Special Report U.S. military and civilians are increasingly divided

The Los Angeles Times ^ | May 23, 2015 | David Zucchino and David S. Cloud

[2ndDivisionVet]

Jovano Graves' parents begged him not to join the Army right out of high school in 2003, when U.S. troops were fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan..

But their son refused his parents' pleas to try college. He followed them both into the Army instead.

Last June, 11 years later, Staff Sgt. Jovano Graves returned home from Afghanistan, joining his mother, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Sonia Graves-Rivers, for duty here at Ft. Bragg.

"My family, going way, way back, has always felt so proud to be Americans," said Graves-Rivers, who comes from a family in which military service spans six generations, starting with her great-great-grandfather, Pfc. Marion Peeples, who served in a segregated black unit during World War I.

Her father, Cpl. Harvey Lee Peeples, fought in the Vietnam War. Her uncle, Henry Jones, was career Air Force. Another uncle, Sgt. 1st Class Robert Graves, spent 22 years in the Army. Her sister, Janice, served 24 years....

[Lazamataz]

Is that legal to smoke??

It's a thing.

[Old Sarge]

What are you? A Democrat?

Worse - he's a LIEbertarian.

[Terry L Smith]

Dear sickoflibs,

I dont think you think from the correct part of your body,
divided by the top of your diaper.

Your name ‘sickoflibs’, and your tagline, adds up to
you being a Communist sympathizer.

Get off the junior high school’s computer system,
go home, get back to playing your gameboy one-handed,
and come back in about five years, and let the real
men decide, at that time, if you are worthy for adult life.

[Jane Long]

Hurtin’ for certain, I imagine....from the drink AND that post.

[don-o]

I don’t trust anyone who was in the military.

Hope you have enjoyed your 15 minutes of FR fame, now morphed to infamy. Timing was exquisite.

[Future Snake Eater]

HOWEVER, with the EVIL that's running our nation today, I would not recommend anyone join the military today.

The major difference between the military now and during the early GWOT days is that we're no longer an at-war military. Which means garrison stuff. Which means it's back to being unfocused and really stupid. That's about it.

[shibumi]

"Hurtin’ for certain, I imagine....from the drink AND that post."

Despite his(?) attempts to "glib" his way out of this, there has been no attempt at even a vaguely sincere explanation or apology, save for his "sandbox" reference.

While I'm one who's always up for good humor (even if it's occasionally self deprecating) the subject of military service and the honor attached to it is one that I along with many fellow FReepers and Brothers-In-Arms take very seriously.

Even if some excuse could be made for this rude and tasteless attempt at a joke (which I am *not* ready to grant at this point) it's timing, on the eve of Memorial Day certainly puts it beyond the pale.

I have a Memorial Day photo comment for you "sickoflibs." It's from my friend Bob. Bob and I went to High School together. At age 19 he had already made SP5 and been awarded a Bronze Star. The picture was taken at Camp Eagle near Phu Bai, VietNam in 1968 - about a month before Bob was killed in a mortar attack. Bob was three months away from his 20th birthday.

Bob is sending a message to you (and your fellow travelers) with his right hand.

[Jane Long]

...the subject of military service and the honor attached to it is one that I along with many fellow FReepers and Brothers-In-Arms take very seriously.

Even if some excuse could be made for this rude and tasteless attempt at a joke (which I am *not* ready to grant at this point) it's timing, on the eve of Memorial Day certainly puts it beyond the pale.

Amen! Agree, completely. Not the time, nor place....EVER. Our vets/troops deserve ONLY honor and praise, not sarcasm...or pathetic *attempts* at non-humor.

What Bob said!

[JimRed]

I don’t trust anyone who was in the military.

Yeah, we used'ta call you guys PFCs- poor f*****g civilians!

[doorgunner69]

You are a far better writer than I could ever be.

Semper Fi, Bro'

[MEG33]

Drunk and stupid cannot excuse your comment on Memorial Day.

[Semper Mark]

Bob is sending a message to you (and your fellow travelers) with his right hand.

And the horse (he?) rode in on.