Quote:
Originally Posted by Fordzilla
Gunner, Just a simple question- Have you ever worn the uniform of the United States Military?
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I'll answer only because I hope you're not going to take it down some pointlessly simplistic road. I'll be happy to discuss all the collateral issues you might think are defined by the answer; I assure you that my beliefs are not that simple.
No, I've never served. I came into majority in the aftermath of Vietnam and every single one of my friends who served in that time regretted it deeply. The military was a demoralized clusterf*ck for nearly ten years after Saigon, and every one of nine or ten friends and family who served in 1975-1982 or so came out scarred and disillusioned. I also had a young family at the time.
I have regretted never serving every day of my adult life. I take comfort in my father, who served with distinction in the AAF; in my stepson, who served three tours in Iraq and came home intact in mind and body; in my namesake uncle who was one of five men who returned to a 300-man barracks after one of the major battles for Pork Chop Hill; and in my younger uncle who participated in several of the close-range nuclear tests (Project Teapot?) where he was less than a mile from some of the shots and marched across still-hot atomic glass.
Did you have a followup question or comment?