You are correct: I do have a chip on my shoulder against professional football and most other sports too. I saw them as a leisure activity with zero usefulness that our country occupied itself with while we were risking everything. It was a strong sign that we weren’t important enough to suspend the games - or use those same guys to support us.
I admit that it isn’t rational. People do what people do. Actually the kind of guy who is the best for football is more than likely a liability in combat. The big guys are too visible, make too much noise moving at night, and they are much harder to carry when they’re hit. Nonetheless, it bothered us a lot that life just went on without us.
My wife was watching me post my screeds with disapproval and quietly put a Christmas card up on my fridge with a photo of a best buddy I rescued back then. She reminded me that the reason I was there was in that photo: he has five daughters and a dozen grandchildren now. I have to stop resenting that the world values different things than I do.
Enjoy your football, buddy.
Interesting comment:” life just went on without us.”
I have been in the service for over 20 years, though not a combat vet. I have contemplated the same thing as I spent another holiday in the sandbox and saw the country so focused on sports or some inane reality show when we were shipping out another load of flag draped caskets that barely got a paragraph in the local press.
Then again, those worthless pursuits are often what bring us together as a country. I don’t begrudge anyone their entertainment as long as I am not forced to pay for it.
Enjoy your football, buddy.
...whatever...
Thank you for your service. You have a wonderful wife.
And your head is screwed on just fine.
As the daughter of a career Navy vet, who wouldn’t have traded my childhood for anything - I want to thank you for your service sir, and please thank your lovely wife and kids as well.
May God bless and keep you all.
Tatt