It isn’t hate: It’s apathy.
About one and a half million Americans have served in Iraq or Afghanistan. They want us to notice them. It’s disturbing, to say the least, to come home from a war only to find that nobody notices anymore.
They only noticed while we were losing.
How true! when I returned home in May of 2007 , I was invisible as I walked through the airport in my desert uniform. I guess the camouflage worked!
It is actually the news coverage. As one TV journo put it: “If we don’t cover it, it didn’t happen.”
The journos covered our defeat, at least that is what they propagandized. Our victory didn’t happen, because they didn’t cover it.
Same for much of the Abomination’s history and beliefs. Not covered, so didn’t happen.
And some of us are required to keep going, and going, and going…
And families are required to keep giving and giving and giving.
And it gets a bit much. Why do we bother for these stupid, willfully ignorant sheep?
Because that’s what we do. That’s who we are.
Even when it sucks.
d
Riveting read.
One of my students this semester is a Marine vet who put in two tours in Iraq. His left calf was blown up by a grenade, and he continued on in the service for another year. He received his Purple Heart at a ceremony with President Bush and fellow medal recipients. He said it was one of the greatest days of his life.
I’m moved to have young guys like that to teach, and I’m honored he took the time to share his service with me.
If you really enjoy being ignored, join the “Silent Service”! Our son recently returned from his 3rd patrol; you have to go through 3 levels of security to see the boat come in. That’s privacy!
…and it should be securely private, but when was the last you heard of a homecoming parade for the “Blue” or “Gold” crew? They’re out there, on guard for all of us, all of the time. I’m aware only because I’m a proud father, but I know when it comes down to it, many truly do care about the sacrifice the Submarine Service makes on a daily basis.
20 years, six deployments and no parades. The first one on Independence had a high school marching band and cheerleaders/baton twirlers and families at Pier 12 Norfolk. It was a freezing cold January day, ie. 30 degrees and 30 knots of wind.
When I came home in may of 1981 on Ranger, the news was there in force. A kid died while in CCU during the deployment, so the news had to find out who was to blame. The first wife was able to make it to North Island for this one.
But these were “just” Cold War and Iranian Hostage Crisis deployments, so I guess they didn’t count. Except to those who were there.
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=3.0.2613781085
A tragedy, indeed, that so many Americans sacrifice so much to support a regime that locks up defenders of basic rights for all.
Not much has changed… in my time I expected nothing, and aside from the GI Bill for law school, for which I’m very thankfull, received nothing….we all just wanted to blend in, move on, forget about it …
an example… First year law school (1973) sat next to very quiet, unassuming “hippie type” ( I’ll call him Cal) you know wild hair, granny glasses, Fu Manchu mustache…long sleeve tie dye shirts…nice guy in all but he was a flippen hippie… deserving nothing less than to be nuked along with the rest of the flipping hippies , right ?
Well not quite …as you’ve probably guessed and as I found out almost half-way through the year , ole Cal was a vet , a Marine grunt with scars on his arms, chest and back to prove it …ergo the long sleeve shirts. I approached him on it we had a short discussion of our time in country and that was it…we sat next to each other and socialized on occasion for the rest of law school and I’ve crossed paths with him professionally over the years…but we’ve never again spoken about RVN…
and so it will be with these Vets…their time will come …they know what they did…and in the final rollcall thats all the matters. Best
PS, Sorry to go on about this but the first paragraph of the linked article brought it forth.
I’ve been to the airport several times to see family off, or pick them up, and every time I look for anyone in uniform coming off a flight. If there is no family waiting on him/her, I will go up and shake their hand and simply tell them, “thank you”. If their family is there, I do not intrude on a very personal moment. Same for sporting events.
I can tell you one place that servicemembers get appreciated: ANY NASCAR race. They get good seats, deep discout tickets, infield passes, the whole nine yards. Us NASCAR fans love our military folks.
Oh, and my drive? He’ll be driving for the US Army next year. Dale Jr. used to drive for the Navy.
Funny thing: You know how the Blues like to take newsies and big time personalities up for a ride, make sure the “bag” gets filled, that they get to “sleep”? Dale Jr. took a hop, all you could see is a big smile and “whoo-eee!” a lot, even in the 7 g turns. Never came close to ralphing, much less sleep. Was turning his head all around.
You’d be amazed at the fitness of NASCAR, CART, F1, and other drivers. About the only other sport where the physical fitness is better is in professional-class BMX (bicycle moto-cross).
The g-forces are tremendous, perhaps not 9 g’s but a solid three and four for three and four hours.
As for appreciating servicemen, whenever I see a uniform in the airport I shake their hand. If I see family, I simply render a salute from a polite distance. I know I’m not supposed to do so, traditions and all, and especially without my cover, but it’s not like I can be demoted now.
Thing is, how am I supposed to tell a vet out of uniform? He joined the service as an anonymous American, a representative example of the youth our country has to offer. Unless he’s wearing his service on his sleeve, I’ll never know in day-to-day interactions.
Seems kind of up-front of me to ask about it. If he wants to mention it, he will. If not, he won’t.
– Max
If I’d been given the choice between how I was received when I got back from RVN in 1970 and being ignored, I’d a-picked “being ignored”…
Like Max & Byron, I never pass on an opportunity to thank a soldier for his/her service. Except if they are with family. Though once I made an exception to that rule: heading out on vacation this past June we noticed a small group clearly getting ready to say good bye to one of their member. Lots of tears going around. And a camera with no one among them able to take a decent picture for all the crying and emotions. So I stepped in and offered to take whatever photos they wanted.
Their gratitude was embarrassing. Very young man and his even younger girl – she could hardly stop crying for the pictures. I shook the young man’s hand and thanked him for what he was about to do. He was very shy but very polite – Thank you ma’am.
I went back and sat with my husband as we waited for our flight to board; I kept my back to the small group so they couldn’t see my own tears.
So young.
And I agree with Max – if they are not in uniform how can we thank them? Not that it’s their fault they aren’t in uniform, but I’d thank them all if I knew they were there.
BillT, Being ignored by the civilians was just fine with me then and it still is now…oh and Welcome Home Brother*. Best
* A VN Vet ( I didn’t know) said that to me in parting last month. We ran across each other at the Home Depot and had a “when were you in country?…and who were you with ? conversation …I damn near lost it.
BillT, Being ignored by the civilians was just fine with me then and it still is now…oh and Welcome Home Brother*. Best
* A VN Vet ( I didn’t know) said that to me in parting last month. We ran across each other at the Home Depot and had a “when were you in country?…and who were you with ? conversation …I damn near lost it.
When I returned from Afghanistan this last June there was a crowd in Baltimore welcoming our flight. Mixed emotions, though. I didn’t feel as if I deserved the attention but was happy that no one was there to spit on me either. I just wanted to get home to my family and try to leave the guys and guns behind for a while.
But as I walked past those patriotic folks applauding my return the moment turned to tears as I saw strangers, Americans all, with the same tears in their eyes at my returning and those who flew home with me. We all were weary and beaten by seeing too much suffering and trying to make a difference so I question the look I must have had on my face but inside I was so happy to see them! People are still there, in Baltimore at least, welcoming our soldiers home. As the past four months have passed I find that I am more and more grateful for their effort. Even now, writing this, it hits me hard. Thanks America, love ya right back!
Danger – you likely also went thru the Bangor, ME airport when you first got back to this country. I’m sure the reception you got there was quite similar. My mom lives on the coast of Maine and gets to Bangor a few times a year for travel. She’s been very fortunate each time to see troops coming or going. Hugs, tears, cell phones, goodies – she sees it all and gets to be part of it.
To my endless jealousy.
Hey Kris,
My Mom, rest her soul, used to go up to the Bangor airport, sandwiches in tow, to greet military flights.
Mainers are big on sandwiches and coffee!
They would hand them out to everyone getting off the plane for a rest stop. Usually ham salad or crab salad sammies.
She took great pride in their works.
I would love to hear from anyone that ate a ham or crab salad sandwich at the Maine airport. My mother loved all of you so.
We got welcomed back from Jordan at Westover Reserve Base… having only been out of the country for 2 months I didn’t feel I deserved it… other than our having to put up with a repeatedly broken C5 Galaxy for the trip back…
The hot dogs and burgers were first rate though!
OT – Babs, I’ve missed you.
Kris,
Yes, I left through Maine on my way to deploy. We were greeted then, too. I wasn’t prepared for a reception on my way out-country and, just after having a tearful good-bye on the phone with wife and kids, it was an emotional shocker. Good food, though. A lady handed me a 1-lb bag of hard candy and we munched it all the way to Kuwait. I hope those folks know what a big deal their efforts are. Huge!