tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post2743074711407760457..comments2024-03-28T14:52:13.218-05:00Comments on Stonekettle Station: Veterans Day 2015Jim Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-36275063055657727852016-02-07T01:26:47.701-06:002016-02-07T01:26:47.701-06:00I am the son of an Army Colonel, a veteran of WW2 ...I am the son of an Army Colonel, a veteran of WW2 and Korea. I am a USN Attack Squadron Viet Nam veteran. I grew up in the Army. I have known countless servicemen, and veterans. My best guess is that what you have noticed is a reaction to the way you present yourself, and very unlikely because all veterans are the same. For instance, the dial on my beligerance unit is cranked up to 11 after reading your post. Nothing could be further from my experience. My Dad used to talk to me often when I was a child about the things we gave up as a family because of his career. He explained, as well as he could, in much the same way as this article does, that it is something that has to be done, that some are called to do, and it is a matter of pride and commitment to this country that we, as individuals and as a family, make this sacrifice. Thank you Jim, for expressing this so well. And for you, Robert, clean those lenses. You are not seeing things as clearly as you might.Featherknifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08666406767200648619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-66852229702820689442015-12-19T09:08:57.109-06:002015-12-19T09:08:57.109-06:00Jesus... Jesus... I just tossed my keyboard in the...Jesus... Jesus... I just tossed my keyboard in the fireplace. Then:Sgt., IIFFV, two tours, Dad - severely-wpunded, highly-decorated 10th Mountain Trooper, Granddad gassed in France with the 69th... Today, I'm still the platoon leader, even though I ETS'ed in '71. Never gave up the honor. Disciplined my daughters and now they are strong, motivated and stand tall. Wife in chemo now and we're buddies in a battle that is won day by day. Sir, you have kicked my ass and I thank you. When I next sit at a keyboard, I have a new benchmark for candor. I salute you.Martin Higginshttp://martinhiggins.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-16122203894975592282015-12-17T13:16:25.639-06:002015-12-17T13:16:25.639-06:00Rah, RAH, indeed!
Larry Taylor
Naval Air
1964-1966...Rah, RAH, indeed!<br />Larry Taylor<br />Naval Air<br />1964-1966<br />The Thinking Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07202229424691881135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-77469597176457683982015-12-14T08:59:43.768-06:002015-12-14T08:59:43.768-06:00A favorite of mine as well, but Jim is thinking of...A favorite of mine as well, but Jim is thinking of an entirely different book. The water bed hint gives it away...Stranger in a Strange Land. A huge favorite among the hippies.whitelillynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-15682124847454363812015-12-14T08:42:03.999-06:002015-12-14T08:42:03.999-06:00Or, as Malcolm Reynolds said, " half of writi...Or, as Malcolm Reynolds said, " half of writing history is hiding the truth." Or as I heard someone else say, "history is too often what happened, but what was recorded. A lie set down on paper with wet ink becomes a truth when dry." Think The Man who Shot Liberty Valance.whitelillynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-26673395452755932732015-12-01T20:24:27.719-06:002015-12-01T20:24:27.719-06:00Thank you, Lena.Thank you, Lena.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-30600867045817001192015-11-18T07:37:00.354-06:002015-11-18T07:37:00.354-06:00Much appreciated! It has been a rarity for me to ...Much appreciated! It has been a rarity for me to come across an inspiring writing of this nature on the 'toxic web wasteland'. I experienced a 'public stoning' on a blog this past Veteran's Day week, because I spoke about my pride for my grandfather who was stationed at Pearl Harbor that fateful day, December 7, 1941...as well as for my father and uncle, who were young boys but consequently became men before their time. My father and uncle both enlisted in later years.... with my father serving in Viet Nam...3 tours and my uncle spending the remainder of his 'tour' as a POW housed in the Hanoi Hilton. I've been often made to feel that I should apologize for their serving our Nation and it has left me perplexed by the need for those to spew such vitriolic and vile shit....and it saddens me to hear that you've experienced similar. It has never occurred to me to hold them in contempt for choosing not to enlist...that was their choice, but to be leveled by this vein of contempt toward their memory was shocking. I was met by those who did not have the ability to comprehend how I could feel compassion and shame for the experiences of a celebrity whose family were forced into internment camps during WWII, but at the same time feel pride for the men in my life who were faced with the obstacles of facing an enemy of his heritage. I do not believe that war is the best solution for mankind....there are always 'victims' on all sides.... and my heart continues to weep for the future of us all.<br /><br />btw, this book has long been on my bucket list...and I plan to strike it off shortly. Thanks, again, Jim, for getting it wright! ;)<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15777741135492939127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-18767226143026342672015-11-14T14:03:52.114-06:002015-11-14T14:03:52.114-06:00mine toomine tooellen abbotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00535475792150335186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-54114486677773290012015-11-14T11:21:29.138-06:002015-11-14T11:21:29.138-06:00Umm..name of the book? I honestly have no idea. Umm..name of the book? I honestly have no idea. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01590261538029074873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-79100632935791722262015-11-14T10:42:31.088-06:002015-11-14T10:42:31.088-06:00Thanks Jim
John
U.S. NAVY
Vietnam 1965-1970Thanks Jim<br /><br />John<br />U.S. NAVY<br />Vietnam 1965-1970Bushrat Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02570574655402981278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-9985009421542258362015-11-13T17:28:16.777-06:002015-11-13T17:28:16.777-06:00Dear Anonymous,
Thanks for the laugh and showin...Dear Anonymous, <br /><br />Thanks for the laugh and showing us here what a piss-poor judge of character you are. <br /><br />Cordially,<br />Morgan M. Sheridan<br />USAF E-4, 1974-79Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16461290596679690431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-49878727042221440832015-11-13T16:10:51.906-06:002015-11-13T16:10:51.906-06:00Dear Anonymous, No you would be thinking of Donald...Dear Anonymous, No you would be thinking of Donald Trump. Continue to laud your hero elsewhere.<br /><br />Jim, I salute you for being you, and your ability to lead us down saner paths. Thanks for leading us around the piles of dog shit like this asshat. Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10988110341260022420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-70714340956127286142015-11-13T16:02:45.367-06:002015-11-13T16:02:45.367-06:00Indeed, in Morse (while the Milirary people here w...Indeed, in Morse (while the Milirary people here will understand) you are a DASH DOT DOT DASH.Deborah Evansnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-75692276611324232922015-11-13T15:58:36.784-06:002015-11-13T15:58:36.784-06:00Both are excellents works, for different reasons -...Both are excellents works, for different reasons - which is why both endure. Just as both The Green Berets and Full Metal Jacket are excellent works, for very different reasons. <br /><br />I never met RAH, though I suspect we would have gotten along. <br /><br />I had the privilege (and it <i>was</i> a privilege) of meeting Joe Haldeman and his wife at this year's Worldcon. Wonderful people, kind, gracious, funny, wickedly intelligent.Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-53009833795202559942015-11-13T15:53:43.929-06:002015-11-13T15:53:43.929-06:00The Brits don't go in for so much stuff about ...The Brits don't go in for so much stuff about veterans ("vet" in British English is someone who looks after sick animals, people who served in the military are generally referred to as "ex-servicemen/women" or "former soldiers" or "retired Naval officers" or similar), partly because there is still some amount of traditional "British reserve" and that sort of thing "just isn't done". We don't offer freebies or discounts to current or former service personnel. We don't say "thank you for your service". We are generally less fussed about what people do with or to flags than Americans seem to be. We do stand in silence at the eleventh minute of the eleventh hour of the eleventh day. We buy poppies (red in support of the Royal British Legion, which supports former service personnel), or in some cases white for the Peace Pledge Union, or both. <br />I remember my late grandfather, who survived the Normandy landings only because one of his comrades was notably short, and was completely submerged when he got off the landing craft. My grandad ducked under to pull him up and when they surfaced the area had been strafed and they were surrounded by bodies. He was later invalided out with a broken back and a lump of shrapnel in his skull. They stopped his War Pension when they found out he had gone back to humping crates for Charrington Brewery, which in some ways was fair enough (he had recovered enough he could go back to his old job), and in other ways was monstrously unfair. It didn't greatly bother him, but it outraged my mother. He died in his early 80's after breaking his hip in a fall, complicated by diabetes and breathing problems. If he had not been so severely injured, he would probably have become a career soldier.Lena the Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13014721154431159294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-13979005801143644172015-11-13T15:49:19.093-06:002015-11-13T15:49:19.093-06:00WOW!
I take it 'Anonymous' that you have ...WOW!<br /><br />I take it 'Anonymous' that you have never served in the Military. People like you are pathetic, you criticise people like us for joining up yet you would never have the bravery so to do. THAT is the perfect description of HYPOCRISY! <br /><br />You criticise with no knowledge.<br /><br />You do so with no background.<br /><br />It must be nice to sit there behind your computer screen, wanking yourself off in a self induced frenzy safe in the knowledge that you are anonymous. But that's the point isn't it? You ARE anonymous and about as important as fly in the air sideways.<br /><br />You, Sir/Madam are a PILLOCK.<br /><br /><br /><br />Deborah Evansnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-5729127925539297082015-11-13T15:42:21.150-06:002015-11-13T15:42:21.150-06:00First, thanks for this post. I've certainly r...First, thanks for this post. I've certainly read the novel, and knew the author. At one point in the post, you contrast The Forever War and Starship Troopers. I find it quite telling that Robert approached Joe at the ceremony where Joe received his Nebula award for Forever War, and said the book "may be the best future war story I've ever read!"typecasternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-16900138957430233892015-11-13T15:16:57.172-06:002015-11-13T15:16:57.172-06:00I would say it is how a compassionate person lives...I would say it is how a compassionate person lives, how a brave person lives. It would have (or should have) been the same story if two women had been trying to free a man's foot. That we expect (not in the sense of demand, in the sense of it being part of our expectations) less courage and honour of women than we do of men, and call it chivalry, or respect, or indeed patriotism is belittling, not honouring and does no favours to anyone involved. There are good reasons why people who have the care of small children (or other dependants) should not put their lives unnecessarily at risk, but that can be men as well as women. It is a great story, about great courage and selflessness, but it has nothing to do with "being a man" and everything to do with being a good person.Lena the Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13014721154431159294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-36414776314355980032015-11-13T14:44:11.838-06:002015-11-13T14:44:11.838-06:00Certainly.
Congratulations on your retirement. /...Certainly. <br /><br />Congratulations on your retirement. // JimJim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-75707454365857856242015-11-13T14:36:54.158-06:002015-11-13T14:36:54.158-06:00Thank you for taking and sharing these images. Th...Thank you for taking and sharing these images. They're great!<br />Jer's Musingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063122958002558275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-77560002767548683782015-11-13T14:35:56.795-06:002015-11-13T14:35:56.795-06:00You, Sir, have a way with words that humbles me.
...You, Sir, have a way with words that humbles me. <br /><br />I hang up my Sword next Friday after 22 years.<br /><br />I am debating what, if anything I will say as I stand in front of those who follow me. May I use some of your words? <br /><br />Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08692461374694799982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-4431935737209364692015-11-13T14:30:35.670-06:002015-11-13T14:30:35.670-06:00This is troubling topic. My father did a stint in ...This is troubling topic. My father did a stint in the Navy during the Korean conflict. I have never "served", not out of a lack of patriotism or courage or loyalty, but because of the moral ambiguity of it. I don't see that any of the recent conflicts have any justification or did anything to advance the interests of the nation as a whole. This person you met would be just a free to despise you if there had been no wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, though I suspect he would then have no reason for doing so.<br /><br />Serving your country when called upon a thin reed to cling to. The nature of that service and its justification have to be scrutinized to determine its merit. The NAZI concentration camp guards were also just doing their job.<br /><br />I fear our soldiers are more victims than heroes, willing to sacrifice for the greater good but, instead, taken advantage of to advance the interests of a narrow set of greedy and/or delusional oligarchs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-44752589382926036802015-11-13T13:49:54.863-06:002015-11-13T13:49:54.863-06:00Anonymous coward can fuck off twice. Very inspirin...Anonymous coward can fuck off twice. Very inspiring Jim. I'll show the proper thanks for the work in the donation box. Cheers!MrMotivationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116399599971115064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-82680777076657423612015-11-13T12:48:09.462-06:002015-11-13T12:48:09.462-06:00Well Said! I know the novel, and it has certainly...Well Said! I know the novel, and it has certainly been the subject of many such "discussions"... Time for another read.<br /><br />(USAF Comm/Computers for 13 yrs)Jim Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-14808984406064611942015-11-13T10:12:30.702-06:002015-11-13T10:12:30.702-06:00Just saw this. Thought of you. http://www.commondr...Just saw this. Thought of you. http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/11/10/dont-thank-me-anymore-just-care-veterans-who-return-and-work-end-all-warTedi Trindlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15396638349492673266noreply@blogger.com