Veterans Day

I know many people who have served in our armed forces in both peacetime and war. World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Panama, Gulf War and Iraq and Afghanistan and action less Cold Warriors. Some are friends of mine that I would trust with my life, some are guys I grew up with and have not seen in years. Some were strangers that have become friends, some were friends of my parents and some were friends of friends. They all have one thing in common. They are all better than me. When I say that I mean it and I am someone who thinks very highly of myself. When you look at a veteran you have to look at them differently you have to understand that these are people who have seen things that for some reason we have been spared the sight of. The life for war veterans should be like King said in Platoon "the rest of your life is gravy." In recent years I have made myself more aware of veterans and always ask if someone has served and thanking them if they did, maybe buying coffee if in an airport or near a coffee house. It is not enough, I know, but what else can we do. People always say it is the little things in life that make it great. I hope so, but we should do all we can for our vets. Without them there would be no little things.

These days the main debate of our politicians is government paid health care for everybody. Clearly this is a communist idea and against American principles. But I do solemnly believe that those that have served and were honorably discharged have earned the right, nay the entitlement of free health care forever. I am not talking about some government plan either I am talking top of the line and getting to the front of the line. Are you telling me that some WWII vet with medals out the ass should have to suffer at a government run VA facility while some 4F gets to see world renown doctors because he didn't serve and got rich? Yes it is a tough issue, I know but something must be done for them, all of them, from PTSD patients to Agent Orange cancer sufferers, to those too old to care for themselves. Forget the millions of useless welfare mooches there are people out there that have earned the right to get free health care and a pension. Enough of how the welfare system screws the vets in favor of lazy shiftless turds.

Armistice Day came along to signal the end of "The Great War" or as we call it now World War I, the "war to end all wars." How naive. There is just too much evil lurking in men with power soul's. Every day I respect our veterans more and more. Putting their lives on the line doing their duty. The wars we are fighting today and the constant rotation back to combat is hard on the men and women and families to whom we owe so much. It was the same for Vietnam vets and their 365 and a wake-up and the World War II vets and the points system. Any war any time all veterans and their families deserve our respect, admiration and thanks. Find out what you can do for them and do it; when we needed them they were there, it is the least we can do. So much will go left unsaid in this post so I will end with this: Thank you Veterans, for keeping our enemies at bay, and the sacrifices you have made. Peace.

Earned. Never Given.

We don't ask for anything more than everything you've got. And we will let you know when you've given it. You will be measured not by what you have, but how much of yourself you're willing to give. Not by your ability to pull yourself up, but by your commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder. Not by your strength, but your honor. you will not be given anything other than the opportunity to prove that you have the courage to stand on an impenetrable line of warriors stretching 234 years. Our title is earned, never given. And what's earned is yours forever. -- Marine Corps manifesto.

Happy Birthday Marines. This country owes everyone who ever served so much more than we can ever hope to repay. From the battle in Derna (Tripoli) where the Corps fought on foreign soil for the first time and the battle of Chapultepec (Halls of Montezuma)to the Boxer Rebellion and the Battle of Belleau Wood a 20 day slugfest with the Germans in WWI that ended with a marine Marine bayonet charge then they held off a counterattack with their supreme sharpshooting skills. The World War II island hopping Marines took heavy casualties in places like; Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Tarawa, Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Peleliu, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Tough men in Godforsaken places fighting their way to the home island and the end of the war. In Korea the Inchon Landing and the surrounded and cut off "Chosin Few" who decimated the 10 Red Chinese divisions who attacked them. Then they fought their way back to the sea and American forces. In Vietnam there were few named battles but the marines fought and won the battles although we lost the war thanks to a total lack of support back home from politicians. Khe Sanh is a place that no marine will ever forget 77 days under siege in that red dirt outpost. They fought in Panama, Operation Desert Storm,and helped out in Africa bringing humanitarian aid, and intervened in Kosovo. We all know what they have done and continue to do in Iraq in places like Fallujah and Ramadi and also in Afghanistan hunting Taliban and Islamo-fascists. These Marines continue to fight for our freedoms and die for each other, we can never pay them back but we must never stop looking for a way to let them know we appreciate them. Semper Fi! Happy Birthday and thank you Marines!