Posted on Jul 21, 2014
Combat vets how do you feel toward non-combat vets?
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I am a non-combat vet retired in 2004. Never deployed in the first Gulf war, Iraq or Afganistan. My Commander and my Cheif chose to leave me home to care for my wife. Not my choice but I appreciate what they did for us. She was diagnosed with Multiple sclerosis in 2001 and breast cancer in 2003. All of my buddies have deployed and I miss that little connection they have when we all get together. So I wonder is there any animosity by combat vets toward non-combat vets. My buds say I'm one of them it doesn't matter. Don't get me wrong I am proud of my service and have a son serving now. Was just curious. Thank you for any feed back.
Combat
Military Life
Service
Duty
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 205
MSgt (Join to see), just remember the saying ... A Veteran is someone who, at one point, wrote a blank check made payable to ‘The United States of America’ for an amount of ‘up to and including their life.’ Just because your country didn't cash the check, it doesn't mean that you didn't write it.
There was another post where someone was talking about not feeling like a 'real' veteran because they didn't deploy. My response is basically the same - if we were police officers and I was put in a position where I had to use my weapon or was shot at, you would be no less a 'real' police officer than I just because you were never in that situation.
As MSG Wade Huffman stated, "No animosity here; hold your head high, Brother!"
I do share LTC Paul Labrador's sentiment - I do look down on you if you're one of those that are not willing to share the risks though.
There was another post where someone was talking about not feeling like a 'real' veteran because they didn't deploy. My response is basically the same - if we were police officers and I was put in a position where I had to use my weapon or was shot at, you would be no less a 'real' police officer than I just because you were never in that situation.
As MSG Wade Huffman stated, "No animosity here; hold your head high, Brother!"
I do share LTC Paul Labrador's sentiment - I do look down on you if you're one of those that are not willing to share the risks though.
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Sgt Douglas Hadley
I was active duty Air Force during the first Gulf War....I did not deploy, though my bags were packed...I feel like I a missing a piece of comradery with my fellow Vets who did....I have been going through mental health issues at my local VA Hospital, and I hear the stories from the combat vets and see the issues they are struggling with and it makes me feel ashamed that I am using resources that I feel I did not earn....I want to be able to relate and help where I can, but feel so useless....reading this post does help, but I just don't think I have earned the right to sit with those who served in active combat zones....
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CPO Nate S.
Sir "... A Veteran is someone who, at one point, wrote a blank check made payable to ‘The United States of America’ for an amount of ‘up to and including their life.’ Just because your country didn't cash the check, it doesn't mean that you didn't write it." Truer words were never spoken!
People somehow forget, some checks get cashed and some checks get cashed in part only to be redeemed by by others for the lessons offered and learned by those whose checks were partially cashed (aka disable vets).
My father was a combat vet and while I deployed I never saw combat. But, for my buddies who did we all had a spirit that knew we supported each other regardless. Again sir. Great words. Correct words.
People somehow forget, some checks get cashed and some checks get cashed in part only to be redeemed by by others for the lessons offered and learned by those whose checks were partially cashed (aka disable vets).
My father was a combat vet and while I deployed I never saw combat. But, for my buddies who did we all had a spirit that knew we supported each other regardless. Again sir. Great words. Correct words.
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What you did serving your wife was as or more honorable than those of us who go "downrange". I know when I deploy, I clean up everything at home. I can't imagine how you would have felt if you had left her to be cared for by the rest of your family. You get a BIG THUMBS UP from me.
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SFC (Join to see)
I love the Army but there is no way Im leaving my wife or child with that type of serious issue or condition. If I was a CSM or BN Cdr I wouldnt even LET you go if you wanted to.
There are some things that are just way more important than the Army.
There are some things that are just way more important than the Army.
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SSgt Keith Titus
Family first (if the military will let you). I had a wife that had breast cancer twice and took care of her. (As a civilian), You did great.
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From where I sit there is no such thing as a combat veteran and a non-combat veteran. We all elected to lay down our very lives, if necessary, to defend and protect this nation, those we love and it's way of life. Because of that there is truly no distinction, so whether you performed in theater or not, you were there with all those you knew and all those you didn't know. If you wore a U.S. military uniform, you stood shoulder to shoulder with them all on either side of the spectrum. For any combat veteran that seems to have a probably with any non-combat veteran, remember this, if you cut, it is I who will bleed.
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SGM Joel Cook
1LT Lee Chr - well put sir. Having seen the elephant (been to combat) and not are two horses of different colors. One color is not better that the other just very different. Both very good, honorable horses. Two soldiers that were both deployed at Camp Victory or Balat, Iraq have a unique shared experience that is easy to understand with others that were there. One or two sentences explains almost everything. Not so easy to explain to those who were never there. Books have been written trying to explain the experiences and probably left things out.
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Cpl Cory Clark
What is this nonsense??? The military is a near perfect hierarchy as you'll find. You rate what you've earned, nothing more, nothing less.
Those who served in combat earned something you haven't, regardless of your feelings.
Signed a non combat veteran.
Those who served in combat earned something you haven't, regardless of your feelings.
Signed a non combat veteran.
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