My father served in infantry in Germany. He told me to stay out of the military when I was 17 and go to college. He told the grandkid to stay out also who joined the Marines anyway.
Why do you think he told us to stay out?
Because you can get killed serving in the military? Of course, everyone dies eventually.
“Why do you think he told us to stay out?”
People serve for many different reasons for serving or not serving. Given the fiasco of Iraq and Afghanistan and the Rules of Engagement that directly and unnecessarily killed US soldiers, for political expediency, I did not encourage my kids to join the military. If we were actually trying to win these wars, it might have been different.
It’s a different military than when I was in, which was still different than the military my father served in, and my grandfather and so on.
The defense budget is in the neighborhood of $700B depending on how you count the beans. Out of this, service wounded veterans receive care and treatment they need - one of the few government obligations that IS a solemn obligation. They should get whatever other help Americans can (voluntarily) give them - but the primary responsibility is for the military (funded by taxpayers) that sent them into combat to help them live as normal a life as is possible.
To veterans who simply did their duty - even when it was for engagements of a questionable nation-building variety like Iraq and Afghanistan and got out (hopefully in one piece) - be proud that you did your duty, and return to being just like every other American. You’re better off if you don’t feel especially entitled to anything above and beyond any other American. Other Americans don’t owe you their money, they should express their appreciation, but returning to a productive tax-paying life (without too many people telling you what to do with your property) is what you should aspire to do above all else - just like every other American.