I was kind of humbled yesterday...

[VictoryGardener]

So today I went with my Great Uncle (really just my uncle) to the VA hospital so he can get his meds. He is old as you can tell and so I said I would take him there just so we can spend some time together.

Well when we get there, we started walking to the front of the hospital and there were war vets all over the place. Some guys that were just on the older side walking around with their canes from WWII and Korean War just as happy as can be but you can tell that they were in some sort of pain though. We went in to get his medication and had to sit down as there was a long line so they were handing out numbers. So we sat down and started talking and he was telling me about WWII and his Distroyer he was on in the Pacific and all the things he was doing from escorting Aircraft Carriers in the Pacific to guarding the Philippines to making their way to be there for the treaty signing. He likes to tell me his stories. Well sitting next to us was a man that was in WWII as well and said he was on a certain Aircraft Carrier that my Uncle ended up guarding in the Pacific. It was amazing for him to get to know this guy.

Well on the way out I saw some more guys in wheel chairs going around as slow as can be because them being so old and with no one there to help push them around. There were guys from Korea, Vietnam, and WWII. Then right when we were turning the corner, we saw 3 guys from Iraq in their wheel chairs missing a leg, missing an arm, and one guy who was just disabled somehow because he was in a wheel chair. They were talking with a guy who had his WWII hat on that was missing a leg as well and I could hear him telling the younger guys "Dont worrie mates, you will make it. I did all these years and would not give up anything for knowing that I fought not only for our country, but for the lifes of the people that we were helping in Europe." When I heard that I was pretty touched.

anyway.. these guys are perfect examples of giving everything for your country and for other people.. so is this forum the right place to bring this up?

 

[VictoryGardener]

I can say- for this war we are knee-deep in now, I completely support the troops- I can't say the same for the war, reason for the war, leadership, intel, strategy (lack of)... some have told me ya can't support the troops and not the war and that is total bullshit

 

[NuggyBuds]

some have told me ya can't support the troops and not the war and that is total bullshit

Damn right that's BS.
The way to support the troops is to demand that they are no longer sent to die needlessly.

 

[mrwags]

Victory it sounds to me you saw first hand what I've been preaching forever. Weather you are for the war or against it somewhere in Iraq RIGHT THIS VERY SECOND is a kid 18-20 who's in a bunker,jeep,tank... (that at any moment can be taken out by a well placed sniper round by the way) this kid in ours lives has either mowed our grass delivered our paper maybe washed our car bagged our groceries or maybe even served us one of the best meals of our lives at our favorites restaurant.

My point being that kid has touched OUR lives one way or the other and to me we need to think about that kid who made a deal with the devil to fight for OUR rights. However twisted the higher ups have made it ( and oh man can I rap about that) that kid went over there with the best of intentions and for that I applaud him or her.

Each night when I peek in on my child after bed time I sometimes almost come to tears knowing in my heart how lucky I am to be able to do so knowing that many of those soldiers will never again be able to do the same and that to me means a hell of a lot more than any damn ole war.




Mr.Wags

 

[VictoryGardener]

I wish you a great day as well, Mr. Wags

 

[pieceofmyheart]

Wonderful post Mr. Wags, you know I agree with that.

 

[mean mr.mustard]

Incredibly well stated and agreed Mr. Wags!

 

[Guest]

When I got back from Nam in '69 I organized and operated an "Escort Service" for those struggling to make their appointments in wheelchairs. Chicago (Great Lakes), Milwaukee (Fort Wood) and Battle Creek (Fort Custer) all had programs in place when I moved on. It's a shame to hear that some still have to wage a battle to get needed help in the VA.

Just for anyone that thinks that our vets are being taken care of just fine, I was shot down in a Cobra that severed both my legs and tore out my jaw. The field techs found my body parts and packed them on my litter, where medical techs in Zama, Japan did the miracle of putting me back together again. I have random nerve loss below the knees, and with the loss of body fluids for over 3 hours my jaw could be reattached but the teeth roots never had a chance so they were lost - a minor setback IMO when I met a vet that lost all of his limbs when he flopped down on an APM to save his patrol.

That being said, the all-knowing, all-seeing pencil pushers in Washington somewhere offered me an 8% disability pension. Needless to say I was pissed, humiliated and ashamed that vets were treated like this without a second thought or chance to repeal. I shredded the SCD card and threw it in their faces, never to return to the VA. If it happened to me I would imagine that thousands of others got insulted in much the same way.

Today, when I see a vet he has no doubt about my respect and honor for his service, you really get to know a man's true worth when you see these vets going about their daily lives without pity and down to the last man I hear it would be done again if they were asked. Talk about humbling. And I bitch about the asshole that cut me off on the freeway.

If not for the nature of man war would be a lesson learned and peace would be the norm, let's pray for that day.

Semper Paratus. Semper Fi.

DNC39 - "Blue Ghost"
1T

 

[INDODRO]

Speakin of the troops, did yall know some Marines wrote to Starbucks and told them they really liked thier coffee and asked for some coffee and Starbucks wrote a letter back stating they did not support the war therefor they didn't support the troops? I thought that was kinda fucked up and haven't drank Starbucks since.