Veterans Day

[1990RangerinSK]

Back at you Grumpaw. WELCOME HOME!

Rats. How could I forget you in my earlier post. Thank you for your service, sir.

 

[sgtsandman]

Rats. How could I forget you in my earlier post. Thank you for your service, sir.

Thank you for your support!

 

[fastpakr]

Can't even do that this year. Relegated to watching some old war flicks on TV and watching History Channel.
2 of the best are on, Sgt. York and Where Eagles Dare !

Quick question - I'm watching Where Eagles Dare right now for the first time. The actor the British use to impersonate a general who is really supposed to be a Corporal... He could be the grandfather of a Corporal. The real life actor was 59 when the movie came out. What were the writers thinking?

 

[Will]

I was in the Marine Corps for 10 years. I never say I served. I grew up a military brat. In 3rd grade I was in 3 school in 2 countries and in 2 states. I landed in a small town with no prospects. My mom always told me I was out when I turned 18. There was no talk of college. I have my enlistment papers, and I show them to my kids. Two days after my 17th birthday I enlisted in the Marine Corps. November 6, 1986. I was definitely not going off to serve.

I don't know what my kids think, I was long out of the service when the first of five was born. I led marines in combat as a corporal and was a platoon sergeant when I was lured out by my wife. It was never service. Not to my country. More like football in school. Loyalty to the team amongst ourselves. We felt like mercenaries, or legionnaires.

I have a lot of grim stories, but I don't think of them. It doesn't come up. I have a 10 year-old schooling from home because of covid and we are learning algebra. I have a college kid whose car is broken and trying to get it home. And 4 kids between with all of their current-day problems.

 

[Grumpaw]

Quick question - I'm watching Where Eagles Dare right now for the first time. The actor the British use to impersonate a general who is really supposed to be a Corporal... He could be the grandfather of a Corporal. The real life actor was 59 when the movie came out. What were the writers thinking?

Theoretically, it's possible. Enlistment age max at the time was 37. But if you were already in the service, and were over that age, you remained. Possible for an enlisted man to have been in the Army and be around 60 years old. But to only be, or remain a Cpl. would have been rare. Could have been a clerk, cook, driver, ect.
Lot of older Sgt and Master Sgt in service at the time as they liked being that rank...lot of responsibility without the worry of being an ofc.
Also, back then, it took 5-7 support personal, who were enlisted, to support one fighting soldier. If you were in at the outset of WW ll, you stayed in.
Many, because of their patriotism, lied about their age, both younger and older, so they could enlist. Kids as young as 14 tried, and I'm sure that many grandfathers, who looked younger than they were, enlisted.

 

[Grumpaw]

I was in the Marine Corps for 10 years. I never say I served. I grew up a military brat. In 3rd grade I was in 3 school in 2 countries and in 2 states. I landed in a small town with no prospects. My mom always told me I was out when I turned 18. There was no talk of college. I have my enlistment papers, and I show them to my kids. Two days after my 17th birthday I enlisted in the Marine Corps. November 6, 1986. I was definitely not going off to serve.

I don't know what my kids think, I was long out of the service when the first of five was born. I led marines in combat as a corporal and was a platoon sergeant when I was lured out by my wife. It was never service. Not to my country. More like football in school. Loyalty to the team amongst ourselves. We felt like mercenaries, or legionnaires.

I have a lot of grim stories, but I don't think of them. It doesn't come up. I have a 10 year-old schooling from home because of covid and we are learning algebra. I have a college kid whose car is broken and trying to get it home. And 4 kids between with all of their current-day problems.

Whether you went into the military because you wanted to, had to forced to, or drafted, whether you liked or disliked your time, you are still a Vet.
Remember or don't, talk about it or don't, your choice. But you are still a Vet.
Whether you feel you contributed or not, made a difference or not, you are still a Vet.
Proud of your service, or disgusted about it, you are still a Vet.
Not knowing you at all, we still have something in common, and you would be welcome in my home, 24/7.
Too all of us others who served, you are still a Vet.