Ricktloml

Well that is certainly one way. Good job

teabag09

You and they are more than welcome. I was in Da Nang in 68. MSTS, civilian Merchant Marines. Literally watched rockets fly over head and hit a couple of hundred yards away. Was never in any real danger but I didn't know that at the time. It was an outside bar with plastic overhead and a cooler. PBR and smoke were the poison of choice. First rockets overhead I started to get up an run and my buddy who had been there before grabbed me and asked," where are you going? Do you know where the next salvo is going to hit. Made sense to me, sat back down and asked Mama San for another beer and joint. Mike

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Thank You for the article... I never knew soldiers feel this way but can tell you it isn’t saying Thank You because I feel guilty of anything.. I do so because I am humbled by them... Feel Strongly in being sure they know the appreciation for their action....

Dang this throws a “now what do you do???” How can anyone not want to know how appreciated they truly are???
Do you jst sto saying Thank You to them?? I cannot imagine that at all??

What is the answer here??

moldyoldy

It is a conundrum, and not a one size fits all thing. Some of us are embarrassed and uncomfortable with it. What can we say, we do not want to have a conversation about it, but do not want the hatred expressed after Vietnam. I think the country wants to make up for those actions which reflected the horror of stories about atrocities. War is full of atrocities on all sides, the only reason for not winning that war was because what we would have to do was too horrible to think about, because the whole country and its people would be demolished like the bombing of Japan.

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

I understand what you’re saying..
Fully appreciate not wanting to talk about it..

When going through airports you know how see large groups walking together, it moves me.. I stand right there shaking hands saying Thank You with all of them, and I’ll even say, ok I’m given you a hug~~ not a one has refused and most smile.. geeezzzz, I would never intentionally be rude or want to make them feel bad... Guess I just have to remember what you shared here ..

moldyoldy

Your smile or hug is loved more than a conversation

thinksense

Linda,

I understand you, but you missed my main point. No Combat veteran did it for the country or you. There is nothing to thank him for. It may have started that way and lead to his enlistment, but that changes with the first pull of the trigger in real combat.

Of course the 9 out of 10 who love to wear their stupid “Veteran” hats and never really had to worry about getting killed or worse, maimed or who had to kill some poor bastard wearing a different uniform, are happy to bask in the imagined “glory” you people bestow on them as though they really were heroes.

Most of the real mud marines, for example don’t feel that they were glorious. They are saddened at what they had to do, and gladdened they made it through, and want to leave all that crap behind. The only thing I’ve told my kids about it was how tired I was all through combat. No “hero” stories. (By the way that is one way to find if the “vet” really was there...ask what they felt the most in combat. If they don’t tell you “tired” they probably weren’t there).

I know you are usually well meaning. I guess you weren’t ready for this string.

Have a good life, I really mean that.

Richard Rowland

Was being physically tired due to the mental strain on one's mind, thinksense? I'm aware that sleep is often an escape from unpleasant situations, one might find themselves in.

thinksense

No, it was because you couldn't get any sleep. You are generally awake. I averaged about 2 hours sleep each day. You can get by on that, but it leaves you constantly tired. There is just the instinctive need to stay awake and ready for whatever. Then when you got busy you didn't have time to notice anything but what you needed to be doing.

teabag09

thinksense, my father (26 yr Marine) could cat nap anytime and be fully refreshed. Said he learned to do that from WWll and Korea. Like you say, sleep was a luxury. Mike

Richard Rowland

This was a good read moldy, thanks. I think the poignant point was where the thank you's were offered without a thought of if it was right, what they were doing or had done.

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Nice, moldy, a glimpse of a sea of emotions of our soldiers stands out and a better understanding you and thinksense have shared..Thank You....

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Thank You, thinksense... I didn't miss what you shared, I was trying to grasp it all.. What you say brings out the feelings of you men that fought for survival while in war and nothing about it is good...

No, I wasn’t ready for this string but I’m glad for it.. It made me consider more of that separate life you men/ women endured ....

I know many men simply will not discuss it and understand why...

On occasion, not near enough I do volunteer work at the VA and have seen many a man brought to tears while sitting around waiting for their appointment.. And-yes, they are the ones who are not talking very much...

I wish you a very good life too!!!!

saltwind 78 Loc: Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

malachi, Your religious beliefs aside, I would like to see more people try to make life on earth better. I am not a big fan of, you'll get pie in the sky when you die philosophy. Those that say it probably have their big slice of the pie already.