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Originally Posted by 12thMan
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.
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I agree and really do respect that. A portion of my unit in Germany was deployed to Somali, but not my Company. I understand the difference. But just like in your story, its often times, especially in modern war, a matter of chance or happenstance that one's unit was not in harms way, and this day is a chance for all United States citizens to come together and acknowledge all who have served their country, by choice or obligation, in an honorable manner.