Are military Veterans really that special

YES indeed.
I got the honor to serve in the military during the Vietnam war.
It was a cold morning on Valentine's Day I left on a Greyhound bus to go to Iowa City for the military physical.
As the bus was departing for Iowa City I looked out the window and I saw two very proud parents.

I got to see my brothers and sister waving their hands but most of all I got to see my mother, and her tears of a loving mother hiding her fear of her son going off to war to serve his country.

Yes, military Veterans are indeed very very special.

a reply to: musicismagic
Brings a tear to my eye to hear you recount it. Thank you and your family.

Depends on the person - as always.
An entire group of people can not be classed as special.
I would, however, say what the vast majority of veterans have done for their country is special.

I am not unique or special for my military service. While I served honorably and with distinction in and out of combat, I did nothing different than millions of other veterans throughout time.

As a veteran (I hate starting any sentence like that) I believe that I did my job as was asked of me by the American People.

In return, the American People compensated my combat related injuries, paid for my education, and provided me with economic upward mobility as a result.

The American People, to me, are special.

If anyone ever thanks me for my service, I always point out that I was paid for it. No thanks necessary.

a reply to: UKTruth

An entire group of people can not be classed as special.

They were special enough to be drafted. Vietnam veterans didn't have an option.

a reply to: musicismagic

To reply to you specifically:

The Vietnam War was a different animal. Politically, you enjoyed none of the graciousness that my generation of soldiers enjoys. In fact, you guys got the opposite of that whilst being told to fight. You were never asked. For that, the Vietnam era veterans are special.

I was asked. I answered. I am not special. I just did my job.

originally posted by: projectvxn
I am not unique or special for my military service. While I served honorably and with distinction in and out of combat, I did nothing different than millions of other veterans throughout time.

As a veteran (I hate starting any sentence like that) I believe that I did my job as was asked of me by the American People.

In return, the American People compensated my combat related injuries, paid for my education, and provided me with economic upward mobility as a result.

The American People, to me, are special.

What I was trying to express myself was, we are very special to our parents and family. And in many cases strangers on the street that greet us especially when we are in uniform with our parents going to a restaurant while on leave.

a reply to: musicismagic

I've experienced that. Every FBO I landed in had someone willing to pay for our meals, or we got steep discounts, or other such perks.

To me, that shows the character of the people more than mine.

I am definitely special to my family and friends and those who love the military. I thought you were speaking a bit more broadly.

a reply to: projectvxn
Anyone who is willing to risk their life for "us" (whatever the politics behind the conflict) is indeed special

a reply to: musicismagic

My dad and his friend spent a year in Korea and saw a lot of nasty things.
His other friend inducted on the same day ended up a cook in Germany during the Korean war.

My father in law was drafted during Vietnam.
He spent his service time in Michigan servicing B52's and lived with his wife in a cabin near the base.
His high school friend never made it back and his name is on the wall in DC.

My cousin was in the middle east and got shot multiple times on a patrol. He's now a park ranger.

Let's just say that some deserve our respect.

a reply to: musicismagic

Yes, they are. Thank you and all who served, and serve

originally posted by: Sookiechacha
a reply to: UKTruth

An entire group of people can not be classed as special.

They were special enough to be drafted. Vietnam veterans didn't have an option.

Most of those who fought in VN were volunteers.

originally posted by: musicismagic
YES indeed.
I got the honor to serve in the military during the Vietnam war.
It was a cold morning on Valentine's Day I left on a Greyhound bus to go to Iowa City for the military physical.
As the bus was departing for Iowa City I looked out the window and I saw two very proud parents.

I got to see my brothers and sister waving their hands but most of all I got to see my mother, and her tears of a loving mother hiding her fear of her son going off to war to serve his country.

Yes, military Veterans are indeed very very special.

Yes we are, cuz we put it on the line gwaad dammit, not gonna front, the old guys from Nam, had a lot to teach, and nuff respect to that generation who got no love from an unpopular war!! Or was it "police action" I understand many of you guys got disrespected, whilst my generation got free drinks along with diverse punnany and parades cuz we were there, and yes life was not fair , but the Ppl who are out of uniform plz, protect the next generation from fighting Bull sht conflicts, through your informed opposition, that would be great, let's fight that war when it's really necessary, not because a pol got his/her feelings hurt and conflate that with national pride.

Let's do War!!! When an imminent threat to our existence is at hand, and that is why an informed public is vastly important.

originally posted by: UKTruth
Depends on the person - as always.
An entire group of people can not be classed as special.

Really? Seems that the left very much classes several entire groups as special- blacks, gays, transgenders. Do they not?

I’m also gonna bet you didn’t serve.

I did. And to answer MIM’s question: yes, military vets are special. Without them, we wouldn’t have the freedoms we do that our leaders are trying to take away and a which a large part of the brainwashed population is helping.

I rarely tell people that I served in the military. The reason is that I hate hearing "Thank you for your service."

originally posted by: KansasGirl

originally posted by: UKTruth
Depends on the person - as always.
An entire group of people can not be classed as special.

Really? Seems that the left very much classes several entire groups as special- blacks, gays, transgenders. Do they not?

I’m also gonna bet you didn’t serve.

I did. And to answer MIM’s question: yes, military vets are special. Without them, we wouldn’t have the freedoms we do that our leaders are trying to take away and a which a large part of the brainwashed population is helping.

So, according to you, wife beating Vets are special? How about rapist Veterans? Or pedophile Veterans? I could go on but i'm sure you get the point.

I'm afraid that simply joining the military doesn't make you special. What makes you special is your character and your integrity. Lots of Vets have that in abundance. Equally though, many do not.

originally posted by: KansasGirl

originally posted by: UKTruth
Depends on the person - as always.
An entire group of people can not be classed as special.

Really? Seems that the left very much classes several entire groups as special- blacks, gays, transgenders. Do they not?

I’m also gonna bet you didn’t serve.

I did. And to answer MIM’s question: yes, military vets are special. Without them, we wouldn’t have the freedoms we do that our leaders are trying to take away and a which a large part of the brainwashed population is helping.

I'm not with you on the above, recognition of abusive treatments of groups mentioned is not special treatment,nor is the attempt to do justice by them/us it's not mutually exclusive, some faced vast disrespect while in uniform, eg, Blacks in Uniform had to ride 3rd class cars on trains while their Nazi enemies rode up in first or 2nd class cars in the United States.

Even Nazi prisoners of war in Texas were shocked at how black people were treated in the South

The POWs also found friends in the most unlikely of places, as they worked alongside African Americans hoeing and picking cotton, talking away long days in the hot sun. African American field hands were painfully aware that white Americans treated Nazi prisoners far better than they did people of color. African Americans waited on POWs when they were transported in Pullman cars to their camps, and prisoners were also allowed to eat in whites-only cafeterias. At the camp, they were dealt the most menial jobs, including spraying the prisoners with delousing foam. The slights hurt all the more because African-American soldiers fought diligently during WWII in all-black units such as the renowned Tuskegee airmen.

Yet, on an individual level, they got along with the Germans. And Germans were fond of them, in part because African American soldiers had protected them from the mobs of people who wanted to kill the POWs.

timeline.com...

So yeah blatant racism shocked even Nazis...think about that.

a reply to: Spider879

So the Nazis didn't mind genocide but we're offended by racism?

That's a bit funny...

Peacetime Patriot. I remember watching all the guys in the neighborhood turn 18 and go off to serve. I had resigned myself to the fact I was going to be doing that soon. Suddenly, there was peace with honor, but I saw no reason to change my plans. I spent 4 years in the army taking x-rays as the base hospital. I didn't like the micromanagement though.