OT No Apologies
#16
I wish there was a way to express to the families how i feel about the guys I served with and gave the ultimate sacrifice I often think about them not just on a special holiday. There was just recently a story about some airline passengers giving up 1st class seats for a group of returning GI''s that was very special just wish I could do more for all of them Peace.
#17
I am so glad to read such posts. Things have changed, at least in this regard, so much for the better.
There was a time when people just did not want to know about a veteran, or where they served. The Korean war, in which my father was a Navy gunners mate, was one.
Another was when it seemed the entire country hated you, and that was 'Nam. I remember getting spit on and called a "baby killer" by some flower girl while in uniform at an airport. Many of those I served with (all volunteers, including myself), were so disgusted with the public and government, that when they walked out the gate after being discharged, they chucked their service records and duffle bags in the nearest trash can. This period of revulsion by the public lasted for many years after the Vietnam war was over.
But now, thank God, people, even those against our foreign entanglements, for the most part welcome our service people home with open arms.
It is good to see.
The only thing I would suggest any civilian to do, is to come to know these men and women who have, or are, serving. Some are good, some not so much. They run the gamut of types you may see on the street. I have served with fellows who were from wealthy families, and others from poor farms.
They are little different from the average Joe or Jane, and the reasons they join are countless. They are just ordinary people who very often accomplish extrordinary things.
They are us, they are Americans.
There was a time when people just did not want to know about a veteran, or where they served. The Korean war, in which my father was a Navy gunners mate, was one.
Another was when it seemed the entire country hated you, and that was 'Nam. I remember getting spit on and called a "baby killer" by some flower girl while in uniform at an airport. Many of those I served with (all volunteers, including myself), were so disgusted with the public and government, that when they walked out the gate after being discharged, they chucked their service records and duffle bags in the nearest trash can. This period of revulsion by the public lasted for many years after the Vietnam war was over.
But now, thank God, people, even those against our foreign entanglements, for the most part welcome our service people home with open arms.
It is good to see.
The only thing I would suggest any civilian to do, is to come to know these men and women who have, or are, serving. Some are good, some not so much. They run the gamut of types you may see on the street. I have served with fellows who were from wealthy families, and others from poor farms.
They are little different from the average Joe or Jane, and the reasons they join are countless. They are just ordinary people who very often accomplish extrordinary things.
They are us, they are Americans.
#19
After reading this thread, I have decided to go in and ask for the night off to be with my grandcritter.
#20
I am so glad to read such posts. Things have changed, at least in this regard, so much for the better.
There was a time when people just did not want to know about a veteran, or where they served. The Korean war, in which my father was a Navy gunners mate, was one.
Another was when it seemed the entire country hated you, and that was 'Nam. I remember getting spit on and called a "baby killer" by some flower girl while in uniform at an airport. Many of those I served with (all volunteers, including myself), were so disgusted with the public and government, that when they walked out the gate after being discharged, they chucked their service records and duffle bags in the nearest trash can. This period of revulsion by the public lasted for many years after the Vietnam war was over.
But now, thank God, people, even those against our foreign entanglements, for the most part welcome our service people home with open arms.
It is good to see.
The only thing I would suggest any civilian to do, is to come to know these men and women who have, or are, serving. Some are good, some not so much. They run the gamut of types you may see on the street. I have served with fellows who were from wealthy families, and others from poor farms.
They are little different from the average Joe or Jane, and the reasons they join are countless. They are just ordinary people who very often accomplish extrordinary things.
They are us, they are Americans.
There was a time when people just did not want to know about a veteran, or where they served. The Korean war, in which my father was a Navy gunners mate, was one.
Another was when it seemed the entire country hated you, and that was 'Nam. I remember getting spit on and called a "baby killer" by some flower girl while in uniform at an airport. Many of those I served with (all volunteers, including myself), were so disgusted with the public and government, that when they walked out the gate after being discharged, they chucked their service records and duffle bags in the nearest trash can. This period of revulsion by the public lasted for many years after the Vietnam war was over.
But now, thank God, people, even those against our foreign entanglements, for the most part welcome our service people home with open arms.
It is good to see.
The only thing I would suggest any civilian to do, is to come to know these men and women who have, or are, serving. Some are good, some not so much. They run the gamut of types you may see on the street. I have served with fellows who were from wealthy families, and others from poor farms.
They are little different from the average Joe or Jane, and the reasons they join are countless. They are just ordinary people who very often accomplish extrordinary things.
They are us, they are Americans.
#22
I am so glad to read such posts. Things have changed, at least in this regard, so much for the better.
There was a time when people just did not want to know about a veteran, or where they served. The Korean war, in which my father was a Navy gunners mate, was one.
Another was when it seemed the entire country hated you, and that was 'Nam. I remember getting spit on and called a "baby killer" by some flower girl while in uniform at an airport. Many of those I served with (all volunteers, including myself), were so disgusted with the public and government, that when they walked out the gate after being discharged, they chucked their service records and duffle bags in the nearest trash can. This period of revulsion by the public lasted for many years after the Vietnam war was over.
But now, thank God, people, even those against our foreign entanglements, for the most part welcome our service people home with open arms.
It is good to see.
.
There was a time when people just did not want to know about a veteran, or where they served. The Korean war, in which my father was a Navy gunners mate, was one.
Another was when it seemed the entire country hated you, and that was 'Nam. I remember getting spit on and called a "baby killer" by some flower girl while in uniform at an airport. Many of those I served with (all volunteers, including myself), were so disgusted with the public and government, that when they walked out the gate after being discharged, they chucked their service records and duffle bags in the nearest trash can. This period of revulsion by the public lasted for many years after the Vietnam war was over.
But now, thank God, people, even those against our foreign entanglements, for the most part welcome our service people home with open arms.
It is good to see.
.
day (Australia and New Zealand army corps) in honour of our troops part in the landing in the Turkish area Gallipoli in the 1st world war, has become a much loved day. Remembrance day is starting to get more attention also.
However during Vietnam, one of the worst and most public attacks was when just returned troops were marching through the city and demonstrators threw red paint over a number of them.
Hard times for a lot of veterans, but finally it is better today.
All the best to the veterans and other service people.
#23
Veterans also went through this treatment here in Australia unfortunately. Things have changed here over time, and now our Anzac
day (Australia and New Zealand army corps) in honour of our troops part in the landing in the Turkish area Gallipoli in the 1st world war, has become a much loved day. Remembrance day is starting to get more attention also.
However during Vietnam, one of the worst and most public attacks was when just returned troops were marching through the city and demonstrators threw red paint over a number of them.
Hard times for a lot of veterans, but finally it is better today.
All the best to the veterans and other service people.
day (Australia and New Zealand army corps) in honour of our troops part in the landing in the Turkish area Gallipoli in the 1st world war, has become a much loved day. Remembrance day is starting to get more attention also.
However during Vietnam, one of the worst and most public attacks was when just returned troops were marching through the city and demonstrators threw red paint over a number of them.
Hard times for a lot of veterans, but finally it is better today.
All the best to the veterans and other service people.
Rudyard Kipling
Tommy
I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.
I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.
Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.
We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.
You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!
#24
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Join Date: Oct 2005
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