Posted on 11/11/2022 4:21:10 AM PST by Leaning Right
Ummm, I have to say I agree and that’s unfortunate.
The guys that enlisted after Sept 11, 2001 were of the same ilk, or so I thought. The same sacrifices were made. The difference between the two.
The WW2 generation just went back home and lived their lives.
They didn’t come home and manipulate the VA for bogus disabilities to collect a tax free check for the rest of their lives.
And for those that don’t know, it is a huge problem.
They really don’t make ‘em like they used to.
But, let's talk about the VA and military medicine fort h GWOT......
Like the Marine I was in the hospital with - shrapnel in his Achilles tendon and the docs wrote it wasn't affecting the tendon, and left in. It was only after his SSgt raised the BS flag and jumped the local BAS to take the kid to a higher echelon hospital was anything done.
The Marine who had 17 pieces of shrapnel between the hip and and ankle from a grenade.....who was told "2 weeks and you'll be back in the fight," but almost died from infection and blood clots from medical neglect.
The Marine who received a Purple Heart from an RPG blast, and was told by the VA "not service connected."
The Marine with 7 or 8 combat deployments who got injured (not wounded) in on an op that the Marine Corps tried to process out at 17 1/2 years with nothing.
A Soldier friend who waited 3-4 months for a new prosthetic leg...and was sent home with two left feet.
The Marine who was launched out of a HMMWV and shattered his back, and was accused of malingering and told he was only 10% disabled by the VA.
The below the knee amputee Marine who was told he was 20% disabled and still fit for duty.
So yeah.....there are scammers out there. There's also quite a few screwed over by the military and VA.
The Marine LtCol. who stood in front of a unit with the highest concentration (per capita) of Purple Heart recipients and told everyone "there was no reason for anyone in this unit to get wounded."
The Marine LtCol. who upon handing me my PH asked, "How does it feel to get an enemy shooting badge?" Asked the Marine next to me, "How does it feel to get the only medal the enemy can give you?"
And BTW, I know each and everyone of those Men I mentioned, and served in the same units with all but the Soldier, and saw firsthand what they had to go through.
Those are just quick off the top of the head examples - I could go on. but, don't come around trying to trash an entire generation of vets because of the actions of a few.
For the record - today, Veteran's Day marks 18 years ago to the day that I received the PH. I know full well the disaster that is military medicine and the VA.
I had never heard this story and thank you for posting it. I shared it with my entire family, while thanking all the veterans. Rush used to have some favorite stories he read often. I would be happy to be reminded of this humble hero every year.
The author of “Beneath the Scarlet Sky” could write a book about him.
Great story.
Frankly, I am more impressed by his achieving the rank of Master Sergeant than receiving the the Medal of Honor. Not that I don’t value his heroism and sacrifice risking POW capture that the medal represents. Both are amazing. It is just as he said, the medal was granted for “one day a long time ago”. Rising to Master Sergeant takes a long time performing at a high level.
I get it, there have been far more Master Sergeants than Metal of Honor winners. It is just so subjective. There are likely many thousands of heroes who died on the various fields of battle without recognition by some witness to tell their story and write them up for commendation.
Master Sargeants and Chief Petty Officers are just amazing bad ass human beings.
I hope and pray nobody takes my post to diminish his heroism or the actions he took that day that very likely saved many lives of his fellow soldiers by silencing those machine gun nest. That was an incredibly brave thing to do.
Hey Big Guy ….. I have zero issues with the folks that were injured, maimed, whatever getting whatever they deserve and more.
Like the idea that Pres Trump floated, the current VA system is a joke. Should be dismantled and deserving vets should be given a card that allows them to get the best care available, anywhere in the country, whenever they need it.
I’m not talking about that.
I’m talking about the guys that I used to work with in Iraq that were collecting 100% for PTSD, while carrying a rifle in the very same environment that they told the VA that they got their PTSD and would laugh at the fact that they were collecting
I’m talking about a VA psychologist I met telling me of the guys that would come in a bomb a cognitive skills test so bad, they did worse than the elderly with full blown Alzheimer’s. Who would then get back in their pickups and drive home.
I’m talking about guys with cancer who can’t get an appointment because there are no slots available because some guy who did 4-6 years wants his sinuses scraped.
I think it’s Mrs that the ones that are ‘made like they used to’ are still there. Just fewer and farther between.
All because of the Left and the school system, IMHO.
...
Oh, they know.
I was in Normandy, France on June 6, 2004 for the annual memorial. This happened to be the 60th Anniversary of D-Day.
My brother and finished walking the beach and hiked up the short trail that takes you to a back entrence to the Cemetery Americain, which was closed to unauthorized people for the event. It was guarded by what looked like a full company of US Army personnel, perhaps 60 to 80 soldiers, mostly sitting around laughing and chatting at the time, just being available as they were ordered to do.
A man and woman were talking next to a parked bus. My brother — a World War II historian — instantly recognized Medal of Honor winner Walt Ehlers from seeing him on the History Channel. This, just after my brother had recognized and talked to Franz Gockel, who was a 17-year old German machine gun operator on D-Day, who my brother also recognized from the History Channel.
Then one of of the soldiers noticed that Ehlers was wearing the medal of honor. He bolted back to the group of soldiers beckoning them over and yelling at them to “come here, come here!”. They blew him off, hurling insults and rolling their eyes.
“No guys. He is wearing the Medal of Honor!”
I have never seen people move so fast. They were on their feet and mobbed Ehlers in the blink of an eye. We barely had time to move out of the way.
Yes, this was 20 years ago but I don’t think foot soldiers have changed that much in that time. Many people who enlist are till immensely patriotic. The Brass are getting are woke and trying to beat it out of them, but I wouldn’t sell the foot soldiers, sailors, airmen short on their patriotism. I think its alive and well in the rank-and-file.
Recruiting doesn’t go to well with liberals.
What a lovely story! Thank you for sharing it!
I certainly didn’t intend to include them all. I have always argued that there are still heroes among us and they don’t wear signs. The kid making drinks at Starbucks or bagging your groceries may turn out to be another John Basilone or Rodger Young. (Young looked like Radar O’Reilly!)
> . I have always argued that there are still heroes among us and they don’t wear signs. <
You might find this story interesting.
Back when I was in my 20s I worked security for a major university. One of the campus cops - I’ll call him Bill - was older than most of us. He was also fat and slow. Bill didn’t look anything like those slick cops you see on TV. Some of the younger campus cops made fun of him. Bill never argued back. He just took it.
Well, one day Bill brought a briefcase to roll call. He didn’t say a word, he just opened it up in front of us. In that briefcase were citations and rows of medals. Bill was an Army Ranger who landed on D-Day.
Nobody made fun of Bill after that.
No apostrophe required,,,
AMEN
I believe you're correct because I've two friends that were in Desert Storm 1. While neither was hurt in an obvious way, my friend who was in/around the oilfields that were set ablaze by Saddam Hussein developed severe physical illness that linger to this day.
He doesn't bitch about it, he doesn't abuse the system, he waits his turn, and what really pisses him off are all the people he knows that go to these "PTSD Seminars" where lawyers tell those that served how to game the system.
That really grinds his gears, so to speak.
I think you very likely know exactly what I'm talking about above.
I do.
And if I wasn’t clearer the first time. Anyone that was legitimately injured, in any way shape or form, get EVERYTHING you can.
There’s a VA disability lawyer in Cali somewhere that has become the defacto guy to go to. He must have some sort of scam running with the folks at the VA, as I know 3 guys that have gone to him and they’re all collecting 100%. Over $3k a month, tax free, for the rest of their lives.
It’s so bad now, that folks that are doing 4 years, never deploying anywhere...no combat...no mortar or rocket attacks....CONUS their entire enlistment...are getting out and getting 100% for whatever they can convince the VA to give them.
It’s become a business model. Folks can’t wait to ETS and hit up the VA counselors.
Wow. Happy Veteran’s Day to all FReepers! THANK YOU for your service. Not just today, of course... I thank you - and think about you all - EVERY day.
I served a 3-year USN Kiddie Cruise. My "war" was the 1962 Missile Crisis. I never registered for VA medical because there are many guys who served longer and at greater risk and personal sacrifice. But when I was told a few years ago that I could receive a replacement for a set of malfunctioning hearing aids that had cost me nearly five grand for free, I enrolled. Only for that benefit.
Good on ya. Take advantage of what is allowed. You went for a legitimate purpose.
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