With real-deal hardcore combat types, you generally have to be REALLY patient to hear their stories. The poseurs are the ones who yap about it every five minutes.
I had a guy who works at the apartment complex spot my USMC decal on my car. He ambled over and started talking shop. The first thing he's on about is his 'time with Second Force Reconnaisance' and 'I was involved with' classified this and classified that, and 'oh, you weren't privy to that, were you?' I immediately decided that he was a bullshit artist and continued with what I was doing- making a show of ignoring him. I hate a******s like that.
I've got a (real) good friend, it was 2 years before I knew he was a Marine another 2 before he mentioned he was recon in Nam. Even to this day (and it's been 20+ years it's hard to get him to talk about it.
30 yrs later vet gets Purple Heart
Miscellaneous Announcement
Source: Mendota Review
Published: 3/4/01 Author: Carlin Larson
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3ab4096c26fa.htm
Posted on 03/17/2001 17:03:40 PST by Valin
Over 30years ago thomas Mohs was asked if he wanted a Purple Heart. He was wounded in 1969 while serving in a reconnaissance unit during the Vietnam war. Mohs chose not to accept the award, saying others were more deserving.
Humility stayed with Mohs (52) and three decades later, he still shuns occasions where his efforts are praised. However his family is determined not to let is heroic efforts and those of other veterans go unrecognized.
Mohs grew up in south mpls and was the third child of a family of 13 children. After graduating from south high school, he joined the US Marines Corps and served with the 3rd Recon Marines in Vietnam. Althought he was wounded, he fulfilled his tour awyway.
(snip)
"With real-deal hardcore combat types, you generally have to be REALLY patient to hear their stories. The poseurs are the ones who yap about it every five minutes."
That has been my experience too. Had a good friend who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. It was like pulling teeth to get him to talk about it. Eventually I gave up.
Kerry is a gasbag and needs to be deflated. Thank you swiftvets for doing that for us.
John Kerry has spent more time heaping praise upon himself about his service in Vietnam than he did serving in Vietnam
The Kool-Aid drinkers better start getting some of that
REAL STRONG 'Jim Jones Mix' - cause they'll be slitting
their wrists before long. The cat is out of the bag.
History shall record the day that 250 highly decorated
Veterans came out of obscurity in their middle/golden
years, and heroically, at great risk to their
reputations and good names, did their country a greater
service than when they fought and bled in distant rice
paddies.
Every single Vet who was spat on and called a 'baby
killer' upon his return from 'Nam has been waiting for
35 years to get back at the single man most responsible
for fostering that climate of shameful hatred.
Payback is a BITCH, Johnny-boy.