Posted on May 2, 2024
SGT Kevin Hughes
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Whenever I am lucky enough to be around Combat Veteran's and they open up about their experiences, I shut my mouth and listen. Some of their conversations would give most folks chicken skin. And sometimes, they just talk about horrendous experiences as just another day at work. So here is one conversation I was lucky enough to overhear.

So picture a Korean Veteran, a Vietnam Vet, an Iraqi Vet, and Afghanistan Vet, all Purple Heart recipients. All just waiting to get some Lab Work done. None of them had known each other, but gave each other that head nod recognizing their Service.
So I point out the fact that those of us who served before 9/11 were all wearing baseball caps with: Korea, Vietnam, Cold War or a Unit patch on them. The other two Veterans were the youngest, and they were just in Civilian attire. And their baseball caps were John Deere and Pittsburgh Team caps.

So then we find out they were in Iraq and Afghanistan. And since we were all waiting to give blood, the subject of blood led to the discovery of how they were each wounded. Two were shot, three were blown up. And one of them, amazingly had been both blown up AND shot. Jesus.

As the story unfolded I was in awe. For the conversation shifted to the difference in how you got blown up, and whether it was worse to be shot, or blown up. And all of the ones blown up, had shrapnel still in their bodies! They laughed about how that makes it tricky when going through Security at the airport.

I hung on every word as they discussed the fine points, and pro's and con's of how you get wounded. One of the guys can't go in a pizza shop. He said the heat from an open pizza oven, puts him right back in the Humvee blown out from under him. The guy who had been shot, can't walk in front of a window, or open door. Then they all laughed when they talked about War movies when guys got blown up and people were yelling Orders. They all agree that when you get blown up, you can't hear Sh*t.
Then, like old people on a Cruise Ship comparing Gall Bladder or Appendix scars, they lifted pants legs, and shirts to show criss cross webs of scars left from multiple surgeries.

They never did decide if it was better to be blown up, or shot. But I can tell you this, as we got called in to get our blood drawn, everybody stood up and hugged the guy going in. And the amount of laughter in that conversation would have scared the bejesus out of most folks. I salute them all. Heroes. Every single one.
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LTC Marc King
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Great story…
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SGT Kevin Hughes
SGT Kevin Hughes
6 mo
Thanks Colonel, I just noticed you have a CIB on your Uniform. I never really thought about what it is like to not only care about yourself and your brothers in arms, but to carry the weight of Leadership - knowing you might have to order someone to do something you can't be there for. The Other Colonel opened my eyes to that. A young Lieutenant he was when one of his guys got hit. How you guys learn to laugh again is beyond me.
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LTC Marc King
LTC Marc King
6 mo
SGT Kevin Hughes Your service to the country whether in combat or not marks you as a unique American - an American who served the nation! Make no mistake all who served deserve the thanks of a great-full nation.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
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Not as good as your story, but I get similar whenever I go to the base clinic for appointments or lab work.
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SGT Kevin Hughes
SGT Kevin Hughes
6 mo
Yeah Colonel, I am lucky that we have a Clinic Right at our Airport, and it is busy. I can usually start a conversation and then back out when the stories come out. My wife calls it
: "Being Kevinized. If Kevin is there eventually he will get a story out of you. I have seen it a thousand Times."
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LTC Self Employed
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Tne Kuds force of Iran under General Soleimani. His military killed and wounded some of my soldiers. One of my soldiers lost an eye, some fingers and one leg below the knee. The precision made shape charges go right through humvee armor, like a light saber. Stupid Nancy Pelosi got mad when President Trump did this but not when Biden killed a top ISIS leader.

I bet at least 200 American service members lost their lives to precision Iranian IEDs from the Kuds Force.

https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-killing-qasem-soleimani/

President Biden still allows Iran to sell its oil. He wants a nuclear deal with families dropped most restrictions. He is the appeaser in Chief just like Neville Chamberlain of the modern era.
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel LTC Eugene Chu
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter Lt Col Charlie Brown Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen CPT Jack Durish LTC Stephen F. CSM Charles Hayden 1SG Russell Scott 1SG Patrick Burke SFC Dr. Jesus Garcia-Arce, Psy.D SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC John Davis LTC Trent Klug CDR Andrew McMenamin, PhD Col (Join to see) 1st Lt Padre Dave Poedel CPT (Join to see)

LTC Marc King LTC Thomas (Tom) Jones
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SGT Kevin Hughes
SGT Kevin Hughes
6 mo
Colonel, I can't imagine carrying the grief and responsibility for those you led, who got hurt, or didn't come home. Your heart is big!
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LTC Self Employed
LTC (Join to see)
6 mo
SGT Kevin Hughes I was only a first lieutenant, But I knew that pfc in headquarters. He was a driver resigned Some of the others I went to ramp ceremonies but they were part of my brigade and I didn't know them.

When the general was killed, I immediately flashback to C-130 Hercules The six soldiers, The flag draped coffin followed by the chaplain and all present. rendering present arms.

Babylon Bee made a parody of democrats. The way they act now is not a parody anymore.

https://babylonbee.com/news/democrats-call-for-flags-to-be-flown-half-mast-to-grieve-death-of-soleimani

The brain washing on campuses today it's sickening. And I suspect that the DMC will have a 1968 riot all over again in August. Instead of north vietnamese flags it will be Hamas and Palestinian flags.
https://babylonbee.com/news/democrats-call-for-flags-to-be-flown-half-mast-to-grieve-death-of-soleimani

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel LTC Eugene Chu
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter Lt Col Charlie Brown Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen CPT Jack Durish LTC Stephen F. CSM Charles Hayden 1SG Russell Scott 1SG Patrick Burke SFC Dr. Jesus Garcia-Arce, Psy.D SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC John Davis LTC Trent Klug CDR Andrew McMenamin, PhD Col (Join to see) 1st Lt Padre Dave Poedel CPT (Join to see)
1SG Dean Mcbride (MPER) (CPHR)
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