What did the war mean to you?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 01:18:06 -0400

I have been deployed 4 times. im in the af, and by no means infantry, but I have served along side them. I know what its like to see your buddies get messed up. Do you think we fought for freedom like we were told? or was it for the guy next to you? I personally feel, that most of the American public are sheep that will believe anything they say on the news. I know why I went over there....and it wasn't to protect our rights.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 22 at 2014 1:20 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 01:20:29 -0400

War means job security and purpose for us... Without it, we're a vestigial organ..

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Mar 22 at 2014 8:18 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 08:18:48 -0400

Going to war to me means eating steak, shrimp, and lobster every Friday on the COB/FOB.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made May 26 at 2014 2:43 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Mon, 26 May 2014 14:43:32 -0400

To me, the war meant doing whatever it took to complete the mission and take care of my Soldiers.

Response by SFC Collin McMillion made Jan 20 at 2015 2:17 AM

SFC Collin McMillion — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 02:17:31 -0500

I am an old disabled vet, but I did take an oath before God to obey my Comander and Chief, and defend my country domestic an foreign, so my opinion on why we were or are where we may be really has no bearing. Our motor was " to free the oppressed", so even if called on today I would go. If we don't honor our code and act on our own opinions and beliefs we can not succeed. We may even fail as a group, but at least we will do it together as brothers in arms.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2015 2:19 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 02:19:07 -0500

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. There are things I desperately want to forget and things I will always remember. Sometimes it was the most fun a guy could have with his clothes on... OK there was that time, but what happens in the MRAP stays in the MRAP.

When I slice past your car going faster then the law allows, in traffic, while dancing in my seat to Wierd Al's "White and Nerdy" I am also trying to get closer to that feeling of concentration, that sense of focus. Feeling my body kick up to amber, tracking all the inputs and knowing that if I screw up I could die makes me feel that much more alive.

But then see the scars, on the inside. I look at friends who can't stand up right or are committing suicide by bottle. I restrain myself from snapping at young troops who just don't understand.

It is Joy and pain, love and heartache, fear and exhilaration, boredom and terror, and everyone has the same but different experience. I only miss it about once a week now.

Now I know what real love looks like and thus this colorful world looks emotionally dull.

"How many Veterans does it take to screw in a light bulb?"
"YOU DON"T KNOW CUZ YOU WEREN'T THERE!"

I am more critical of people these days. Before the war I wouldn't be as aggressive about facts and research. But there is hate in me for people who don't do the research, I lay blame there and it is not fair. But Hate is rarely reasoning.

After going I am rarely afraid anymore. Not sure that is a good thing.

It was the best time in my life, it was the worst time in my life.