By the thousands, soldiers 50 and older are being deployed

Newark Star Ledger ^ | 10/17/2004 | ANA M. ALAYA

[Incorrigible]

...

Thomas is among a group of soldiers age 50 and over being called to active duty . Like many, he is a "citizen soldier," a member of the National Guard or Reserves, where soldiers serve part-time. They tend to be older than their active-duty counterparts and are increasingly being deployed overseas to augment active-duty troops.

Of the 160,000 men and women deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, 4,119 are 50 or older. At a time in life when most people are looking forward to retirement or eyeing Florida real estate, these soldiers are leaving behind corporate jobs and grandkids. Some even voluntarily postpone military retirement to go to war.

...

As of late last week, 10 of the more than 1,085 soldiers to die in Iraq were 50 or older, according to the Associated Press' War Casualty database. That is a tiny fraction of overall fatalities and those men were more likely to die of medical causes, including heart attacks and heat stroke, than their younger counterparts.

...

No matter what their age, all troops must pass a physical examination and periodic fitness tests that include a two-mile run, push-ups and sit-ups. The rules require an exam every five years and Thomas last had his in 2002. The military also allows soldiers to take medication for blood pressure and other illnesses.

...

"I don't mean disrespect, but some of them are physically starting to slow down," Bates said. "It's 50-50. I also think they're a great asset, a lot of them Vietnam vets. They know what they're doing, even if they don't talk about it."

...

"Gen. MacArthur said, 'Old soldiers never die, they just fade away,'" Shissler said, quoting the military icon Douglas MacArthur.

"Well, we're not fading away yet."

Click here for the complete article.

[StarCMC]

Sheesh!!

sits=Wits!!!!

Spellcheck is not always your friend. I need an editor.

[clamper1797]

Actually it might be fun to spend one more weekend in Po city ... if my blood pressure could stand it :<)

[narses]

Thank you. I have friends serving over there, and the 'old farts' are a great comfort to them. They are needed.

[sure_fine]

just being over 50, I have lived a good life, and feel like I am more expendable than a 19 - 30 yr I also happen to be extremely accurate shooter, and don't run from nothing, don't run TO much either ;)

I'd be proud to go

[airborne]

We are both going to have to find some other way to serve our country, friend!

I wish I could be with my brother (Bagdad) and my cousin (Tikrit).

[PeteB570]

While the news features the young troops on patrol, life in the barracks, the food and other day to day stuff there is alot of military life that the news misses.

The ops centers are running 24/7 and logistics never end.

Young troops fight the war but old farts can help keep them in it. Older civil engineers, truck drivers, cooks, etc, etc etc don't have to be as fast but they are still useful and good.

[ErnBatavia]

Toss a big ole "Semper Fi" at him for this aging Juggie, OK?? (Even though the army doesn't love that term, he'll know it's well intended)

[sionnsar]

I wish they would let me serve again.

At least you can put in the "again." I didn't when I could have -- if our politicians hadn't been working overtime to lose the war...

[mylife]

Simmer down there Tonk. ;^)

You are serving now.

Many thanks!

[gitmo]

I remember seeing a tombstone in Madison, GA. The stone was for a Colonel in the Confederate army. I subtracted the birth date from the death date. He was 13.

[deport]

Thomas is among a group of soldiers age 50 and over being called to active duty .

---

The solution is not to have stayed in the Reserves/Guard.... Otherwise there's no complaint as that is part of the routine if needed.

May God be with them as they do their duty......

[narses]

Thank you. A lot of youngsters may come home because you go.

[ProudVet77]

If you are an electronics tech I'd gladly stand in for you. I hate to see people that have a family have to go when there are those of us for who want to go, but are not allowed due to age. I'm only 1 year older, but lack the reserve time. Get rid of the hard upper age limit in the reserves. They'd get a lot of talented people who want to go.

[COBOL2Java]

He's doing his duty, however, like the rest of them, with no complaints or quotable quotes for the press to feast upon.

As other have said, I thank him for his service. As per the "no quotable quotes" line, I would love to see his reaction to some snotty reporter hungry for some dirt; so much easier to go to the PFCs and below.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

I tried on 9/12/01

I called the Navy, then the Oregon National Guard

Both turned me down because of my age.

So on Oct 3 2001 I joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

I've been a member ever since.

[clamper1797]

Actually I need to do that too. The commander lives about 5 doors down here in Discovery Bay.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Join the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
Age 17 and up (No upper age limit)

You needn't own a boat or even be an experienced boater

Boating And Non-Boating Programs

Below is a brief but comprehensive listing of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary's many missions.

Surface (water) Missions

• Safety Patrol - Patrol under Coast Guard orders using an Auxiliary Operational Facility.

• Regatta Patrol - Patrolling organized regattas and boat parades.
  

• Chart Update Patrol - Verifying the accuracy and completeness of information published on charts and related navigation publications.
  

• PWC Patrol - Patrolling on a Personal Water Craft (PWC).
  

Be A Better Boater    

Air Operations Missions

• SAR Mission - Search And Rescue call out or the air equivalent to a vessel safety patrol.

• Enforcement of Laws and Treaties - Air support of a Coast Guard law enforcement mission.

• MEP Mission - Air support in the area of Marine Environmental Protection.

• Ice Operations Mission - Air support in the area of ice patrol operations.

• Logistics Mission - Transportation of personnel.

• Training Mission - Training missions involving air operations.

Land-based Operations Missions

• Radio Watchstander - Serving as a qualified watchstander at a Coast Guard or Auxiliary facility.

• Officer of the Day Duties - OOD at a Coast Guard facility either ashore or afloat.

• B-2 Alert SAR Standby - Time spent on stand-by.

• B-0 Alert SAR Standby - Standing by under with an Auxiliary Operational Facility for immediate call out.

• SAR Call Out - Search And Rescue call out involving communication facilities.

• CG Crew Augmentation - Serving as a qualified crew on Coast Guard, not Auxiliary, vessels.

• Enforcement of Laws and Treaties - Providing surface support of Coast Guard law enforcement mission.

• MEP Mission - Surface support for a Marine Environmental Protection mission.

• Auxiliary Radio Net Mission - Maintaining Coast Guard authorized Auxiliary radio nets.

• Aids to Navigation Mission-Federal - Servicing federal or private Aids to Navigation.

• Bridge Administration - Inspecting bridges.

Public Education Missions

• PE Other Than State/Youth - Auxiliary multi-lesson public education classes.

• State and Youth Courses - State public education classes and youth courses.

• MT Instructor Mission - Member training activity, including specialty courses, boats crew training, and basic qualification classes.

Environmental Missions

• Enforcement of Laws and Treaties - Provide support to a Coast Guard law enforcement mission.

• Marine Environmental Protection - Provide support to the Coast Guard in the area of Marine Environmental Protection.

Coast Guard Support and Boating Safety Missions

• CG Operational Support - A service provided to operational Coast Guard units in support of Coast Guard programs.

• CG Administrative Support - Provide support to the Coast Guard in areas other than operations or recruiting.

• AIM Mission - The Auxiliary's Academy Introduction Mission (AIM).

• RAP Mission - Coast Guard Recruiting Assistance Program (RAP).

• Courtesy Marine Examinations - Vessel Safety Checks; Personal Water Craft Safety Checks; Uninspected Passenger Vessel; and Commercial Fishing Vessel.

• Public Affairs Mission - Promoting the Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary or Coast Guard Reserve.

• Marine Dealer Visits - Participating in the Marine Dealer Visitation Program.

Agency Support Missions

• Federal Agencies - Provide non-operational support to other federal agencies, such as Customs, Corps of Engineers and NOAA.

• State Agencies - Provide support to state agencies, such as the Department of Natural Resources, State Police and Marine Patrols.

• Local Agencies - Provide support to local agencies, such as local police, sheriff's offices, fire/rescue and Harbormasters.

We Need You -- In the wake of the recent attacks on the United States, the Coast Guard Auxiliary will be called upon to provide essential services to the Coast Guard as they focus more heavily on their military missions.  We will need all the help we can get.  You needn't own a boat or even be an experienced boater, since our missions are wide-ranging.

CLICK ON THE GRAPHICS BELOW
TO CONTACT THE COAST GUARD AUXILIARY

[clamper1797]

I've been an electrical engineer for 25 years. I designed early warning radar systems know as ALR's and helped with the Wild Weasel anti-radar missle system for the DOD for 10 years of that time. I'm sure I could and would be totally willing to at least teach electronics.

[Gator Bill]

Whew, good thing I'm only 49 until election day!

No flu shot for you bud. (But a whole bunch of illegals are getting them for free!)

[Timmy]

My brother turns fifty on Oct. 24. He was recently called up (he's a former OCS Captain, but they recalled him as a Major) to go to Iraq, but may get turned back due to a knee problem. He is not in the reserves, and left the military 10 years ago after less than ten years of duty.

He hates George Bush and generally hates America (he thinks Michael Moore is a prophet, or something). A real kool-aid drinker. Hence, I thought it was kinda ironic, him getting called up and all. I hate to admit it, but I kinda hope he still gets to go, though I hate to think of him in command of anyone. However, he's a transportation paper-pusher and probably couldn't do any harm. It might do him some good.