Doc, Though I am not in the current AOR, I and the rest of us military personnel, here, there and abroad appreciate your words.

All I ask is to give them the respect they deserve when they return home. Hopefully alive and well.

Just make sure our homeland is safe and secure from Terrorism while we are away. Thats what you all can do for us. So that our families will be safe and enjoy the freedoms we fight to preserve. God Bless.

[Greg L]

All that and also get a good job so your taxes can help pay for all this. :D

Be proud of the fact that at least you are having these feelings. The talking heads have already had others of your generation on screaming about how unjust this is. I wonder how they would feel if they had grown up in Iraq.

Greg

[Thumper]

Well said, Lennyjoe...

what is it...like 46 and a wake up now?

Godspeed, brotha...

[Raymond VanDerLinden]

To keep the Homeland safe.

Thank you for your sacrifice, and service.

Keep alert. I don't trust them Critters north of you, and you men are spead a little thin.

I could just see them trying something now that we're engaged elsewhere.

[M2HMGHB]

Wish I could join them but alas every service turned me down. I do pray that the Lord will take care of them, but it just feels so inadequate. If I had the address for a couple soldiers I'd send them care packages.........

[Rockrivr1]

Drjones, you are not alone in that feeling. I'm 35 now and just past the cutoff for re-enlistment. In the mid 80s and early 90s I was in the Navy. I was attached to a squadron in Carrier Wing 5 aboard the USS Midway and spent plenty of time in the gulf region back then. I, like you, now sit on my counch and watch. My family has a long history of distinguished military service and I have several family members, along with close friends, who are over there right now. I wish I was there with them now. Sometimes I wonder why I ever got out.

When I did get out I went to school and now I also have a great career along with a close family and great friends that would be hard to leave. But, God forbid, if things go bad and the military needs people, I'll be one of the first in line signing up.

Like some of the other folks said, finish school first. So if you ever do go into the military later in life, you can go in as an officer. What your feeling can be described as "Patriotism" and a willingness to defender your country against harm. It's definately a good thing.

My thoughts, heart and thanks go out to all those currently serving to defend this great nation.

[TarpleyG]

I would follow Raymond's advice... Finish up school (which should be soon since you are 22) and enlist and go to OCS in a branch of service (subliminal message: USMC) you choose.

I regret not following my original plan by finishing school then enlisting as an officer. Instead, I jumped the gun and early enlisted at 17 and went to boot at 18, spent a few years after MOS training in the reserves and got out. Now that I am a little older and wiser, I wish that I would have stayed in, even as enlisted personnel.

If you went in now, you could retire in 20 and still change careers and do something else while receiving a pension.

Serving your country, if that is what you want to do, is a very honorable thing. Follow your heart.

Good luck,
GT

[Kahr carrier]

Just hope they all make it back to the USA in good health.

[beckrodgers]

No one is more supportive of the Military than us, but feel no remorse for them folks, All volunters, & if they would have me back I would go in Less than 5 minutes. If the unfathomable happens God forbide those military will be begging for us back. Man 4 or 5 small nukes on suicde plane or scudes would take out thousands even if it missed by 1000 yds. What a nightmare. WE have already read stories of a lot of the reservists sueing not to go & how there pay is cut ad nauseum. We did our turn & would do it again may yet have to in some form,hope I haven't sounded to harsh .Be proud & supportive of our willing volunteers,that are there for us.BECK & BOBBY

[XLMiguel]

Jones, good on ya. There are many ways to serve your country, first and foremost by being a prductive member of society and a stand-up guy. The military isn't for everyone (and God bless those who chose to serve), but as duly noted, it's important to support our troops now and when they return home.

If you want to do the military thing when the time is right, that's great, but in the meantime, be a good citizen, get an education, VOTE, exercise all your rights, pay your taxes, and get get involved in your community, in short, live the American dream.

[Art Eatman]

Yeah, be supportive but feel no guilt. There are somewhere around 50 million folks in this country who could serve in the military; we only need two or three million--and not all those are full-time active-duty.

Respect, care, be helpful when you can. Remember that us folks here at home got responsibilities toward the country, as well. Somebody's gotta "keep the trains running".

Art

[Ed]

I kind of feel guilty too, I am 29 and got out of the army as a 1LT 3 years ago, I would have been promoted in 6 months. I feel guilty because I had 90 men under me in an Artillery Battery and I know that probably none are still in that unit but My old unit is now deployed and I still feel like I should be there to lead my guys. Not that I have any want to die or be gassed or go Kill people. Its just that you form a bond with the guys you serve with and I want to help them. I'd feel horrible if something happened to them and I wasn't there to help. My wife looked at me last night and after a minute said" you wanna be over there don't you?" Well I Kinda do. But I also have a wife and a 1 year old now. And I'm still IRR so If they decide they need me I'll go. Though I really doubt that will happen.

[Steve Smith]

I spent a tour in the AF and I have continued to support the military through my work as many of you know. I know my job is important and that it works at some of the highest levels, I still feel guilt about not being in "harm's way" with those guys.

I'm sure I'm not the only one that spent some time in prayer last night for those men and women. It will continue.

[Nightcrawler]

Every Michigan National Guard unit in my area got deployed. Except, of course, mine. Not sure why, guess they're saving us in case something goes down in Korea.

I was worried about being deployed. NOt so much fear of combat; I honestly didn't think we'd see much even if we went. The thought, though, of being pulled out of school, and away from my life, seemingly just as things are starting to fall into place for me.

I thought of how the government screwed over the vets of the first Gulf War with the denial of the Gulf War Syndrome.

But, with nothing else to do, I set my affairs in order and waited for that phone call that never came. Now that the war has started, I find myself wishing I was there, even though I don't actually want to BE there. It's hard to explain.

So I stay here, comfortably in school, going about my business, waiting and watching. Will I get deployed for occupation duty? Will the balloon go up in Korea?

All we can do is wait.

[Blackhawk]

That's a major purpose of the military, to make civilians feel comfortable.

Don't feel guilty.

Feel thankful.

[DeltaElite]

Finish school Doc, then go in as an Officer if you feel the need.

I would love to go, but I was rejected for being mentally defective way back in 1983. :neener:
Uhhhhhh, I mean due to a physical infirmity, not mental, honest....
Gotta go........... :what:

[Sean Smith]

Every once in a great while, when somebody finds out I was in the military, they’ll say “thanks.” But I’m pretty grateful when people aren’t rude or disdainful when they find out about it. I’m not sure what else needs to be said.

TOMMY

by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!

And if this sounds a bit overblown for 2003, check out what an E-2 makes in a year and get back to me.

[sm]

my gratitude and prayers go out to all, abroad and here at home that serve.

I get that twinge of guilt also, I was told not to. See they brought our troops home during my graduation year from HS, My draft card said 1A, Vietnam was ending.

Had upper classmates, friends, members of church not make it back from Vietnam.

I held the hand of a friend's Dad when he died, I did this because his son didn't make it back to do so himself. He told me not to feel guilty, I was meant to "keep the trains running" as Art said. He said it means a lot to those whom serve. So I kept I the trains running in my small way, still do. I promised this friends dad this, re-iterated this in the Euology I gave.

Did a half semester of clinicals at the Veterns Hospital, same thing repeated to me. Keep the home fires burning.

In '70 when the students burned their draft cards I was one of those that was involved in the fighting that broke out, didn't get arrested...the cops looked the other way, one had tears, he had lost a brother...I still don't regret this.

yes Thankful and grateful I am...

[PvtPyle]

I know how you feel. I am a member of the only battalion in SF that is not committed to the war effort somewhere. We have guys out in various locations, but as a whole we are sitting here playing with our chutes. I understand them keeping us in reserve to see where we are needed, but I missed the first one and now I will miss this one too.

Luckily there appears to be enough war on the horizon to go around. As one team guy said, "We are in round 2 of a 12 round fight". But that does not make it much easier to deal with. Most of the guys who recently returned from Afghanistan have ask for transfers into other Groups so they can get back into action. They are going nucking futs right now. The state is at 78% deployment right now, and the SF unit is sitting at home with the admin units. Kind of fustrating.

I pray for the safety of the other men and women out there in harms way, and thanks everyone else for their support of the troops that are in the field.

[Teufelhunden]

But, with nothing else to do, I set my affairs in order and waited for that phone call that never came. Now that the war has started, I find myself wishing I was there, even though I don't actually want to BE there. It's hard to explain.

As a Marine Reservist, I know how you feel Nightcrawler. I've spent the past year and a half being told to stand by and gearing up for deployment, then when the S finally HTF, I'm watching the whole thing on TV. It's hard to explain being disapointed in NOT going to war. It's really put me in a foul mood the past couple of days.

-Teuf

[UnknownSailor]

To echo what DrJones said.

Don't feel guilty, help those who are still here, and your fellow Americans around you, by keeping on the look out for the suspicious, the abnormal.

Help us, the military folks not deployed, and the local police and fire, watch out for the home front.

Those who are at the tip of the spear can do their jobs more effectively if they aren't worried about what happens to their families back home.

[hops]

Don't feel guilty. The civillian contribution to any war is critical. The firm I work for now makes chips that trigger the "BOOM" when a smart bomb is to explode. During the Gulf war, my former employer made critcal electronic components for the Patriot missile. After their initial success, I was personally responsible to electronically receive and process a 1+ million dollar set of orders for more components. I had just completed the implementation and testing of the e-commerce link with the customer. Had Sr. VP's contact me regularly to ensure the prioity one A orders were received for immediate shipment.

So in addition to paying taxes to pay for the war, I do my bit to support the industrial complex - supply chain to ensure that our troops who really put their lives on the line, get the tools to make it happen.

I almost persued a military carreer long ago, but that's another story.

[Dannyboy]

I don't feel guilty. However, it is very disappointing to know that my buddies and former brothers are putting a serious hurt on the Iraqis right now, and I'm sitting here. I saw the tape of some Paladins contributing to the artillery preparation and heard something about MLRS being involved, as well. I'm bummed.

[mons meg]

All I can say is...ITS ABOUT TIME *I* got to watch it on TV. Man, we didn't have a clue what was going on during that 72 hour push back in '91. I am glued to the TV...feel asleep in front of it last night about 2am. Sheesh.

[Ebbtide]

Confession time:

I feel guilty too. Not so much (but some) for our boys there now, but for the guys in GW1.

My active enlistment ended just prior to the Kuwait invasion. Prior to that I trained most of the folks in my division in some pretty important stuff. I think I could have done a better job, tried harder, and applied more of my skills to the task. When GW1 broke out I prayed no one in my division was injured as a result of my lackadaisical attitude at the time. Thankfully it all went well. But since then, I put 100% into everything and am better for it.

[Monkeyleg]

I just want to thank all of you who are serving or have served, and offer up a prayer for our forces in the Middle East.

Also saying a prayer for a certain ensign (nephew). At least he's on a ship and not facing Scuds.

If they would take 52 year-olds with bad backs, I'm sure I could fulfill some function.

[Pilgrim]

I retired in '89; missed Gulf War '91. When I was in a gas station/convenience mart then the wife of a retired chief petty officer said, "Aren't you so glad you don't have to go?"

I looked at her and said, "Do you know how insulting that sounds to a professional naval aviator who has trained for twenty years for this to miss out because I am too old to fly and serve?" She got all flustered, embarrassed and apologized.

I still wish I could contribute; to be on the team again.

[TheLastBoyScout]

Dr. Jones, I know the feeling. I'm 16, so I have like 2 years to go. I talked to my parents about trying to add extra credits so I could graduate early from HS and join at 17, and my mom went crazy. It was sort of a surprise because they've always been pro military, but whatever. Must be because of the war.
As it is, I'm gonna try for USNA and NROTC over the next 2 years, go to college, and then join up. This isn't an impulse decision, its been what I wanted to do for years.

[DeltaElite]

Don't be in such a hurry guys, there will be more conflict.
Finish your education and then live your dream.
Besides this conflict will be resolved in a matter of days.
Resistance is futile, we are the Bush Org. :D

[JShirley]

Don't feel guilty. Just be a good citizen.

I joined after 9-11, years after I had given up any thought of service (I'm 31 now), but I wasn't married, had no kids, and didn't have a serious girlfriend. If I had any of those three, I wouldn't be in uniform today, and wouldn't feel guilty about it. We all will do what we can.

Joining as an officer ain't a bad idea, Doc. We could use some with some actual firearms knowledge.

John

[Navy joe]

Not guilty, just pissed. I sit here stateside in a schoolhouse command instead of where I should be. Joined a long time ago hoping to transition to a pointy end job, never yet worked out. There ought to be a in the service volunteer program for people that actually want to be where it's at, I could even deal with a two year out of MOS infantry TDY or something. Being close to the flagpole sucks!

[Nightcrawler]

I don't really feel guilty per-say; fortunately for my emotional stability, whether or not I get sent to fight this war is completely out of my hands. Some days I feel gung ho about the thought of it, other days it scares the hell out of me. I'm not going to complain about not getting sent. As someone said, there will always be another war.

I do tend to worry about Korea on occasion. With so many assets deployed to the Gulf, if something goes down in Korea, we'll get sent for sure. I hope to God that nothing happens there. Not only for my sake, but for the sake of EVERYONE involved. Another Korean war will constitute a massive, entirely avoidable loss of life and I don't want to see it happen.

[rock jock]

But I am a full-time student, and have a wonderful job that I love, and will probably turn into an excellent career for me, so I'm not chugging beer, going to frat parties, and otherwise doing nothing with my life like so many my age.
Drjones,
If you have any inclination to join the military, you should consider doing so, at least for a single stint. I had chance to join the Marines as an officer in college (even went to OCS) but decided instead to pursue my career. And while enjoy my job and make a great living, I have always regretted not putting in at least four years. It would have only delayed my professional position for what in retrspect, is a very short time. Don't make the same mistake.

[MeekandMild]

Don't worry, Dr. Jones. I'm sure when your number is called you will stand up and say Bingo.

Staying in school is important. You can do more staying there by countering the sissified, liberalized scumbags than you could imagine. :cool:

[Drjones]

Gentlemen and Ladies;

Thank you.

Your words mean so much to me.

We can always take comfort in knowing that others share our feelings.

I am quite surprised to see that I am not alone in feeling this way.

Of course you also have a great point about serving our country by just being a good citizen.

I suppose if we all went off to fight, we just might not have anything to come back home to!

Again, much thanks for your kind words and understanding.

You people rock.

Drjones

[Lennyjoe]

Thumper
what is it...like 46 and a wake up now?

I wish. More like 73 and a wake up. Getting there though.

That is, unless Mr Kim whats his nuts up North makes a mistake and provokes an arsh woping. ;)