Posted on Aug 12, 2016
What It Means To Be A Veteran Without The Experience Of War
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I can't even guess at this one. I would say, if a military member can serve without going to a war, they're better off emotionally than a vet going to war. That's just my opinion. Why anyone would join up to go to war, and kill people, is beyond my understanding. I do not understand the fascination of what this Marine wrote. He only wrote it because he hasn't seen death and destruction a war will cause. I hope he never does. If he had witnessed war, I don't think he would feel this way. He would end up another suicde statistic, or have PTSD and carry the wat with him the rest of his life.
Without having been involved in combat, this veteran says he's left wondering what kind of man he is. As a Marine infantryman I wanted to kill like I’d been trained to do. The fact that I haven’t weighs on me. It’s a different burden than that of soldiers who have been trained to kill and do. It’s different, too, from the legless infantryman’s. Its weight comes from the scars I don’t have.
Without having been involved in combat, this veteran says he's left wondering what kind of man he is. As a Marine infantryman I wanted to kill like I’d been trained to do. The fact that I haven’t weighs on me. It’s a different burden than that of soldiers who have been trained to kill and do. It’s different, too, from the legless infantryman’s. Its weight comes from the scars I don’t have.
What It Means To Be A Veteran Without The Experience Of War
Posted from taskandpurpose.com
Marines
Warfare
Death
Experience
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 25
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SGT (Join to see) - This young man needs to stop devouring fantasies and playing video games where the superhuman warrior effortlessly defeats their morally corrupt bloodthirsty enemies. He should spend a few weeks working by the side of medics/nurses in busy aid station/field hospital/evac hospital where the sound of screaming men, women, and children . . . and the smell of the blood and burned flesh and hair would give him more sense of what it really means to be maimed for life or KIA. You don't have to carry a weapon to know what it takes to lead other troops critically engaged in the fight for life. Warmest Regards, Sandy
SGT (Join to see)
Thanks Sandy. Well written. I know what you went through and how you beat the odds. God Bless.
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I have always said no one is more anti-war, than someone in the military. Even at that, they suck it up and do what is necessary for the survival of this great poorly led nation. Thank goodness (or God) that we have such patriots since our beginning as a free country. Never carried a rifle, but all during my career I have heard from combat vets, we have some remarkable people. With or without the draft.
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My experience is I joined the Navy and ended up never even seeing a ship. I ended up on 2 deployments to Afghanistan (2004 and 2007-2008). Hell I am more bitter than I never got to go to any ports and drink like a sailor.
SGT (Join to see)
PO1 Dave Martin, Don't feel bad. I was drafted and made a friend during basic at Fort Polk. I got orders to go to Vietnam and he got orders to stay at Fort Polk the entire two years. It's a flip of a coin. Feel Better now? :-)
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SGT (Join to see)
MCPO Roger Collins, It's similar to smokers. No one is more anti smoking than an ex smoker. The same with a combat soldier. I hate reading about another casualty from a war whether it's suicide or KIA.
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MCPO Roger Collins
TSgt Anthony Elmer - You would be one of the few that admit to being pro-war that I have encountered. As I said most do what they are ordered to do with alacrity, but few enjoy it.
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