Wow what a low blow to me moshi....I've been in the military 8 years and counting and I hope for your ake we never meet >

My Grandfather served in WWII, many of my relatives (including my Dad) served in Viet Nam. I am not in the military because I could never kill anyone (or anything for all that matters). *BUT* (there is that but again) I have every respect in the world for our military. When push comes to shove, they are the ones that will be protecting my butt. They are willing to risk their lives to protect the rest of us.

My Grandfather cleared body parts off from runways so that the planes would not run over them. He was quite old before he would ever talk about what he had to do in the war. I also believe that he would rip the arm off anyone he saw burning a flag. He was patriotic. He didn't always believe in the government, but he always believed in America. I learned a lot from him.

To reply in short....

I WAS BORN IN A COLD PHILADELPHIA DAY IN 1775
I WAS WITH THE MEN IN THAT BAR WHEN THEY DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO GO I WAS THERE WHEN LT OBANNON GOT HIS SWORD I WAS THERE TO TURN BACK THE PIRATES ON FAR OFF SEAS I WATCHED THE BRITISH BURN OUR CAPITAL YET LEAVE OUR HOUSE ALONE I WAS AMONGST THE MEN FIGHTING THERE BROTHERS ON LAND AND SEA I STORMED THE BEACHES OF FAR OFF LANDS NAMES OF PLACES THAT HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN I REMEMBER BEING THERE AND WILL NEVER FORGET I WAS THERE TO FIGHT THE REBELS IN SPANISH JUNGLES I WAS THERE TO GO OVER THE TRENCH LINE I WATCHED THE ARTILLERY FOR WEEKS ON END I EARNED THE NAME TEUFULHUNDEN WITH MY BLOOD I WAS AT THE CANAL I WAS READY FOR THE JAPS THE ISLANDS WERE OURS AND WE BLED FOR EVERY INCH I WAS BLED ON THE CORAL REEFS I WENT WHEN THEY SAID THE LANDING COULDN'T BE DONE I FROZE BUT WOULD NOT LEAVE ANYONE OR ANYTHING BEHIND I BLED IN THE RICEPADDYS I WAITED FOR THE ANGELS TO COME AND PICK US OUT OF THE DIRT I BLED FOR 77 DAYS ON A HILL THAT WAS TO BE GIVEN UP I FOUGHT HOUSE TO HOUSE TO TAKE A CITY I WAS SPAT ON I WAS CALLED EVIL THINGS I WAS THE ONE WHO THEY SAID KILLED THE CHILDREN I WAS THERE WHEN THAT BOMB WENT OFF AT OUR HOME THAT FATEFUL DAY I WAS THERE TO FEED THE CHILDREN
I WAS THERE TO CLOTHE THE HOMELESS
I WAS THERE TO BUILD HOMES FOR STRANGERS
I WAS THERE TO TOPPLE CORRUPT GOVERNMENTS
I WAS IN THE DESERT WHEN I WAS CALLED
I WAS DOING MY JOB AND GOT DONE IN A COUPLE HOURS I WAS AT THE FIRST GROUND ENGAGEMENT
I WAS IN THE PARADE THAT WAS DESERVED ALMOST 2O YEARS PRIOR I WAS THERE WHEN THE PLANES FLEW INTO MY BOSS'S BUILDING I WAS THERE AT THAT LONELY OUTPOST FOR CHRISTMAS I WAS CLEARING THOSE CAVES
I WAS TAKING THOSE RPG'S, AK'S, IT WAS WAR
I AM THE WORLDS PROTECTOR I HAVE FOUGHT ON FOREIGN LANDS I SPILLED MY BLOOD FOR COMPLETE STRANGERS I HAVE WATCHED MY BUDDIES DIE IN MY ARMS I FELT THE BLOOD POUR OUT OF MY BODY I HAVE DIED A THOUSAND DEATHS FOR A COUNTRY I LOVE I AM THE REASON AMERICA SLEEPS EASY I WILL NOT LET LIBERTY BE LOST I REFUSE TO LET PEOPLE DISGRACE MY NATION I WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FOUGHT FOR IT, FREEDOM HAS A TASTE THE PROTECTED WILL NEVER KNOW YOU CAN DISGRACE MY LEADERS YOU CAN SPIT ON ME YOU CAN THINK WHAT YOU WANT YOU CAN SAY WHAT YOU WANT YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT BECAUSE I AM THERE
TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS I DIE SO YOU DO NOT HAVE TO I CHOOSE TO GIVE MY LIFE UP FOR THIS COUNTRY I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO WITH IT BUT I MAKE IT SO YOU HAVE A CHOICE TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT ALL I WANT IS TOMORROW AS I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I FEAR NO EVIL, FOR I AM A UNITED STATES MARINE.

TILL THE LAST LANDINGS MADE
I WILL STAND UNAFRAID
TILL THE LAST BUGLE CALL
SOUNDS TAPS FOR US ALL
SEMPER FIDELIS

MEN IN AMERICA SHALL TURN IN THE BEDS KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN HERE FROM NOV 10 1775 TILL THE END OF TIME WE IN IT SHALL STAND ALONE WE FEW, WE HAPPY FEW, WE BAND OF BROTHERS FOR HE WHO WHERE'S OUR EAGLE, GLOBE AND ANCHOR SHALL FOREVERMORE BE MY BROTHER

BY THE MEN OF THE UNITED STATES MARINES

"I also believe that he would rip the arm off anyone he saw burning a flag. He was patriotic."
-KarmaGirl

Depends on how it's burned... I've been to a few flag burning ceremonies sponsored by the VFW for retiring old flags.

The only proper way of destroying a flag is by burning it yes but it must be requested and authoized by compitent authority.....

My father fought in WW2...intercepting radio transmissions from the Germans in Crete...he shot and got shot at.
My Uncle 'survived' Changi....HE NEVER TALKED ABOUT IT to his death....a half century later.
If it weren't for Whitlam pulling conscription I'd have been fighting a 'police action' in Vietnam....[timely election for me]....

Now, I'll just be thinking of the Australian soldiers in the Middle East about to die....in support of their Allies and in opposition to tyranny.

All the rest of this thread is just irrelevant 'crap'.

Jafo goes back to keeping a watching brief...

Green Armani,

A lot of times I bite my tongue when people ask me what my travels and experiences were like in the military. I take on a silence and most of the time just mutter, "I'd rather not talk about it". It's similar to Vietnam Vets not talking about their experiences. Most of the time I'll get strange looks from people when I say I don't want to talk about it, but the simple reason that I DON'T talk about it is that they can not comprehend it. It is not right to expect people to be able to relate to and understand those experiences and I'd often find myself wasting my breath in explaining it. People wonder why it is that we can talk amongst each other and be free about what we say and that is simply because in a way, we all have experienced similar and can relate to it. That is something that people who have not served are "privied" to. Most of the citizens of nations sit at home and watch the news and speak with what they think is a valid opinion of the situation. Meanwhile we have been in those theaters of operation and have experienced life there. We know the smells of the streets of the middle east, we know what the water tasts like, and we know the evil we are facing. That is something that our "protected" can not relate to.

Pay no mind to the ignorance for it is their bliss...


And Elfkura, sometimes in life, a little discomfort does the body good... While I was having my skull cracked open, you were safe and sound in your bed sleeping. So deal with the pain of my caps in a single post and HIT yourself..

UHRBid, I was referring to people burning the flag in protest or to be stupid. I am quite aware of the flag burning ceremonies. The VFW retires mine every few years in such a way.

I'm going home now. Goodnight everyone!

I read it, and got a headache from it, very well, I'll just hit myself

Elfkura slams her head down on the desk

No worries, it's not my loss...

I'd stomp the crap out of someone who lit up a flag with me standing there...

I did not go into the service and into basic training 2 weeks after turning 17 to see that kind of bunk, want to protest, go ahead, want to burn something, burn your bar, your SAT's, Utility Bill,etc.

Burn the flag and you have got coming to you whatever happens...
That is not freedom of speach that is ignoance in action and done to illict a reaction..

Besides I've been to the county lock up for issues of someone harming another who could not protect themselves, so I did it for them, I would be more than willing to protect that flag even at the proice of sitting in the tank for a few days... Freedom of speach after all

I'm on duty at this time and I have the privlige of raising and lowering the colors at my command for a week and if you can't feel a sense of pride in doing that then I don't know what is.....just some useless info I guess