We Few… We Happy Few…. We 21 Million Strong
That article yesterday, about how “respect” for the military is okey-dokey, but being in the military is a waste of time and is undermining this country approached the subject from the viewpoint of the dorky kid who didn’t like sports in high school because he stunk badly at something as simple as softball and didn’t like football because the footballers got all the girls and…. Well, really, when you come down to it, even geeks in high school could get hot dog jobs after college at high-end companies like GE or General Motors or DuPont.
That was then. And back in Them There Olden Times, even the geeks got their draft notices and showed up and served and subsequently got the girls hanging on them, too. There is a balance there.
There’s something unifying about a suit with a military cut that says “I’m part of something Really Big”. I think that’s the reason these people in glass towers don’t like the military. There’s a unity they can’t touch, a commonality that binds veterans and current A/D people together, and those in the glass towers are on the inside looking out at the Gathering of Brothers and Sisters, and the poor things just feel left out.
I think that some military service, no matter how brief, is a means of bonding that is missing from all the SJW/snowflake experiences. While they try to mimic it with the #metoo stuff, the “wimmins’ parades” and those “for the cause of –” public gatherings, it is not even close to the same thing as saying “my unit” or “my ship” or “this one time in Bien Hoa…’ or “I was posted/stationed… and hey, I was there, too. Did you know…?” Not even close.
Are they jealous? Possibly. I think they are. It might be a reason for saying military experience “tears the country apart”, which is a falsehood, plain and simple. My own humble bit of time, a mere two separate hitches, 5 years, 6 months and 28 days (they couldn’t give me those 2 extra days, could they?) has more substance, and made me more employable than many of these “graduates” coming out of schools with big, important degrees. It’s true of many people who show up here.
But if a college degree makes you more employable, then why are trade schools advertising now and offering job assistance on completing courses? Why is it easier to find a job as a licensed cement or gravel truck driver if you have the training, or doing road construction (which pays +/-$40/hr around here) than it is to find a job with your several degrees in Chinese economic history?
Why is the pseudo-intellectual response always the disparaging“Well, you know – education” – and then the ‘sour grapes’ look when you rattle off your education, basic and advanced, and your job experience and enhanced skills?
Based on the limited amount of time I had, my view may be rather insular, but it is still wider and more broadbased than the narrow, hidebound viewpoint of the people who think they are ‘better’ somehow than those who did spend time serving, however brief it might have been. The fact that there is no get together to swap stories and share experience among Those People is a given. They have no commonality, no ‘this is no shit’ stuff, no epic tales of how hard it was to get the supply room girl to fork over a box of staples, and they know it. A firecracker or a cherry bomb will make them drop to the ground, quaking like a jello mold.
While you and I can build a campfire, set out chairs, blankets, stumps and logs for people to sit on, pass around the bug spray, let the kids run and play freely and fire up the sparklers, roast half a feral hog on the spit along with foil-wrapped potatoes baking in the coals and a spread of dishes concocted by anyone with access to a kitchen (or a good deli), those denizens of the glass-walled towers can only watch as this Band of Brothers and Sisters gets together, shares what happened and when, tell tall tales that start with ‘No shit, I was there….”, hoist a few cold ones and end up singing the songs we all know under the stars.
They can only watch… and wish….
Category: "The Floggings Will Continue Until Morale Improves"
“…They can only watch… and wish…”
Just this morning at work, I traded inter-service war stories with a co-worker who was an active-duty submariner and who just made LCDR in the Naval Reserve. A third co-worker sitting right next to us could only listen and watch in silence, as he was never in the military, and had no war stories of his own to tell…
PH right on! there is a comradery that civilians can’t understand at all! I do believe they are jealous of us….!
That bridge just outside of Hue near that pagoda that looked out over the Perfume river.
Good Times….not.
I am in a distinct minority (I think) of those who served in that over a 20 year career, I never actually went to war. In 83, I was at Luke AFB, which is a training wing. In 88, I was in the middle of a PCS to Kunsan, Korea. Since I spent the next year and a half there, I missed out on Desert Storm. I ended up going to the Middle East but it was for “show the flag” tours and to try and get them to buy F-16’s. I retired in 2000 never seeing an actual shooting war.But, I still have some great stories to tell!
*Waves* I did 23 years in the USAF/USAFR.
I was on a rapid deployment team for a good 10/12/15 years of my time in. I volunteered for DS/DS and ended up back filling at Dover. Same Restore Hope Somalia, Ended up at NAS Norfolk.
After that I had too many additional duties that put me out of the deployment team cycle, Chemical Ware/Disaster Preparedness NCO, Unit Deployment Manager, Unit training Manager etc.
I always said to one of my best friends a Chief who finally in 2013 deployed to Kandahar, for 9 months and then came back lost about 40 lbs, got fucked over by not only the command structure there as an E-9, including by ONE CAPTAIN THAT FROM OUR *OWN SQUADRON*, was going to stay in 30 year but was so disillusioned, he bailed 4 months after returning home.
I told him I felt guilty because I never deployed “In Theater” and he said “Chip, you can’t change what didn’t happen.”
I’ve had a bunch of Airmen that I mentored and trained and supervised that did deploy and they have, years after, thanked me for the job I did with them so they went over and returned safely.
That makes it easier to swallow.
Yeah, I have great stories too, like in Okinawa, drunk, almost getting knocked out by a tree frog.
Getting drunk in Korea and falling in a gilly along the side of the road and finding out what a benjo ditch was. (ICK)
*Waves* Hey Chip, when were you at Dover? That was my Permanent Duty Station!
From what I understand, in July they ordered 13 C-17A Globemaster III’s then in August ordered 1 fresh pointy head (me).
Hi Rev,
I was active duty 1984 to 1988. Went Reserve at Andrews AFB in Sept 1988 and then not 2 months there like November Dec, I did my weekend UTA at Dover. I can’t tell you the number of weekends from then on 1989 to about 2003 I didd there and also Annual two week tours. I was aerial Port so I was up at the Port building Pallets, working ALOCS, Ramp, driving the ETV driving the built pallets up on the rack system behind the warehouse etc. Probably ran across ya there possibly.
436TH AERIAL PORT SQUADRON.
I was with the 33rd, (decommissioned in 1991 then combined with the 69th APS (giggle always) Andrews AFB from 1988 to 2007.
My VA Rep worked that Aerial Port around the same time I think (small world). Last name is Cleveland. Despite being an avionics geek I did make my rounds through that entire facility’s operational components outside of my own so that is a strong possibility you saw me or if you ever went into building 722.
Love to see a fellow 436th’er here!
436th MXS Avionics! Work outside? Hell NO! (Our unofficial chant)
Chip, you went, as did I, where you were told. Luck of the draw as it were.
Great piece Ex.
I did nearly 8 years on the boats, during the Cold War, the DS/DS timeframe, and after.
No, I never considered myself at war or a “combat vet”, although there were a few times that making our presence known would have been problematic, to say the least. If I had earned a CAR, someone or several someones would have had to have seriously fucked up.
Thankfully it never came to that.
Meant to say 1989, not 88.
Great pic, Ex!
*grin*
My pleasure, Ed! I knew you’d like that.
“TINS, there I was, minding my own damn business, I wasn’t bothering nobody”,….and yes, we can spot one another out here. We can also tell which ones that were shitbirds while in uniform too. I am sorry that I missed Nacho Grande. (the horror) I also regret not leading Meal Team Six on an assault of the buffet bar at Golden Corral. I was in a cemetery then. Will be there again at 11:11 on 11-11 and 30-05 every year.
WTF is wrong with this kid. I went in at 17 and that’s where I grew up, after being a screw up and shitcanned from R & M div’s and then getting AJ Fucking Squared Away in A-gang and was asked to ship over which I didn’t have a desire to do. I also was in the ARNG (NY) and made hard five. I learned a lot from serving in the Navy and was well adjusted when I went into the guard. A nice 37 years working for Brink’s and being on their shooting team and 30 years in the Volunteer Fire service and doing basic inhouse Fire fighting training. I owe it all to the Military Service. So maybe you dorky kid/kids can join up and get yourself Squared away.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. I travel a bit and I can say that I can spot a vet or currently serving service member pretty easily and usually share a short bit of chatter with them. People in the area who haven’t served will be surprised when they find out that this is my first time meeting that individual. But, in a sense, we’ve known each other for years. When I run across an older veteran, I take a page out of Jonn’s book and welcome them home. Just my $0.02.
“… I can say that I can spot a vet or currently serving service member pretty easily.” Funny thing about that, isn’t it. I can do the same and will occasionally go up to a stranger and ask when they served, what service, etc. They seem surprised but I explain I try to ID veterans. They often confide that they do the same. Then we will spend a few minutes swapping tales and telling lies. lol I’ve got, oh, about ten cousins, some of whom I haven’t seen since 1968 when I enlisted. Not a one of them is a veteran. On those rare occasions when I run into them back in NC, and our work history comes up, they pretend interest but it is obvious they want the subject to change as soon as possible. They had their chance to enlist. All are about my age or a few years older, and I sometimes ask when they served and seem shocked when they confess that they didn’t serve. Am I a better person than them? Nope, not even close, but I have experiences, comradery and a bond with tens of thousands of fellow Veterans and Chief Petty Officers. They confess that they worked 30 years for Reynolds Tobacco or Home Depot or whatever. None have ever relayed any tales that would suggest they take great pride in their work history. I ask if they are still banging Mary Lou and how many kids they have. Nope, I’m no better, not even close, and I understand that the military isn’t for everyone and not everyone can serve. I have three things they can never have: hundreds of awesome military memories, great comradery and a 214. They can tell me about the time they hit the emergency stop on the tobacco mixer at Reynolds, saving the company a few bucks. Or when they salvaged a run of Salems on the conveyor belt. No, I’m no better but, then again, there is no comparison in our experiences and our contribution to the nation. Every time I think of what I might have… Read more »
I want to rearrange a close relative’s anatomy when he reminds me he couldn’t serve because of his health. I asked him if he wanted in, why didn’t he apply for a WG or GS position. I explained to him why his health would make him a casualty before he got out of boot; but, he’d rather feel sorry for himself.
Thanks PH2; another great article. Enjoy your posts. Please continue.
I certainly will, Mr. Pete.
Yep. It’s nice having a family of about 20 million, knowing that you have family members just about anywhere you go.
It really is something we have that they don’t.
As COL (R) Jack Jacobs has said many times of the general population: “We support the troops because we don’t want to BE the troops”
Reading this is spot fucking on. I joined the Army at the ripe ass age of 18. Wanted to be a grimy Scout. I was fucking up a lot and I saw it as a 2fer. I can serve my country and I can unfuck myself. Turns out, those 5 years on AD and almost 3 years on AD within the NG are the highlight of my life. I learned a lot of hard ass lessons in the Army but wow did I have a lot of fun and worked with the finest people I’ll ever meet. Love them all like family. Now I have one of those fancy degrees, working on a Masters. Achieving that only happened because I learned discipline in the Army. To be honest, my bachelors degree isn’t worth shit in comparison to the knowledge I gained from being in the Army. Same goes for my job. I’m a Ladderman in one of the biggest metropolitan fire departments in the country and I owe it all to the Army for that too.
After I crossed over to the dark side (USMC to National Guard) I had one of my soldiers say something to me (and my response to it) that could be expanded to cover the veteran/non-veteran divide.
The soldier asked/stated “What’s so special about the Marine Corps? Anybody can do it.”
Mt response “You are correct. Anybody can do it. But not everybody does.”
Kind of explains the military in general. Anybody can do it. But not everybody does. Those that do, have a bond, a shared experience that those who have not served cannot understand. And therefore hate those who have done what they can’t or won’t do.
On a side not, I’ve really got into the Ancestry.com thing lately and have discovered at least one relative in every war/conflict going back to the French and Indian Wars. And in the War Between the States a lot of relatives on each side.
So maybe military service is genetic…
Problem is, people (civilians) think everyone can do it.
But last time I checked, nearly 70 percent of the 17-25 crowd are NEE–not enlistment eligible for one reason or another. Expand that to 17-34 and the numbers get even worse.
We just need to make the brass head ring smaller. That way we would let more pointy heads in.
“I think that some military service, no matter how brief, is a means of bonding …”
Unlike any other. To this day I’m in contact with more military members than any others in society. I still get together with other retired vets on a constant basis.
At my VFW there are those who only did one term while I served 36 years. It matters not the length of service; we have a bond that can’t be broken.
Oh, and I can’t name a single person I went to High School with.
Serving in the military was the most unifying experience in my life. It was the only organization which brought together people from all regions of the country with different economic, racial, family, and community backgrounds. I served with men from the cities, men from rural areas, men from poor families, men from broken homes, men from affluent families, those who were intelligent, those who weren’t, and many who were sincere and some who were phonies. It was the greatest education in human nature and behavior one could receive. Got to watch the weak man-up and triumph, and some who should have succeeded fail. Plus, I was given levels of responsibility and trust no civilian will ever experience as a twenty-something. I was able to do exciting things none of my non-military peers will ever experience. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, including my fifteen months in the Viet of the Nam.
You’d think liberals would love such a diverse group that combines people of all colors and classes. Most of the military vets I have worked with have been better than average, especially in school.
Seriously, I never got the hatred for the military, even though I am definitely not military material. If I was drafted, I’d probably get recycled so often I’d be a soda can, and my fellow soldiers would use me for target practice. I’d lose my mind living that close to other people with no privacy.
This is the right answer…I grew up in a small New England dairy farming community with a great educational system in the 60s/early 70s I entered service in the latter half of the 70s and served until the early 1980s…
But that great education was greatly enhanced through my military service and meeting all manner of individual as you state. The military provided the experience in human nature my father had always tried to impart upon me. His words made far more sense after meeting so many different kinds of people during my service.
My service made me realize that I was far more capable than I’d given myself credit for to that point and to never underestimate those around you because you never know who will be tomorrow’s hero based on today’s outlook. That’s served me well over the years as it has most of you I assume as well.
It certainly was a momentous discovery when i first stumbled on this site and read words that struck home with me right away regarding most things happening in our nation. We don’t always agree but we all at least understand, which is often the most important aspect of adulthood.
Absolutely. That’s one reason I support a draft. And if you are lucky enough to get stationed overseas you get a great opportunity to see how lucky we are to live here in the US.
“Plus, I was given levels of responsibility and trust no civilian will ever experience as a twenty-something.”
At 22 I was performing 15-20 nuclear medicine procedures daily. I operated a million dollar machine. I had at my disposal at any time enough radiation to kill several people. All this and I would not see a doctor, nurse or Chief for days on end. Many of my civilian counterparts did not have nearly that degree of autonomy. Oh, they were making multiples of my salary, but I guarantee I was infinitely more pleased and secure with myself. (I doubt many joined the military for the money. For job security, yes, but money, I don’t think so.) OK, Navy, If you ever need a nuke med tech on short
notice, I’m available and I’ll work for free. Hell, I’ll pay you.
Even Facebook bears this out, at least for me. I don’t have a huge cache of “friends” on FB, but of those “friends,” there are only three school chums, a few family members,a couple fellow jukokas from the local dojo, and the remainder are fellow vets. No former coworkers or wrestling/football/baseball teammates to be found.
Roger that. I have one friend from HS, one fellow co-worker and about 8 or so fellow vets. I think I have fewer friends than most, maybe a dozen in total. I haven’s posted on FB in a few years, mostly b/c they banned me TWICE. I’ve paid my pound of flesh by sitting out for a few years. Now I don’t post at all; I just read what others have to say. I’m not a slave to FB like some are. Some feel the need to post pictures of their food several times a day. FB owns them. I can relate almost immediately with fellow vets; I have little in common with those who chose not to serve. I have an invisible though strong bond with fellow vets. It’s a great thing. Also, I’m pretty good at picking out the posers, with their excessive bling. They suck.
*judokas
No comment
Don’t forget get who you serve
Maybe a little too much back pat. I served. I went to a war or two. I got shot at and so on. The men in our family have a long history of being not to bright in that regard. But everyone is different. My Father in Law came from a household and grew up in time where the military was not all that well regarded. By the time he figured out is was something worth doing he was too old.
He may have a regret but doesn’t make excuses or send up a bullshit story about it.
I went, I did, I came back, no hero’s in this house but is one next door (medic). Are so many others I know or served with. USAAF WWII Italy, POW Bataan death march survivor, POW Korean survivor, POW Viet Nam (CMOH), 58,000 on wall, 5 on wall (from school), 1 I visit when home and another, 100 yards away from him, severely wounded.
Dwight: You refer to a Viet Nam POW with MoH. Is there any chance that is COL Bud Day, who passed within the past few years? I knew him well and have several military books signed by him. Is he the MoH recipient to whom you refer?
As Garth Brooks sang…
Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried it is merely survived
If you’re standing outside the fire
Listen up this aint no shit.
Nice work, PH2.
Here’s a quick band of brothers story. . . [setting the way back machine]
To show you how even a brief time in will get you ‘in’ with people, I submit the following story. I was visiting a girl-friend’s house in early 2006 time frame and started talking to her father. I told him how I had been to boot camp for the Marines the previous February and was now in the reserves. I told him a little about what it was that I did (I was a 5711 – NBC guy) but as a one year boot, I couldn’t tell him a lot. He then started to tell me about his time in the military. During that time he had served with the army in Vietnam and told me some of the things that went on while he was there. He was totally genuine and matter of fact; nothing like the faker bozos we get here. Later that evening, my girl friend and I were alone and she told me she had never heard her father talking about Vietnam. I was kind of struck by the fact that it was just by virtue of my having joined the military that he would share these stories. Even my boot ass was privy to things he had never even told his kids. Wow. That is some bond.
You set something in motion there, in a very good way.