More London bombs (21st July)

FLYBOYJ · 07-27-2005, 10:45 AM

Thanks Eric, we look back and acutally laugh about some of my brother's antics, but back then we thought he was going to kill himself. Lots of "survivor's guilt."

evangilder · 07-27-2005, 12:55 PM

Not an uncommon problem, unfortunately. Glad he pulled through. I have a buddy that did 3 tours in Nam as a medic. He is fairly well adjusted, but he has told me stories that have been pretty horrifying.

FLYBOYJ · 07-27-2005, 01:04 PM

For awhile he would chase away anyone Asian who came near him. He thought they were all going to kill him. We were at a party and an Asian guy showed up - he told they guy that if he didn't leave he was going to cut his ears off!

Nonskimmer · 07-27-2005, 01:26 PM

Not Vietnam mind you, but I grew up with a couple of buds who are now in the Army and have done multiple tours to Bosnia and Afghanistan. Even though they were in Bosnia as peacekeepers, they found themselves in the odd firefight and of course, they found mass grave sites along the way too. Some of the experiences that haunt guys who've been in action are things that no one should ever actively seek out. They do their jobs as soldiers as best they can of course, and fight as they were trained to, but none of them want combat.

FLYBOYJ · 07-27-2005, 01:40 PM

What my family and I are fearful for is my brother, although basically straight and level today WANTS combat!!! He was supposed to go to Iraq twice and somehow at the 11th hour was "sent to the back of the line," maybe on purpose!

It's scary! We've tried to talk to him, but he says this is what he does and that's that! I seen something recently on TV where this soldier says you never get used to killing and if you do you better get out of combat cause you have no "death conscious."

Nonskimmer · 07-27-2005, 01:53 PM

It's a scarey thought. I've seen young battle school recruits who go in all full of piss and wind about killing and kicking ass and crap, and it don't take the "old hands" long to square them off about it. Especially the guys who've been there.

FLYBOYJ · 07-27-2005, 02:00 PM

What's scary is he's an "old hand." Most of the time he doesn't say much, but when he does you could see what his intensions are - he's looking for "payback" I guess.

I think when people in his unit see this 56 year old reservist, 2 tour Viet Nam veteran with a heavy infantry background ready to go back over seas to fight, they start asking questions......

evangilder · 07-27-2005, 02:14 PM

Yes, I would be very wary of someone like that. I've seen some action over the years and can tell you that it wasn't fun. When it was time to re-enlist or get out, the decision was not difficult. I hung up my cammies, burned a couple of certs that I knew I didn't need, or want, gave away or threw away alot of the combat comm stuff and left it behind. I didn't want any more to do with it. I still don't. If my family was threatened, I would go back into full mode, if I had to. But I have no intention of volunteering to go back to that life. I enjoy the peace and relative quiet these days and plan to keep it that way.

P38 Pilot · 07-27-2005, 09:54 PM

Well, i know war is terrifying by what i have heard. I havent been able to get on the computer lately so im sorry if I reply slow. LesofPrimus i am 13 years old to answer your question. My classmates this school year picked on me because i was a patriot. Thought i was a lunitic who talked only about war. They think war is a joke. A funny little game where they get to shoot a gun, a game where they get to go over seas and stuff and not care about it when they get over there. The reason im doing this is because nobody cares about history anymore.

Nobody at my school knew what D-Day was. Nobody knows what Memorial day is. All they cared about was that we didnt have to go too school. Every Memorial day we go to my dead Great-Uncle's grave clean it up a bit and put some flowers on it. Nobody cares about history or the sacrifices of our soldiers. All they care about is anti-patriotic music and themselves.

For those of you who may not know my great uncle was in the 28th infantry. He fought through the Hurtgen Forest, Battle of the Buldge and died right before they crossed over into Germany before getting knocked down by machine gun fire. Nobody cares and thats why i try to be a patriotic citizen so if im called to fight for my country, i will do it!

CharlesBronson · 07-27-2005, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plan_D

You can't give people like that jail time - they'll just do it when they get out. They should be killed!

Because is the only way, if the terrorist dont value his own life...why we should value for him...?

plan_D · 07-27-2005, 11:45 PM

Exactly, you don't value it. That's what I was saying.

FLYBOYJ · 07-28-2005, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P38 Pilot

Nobody cares and thats why i try to be a patriotic citizen so if im called to fight for my country, i will do it!

And thats good P-38! You're 13 - You'll have plenty of years ahead of you to learn more about being a patriot and what it means to be a member of the armed forces. In the mean time remember, education is a key that will place you levels above those who put you down for your current beliefs......

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 07-28-2005, 07:01 AM

P-38 there is nothing wrong with being a Patriot. Love of you country is great and no one can ever take it away from you.

There are a lot of people here that have more combat experience than I have but I remember when I was 13 and all I wanted to do was play war and think it was so fun and great. Now that I have seen combat in the Middle East and have been shot at and had missles fired at my helicopter and even flew the bodies of dead soldiers I know what it really is like. I dont care if I ever fire another gun in anger again. I dont want to see a combat zone again. I would be lieing if I said was not scared to death every day of my life afraid that I would not see my wife again.

Hold on to your youth P-38 and enjoy it as long as you can. You can never get it back. I know I am not the oldest person here with my 25 years but trust me when I say as you get older time goes by fast and you can not get it back. Enjoy the best years of your life while you can. Serving your country in the armed forces is a very big sacrifice to make and many pay the ultimate sacrifice.

As for leading men into combat and getting them back out alive. It is a lot harder than just doing.

evangilder · 07-28-2005, 10:49 AM

Well said, Adler. You may be 25, but the year you spent in Iraq gave you more years of life experience and you look at things much different now than before, I would imagine. It does change you.

P-38, I applaud your patriotism and wanting to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Serving your country is an honor that we all respect. You still have at least 5 years before you can sign up, enjoy it. Whether you choose to joini the military or not, you can still be a patriot.

FLYBOYJ · 07-28-2005, 02:37 PM

Wow Guys, we should be counselors!