Thank you for your service. That sounds trite, but it is true and sincere.

Thank you also for telling us, who were never in the military, what great sacrifices were made, and reminding us that if not for people like you we would not be able to appreciate the freedoms we have, freedoms many (especially the new generations who were not required to study history) take for granted.

I have seen some of the movies you cannot bear to watch; I was deeply moved by the experience. But two hours in a dark theater can only begin to hint at what hell war was. So I say again, thanks for going there, being there, and enduring scorn from those who thought the world would have been a better place for people like you not showing up. These are mere words, and actions do indeed speak louder, and remain in one's memory longer, but your words touched my heart, so thank you.

I lean towards the Swiss, Israeli and others plan, everyone serves in some way, not just military. But I think I like the way Robert Heinlein did it in "Starship Troopers" better, and I don't mean the awful movie - the original book. Everyone is a citizen with rights except only those who serve (voluntary with other service than military provided) can vote, run for office and hold certain kinds of jobs. It also included a mandatory high school level class on doing service - taught by a former service member. So everyone gets to pick, live a comfortable full safe life or spend a certain number of years serving and then you get to help run the government etc. You have to earn it!

This morning my cousin sent me a video about a movie out now called, The Last Full Measure. It is about an Air Force rescue helicopter crewman who drops through the jungle canopy to rescue wounded soldiers in Vietnam. I have not seen the movie yet and do not know if I will. But this is my response to her.

Please let's not let this go to The Attic. My heartfelt thank you to the Airman who saved the wounded and dying.


Thanks for sending that. I have seen the listings for the movie but had no idea what the movie was about. I don’t know if I will go see it but if I do it will be by myself. That is for these times when I may end up sobbing and don’t want to look like an idiot. I also choose when the movie is about to end playing at that theater so there may not be anybody else in the theater when I am there. I can watch some of these movies nowadays but in the past I could not watch any of them. I have never seen Full Metal Jacket nor Platoon because it was just too much too soon. Dan and I could not wait to get to Vietnam and to be involved in a fighting killing war. Honestly we still feel we did the right thing and are glad and proud we served. But it does take a lifelong toll on those who participate. Occasionally coming home isn’t what it is cracked up to be when thinking of those left behind. No neither of us is going to do away with ourselves. We made our decision way back and to us it is still the best decision we could have made. I am just saying it is costly in many ways. Like living to old age going into battle in a real life war isn’t all fun and games. It is not for the soft hearted among us.

To every one of those in all branches who have served in a battle zone I salute you all for fighting the demons that others refuse to face for the good of us all. I salute all of you also for fighting the demons after the killing has ended. Perhaps that is the hardest war of all.

For those of us who fought in Vietnam those demons can be the worst. Looking back I see coming home to even best friends who called me a baby killer, my Boy Scout troop master who cursed me out for doing the wrong thing when even today I feel in my heart I did the right thing. People who have not been there and done that have no idea what it is like to do your best and then be put down for doing just that for years on end.

Dennis

I lean towards the Swiss, Israeli and others plan, everyone serves in some way, not just military. But I think I like the way Robert Heinlein did it in "Starship Troopers" better, and I don't mean the awful movie - the original book. Everyone is a citizen with rights except only those who serve (voluntary with other service than military provided) can vote, run for office and hold certain kinds of jobs. It also included a mandatory high school level class on doing service - taught by a former service member. So everyone gets to pick, live a comfortable full safe life or spend a certain number of years serving and then you get to help run the government etc. You have to earn it!