Series posted at BlueJersey.com
Posted on 07/31/2008 4:30:10 AM PDT by Calpernia
Explain?
Perhaps this is where you and I will disagree. I volunteered for the Navy, (’88-’92). I went where assigned, and did my duties as best I can. I was assigned as a direct support person to various commands (Ships and Shore), but was not deployed into the Persian Gulf. I received no medals or awards (other than the National Defense Ribbon). If I had been assigned those duties, I would have gone - as was my oath.
We don’t pick and choose our assignments - we do them all with the single-mindedness that it deserves. If I was a screw-up, and took someone off the front lines to be in the rear-with-the-gear as I was, that would be a disservice. Doing my job, as assigned, to the best of my ability and allowing those assigned to the front lines to do their jobs is in no way deserving of more RESPECT.
Frankly, I realize I ‘missed’ an opportunity, and I actually look back on it with regret. I also know that I did what I volunteered for, and was subsequently asked to do. The things I worked with are in widespread use today, and while I will never see any public, or private, recognition for it, I PERSONALLY recognize the contributions I made to the service(s). Respect the decision of the volunteer, whether they end up in Iraq, Afghanistan, or sitting on a cruiser. Whether they spend 3 years at sea, or 3 days. They did MORE than was required, and they did it with pride, and the only thing that matters - self-respect.
CTT3
NCTS NAVRADRECFAC San Diego
Classic Coyote/Nomad/PL-1
It's like being lucky enough to survive in combat somehow gives you the right to get into congress, senate or the Presidency.
That's a crock.
What I think bravery in combat shows is CHARACTER.
Now since "character" doesn't matter to democrats, only how you "feel" about things....well they shouldn't ever use a combat veteran for poster boys.
The ability to suppress the overwhelming fear and do your job in order that your men and yourself survive and accomplish a mission shows "character". To do so with no fanfare and a "you're welcome" after a thank you from others is what I'm talking about.
There are 3 guys I knew on a fire team that held a right flank that should be the President, speaker of the House and Senate majority leader if combat were prerequisites for public office. Instead of picking shrapnel out of themselves, drinking some beer and laughing about how lucky they were to be alive.
Instead we're going to see JAG lawyers, NCIS investigators, rump kissing REMF and guys like this squid throwing combat ribbons around like coupons in order to "cash in" on the great election giveaways.
Bravest guy I knew was one of my uncles who was a conscientious objector during the Vietnam war due to his inability to kill someone. He became a Navy corpsman and saw 2 tours in country up close and more combat than most of us.
Did his duty, served his country, saved lives and came home raised a family and didn't make a big deal about what he did. Of course having 6 other brothers that were in the armed forces made bragging about anything a little difficult.
I'm always wary about guys that make a big deal about their war exploits. Most of the meat eaters I knew were actually quiet guys. They didn't have to prove anything..... they already did. Heck , look at Audie Murphy and Carlos Hathcock.... fairly level headed and quiet guys, but if I was going outside looking for bad guys, I'd like them with me.
A common liberal attitude is that military medals are “bits of cloth and metal.”
I didn’t know that. Thanks.
Thurman Hart does lean left.
But, his point is valid and actually understated about Chris Myers.
And since Chris Myers has been investigating us political blog sites with the FCC, FEC and threatening with IRS action, I would advise to cut Mr. Hart a little wiggle room.
This is a local political race; but Myers actions can have a National impact.
Just a Tidbit
The government uses tour routes to place doctors in rural areas. It is categorized as service. Doctors sign up and the gov sends you a list of where you will be rotated into and for designated lengths of time.
We did that regionally, CONUS. But they do have international routes too. Might be what Mr. Fritsch signed onto.
So what you are saying is that there is a program where Doctors volunteer their medical service and provide free medical care to people in rural areas in the U.S.? If so, thanks for doing that. I’m sure it helped out a lot of people.
Not exactly. The doctors are paid for their service. When you sign onto the program, you sign onto a timeframe. You pick where you would like to go. That is not guaranteed. That can be changed if the government needs you elsewhere. But you are locked into the amount of years you sign on for.
We did it for 5 years. There were other combinations too. I just don’t remember because that was years ago. But, we could have been deployed overseas if we were still in during the WOT.
You meant Former Senator Frist, correct?
It looks like he was one of the people that set up/involved/supported the Rural Medical Services programs we were in.
I didn’t receive any “Combat Action Ribbons” while I was in the USAF, but that doesn’t mean I was never in hostile situations in third-world ratholes. A person is still a veteran whether he or she braved machine gun fire, rescued downed aircrew, tended the sick/wounded or dug latrines.
Mr. Hart clarified that in his editorial posted.
Not at all a red flag. My father was a decorated WWII combat veteran. He never talked much about his service and he kept his medals in a box in the closet. I don’t think that is uncommon.
The red flag is the snide reference to “bits of cloth and metal.”
Again, I don’t think my father would have thought much differently about his medals. He cared enough to keep them around, but not enough to put them on display or store them carefully or talk much about them. The one time I remember his talking about them he joked about how he was awarded his Purple Heart.
The reason for the red flag was not that a person didn't want to talk about his decorations, it was because he referred to them in a particulary derogatory way.
That particular reference to "bits of cloth and metal" is designed to show one's disregard for the decoration and to make an argument as to their worthlessness.
Hence the red flag.
Series posted at BlueJersey.com
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