Replies

You'll just have to remind me what great world-saving crusade GenX took a pass on. By my reckoning, they've fought in more conflicts with less support than any previous generation. The WWII generation can be congratulated for doing some very obvious hammer-meets-nail work in fighting back against declared enemies who foolishly attacked the one country which could easily outproduce the entire rest of the planet.

Again, let me remind you all that I am by no means attempting to denigrate subsequent generations (after the so-called "Greatest Generation"). I am not claiming that any subsequent generation shirked its military duty. On the contrary, I'm pointing out that the "Greatest Generation" - through no merit of its own - was given a once-in-a-millenium chance to battle satanic forces for "mother and apple pie." Through no merit of their own, they were able to win the trifecta of 1) in a "desperate undertaking" conquering an almost equally-matched demonic enemy and thus returning home as unquestioned victors; 2) which coincided with the U.S.A. attaining superpower status; and 3) riding a demographic wave as a consequence of which there was almost always full employment and high economic growth. What's not to like about that?

In contrast, subsequent generations fought in - partly - highly unpopular wars against pipsqueak enemies - where's the glory in that? (I DON'T dispute that the job needed to be done, but invading a tiny island country like Grenada or using high-tech superweapons to pulverize a vastly outnumbered enemy who poses no real threat to the American heartland just isn't as glorious.

Sometimes, being in the right place at the right time - even though unearned - just is incredibly propitious.

Regards,

I understand the point you're making, and somewhat agree with it.

Something to consider: I was extremely lucky in my military career. I didn't go to the Gulf War by a hair (long story and funny), and deployed with the Air Guard as a REMF or FOBBIT as they're called now to Kuwait on a short tour. Guys I grew up with have done 3 or more tours in combat positions, with one hand tied behind their backs, against an enemy just as fanatical as the Japanese in WWII. My Wife's Grandfather spent nearly 2 years in pilot training and less than 2 years in combat in the Pacific. He's a hero, Gen-Xers are bums.

Yes Grenada and Panama were jokes as enemies go, but Iraq and Afghanistan are a different story. With all the whiz-bang technology, if you can't use it, our soldiers became meat for the grinder. Falluja is a perfect example. B-52's should have carpet bombed that place into a smoking crater, then our Marines and Soldiers should have salted the smoking stinking rubble. Now its a HQ for the newly formed caliphate.

So to summarize, Gen-X has been handed a steaming turd sandwich. Like you wrote...

Sometimes, being in the right place at the right time - even though unearned - just is incredibly propitious