[alexander_busek]

You're obviously too young to remember that little spate of unpleasantness that occurred in Vietnam from around 1965 to 1972. Most of us who served didn't do so for selfish reasons. It was pretty much all sacrifice.

Full disclosure: Was indeed too young - by a hair - to be called up.

Again, I definitely do NOT want to denigrate post-WWII generations for their lack of opportunity to display valor.

With regards to the Vietnam War: Would you really characterize that as an opportunity to display valor? Did the members of that generation (i.e. those who were of age to fight in Vietnam) almost unanimously join forces to heroically destroy an obvious and unequivocable enemy of almost equal strength, which had declared war on Western Civilization? I think not. On the contrary: The soldiers in Vietnam were not allowed to win.

Regards,

[ansel12]

The boomers did produce 9.4 million veterans and volunteered for their wars from Vietnam through Afghanistan, they were not draftees like WWII.

[Kenton]

With regards to the Vietnam War: Would you really characterize that as an opportunity to display valor?

I think that at the time, displaying "valor" was pretty far down on the list of things motivating me. By my generation, the notion that we were fighting to accrue personal glory seemed anachronistic.

But hey, you weren't part of that and I don't expect you to understand it. But for the guys that signed up and went rather than dodging the draft, they went where they were sent and did what was asked of them, and deserve your respect.

I guess my point is, when you denigrate an entire generation with such a broad brush in order to blame them for your lack of success, you're making a mistake, and it makes you sound kind of... immature.