RE: An Incredibly Moving Speech By a Vietnam Vet

RE: An Incredibly Moving Speech By a Vietnam Vet (Full Version)

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poise -> RE: An Incredibly Moving Speech By a Vietnam Vet (11/14/2010 3:52:50 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: MasterCord Poise, you are very welcome. I do a lot of business and spend a lot of time in RI, and live near the border between RI and MA. In fact, today I had lunch at Iggy's on Oakland Beach..... :) Well..."lunch" consisting of cinnamon sugar doughboys lol. I blame it on my granddaughter and her wanting to sneak a few while her mom was off shopping.... Sure....rub it in while the wounds are still fresh! I've not been to RI in a few years now, but when I go my favorite must have is a trip to Evelyn's in Tiverton for some clam cakes. I'm a simple girl.[8D]

Louve00 -> RE: An Incredibly Moving Speech By a Vietnam Vet (11/14/2010 4:27:06 PM)
Thank you for sharing it. It's a speech from the perspective of a combat soldier, from the perspective to Tom Suprock. Can't expect someone with the mentality to 'dodge the draft' to get it or even to look at it from any other perspective than his own selfishness. I'm glad you gave me the opportunity to see it from that perspective. I'm grateful for all those who stood up to the call. And for all those who still do...without being drafted.

Firebirdseeking -> RE: An Incredibly Moving Speech By a Vietnam Vet (11/14/2010 7:23:14 PM)
I spent 8.5 years working with Vietnam vets with PTSD in the 80's. I was married to a Nam medic for 25 years. My dad was a WWII veteran. I will always honor a veteran. Men - and women - who serve in war do things, see things, they never would in civilian life, and often they spend the rest of their lives paying for it with survivor guilt, with drugs and alcohol, and with isolation. I think it is important that we do not glorify war, and "country". I think it is far more important that these wounded men and women get the help they need.

takemeforyourown -> RE: An Incredibly Moving Speech By a Vietnam Vet (11/16/2010 3:35:55 AM)
Dear jaybee, My Dad was a Vietnam vet. At the age of twenty, he was drafted. I don't think it ever crossed his mind to be a draft-dodger...he believed in honoring his responsibilities. (You, sir, obviously care only for yourself) You apparently have no idea why servicemembers fight, so let me tell you. The 'big picture' doesn't matter when you are on the battlefield with mortars and bullets aimed at you. You are thinking about your own survival...and even more...you are thinking about your brothers-at-arms. You would die for THEM. The military man has not the luxury of choosing his battles, he wishes only to make it back alive with his buddies. Perhaps Vietnam was a misguided affair. However, if not for the veterans of wars through the ages (WWII and the American Revolution come to mind) we would not be enjoying the freedoms that the American Constitution proclaimed. As for veterans, my father killed himself after a 25-year struggle with PTSD. But he died an honorable man, which is more than I can say for the lame-ass draft-dodgers of the world (and, perhaps, for those such as yourself)

Jaybeee -> RE: An Incredibly Moving Speech By a Vietnam Vet (11/16/2010 4:20:19 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: takemeforyourown Dear jaybee, My Dad was a Vietnam vet. At the age of twenty, he was drafted. I don't think it ever crossed his mind to be a draft-dodger...he believed in honoring his responsibilities. (You, sir, obviously care only for yourself) You apparently have no idea why servicemembers fight, so let me tell you. The 'big picture' doesn't matter when you are on the battlefield with mortars and bullets aimed at you. You are thinking about your own survival...and even more...you are thinking about your brothers-at-arms. You would die for THEM. The military man has not the luxury of choosing his battles, he wishes only to make it back alive with his buddies. Perhaps Vietnam was a misguided affair. However, if not for the veterans of wars through the ages (WWII and the American Revolution come to mind) we would not be enjoying the freedoms that the American Constitution proclaimed. As for veterans, my father killed himself after a 25-year struggle with PTSD. But he died an honorable man, which is more than I can say for the lame-ass draft-dodgers of the world (and, perhaps, for those such as yourself) Well, you're angry, and you're an angry woman. You have a right to be, but in my estimation it never does any good to argue with an angry person, or a woman in any state (at the risk of pissing you off further). All I'm going to say is that I'm TRULY sorry for your loss, as I take pity on the families of ALL men who die in combat, and I hope that despite it all, you find happiness and resolution, somehow. You didn't ask for any of this.

takemeforyourown -> RE: An Incredibly Moving Speech By a Vietnam Vet (11/16/2010 7:13:49 AM)
Jaybee, sir. I am neither angry at the military, or at my father. I am a proud Army veteran and an Army wife. What makes me angry is beings like you, who never cared for anything bigger than themselves, and who gladly live off of the sacrifices of more noble men. Cheers.

sirsholly -> RE: An Incredibly Moving Speech By a Vietnam Vet (11/16/2010 7:25:07 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Jaybeee quote: ORIGINAL: GreedyTop jaybee.. that is a totally insensitive remark.. How DARE you minimize the sacrifice that man made? just because some chose to dodge the draft (for whatever reason) does not mean that those who lost their lives in combat were LESS, which is what your comment implies, to me. Well, they were a DAMN sight less intelligent, obviously. shame on you

GreedyTop -> RE: An Incredibly Moving Speech By a Vietnam Vet (11/16/2010 7:25:43 AM)
hear hear, Take!!

tazzygirl -> RE: An Incredibly Moving Speech By a Vietnam Vet (11/16/2010 12:43:18 PM)
~FR I was waitressing after 9/11. Never failed, a military uniform walked into a restaurant, they walked out without a bill. I recall other men arguing with each other to pay those tabs. Wasnt a big thing, and the uniformed soldier in question was often embarrassed, but would just nod and say "Thank you". Cut forward in time to last week. A local boy was going back to Afghanistan, came in to meet one last time with his extended family... party of 8. It was a somber event, very quiet, alot of whispering going on. The owner of my place decided he would pick up the tab. 2 other customers beat him too it. Regulars customers who left their credit cards to cover the cost, insisting they be allowed and they would pick up their cards the next morning. One stated... "I dont like the fact that they are there. I do support those who are there." We arent always happy about the battles our government chooses to fight. Im not always happy about the tables i have to wait upon either. Im sure some of you arent always happy with the jobs you are assigned with, just as many of these soldiers arent always happy with their assignments. In that aspect.. it is just a job. But, as we have seen on this thread alone, its not a job that just anyone is willing to do. So, for whatever reason they do decide to take up their "arms" and head off into battle, i salute them.

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