Whom here has served in the armed forces of the USA or any country...
I will leave whatever politics may be involved aside for now. I don't know how many of you over 18 years of age have served in your country's (any country...) military service. I suspect not many, I could be wrong. I know there are a lot of very young people here at AI.
I did serve. I fought in the first Gulf War. What I mean is I had to kill some of Saddam's troops. I lost my political innocence there. I wasn't there for the suspension of hostilities as I had shipped out after taking shrapnel from an exploding APC that was right next to me. The APC was hit by some errant rounds coming from a 'Hog. The rounds use depleted uranium cores. Don't think I don't wonder how "safe" those cores really are... That was a painful experience.
Not as painful as the thought of the father, brother or son that I had to kill. It still haunts me although time has done much to ease the memory of it.
I went there as conservative Republican. Not a "whatever the party deems" Republican but nonetheless. I know Gulf vets that were exposed to some kind of chemical, they are still suffering physical effects and the Goverment is still f**king them around. Absolutely dishonorable behavior.
I recall very well Bush #1 asking the people of Iraq to rise up against Saddam. Granted he didn't promise to help them directly in their rebellion, but he did not state that we would "NOT" help them. So in effect, they were inspired to rise up against Saddam, thus showing their cards, and they got boned ugly for their effort. I just spoke with a bud who was a gunship Captain at the time. He was almost Court Marshaled because he fired (and blew up) on an Iraqui tank that was firing on old people and woman and children. This was of couse after the cease-fire. Schwarzkopf himself had to step in to to prevent the Court Marshal of a highly decorated officer...
No offense to any Kuwaiti AI members. I learned that Kuwaitis generally were reviled by ALL Iraqui's as being the greediest of nations in the area. Unfortunately, history bares this out. Next to the Saudi's, the Bush's are very tight with the powerful of Kuwait. There are still too many unanswered questions from this time in our history.
I've said it before. I know this is a quasi-fantasy at the moment. Until we rid ourselves of the yolk of oil, there will never be world peace. Never.
OK, OK, end of rant is at hand. Forgive me for going off track a bit.
Who here has served?
I did serve. I fought in the first Gulf War. What I mean is I had to kill some of Saddam's troops. I lost my political innocence there. I wasn't there for the suspension of hostilities as I had shipped out after taking shrapnel from an exploding APC that was right next to me. The APC was hit by some errant rounds coming from a 'Hog. The rounds use depleted uranium cores. Don't think I don't wonder how "safe" those cores really are... That was a painful experience.
Not as painful as the thought of the father, brother or son that I had to kill. It still haunts me although time has done much to ease the memory of it.
I went there as conservative Republican. Not a "whatever the party deems" Republican but nonetheless. I know Gulf vets that were exposed to some kind of chemical, they are still suffering physical effects and the Goverment is still f**king them around. Absolutely dishonorable behavior.
I recall very well Bush #1 asking the people of Iraq to rise up against Saddam. Granted he didn't promise to help them directly in their rebellion, but he did not state that we would "NOT" help them. So in effect, they were inspired to rise up against Saddam, thus showing their cards, and they got boned ugly for their effort. I just spoke with a bud who was a gunship Captain at the time. He was almost Court Marshaled because he fired (and blew up) on an Iraqui tank that was firing on old people and woman and children. This was of couse after the cease-fire. Schwarzkopf himself had to step in to to prevent the Court Marshal of a highly decorated officer...
No offense to any Kuwaiti AI members. I learned that Kuwaitis generally were reviled by ALL Iraqui's as being the greediest of nations in the area. Unfortunately, history bares this out. Next to the Saudi's, the Bush's are very tight with the powerful of Kuwait. There are still too many unanswered questions from this time in our history.
I've said it before. I know this is a quasi-fantasy at the moment. Until we rid ourselves of the yolk of oil, there will never be world peace. Never.
OK, OK, end of rant is at hand. Forgive me for going off track a bit.
Who here has served?
Comments
MOS 76 Juliet
I salute you three...
Originally posted by Powerdoc
Just did my military draft, has a doctor. One year in a military hospital ten years ago.
Same here 14 months as a conscript in 1985
Moogs, intent does account for something when action accompanies it. Thumbs up.
Originally posted by hardhead
What years (approximatly) Immanuel?
Nineteensixties to early eighties.
1996-1991.
2 years in Germany with the 3rd Armor Division.
2 years witht he 101st Airborne Division.
Spent 9 months in the gulf during the gulf war with the 101st.
MOS 68J - Aircraft Fire Control repairer.
Worked on weapon systems on AH1-F model Cobra Attack helicopters.
msantti
Immanuel, so you re-upped beyond Israel's basic requirements... Wow man!
Originally posted by hardhead
Immanuel, so you re-upped beyond Israel's basic requirements... Wow man!
Not really, the national service (three years), plus reserve duty, plus the occasional war(s).