Serving your country.

[coosbaycreep]

quote from mljdeckard:
"Funny. You are so principled, yet not so principled as to cease supporting such a corrupt government which has murdered so many lower and middle class citizens. Also interesting that you support assassinations as an alternative.

Some of us stayed in when the college money ran out. You're welcome."


If our government operated by the same principles as we're supposedly enforcing in Iraq, then we'd be policing dozens of countries all over the world.

I finished my military enlistment and that's it. I abide by the laws, but I don't have much respect for a country that enforces it's will on others just so we can continue to live lives of excess.

I've volunteered hundreds of hours with the DAV. What have you done?

As for assassination, what's worse, killing one psychopath to save the lives of thousands? Or killing thousands of people on both sides for no reason. Don't let one bad apple spoil the whole damn bunch.

Of course, a lot of the enemies we're facing at the moment are religious zealots who will fight us and our way of life until they die or we die, so using assassination exclusively wouldn't work as well unless we come to terms with who we're fighting and why. For us it's an oil war, for them it's religion. Killing a few terrorists here and there isn't going to do anything but weaken America in the long run. If those folks want enriched uranium, then let's send them some in the form of American nukes, otherwise this crap will go on forever.

And don't go trying to get all high and mighty with me because you stayed in "when the college money ran out". That's your decision, not mine. Unless you were drafted, you made the choice to enlist. I don't owe you anything, and I don't expect praise from anyone else for serving in the military because it was MY choice.

 

[crazy-mp]

U.S. ARMY Reserve
Military Police Corps.

Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) 03-04

People join the military for many reasons, for some its the only opportunity they have for some its a "last resorts" others want to serve their country or carry on a family tradition. For me it was simple I wanted to be able to say I defended the freedoms of my country that so many others gave their lives for (including 2 of my friends and my dad's cousin), I was proud to have been called to serve my country.

With the way vets are treated in this country, who would want to join?

Are you doing anything to make a difference? Have you ever told a vet “Thank you”? That means more to us than all the parades, 15 percent discounts and standing up at events to be recognized combined.

 

[monadh]

Coosbaycreep: "Nationalism is second only to religion for the amount of death and destruction it has caused throughout history."

Oh? Is religion the main cause of death throughout history? I don't believe religion was the killer when the two most effective death dealers in history, the Soviet Union and Red China, were in the process of killing roughly 137,000,000+ people who were citizens. Nope the greatest killer of them all is government in general, and atheistic government in particular.

http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/20TH.HTM

I served 6 years in the infantry and loved it. Not for the simple sake of the Army, but because I enjoyed working with the majority of my guys. I started out enlisted, ended up an officer, but I had no stomach for working so close with other officers who had no right to wear the crossed rifles. To this day, I have little to no respect for the officer corps.

I joined because I loved my country, but after a time I found some things I loved more. My faith. My family. My state. This redefined patriotism for me. When I thought about it, it has never been my government I loved, but my land and the people in it.

I am learned enough to have studied history and war most of my life. It was not for school that I did (though it did pay off in college), but because my family had placed an emphasis on historical knowledge. When I began to go beyond the pat explanations for why we fought this war, or why we must fight that war, I saw what has driven most wars that this country has fought has been political and business considerations. The American public has been lied into war, dragged into war, or coerced into war, and none of them, with two notable exceptions, had anything to do with freedom.

We took an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, yet we abide those who disregard the restraints of the Constitution daily in order to force us to do their will.

Name one president who has obeyed the Constitution down the line.

Name one senator who has obeyed the Consitution down the line.

Name one representative other than Ron Paul who has obeyed the Constitution down the line.

There haven't been any for over 100 years that I have seen.

Serving your country can mean many things, but it will never mean serving the will and the whim of an elected official. And that is what our military is doing now.

May God bring our soldiers safely home to those who love and need them most.

 

[travis74]

I usually do not post anything just read what everyone else is posting but I figured that I would this time. I am a warrant officer serving in Afghanistan now. I have also served tours in Iraq, Bosnia, and Kosovo. I have been in for 11 years now. Nine years enlisted and the last two as a warrant. I do it for many reasons but the biggest reason is to serve my country. The job can be hard sometimes especially with a wife and two kids back in Texas and I think that to really appreciate the simple things in life and the freedoms we do enjoy and how important it is to fight to keep them the military is the best place to see that. So for a 18 or 20 year old or whatever age for that matter it is a good thing to do at least for one enlistment. You serve your country and it helps you grow up and see the world, good and bad things.

With that said many of you guys are right. It is not for everyone and I have seen and as a former NCO dealt with many soldiers that would be better off staying at home. I sometimes even wonder if it was the right thing for me when I get down and out, but I guess that goes for anything that a person does. I am still proud to do it and will never regret it. What I have done pales in comparison to what the vets in the Vietnam War, Korean War, and so on went through but even with the small part I have played in the tours I have served I still think a man or woman gets a little deeper appreciation for the things back home. That is just my opinion and it means nothing to most but I just thought I would post this time cause it is something I really feel that I know about. You will only get that feeling if you experience it.

I usually shy away from posting as I said earlier cause I really dont have the in depth knowledge that alot of you have for different types of firearms but I do enjoy reading them and learning. I grew up around guns all my life and have several of my own. Just dont have the in depth knowledge sometimes.

I have 6 months left and am going on R&R in Feb. I absolutely cannot wait to get home, be with my family and go to the range again. I am planning on buying a couple or three guns with some of the money I have saved over here. That is what I mean. Simple things and it may seem like normal stuff cause it is but when you cannot do those things you see how important they really are. That is why I think it is a good thing and that is what I have learned in my short 11 years in the Army. Some of you might be surprised at how you take things for granted.

I dont think I am better than anyone either or more "qualified" to speak about patriotism or anything like that. I can only say my experiences and my reasons.

I have the upmost respect for regular working men and women. As the son of just a common working man I appreciate people that keep the wheels turning day in and day out. Just making a living. Somebody has to do that too. Everyone cannot join or be in the military. It is just not everyone's cup of tea.

 

[Old Guy]

Being born in Liverpool in 1935, and being bombed, I for one, and my Kids, and Grandkids are so very pleased that the American Military flooded our little Island, and crossed the English Channel and fought and died for little old me!

Now that I live in the US of A, and both of my Children also, it is not hard to say "Thank you" to a uniformed member of the Armed Forces of my preferred to live in Country.

 

[25wssmisgood]

Coosbaycreep;

Thank you, thank you, thank you, for not reenlisting.

In that one single action,(nonaction ??) you improved the lives of the soldiers in your unit far more than you will ever know.

 

[gun44]

Served in the Army, '70-'73.

Caught the tail end of 'Nam. Don't like to talk about it much, but I am proud of my service. Also, I would like to add that I don't believe it is necessary for a person to serve in the military to be a good patriotic American. I have a brother who never served, but his patriotism is as strong as mine.

 

[qajaq59]

I guess it is easier to be a patriot when as a child the Germans were sinking our ships and butchering innocent people all over Europe. To say nothing of the Japs blowing the hell out of Hawaii in a Sunday morning before bothering to tell us we were at war. Had we not had brave, patriotic men and women then, I guarantee you would not be sitting at your computer now!!!!

So just say thanks to all these vets for whatever time they served and be glad they were there when we needed them.

 

[Graymutt]

Not a young one, but 19 yrs and counting.

 

[Robert]

I have never had the honor of serving my country, but not for lack of trying. I come form a military family clear back to the American Revolution and before. My younger brother served until our father died at which point he received a hardship discharge to help my mom. I did 3 years of Army ROTC before the Army found out I had asthma as a child. They would not let me complete my 4 years and commission. My best friend has served two tours in Iraq, being wounded on his second tour by fragments of a grenade. He took two through the face and one through the theigh. He is fine, and getting ready to go to Afghanistan. I hold our soldiers in the highest regard.

 

[harmonic]

The simps who are posting derogatory statements re our military/military service are either a) not Americans (we have a lot of jealous foreigners on this board and to them I wish a hearty, "Up yours!") or b) are like the dirtbag protestors circa our Vietnam era.

If you're an American (and for those who are not, I'm really glad), and if you've posted the aforementioned negative remarks about military service, I'm really glad you never served. The mere presence of your posts has lowered the collective IQ of this thread by at least 50%. I can only imagine the dumbing down you would do to a military unit.

As an aside, define irony: "A thread started by an antiAmerican dork (who was banned from THR years ago) is still going."

 

[coosbaycreep]

quote from 25wssmisgood:
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, for not reenlisting.

In that one single action,(nonaction ??) you improved the lives of the soldiers in your unit far more than you will ever know."


Just for your info, I was the hardest working person in my motorpool. My NCOs would have loved if I would've re-enlisted. Just because I'm not impressed with the military doesn't mean I'm some worthless dirtbag.

I realize that since I'm not a combat vet, that somehow my "service" to my country isn't as good as those of you who did end up overseas, but it's hypocritical for you people to sit there and bad mouth people who don't see eye to eye with you about the military. Afterall, isn't that what serving your country is all about? Fighting so that others can enjoy their freedom?

Give me a break.

 

[chuckusaret]

Spent 24 years 6 months and 11 days in the Army. Served 17 years overseas of which 5 were in Vietnam
Best 24 years of my life.

 

[natecade1]

Thank you Chuck!

 

[JImbothefiveth]

Nationalism is second only to religion for the amount of death and destruction it has caused throughout history.

I'm glad to hear that the Roman empire, the Soviets, and the communist Chinese never hurt anyone, I really am.

and I get sick and tired of hearing about how these people are "fighting for my freedom",

Then tell me, who really protects the country? The homeland security elves?

 

[qajaq59]

and I get sick and tired of hearing about how these people are "fighting for my freedom",

Well, you may be tired of hearing it. But guess what? It's true, and you're stuck with it.

Into every life a little rain must fall..... and you're all wet!

 

[Sinixstar]

how exactly is this gun related?

 

[KBintheSLC]

Most on here seem to be very patriotic when it comes to the typed word.

I would gladly serve, but I just can't rally behind the current cause. Being patriotic does not mean blindly backing a war campaign that you disagree with... thats just sheep-like. The invasion of Iraq has made me sick since day one. I know Saddam sucked, but we had no business invading the country. Iraq is the #1 reason I have not joined the military... not even the Guard.
I am also tired of our nation playing the role of Israels personal bodyguard. Israel is an unsustainable and failing state, and I refuse to continue fighting their wars for them.
So as much as I would like to help "defend" my country, I will not join the global occupation force it has become. Being patriotic does not mean that we have to agree with our government sticking their hands in every nations business.
What we are doing is not defending in the purest sense of the word... it is offense.

 

[.41Dave]

Why do so many people conflate "Serving your country" with serving your government? These two things are not synonymous.

 

[rosemont]

I think this thread is going downhill.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

What we are doing is not defending in the purest sense of the word.

The U.S. protects people from dictators, genocide, and terrorism. I'm afraid that is protecting.

I am also tired of our nation playing the role of Israels personal bodyguard

They are the only nation in the middle east that is friendly towards the U.S., and they help us in return. They are the ones who have pledged to take out Iranian nukes with airstrikes, which we can't count on the U.S. president being willing to do.

 

[MedWheeler]

Not gonna read every post here.. I'm actually surprised the thread is still open.
At any rate, I filled out and signed that check (you know the one, it reads "payable in any amount, up to and including my life if necessary") to Uncle Sam in December of 1983, while still in high school. My report date was 29 August, 1984. However, due to an injury sustained in what would today be called a hate crime if I were of another race, Uncle Sam chose not to cash the check when I reported for duty, and I was discharged (the injury occurred in June of 1984.)
So, I returned home to my efforts to better my community by continuing as a volunteer firefighter, and eventually entered law enforcement. After four years of that, I crossed over into EMS, where I've been since.
I respect and admire military service personnel, and continue to advocate service duty as a sensible option for young people working on their futures. However, I don't believe it is the only way one can go about contributing to the strength of a nation, especially a free one.
To those of you who feel that military service should be mandatory for all people, remember that the greatest military force in the world is an all-volunteer force. The majority of the weakest on the planet are comprised of conscripted personnel.
Edit: I did just notice that the thread is nearly three years old. Not sure how many replies are from recent days.

 

[RP88]

I'm 20. I never have and will most likely never serve - at least not on my own accord.

I'm enjoying college and having fun, and...well, the armed forces just doesn't seem fun, according to my cousin, my dad, and three high school wrestling teammates. I support and respect all of those who are currently (in my opinion) wasting time, money, and lives and appreciate your service (since it means I can keep going out partying and go to college so that I can do what I want to do when I'm out), but it just isn't my cup of tea. Either way, keep up the good work.

 

[Red Eye Fred]

I am a vietnam vet - mekong delta 1971 and my son served in Iraq. Both myself and my son are deep into firearms.

 

[MM]

Not fun?
Not fun!?
Man, I gotta tell you guys, It was a BLAST!
MM
(Um, no pun intended...)