Please don't thank me for my "service." I was in the military, not the "Service." Service is doing something good. Service is what the person does who fixes your car. When the word "service" is applied to the military, it helps to justify violence as a method for conflict resolution. Like "defending our freedom," or "bringing democracy," the word "service" is used to lower the barriers of aggression. The military solution to conflict is death and destruction. That's not "service." Call it what it is - the military. If you have to hurt someone to solve a problem, you are the Problem. -- Arnold Stieber, US Army Veteran, 1970
I'm going to have to read this again when I am a bit less scattered. (It's been a day; I had a friend die from awful cancer that he fought valiantly for 5 years that kills most people in 6 months and I had to deal with the directors of a chamber ensemble I play in quit just as we're putting together our Christmas programs and then coordinate a 2 hour rehearsal.
I was not permitted to serve (that whole gay thing; I just couldn't lie) and when I thank someone for their service in the military it is for doing what I was not permitted to do. I frequently have people say "oh, I was never in combat" to which I say "you still swore the oath."
I might have more to say when I'm not brain fried.
Thank you, TC. I do so wish our political leaders could articulate, in writing, such a moving analysis of what was, what is and what can be in America, for all citizens. The written word is, indeed, the foundation of critical thinking. Blathering on Fox News and other platforms is nothing short of spewing sewage and calling it good. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts, in writing.
Thank you for your commentary. It may be more of a service than it is recognized as immediately. Far too many have forgotten what this country went through during the last 20 year War.
I think, maybe, people say “Thank you for your service.” trying to distance themselves from the hatefulness poured out on military members during the Vietnam era. I have a veteran son. People don’t realize how cheap those words are because the words don’t cost them anything. I want to say, “How ‘bout more taxes to truly pay for world class veteran care? How about a VA that is user friendly and readily available?” No one wants to hear those words. War is not gallant or heroic, although people can act that way during war. It is TOTAL CHAOS!!! Somehow, folks are surprised when people are killed and maimed. But it is the AWFUL politicians who are responsible for the death and destruction. The individual soldiers are just trying to keep themselves and their buddies alive.
This gave me much to ponder. Yesterday (Veteran's Day), I spent a good part of the afternoon reading the memoirs of a veteran who was in the 506 regiment, 101st airborne, with my dad. On D-Day they both jumped on Normandy. Both were captured (Dad was jump master and head of the men on board their plane. They were to establish communications.) This particular vet was injured, opted to remain in a German hospital and was liberated soon after by the Allies. Dad was marched into Germany, strafed by friendly fire, put in a camp and finally liberated at the end of the war. I have yet to search through all his "stuff," but I'm quite sure I'll find this vet's name on Dad's jump list. (He was second to jump after Dad.)
In reading his memoir, I found how combat really looks and feels from the perspective of one who spent countless "hurry up and wait" experiences, sorry rations or no rations, the constancy of adrenaline followed by utter exhaustion and an "I don't care" reaction to attack. The almost complacent acknowledgment of death is noteworthy. Returning home after living through several battles, adorned with medals and scarred beyond measure by memories, he found the "real world" almost a fantasy experience. As he said, no one wants to hear your stories. They all have stories of their own. So, no one talks about it. And after a while, it just fades away and your children play with your war torn "stuff" and pretend they are heroes. Because you're not. You are a survivor.
Nevertheless, I am thankful for the service of this vet and my Dad, because I know what they did to earn their Purple Hearts and their Bronze Medals. Both of them came home and went to college and THAT was their real reward.
TC, thanks for this piece. It put a lot of random thoughts of mine together.
Thank you for your reflections on Veterans Day, TC. Our son was in the Navy - a doctor - in fact that is how he was able to go to medical school. He remained the required time, but he gave a lot of thought to staying in before he decided to take his family and begin another life. He said one of the things that made his decision a little easier was this: as medical director at his station - the Mountain Warfare Training Center, he had made a request higher up for permission to begin a group for those based there to address PTSD. He waited and waited for a response. The response was - you guessed it - denied. That did it for him actually. There were things he appreciated about his time with the Navy. These kinds of decisions - not at all.
When the draft was in force, young men often had no choice -- or weren't told about better choices, like joining the USCG (before the failed War on Drugs the Guard was not a bad way to serve our country).
When the draft was abolished, people joined the military out of "choice."
Some young people honestly want to join the military out of a sense of honor and duty. But our military is mis-used on such a global scale... well, it's hard to honor people who "Join the Army, go to foreign countries, meet interesting people, and kill them in their own lands."
Then, come back with military training and bitterness in your heart.
"The makers of war became constrained in the war they could make by the lack of support from those who gave them their jobs with their votes."
While I never want to see the draft return, you are so right - if we don't see, feel, know the war ("conflict" "skirmish" "operation"...), we as a country do not stop it.
I'm going to have to read this again when I am a bit less scattered. (It's been a day; I had a friend die from awful cancer that he fought valiantly for 5 years that kills most people in 6 months and I had to deal with the directors of a chamber ensemble I play in quit just as we're putting together our Christmas programs and then coordinate a 2 hour rehearsal.
I was not permitted to serve (that whole gay thing; I just couldn't lie) and when I thank someone for their service in the military it is for doing what I was not permitted to do. I frequently have people say "oh, I was never in combat" to which I say "you still swore the oath."
I might have more to say when I'm not brain fried.
Thank you, TC. I do so wish our political leaders could articulate, in writing, such a moving analysis of what was, what is and what can be in America, for all citizens. The written word is, indeed, the foundation of critical thinking. Blathering on Fox News and other platforms is nothing short of spewing sewage and calling it good. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts, in writing.
I feel this way. You thank me without knowledge of what I did.
Thank you for your commentary. It may be more of a service than it is recognized as immediately. Far too many have forgotten what this country went through during the last 20 year War.
I think, maybe, people say “Thank you for your service.” trying to distance themselves from the hatefulness poured out on military members during the Vietnam era. I have a veteran son. People don’t realize how cheap those words are because the words don’t cost them anything. I want to say, “How ‘bout more taxes to truly pay for world class veteran care? How about a VA that is user friendly and readily available?” No one wants to hear those words. War is not gallant or heroic, although people can act that way during war. It is TOTAL CHAOS!!! Somehow, folks are surprised when people are killed and maimed. But it is the AWFUL politicians who are responsible for the death and destruction. The individual soldiers are just trying to keep themselves and their buddies alive.
How about thank you for being you, TC.
This gave me much to ponder. Yesterday (Veteran's Day), I spent a good part of the afternoon reading the memoirs of a veteran who was in the 506 regiment, 101st airborne, with my dad. On D-Day they both jumped on Normandy. Both were captured (Dad was jump master and head of the men on board their plane. They were to establish communications.) This particular vet was injured, opted to remain in a German hospital and was liberated soon after by the Allies. Dad was marched into Germany, strafed by friendly fire, put in a camp and finally liberated at the end of the war. I have yet to search through all his "stuff," but I'm quite sure I'll find this vet's name on Dad's jump list. (He was second to jump after Dad.)
In reading his memoir, I found how combat really looks and feels from the perspective of one who spent countless "hurry up and wait" experiences, sorry rations or no rations, the constancy of adrenaline followed by utter exhaustion and an "I don't care" reaction to attack. The almost complacent acknowledgment of death is noteworthy. Returning home after living through several battles, adorned with medals and scarred beyond measure by memories, he found the "real world" almost a fantasy experience. As he said, no one wants to hear your stories. They all have stories of their own. So, no one talks about it. And after a while, it just fades away and your children play with your war torn "stuff" and pretend they are heroes. Because you're not. You are a survivor.
Nevertheless, I am thankful for the service of this vet and my Dad, because I know what they did to earn their Purple Hearts and their Bronze Medals. Both of them came home and went to college and THAT was their real reward.
TC, thanks for this piece. It put a lot of random thoughts of mine together.
Thank you for your reflections on Veterans Day, TC. Our son was in the Navy - a doctor - in fact that is how he was able to go to medical school. He remained the required time, but he gave a lot of thought to staying in before he decided to take his family and begin another life. He said one of the things that made his decision a little easier was this: as medical director at his station - the Mountain Warfare Training Center, he had made a request higher up for permission to begin a group for those based there to address PTSD. He waited and waited for a response. The response was - you guessed it - denied. That did it for him actually. There were things he appreciated about his time with the Navy. These kinds of decisions - not at all.
None of the recent wars have been "good wars."
When the draft was in force, young men often had no choice -- or weren't told about better choices, like joining the USCG (before the failed War on Drugs the Guard was not a bad way to serve our country).
When the draft was abolished, people joined the military out of "choice."
Some young people honestly want to join the military out of a sense of honor and duty. But our military is mis-used on such a global scale... well, it's hard to honor people who "Join the Army, go to foreign countries, meet interesting people, and kill them in their own lands."
Then, come back with military training and bitterness in your heart.
DOJ INDICTS BANNON!
https://www.facebook.com/10643211755/posts/10161052487176756/
So much here, TC. Poweful.
What struck me most:
"The makers of war became constrained in the war they could make by the lack of support from those who gave them their jobs with their votes."
While I never want to see the draft return, you are so right - if we don't see, feel, know the war ("conflict" "skirmish" "operation"...), we as a country do not stop it.