Posted on 11/07/2010 7:52:26 AM PST by Nachum
I never expected to write this letter, but my Mom e-mailed me to get information about my career for a writeup on Veterans Day, and as this is the first such holiday in 22 years when I will not be on active duty, I felt compelled to let you know why I decided to quit.
Quit is a strong word, I know. Everyone Ive talked to has repeated that Ive had a marvelous career and that Ive retired with honor. Maybe thats true on paper; I guess that its reflected by the record. But thats not how I feel. I feel like Ive quit. And because Im not a quitter, I feel I have to explain why not that anyone is asking, but because perhaps they dont know to ask.
Quit is a strong word, I know. Everyone Ive talked to has repeated that Ive had a marvelous career and that Ive retired with honor. Maybe thats true on paper; I guess that its reflected by the record. But thats not how I feel. I feel like Ive quit. And because Im not a quitter, I feel I have to explain why not that anyone is asking, but because perhaps they dont know to ask.
Briefly, my career had been a representation of the promise of this country. Starting out on the lowest rung of the rank ladder as an F-4G Wild Weasel crew chief, continuing on F-16s and the F-117A Stealth fighter in Desert Storm, then a small part of Desert Fox as a nuclear Maintenance Officer and finally a pilot that took part in numerous deployments in Southern Watch, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailyinterlake.com ...
and they can’t even get the ballots to the very people who are defending our freedoms to VOTE. They all make me sick. God bless this young man. He has served a career and he RETIRED. He is the real hero!!!
Wow! Well said.
It may be simply semantics. I guess he could have chosen to not retire and that's why he calls it quitting.
"Quit is a strong word, I know. Everyone Ive talked to has repeated that Ive had a marvelous career and that Ive retired with honor. Maybe thats true on paper; I guess that its reflected by the record. But thats not how I feel. I feel like Ive quit. And because Im not a quitter, I feel I have to explain why not that anyone is asking, but because perhaps they dont know to ask."
Great letter from a retired USAF officer. Go read the whole thing, my FRiend.
Perhaps Green for the Conservatives (Color of Money, Capitalism) and Yellow for the Libs (Cowards!)?
Happens a lot. I blame your above-average intelligence and knack for being right all the time.
I suffer the same malady.
An excellent piece by retired Major Mike Banzet, USAF. Hopefully he’ll make his voice heard to American voters as a civilian in some manner.
Thanks for the ping, brityank and for posting, Nachum!
Bump and Ping to another Montana guy. A must read!
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/article_dbcfb820-e9f6-11df-9f3f-001cc4c002e0.html
Ping
To me “green” is for Peaceniks and enviro whackos.
We bleed red, filthy lib cowards bleed yellow puss!
BUMP
I just hope that there are many many more like him.
Sadly I cannot get my text enlarger to work, so I cannot read the entire article. All I have to say is that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. And I hear there are no atheists in foxholes. God bless our veterans all.
Major, thank you for your service, and keep holding to that oath. Better days are coming.
Does this fine article have to be excerpted, or could it be posted on FR in its entirety? It deserves much wider play than some small-town newspaper in Montana ... as in, it ought to be required reading for every voter in America.
Because we may still be greatly outnumbered by those this man condemns in his article. If we can awaken enough of THEM to THEIR responsibilities, maybe we can win, but the issue is still in doubt. We'll see how this new congress does. If it becomes “business as usual” too, then we are lost.
WRM, MSgt, USAF(Ret.)
but he is in a position to move on to something else....because he'll get a nice govt pension and lifelong medical and extra points to get another govt job...
we out here in the hinterands can't quit our jobs...won't be getting lifelong pensions...won't be getting federal health coverage for life....our options are few....
believe me, most of us would love to write our opus to the govt...."we're quitting because you tax us too much, we get too little in return, and you are spending my money on people that are not citizens, don't work, don't pay taxes or otherwise are lazy and deceitful people...."
how most of us would love to retire off the grid on a little farm near a lake with fish in it and have nothing to do with the govt ever again..
Clearly bitter sweet letter. It obviously echos so much of what so many at this site have had to say for a long time.
elected officials who continually defame and berate military members, whether it is the observation that if youre not too bright, youll get stuck in Iraq (this from a guy who has two Purple Hearts for self-inflicted wounds, and known for throwing someone elses medals away in protest),
The Lefties miserable, worthless existence is guaranteed by those they detest the most. How ironic . . . and sad.”
Most of those think that the men with guns are the REASON why things get bad. They don't seem to understand that it only takes ONE person to cause a problem. Mugger, home invader, or islamo-facist jihadi, they think if they can just talk to them, they'll all be able to sing “Kum-ba-Ya” together. Sometimes they survive to learn different, but don't bet on it.
WRM, MSgt, USAF(Ret.)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.