DUers who served or serve in the military: I salute you!

[BurtWorm]

:insert saluting smiley:

The military needs more lefties, more secularists, more atheists, more gays and lesbians, more women, more intellectuals. I missed the draft and I missed required registration, and I took advantage of my luck. But the military is too important an insititution to be left to the militarists, and I salute anyone with the courage to enlist and serve in the face of all the winger crap you have to put up with.

[leftofthedial]

1. I second your salute

:salute:

[eleonora]

2. right on

Our servicemen and women need all the support they can get in these tough times.

[amber dog democrat]

3. Vietnam era Navy.

Enlisted at 17 and served on a destroyer - but never saw combat and heard " THIS IS NOT A DRILL" only once. Would not trade that epxerience -


for every spin boat liar, there are / were decent, ethcal and professional folk. i'd say many times more.

[tk2kewl]

4. And I wish you peace.

[latteromden]

5. Seconded!

[Aristus]

6. Thanks, I appreciate that. M1A1 tank crewman, Gulf War I.

My salute is reserved for all of those who didn't make it back home.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

7. i agree

[stray cat]

8. Thanks to you all for your service nt

[Dzimbowicz]

9. Thank you

[BOSSHOG]

10. Thanks Burtworm

It was my (our) privilege to serve our country and I have every intention of keeping in its glorious liberal image.

Let us always remember:

Swift Boat Bastards are liars
bush deserted his military unit to avoid a drug test
cheney had other priorities and did not serve
limbaugh had a pimple on his ass and did not serve
hannity made the conscientious effort not to serve

and all these folks claim to be the defenders of freedom

[me b zola]

11. You would be surprised to know

just how many who serve are lefty thinkers!!!
The perception that the military is composed entirely of repubs is another propaganda tool of the right-wing.
BTW, many, many gays & lesbians in the military.

[oneighty]

12. Korea '52

I feel so very old!

180

Oh! And thank you. Enlisted seldom get a salute.

[BOSSHOG]

13. I Salute you shipmate

You may feel old but every time I see one of your posts I feel proud to have served in the Navy and proud to be an American. Thank you.

[oneighty]

14. You honor me BOSSHOG

Thank you. And thank you for serving in our Navy!

By the way I have been involved with a writer doing research on the history of small boat mine sweeping. He served with MSBs in Vietnam. I served with MSBs in Korea.

His book is to be published in the spring. Have you ever been involved in mine sweeping?

180

[BOSSHOG]

15. What could be more braver than looking for mines in a small boat

No, I had no dealings with minesweeps. I'm now chronicling my father in laws short WWII career. He hit the Beach in France on D-Day and sustained enemy fire on 12 August 1944 and was in a hospital for almost two years. He's still with us. I'm hoping to keep his story alive at least for the family.

[oneighty]

17. Title of the book

will be I am told; 'The Bravest Men' based on a story I wrote. In the words of our younger people "It is so cool."

I think the researcher discovered that LCVPs were used as small boat minesweepers in the Med during that period when your Dad was there.. Oh boy. Hitting the beach under fire has got to be a terrible thing.

I have some books concerning WW2 and 'Landings'.

180

[BOSSHOG]

21. Ensure we all know when it is published

I'm anxious to read it. I'm currently reading a book by former SECNAV John Lehman (not one of my favorites, but the book is good). Its called "On Seas of Glory" and its a Cliff Notes version of Naval History from the Revolution to the current day. Its good for research purposes. I've really become engrossed in the D-Day Invasion and hope to eak out a mighty tome to my father in law; with the family as the intended audience.

I hope you have a safe and happy and wonderful New Year. Get started on that next book.

[Corgigal]

16. Thank you

However I was snowed for the first 4 years of my enlistment and thought I was a republican. However I woke up after that first mistake and never turned back.

USAF, 8 Years, ATC 1928 Comm Gr, MacDill AFB

[luaneryder]

18. 4 years AD, 1 KyARNG, 2 AR

1979-1986. AD 1st SOCOM Ft. Bragg, NC PAO. Peacetime service. My primary MOS (photojournalist) attracted liberal thinkers, so I was usually among friends. Do you know that DU is the ONLY place I have ever heard a "thanks for your service"? :pals:

[VaYallaDawg]

19. Vietnam era navy veteran here too - also a destroyer sailor.

thanks I salute you back as well!

[flygal]

20. ~ Peace ~

from a former military wife

[micrometer_50]

22. USAF 1970-1974

Thank you.

[jellybelly]

23. To anyone that serves...

liberal, conservative, white, or black: I salute you:hug:

[Cuban_Liberal]

24. Thank you, Burt!

It was my honor to do so.

:hi:

[LadyRaivan]

25. Thank you!

USMC 1981-1995. I salute our men and women in the Middle East. Let's bring them home now!

:hippie:

[Cobalt Violet]

43. Semper Fi!

[EmpireWeAre]

26. Thanks

Navy 75-96.

Now is not the time for it, but we need National conscription.

[newyawker99]

27. This could use a ........

:kick:

[Calico Jack Rackham]

28. USMC 0311 Infantry 1993-2000

Somalia veteran.

[Cobalt Violet]

42. Semper Fi!

[Stinky The Clown]

29. USN then USNR 1967-1975

The Navy was actually an interesting group back then. I served in minesweepers. Our crew (the enlisted guys) was quite a bunch. Lotta guys with college degrees who could have been officers but chose to be enlisted. Smart and (in the way we did it then) a bit anarchist, actually. Silly things, really, like calling the deck the floor and the bulkheads walls. That sorta stuff. Nothing serious.

As to your statement that "The military needs more lefties, more secularists, more atheists, more gays and lesbians, more women, more intellectuals." I'm not sure I agree with what I assume to be your intent. The military's job is to face an enemy and kill people (or be killed). There is no room for "free thinkers" when your ass is on the line. You **need** to know that the guy next to you will do what he's supposed to do, when he's supposed to do it, and how he's supposed to do it. Group think is the right thing. That's why our military people, today, seem so gung ho. They're in (or have been or will be) in a war zone. They must have that esprit to do their job.

I, too, salute them.

And I weep for them as well. They are the ones who carry out the orders. They are not the ones who make the policy. They deserve nothing less than our complete respect. We can all do our acts of kindness to help them, but in the end, giving them our respect when they come home is how we can "Support the Troops".

When our guys came back from Vietnam, their worst enemy was the government they fought for. Look at the homelessness my brothers endured. Look at the lack of medical care my brothers endured. Look at how they suffered. Many still do.

Don't allow that to happen to the "troops" this time. This is not their doing.

They have already been paid the ultimate DISrespect by their civilian leaders. They have been trivialized and had their dedication to our country squandered on a cheap misadventure for no good reasons. Their patriotism and dedication to country has been so devalued by this administration. The shame if it. The cowardice. The blood sucking horror of the leaders of this administration.

May they rot in an awful hell.

[BurtWorm]

33. I hear what you're saying.

I mourn the loss of a military like the one that fought World War II. Think how many of those guys went on to fight the battles for civil rights, against the red scare, against the Vietnam war... That was not a (right-wing) Republican army. That was a democratic with a small d army. That's what I miss.

And I agree with you about this steaming pile of civilian leader-shit. Vile sociopaths.

[MADem]

30. I salute you back

...and thank you for the regular checks, since they are paid from your taxpayer dollars. Despite the potential for often serious sacrifice, it really is an honor to serve the PEOPLE of the United States, to play a role in the defense of our beloved nation.

It's just so unfortunate that we don't always have a commander in chief who feels the same sense of honor, the same weight of responsibility, and the full understanding of what it means to act in the nation's defense.

Looting nations for oil isn't my idea of defense. Coming up with alternative energy sources would be a more self-sustaining and profitable exercise.

[Eloriel]

31. Yes, adding MY thanks to all who have served

present, past, future.

AND, during Vietnam and now this war, I also salute those who have refused to serve.

[BurtWorm]

32. Yes, indeed!

A salute to all the conscientious resisters from me, well!

:insert saluting smiley:

[Stinky The Clown]

38. Yes! ... and those who chose not to serve, too, because

there are times to serve and times when not serving is the right thing. My own sons were ready to serve right after 9/11 when it was clear Afghanistan was a serious issue that needed to be dealt with. It was I who talked them out of it. When The War in Iraq(tm) was getting geared up, that was the right time NOT to serve ... and they were glad they didn't just go when they wanted to.

[dad]

34. _Thanks 92-96

I never would have signed up if GW Bush had been president at the time I enlisted!

[LincolnMcGrath]

35. Thank You

[Elwood P Dowd]

36. US Army 1970-72

Thanks :) :)

[BrotherBuzz]

37. Just a dumb draftee here....

but I really like David Hackworth's view on what we were, and what we did....

"Even when they pissed me off, I had to admit there was something I liked about the draftees who didn't want to be there and made no bones about it. I like draftees in general, even with the attendant problems. Historically draftees have kept the military on the straight and narrow. By calling a spade a spade, they keep it clean. Without their "careers" to think about, they can't be easily bullied or intimidated as Regulars; their presence prevents the elitism that otherwise might allow a Regular army to become isolated from the values of the country it serves. Draftees are not concerned for the reputation of their employer, the Army (in Vietnam they happily blew the whistle an everything from phony valor awards to the secret bombings of Laos and Cambodia); a draftee, citizens' army, so much a part of the history of America, is an essential part of a healthy democracy, one in which everyone pays the price Of admission." - Col. Davis Hackworth, from his book About Face

Then that asshole Rumsfeld opened his trap and destroyed my illusion about my patriotic contribution to the military when he informed us that draftees "added no value, no advantage, really, to the United States armed services over any sustained period of time."

I will sleep well when I am notified that Rumsfeld has taken up residence in HELL!

[Elwood P Dowd]

39. They want well trained, brain dead robots in today's military.

When I was in (70-72) the Army you had everything from high school dropouts with a GT score of 90 to college grads with GT scores of 140 or more. You had guys from poor families to guys from the upper middle class (very few rich kids though). You had liberals, conservatives, and those that just didn't give a shit. It was a true melting pot.

Today, they all sound the same when I talk to them. Sad but true :(

[magellan]

40. USN 1980-82

I was a WIN! (Any of you recall what that stands for?) Peacetime service in the Med -- except for that little blip with Libya in 81 and a few bomb threats by the Red Brigade against our base. I'm honored to be in such good company with fellow vets here. Thanks for this thread. :)

[timtom]

41. Sgt. Nathan Hale reporting for duty

Sgt USMC 1962-1966

Let's restore dignity to the White House! Now! I mean it!

Actually, I've been rather reflective since the election. Guess I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

<On edit: nathan hale is only my DU name...>

[Cobalt Violet]

44. Semper Fi!

[Andromeda]

45. I agree with you, BurtWorm...

here's a tribute to all of our military personnel who are putting their lives on the line and who have to 'watch what they say' every single day while they risk being killed or maimed.

Here's a tribute to all of our military personnel who don't have the protective gear they need to be safe.

Here's a tribute to all new parents in Iraq who can't be with their newborn children so Bush can build his oil pipeline.

Here's a tribute to all of our soldiers who return home that have mental and physical wounds from which they may never recover so Haliburton can have no-bid reconstruction contracts.

:toast:

[CRK7376]

46. 27 years and still going in uniform

and a PROUD LIBERAL! Never once have I supported the Repugs....It does get very hard and discouraging to be surrounded by dittoheads and their like....

[Qanisqineq]

47. I agree and my husband thanks you!

He has 9 years so far in the army