Marines - always heroes?

[BBF]

......................
....................................  He went in a boy and came home a man, ready to become a contributing member of society...............

Good for him and you that he came home having eyes to see and  all his limbs attached.
Not all are that fortunate having gone to an endeavor to achieve what?  A place that will never change for  people that prefer to be as they were and want foreigners off their land.

[burntmuch]

Maybe not all heros, but I thank them for defending my country. Thats their job. They dont pick the wars, They fight them. Years ago when I was in the army ,I was at an airport bar waiting for a flight, An old guy bought me a beer, & said thank you. He didnt ask my political views or what I thought of the currant war being fought. He bought me a beer & said Thank you. So I do the same 20 years later. Simple as that.

[powderman]

Maybe not all heros, but I thank them for defending my country. Thats their job. They dont pick the wars, They fight them. Years ago when I was in the army ,I was at an airport bar waiting for a flight, An old guy bought me a beer, & said thank you. He didnt ask my political views or what I thought of the currant war being fought. He bought me a beer & said Thank you. So I do the same 20 years later. Simple as that.

 
BURNTMUCH. Good post, and thank you for your service. POWDERMAN. 

[ironglow]

  Perhaps you who are so quick to denigrate the service  being performed by do not have someone near and dear who has served in the last few, very active years.   My grandson served as a Special forces Marine, I met many of those he served with in Al Anbar Province, which includes Ar Ramadi and Fallujah..their daily tasks included raids on so-called "safe houses".  When he wasn't raiding such places, he was riding shotgun (.50 cal) atop a humvee, or with a friend, sharing sniper duties for his company.
   These raids were about exactly like the now well publicized raid to get Bin Ladin performed hundreds of times in Ramadi and Fallujah.  It takes a special type man to steel himself to this task day after day.  Yes when they blow a door open on a compound and go get the terrrorists..meanwhile, giving the terrorists the advantage of concealment and surprise...
     
....If you can't hit a 4" bullseye at 200 yards...don't try to mock the guy who can hit the same target at 500 yards..DUH..
 
  Do you know what a sniper's duties sometimes entail ?  Sometimes it is a one-on-one exchange with an enemy sniper..a "high-noon" moment.  Yes, these troops are heroes !  H---L  yes..they are heroes..
 
   If you are unable to hit a 4" bullseye at @)) yards, don't try to trash-mouth the man who can hit it a 500 yards !

[nw_hunter]

As an old Veteran, I can see both sides to this. First off, I take exception to the writer and his shame on you BS over and over.Most who die in combat are just children (Teens)Shame on them for being young I was, as most are still a teen when I enlisted in the Army. I was , as Travis Tritt said in the song....10 feet tall and bullet proof. We were told a US soldier was the greatest fighting machine on the planet, and we believed it. I understand the logic behind this, and it works.We had to be turned into mindless robots, ready to follow orders without question.I also understand this. I don't understand someone believing everyone who puts on a military uniform is a hero.We have cheapened that word.Most of the people I met in the Army were good people, and some were sorry pieces of dung.I'm sure all branches are the same.Some could have displayed acts of heroism in combat, while some cowered and cried like baby's.I would like to think I would have been in the first group.I never had to find out. I was one of the lucky ones.
I agree totally with Gen.Smedley Butler USMC. War IS a racket, and only a handful profit from it, but many die because of it, and most are just children.SHAME on those who send our young off to die for their greed.

[BBF]

 
As an old Veteran, I can see both sides to this. So can I if it is really in defense of your country.........................
....................................I don't understand someone believing everyone who puts on a military uniform is a hero.We have cheapened that word. Very much so !
 
 
I never had to find out. I was one of the lucky ones. Neither did I. I served while there was nothing being invaded or westernized against their will.
I agree totally with Gen.Smedley Butler USMC. War IS a racket, and only a handful profit from it, but many die because of it, and most are just children.SHAME on those who send our young off to die for their greed.
 
Spot on!!

 

I would have been very disappointed if one of mine would have volunteered for the Service in the present political climate.

[ironglow]

I'd be disappointed if they had turned tail and ran....    Different values for different folks, I guess..

[Nuke41]

Our oldest has already completed his 4 year enlistment and is back in civilian life, our youngest gets his commission in the Army next year.  And I'm VERY proud of them both.

[Bravo 51...Over]

     I've spent several days pondering how to respond to the OP and some of the posts on this thread.  I've tried to think of some witty sayings to get my point across and have come up lacking.  Then, I simply saw it clearly, just read my signature, that says it all.
 
Semper Fi!

[nw_hunter]

Our oldest has already completed his 4 year enlistment and is back in civilian life, our youngest gets his commission in the Army next year.  And I'm VERY proud of them both.

I'm sure you are! As you should be.
I have a Grandson in the Navy that served on the USS Ronald Reagan. He is now finishing his enlistment at the Naval Hospital Barracks in San Diego. I think he went in the hosp. last November. After deployment to Japan for aid to the tsunami victims He was diagnosed with a fast growing malignant brain tumor and has undergone two surgery's, and is now taking Radiation treatments.I am proud of him! His brother graduated H.S. last year, and almost joined the Marine corp, but has decided against it. I am equally proud of him!

[goofyoldfart]

I spent 4 tours in the University of South East Asia. I am NOT ashamed of doing this. I believed that I was fighting for my country and constitution. After many years of thinking about why we were there---well, I believe that we started for many of the right reasons but that out government failed us and bailed. it was as much about weapons testing and money and P.C. Don't think I would go again if I was able. I was one of many young ones that fought that governmental fiasco, and yes, they spit on me and threw crap filled bags amongst other items. I think that the ones that volunteer are one form of "HERO". the mere fact that they are still willing to defend the country in spite of it's PC insanity, the whoring of it's politicians, the greed and the laziness of many of the "NannyState Sheeple" who won't make an effort to work but just make babies to up the $$$ ante and then not take care and be parents-------WELL, HELL YES THEY ARE HEROS.

[goofyoldfart]

I spent 4 tours in the University of South East Asia. I am NOT ashamed of doing this. I believed that I was fighting for my country and constitution. After many years of thinking about why we were there---well, I believe that we started for many of the right reasons but that out government failed us and bailed. it was as much about weapons testing and money and P.C. Don't think I would go again if I was able. I was one of many young ones that fought that governmental fiasco, and yes, they spit on me and threw crap filled bags amongst other items. I think that the ones that volunteer are one form of "HERO". the mere fact that they are still willing to defend the country in spite of it's PC insanity, the whoring of it's politicians, the greed and the laziness of many of the "NannyState Sheeple" who won't make an effort to work but just make babies to up the $$$ ante and then not take care and be parents-------WELL, HELL YES THEY ARE HEROS.

on another note: Yellowtail3--your name sounds like it's apropos.


ETA--wasn't done and hit wrong key.

[powderman]

GOOFYOLDFART. Good post Sir, I agree with EVERYTHING you said. Your charachter asessment seems to be rt on too. POWDERMAN. 

[yellowtail3]

on another note: Yellowtail3--your name sounds like it's apropos.
ETA--wasn't done and hit wrong key.

You ought to expand on that a bit, Goofy. What is the note you wish to strike? Whatever it was, is sure did excite Powderman!

[Victor3]

 My Grandfather was an Army ambulance driver in WWI who rescued US soldiers under fire several times. A true, decorated hero that I'm proud of.
 
 My Dad enlisted in the Navy at 19 right after Pearl Harbor, not knowing where they'd send him. He ended up being a radar tech who never saw combat. He told me to look to Grandpa for a war hero in the family. Dad always protested loudly when anyone called him a "hero," simply because of his WWII service.
 
 Grandpa begged Dad to avoid the military. He'd seen the horrors of war and didn't want his only Son to experience it. Does that make my Grandpa a traitor?
 
 Based on history, I believe the war in Afghanistan to be a serious blunder that the US should have avoided. That said, am I a traitor for telling my only child what I think of the war, discouraging him from joining the military today?

[BBF]

I'd be disappointed if they had turned tail and ran....    Different values for different folks, I guess..

For getting away from the warmongers that need more Cannonfodder, I'd buy their plane tickets.

[lakota]

 
 Based on history, I believe the war in Afghanistan to be a serious blunder that the US should have avoided. That said, am I a traitor for telling my only child what I think of the war, discouraging him from joining the military today?

You are not traitor. I think both of these current wars are blunders too, but I am not going to blame a person who enlists for causing these wars as this article suggests. If this article were printed on paper it would be fit to wipe my backside with.
 

[RevJim]

 This just my personal opinion, you understand, but I never had a problem if a draft dodger went to Canada, even though the rest of us was considered 'cannon fodder". It was their choice. I "did" have a problem with Jimmy Carter "pardoning" them so they could return. What's the deal, I thought? If this nation ever really did need a draft again, why indeed should anyone go? And I don't personally see how the 'current" anarchist protestors are really preserving our freedoms, to me, it's like shouting "Fire" in a theatre but claiming it's my First Amendement right. Freedom of Speech is the Right to say the Right Thing, not blatherskite. (I just learned that word, first time I got to use it,ha)
Just my opinion, no one else is expected or required to have the same. I think we are reall deep in the no win Politics/Religion discussions, of course. ha