Quote:
Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule
I respect that thought, and have felt that way myself, however, every military person who has put on the uniform, has accepted the risks and obligations of defending our country and is deserving of respect and thanks. My guess is, that had your unit been called into a warzone, or more particularly, had it been put in harms way to stop a force that was invading USA soil, you would have gone and fought to the last of your ability to protect this country. That's what people are thanking you, and every veteran, this day. Further, as you Trample have pointed out, when you wore the uniform and were stationed overseas, you represented the US in whatever country you were stationed. Your presence in Japan, or mine during the drawdown in Europe, showed what our country strives to believe in, peace through strength, respect of countries laws and boundaries. We showed that a military does not have to invade and occupy as German or Soviet troops have done, and those wearing the uniform represent the ideal of civilian control over a massive defense structure to governments and populations throughout the world.
As you can tell, I don't any longer agree that only those who served in wars should be honored for their service. To everyone who has worn the uniform, represented our country's finest ideals, protected our borders by their simple presence as a deterrent. Again I say thanks.
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Very good perspective. And I think those of us who have worn the uniform, but didn't engage in warfare or combat tend to compare ourselves to and elevate those who did. Whether intentional or not, right or wrong, I think that's the case.
I enlisted in the Navy from 1990-1995 and was stationed on the USS Tripoli during the Gulf War. During my stint, we deployed several times to the Gulf region.
About a month before I was scheduled to join the ship, she was struck by a mine explosion. Totally blew a 16 x 20 ft hole in the hull of the ship. Fortunately no lives were lost, just a few scrapes and bruises. I think one guy tried to get a Purple Heart out of it, but was denied. He sort of became a laughing stock later on. The funny thing was because I had orders in hand when she got hit, even though I wasn't onboard at the time, I later received a few medals and ribbons awarded to the ship. I felt it was unfair for me to receive anything seeing that I was in a barracks in back woods Mississippi training. After they repaired her, I later joined the ship, and she went back out to continue mine sweeping ops.
Something about being in harms way made me sort of appreciate what the crew went through prior to me joining.