saveamerica Loc: Texas

I want to clear the Air about Veterans and about a post I responded to by Iduttonjr.

I can see you have never served this great country or Protect and Defund America.

In the 1940,1950, 1960 and 1970 we had the Draft and you had to show up by law to serve in the U.S. Military, where you were train to kill and fight in a war. War is not a pretty sight but, we did it anyway because, it was for America. But, you also had the yellow bellies that ran to Canada to hide.

My fellow Americans, I am a Veteran and damn proud of it. I have put my LIFE on the line to keep all you dead ass alive and FREE. It was ME and my fellow Veterans that has keep you free so you can run down America. A lot of us have been shot, burn, head wounds, come back with no legs, arms and something without both and that is not counting all the repercussion from war that you have to live with the rest of your life. War is not FREE, and it is the America Veterans that has paid dearly. I'm tired of listening to all the people whining and crying about Veterans and America, you same people are always crying for someone to save your ass when you are in trouble. Most of Americans cannot even take care of yourself on your own. If this country was to collapse, it will be you beggaring the Veterans for help and protection. So the next time you and your friends want to run down The Veterans, just stop and remember who has kept you free. ME!!!!

bmac32 Loc: West Florida

Big mistake this country made was letting those who ran off to Canada or elsewhere. Ford offered an amnesty program for draft dodgers that required them to work in alternative service occupations for periods of six to 24 months and Carter enacted it one day after his inauguration, both were wrong in my opinion.

hoonie61

THE DRAFT DODGERS..... THATS WHAT THEY WERE CALLED BACK IN MY DAY. RICH KIDS, COLLEGE BRATS, DRUNKS, MOMMA'S LITTLE DARLIN, PUKES, ETC. AND THE LIST GOES ON. THESE SAME CHIKKENS NOW WEAR 3 PIECE SUITS, MAKE LOTS OF MONEY, HAVE A HIGH MAINTENANCE WIFE, LOTS OF KIDS, LIVE IN AN UNPAID FOR MANSION, AND DO WHAT THEY DO THE BEST, ASSUME THE POSITION PEONS. AND THEY STAYED HOME CLOSE TO THE PURSE STRINGS AND MOMMIE AND DADDY. AND THEY STILL CRY THE LOUDEST. DOES ANYONE OUT THERE KNOW IF THE FIRING SQUAD IS STILL LEGAL? GOD BLESS AMERICA I SALUTE YOU AND MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS. AND YES, I SERVED AND I CAME HOME A COMBAT VETERAN AND READY TO GO AGAIN IF NEEDED. SEMPER FI SOLDIER. [USMC] FOREVER VIGILANT.

hprinze Loc: Central Florida

It's still this way:

I went into a public- 'ouse to get a pint o' beer,

The publican 'e up an sez, "We serve no red-coats here."

The girls behind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,

I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:

O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy go away";

But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins," when the band begins to play-

The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,

O it's "Thank you Mr Atkins," when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,

They gave a drunk civilian roo, but 'adn't none for me;

They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,

But when it comes to fighting', Lord! They'll shove me in the stalls!

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy wait outside";

But it's "Special train for Atkins," when the trooper's on the tide-

The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,

O it's "Special train for Atkins," when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep

Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;

An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit

Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.

Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy 'ow's yer soul?"

But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll-

The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,

O it's " Thin red line of 'eroes," when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,

But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;

An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,

Why single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;

While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy fall be'ind,"

But it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind-

There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,

O it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:

We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.

Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face

The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck 'im out, the brute!"

But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;

An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;

An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees!



Note:

It was the Duke of Wellington who coined the popular nickname Thomas (or Tommy) Atkins, for the ordinary soldier. In 1843, whilst Commander-in-Chief, he was asked to come up with a 'typical' soldier's name. Thinking back to his first campaign in the Low Countries in the 1790s he remembered a badly wounded, but stoical, soldier he had encountered - Thomas Atkins.

The Widow's Uniform - after Prince Albert's death, Queen Victoria was known as the Widow at Windsor and soldiers were known as the Widow's Sons who wore the Widow's uniform.

saltwind 78 Loc: Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

I'm a proud vet of the U.S. Navy 1962-1966. I was aboard a Destroyer in the north Atlantic for the most part. I got plenty of grief for being a Viet Nam era vet. I remember a young girl in beads and hippy regalia spitting on me and calling me a baby killer. I think todays vets are a lot more appreciated than I and my fellow servicemen were.

funguy1949

vietnmvetr65

Well Said Salt wind! Vietnam Veteran 1965-1968

alex Loc: michigan now imperial beach californa

liberals believe (I never accuse a liberal of thinking) that draft dodgers are great so much so they elected one for president

Rebel

Great point well made. After many long years of observation I am convinced that a great majority of people holding political office are draft dodgers. Most of our so-called leaders have never served a single day in uniform.

saltwind 78 Loc: Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

I'm a Viet Nam era vet. I served aboard the USS Warrington which hit a friendly mine in Nam waters. I have to tell you that I thought the war was one of the dumbest in US history. After the French were forced to leave, two Viet Nams were set up until elections could be held. The US never allowed the elections to take place because we knew that the Commies would win. What were we fighting for? Certainly not democracy. The truth is that LBJ didn't want to be known as the president that lost Viet Nam to the Communists. Not a real good reason to fight a war in which over 57,000, young Americans were killed and billions of bucks lost. I volunteered and I'm proud to have served, but it was a bad war, and I don't blame anybody that refused!!

Weyner

Hoonie61,I'm a vet and we may need to go again very soon,if our Leaders don't get their act together,time is getting short!!

Retired Soldier

With a nod to Mr. Rudyard Kipling it has always been so. Every country, in peace time, does not want to be reminded that they need someone "To stand on the wall, to pick up a rifle and stand a post." (Pararphrase Jack Nicolson in a Few Good Men) The civilians don't want to be reminded that there are people, bad people that would hurt them and steal their freedom if they could.
I agree the Veterans today are seemingly being treated better than we were returning from Viet Nam (67-71). We were thought to be mad butchers or complete human drugged out zombies capable of any atrocity, thank you the sensationalist media and journalist that never left the Caravelle in Saigon. But we know the these young people are our children, they are the children of the Veterans that fought not because they wanted to but because our Country said it was necessary. We know what these, our children, have been through and we welcome them as best we can with open arms and hearts. We do not want to lose this generation the way ours was lost. How many of us are still hiding out, still trapped in the jungles of our minds. We do not want that for our children and we won't allow it. But if our sons and daughters seek help for PTSD or other stresses they are, under a new Executive Order, likely to lose their Second Amendment rights, as a mental threat or Domestic Terrorist. We cannot allow this. We have to support our returning Vets, to encourage them to get any help they need. We don't want them like so many of our brothers left untreated for years because of the stigma attached to seeking help. We also cannot allow these brave people to be stripped of their rights because of a terrified group of Liberals led by a someone that has never had to feel real fear.
The problem now is that the freedoms they and we have fought for, the freedoms we guaranteed them are being stripped and stolen. One of the gentlemen on this site pointed out we may have to soon take up arms again, I hope that it doesn't come to that, but I will live free or die in defense of Freedom.
Retired Soldier (101st - Bronze Star)

rumitoid

Cry somewhere else. God kept us free. A veteran that wants to boast what he did for the country and that means we should agree? Pathetic.

Retired Soldier

To Rumitoid
Tell me has your arthritis so tightend your sphincter that it has finally cut off the oxygen to your brain location? I do not be believe that anyone has been whining here. From what I have read it appears that people who have earned the right with their sweat and blood are simply exercising their First Amendment rights to free speech. A freedom that is even extended to you, for some unknown reason. Oh I know the reason, one of those whiney veterans at one point or another through our country's history gave his life to maintain his oath to Uphold the Constitution.
What have you done to serve and protect your country?
Retired Soldier

saltwind 78 Loc: Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

When a hippie girl spit on my uniform and called me a baby killer back in 1966, I noticed that she was wearing a star of David. I asked her if she was against all war or just Viet Nam. She told me that she was against all war no matter what. I told her that if it were not for guys like me, she would have wound up a charcoal briquette. Being Jewish myself, I've always appreciated those vets that gave their lives so that I could enjoy being a citizen in this blessed land. If people have a problem with going to war, they should place the responsibility on the politicians, not those that fight and die for their country!