Journal FortKnox's Journal: Veterans Day 28
There is lotsa journals that are worthy of seeing today. Pirogoeth's definition of a veteran... btlzu2's list of people to thank, etc...
I just wanted to tell people about the veterans in my family.
My grandfather I never knew. Died before I was born. He was my mother's father and was a UDT for the Navy. That's "Underwater Demolition Team"... they were called "Frogmen"... basically the predecessor to the Seals. That's about all I know about his military background.
The two closest to home, though, would be my Brother-in-law. My wife's sister's husband. Before I was married, he joined the army (this was well before 9/11) and went into the foriegn language training. Became an Arabic Linguist. He ended up fighting in Afghanastan (no usage of his training there, just in infantry). Before he could leave, they put a stop-loss on his job (meaning, he can't leave unless they say so... they had a shortage of arabic linguists). So he ended up serving in iraq. Tactical intelligence (meaning, he was using his training, but was on the front line, not behind some desk at HQ). Worked in a unit of Aussie special forces.
They let him leave just before his second son was born so he'd be there for the birth. He went into army reserves to make it difficult to return back. Well, recently he moved to virgina to get a civilian contracting job with the government (using his arabic linguist skills). But, as with the army, the paperwork went awry. He wasn't transferred to the reserve unit in virgina, he was simply not attached to any reserve unit. That makes you a target. They needed an arabic linguist, so they go after the guys outside a unit... found him. He'll be travelling back to the army for training next week and will be in Iraq in January. His third son is to be born in March. He'll 99.999% sure will miss this birth...
Then there is my cousin. Kinda a rowdy kid. Held back a grade in school and stuff. He joined the army, and BOY did it clean him up. He ended up in a unit in Alaska, which he LOVED (he's a hunter), and went to training to be a scout. Shortly afterward, he went back into training, this time to be an army ranger. Then, of course, he was shipped to Iraq. He was a part of a recent carbombing in Baghdad. Caught in the concussion, he had half of his face ripped apart (stuff like, pulling shrapnel out of his eye, his jaw was broken and wired shut, etc...). He was in ICU and wired up to all kinda machines for a while. Was shipped back stateside where he is recovering (last I heard he was up and walking around).
Then came something that's political, so if you don't wanna hear about it, skip this paragraph... I get a call. George W Bush and Laura Bush visited my cousin. Told him what a terrific job he's done and how they are proud of him. They thanked, hugged, and apologized to his mother. They spent a good 10-15 minutes of their time just with my cousin's family. I was damn happy to hear that. I believe if John Kerry was elected, he wouldn't do that. I'm glad I was one of the 130k reasons Bush was relected.
So... I guess all I'm getting at is to thank everyone that is currently, or has served time. Red Warrior... thanks a bunch... and dude... stay safe!
I just wanted to tell people about the veterans in my family.
My grandfather I never knew. Died before I was born. He was my mother's father and was a UDT for the Navy. That's "Underwater Demolition Team"... they were called "Frogmen"... basically the predecessor to the Seals. That's about all I know about his military background.
The two closest to home, though, would be my Brother-in-law. My wife's sister's husband. Before I was married, he joined the army (this was well before 9/11) and went into the foriegn language training. Became an Arabic Linguist. He ended up fighting in Afghanastan (no usage of his training there, just in infantry). Before he could leave, they put a stop-loss on his job (meaning, he can't leave unless they say so... they had a shortage of arabic linguists). So he ended up serving in iraq. Tactical intelligence (meaning, he was using his training, but was on the front line, not behind some desk at HQ). Worked in a unit of Aussie special forces.
They let him leave just before his second son was born so he'd be there for the birth. He went into army reserves to make it difficult to return back. Well, recently he moved to virgina to get a civilian contracting job with the government (using his arabic linguist skills). But, as with the army, the paperwork went awry. He wasn't transferred to the reserve unit in virgina, he was simply not attached to any reserve unit. That makes you a target. They needed an arabic linguist, so they go after the guys outside a unit... found him. He'll be travelling back to the army for training next week and will be in Iraq in January. His third son is to be born in March. He'll 99.999% sure will miss this birth...
Then there is my cousin. Kinda a rowdy kid. Held back a grade in school and stuff. He joined the army, and BOY did it clean him up. He ended up in a unit in Alaska, which he LOVED (he's a hunter), and went to training to be a scout. Shortly afterward, he went back into training, this time to be an army ranger. Then, of course, he was shipped to Iraq. He was a part of a recent carbombing in Baghdad. Caught in the concussion, he had half of his face ripped apart (stuff like, pulling shrapnel out of his eye, his jaw was broken and wired shut, etc...). He was in ICU and wired up to all kinda machines for a while. Was shipped back stateside where he is recovering (last I heard he was up and walking around).
Then came something that's political, so if you don't wanna hear about it, skip this paragraph... I get a call. George W Bush and Laura Bush visited my cousin. Told him what a terrific job he's done and how they are proud of him. They thanked, hugged, and apologized to his mother. They spent a good 10-15 minutes of their time just with my cousin's family. I was damn happy to hear that. I believe if John Kerry was elected, he wouldn't do that. I'm glad I was one of the 130k reasons Bush was relected.
So... I guess all I'm getting at is to thank everyone that is currently, or has served time. Red Warrior... thanks a bunch... and dude... stay safe!
Seriously... (Score:2)
Re:Seriously... (Score:2)
He had half his face ripped apart... will probably be scarred for life because of it...
As him if he'd do it again.
I think you know his reponse.
Re:Seriously... (Score:2)
Are soldiers (and their families) exempt from the oaths of office that our politicians take? Aren't they meant to be protected and served by those in the halls of power?
But if asking "Did this really need to happen?" is wrong, well, then lock me up right now.
Re:Seriously... (Score:2)
Fortknox probably doesn't want this type of shit posted in his journal on a day like today.
1. My opinion doesn't matter because I'm not a US citizen? Well I'm a British citizen and British troops are dying in Iraq too, so it does matter to me. Even if soldiers representing my country weren't there dying in an senseless and unnecessary war, I'd still have an opinion and it would still matter to me if not to you.
2. FortKnox is a big boy. If he di
Re:Seriously... (Score:2)
To both of them I expressed the sentiment that the two words that best described my emotions upon entering the museum were humility and gratitude. I think tha
Re:Seriously... (Score:2)
Whatev! (Score:2)
Yeah. because Kerry has NO FUCKING IDEA what war is like! HHAHAHAAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Dude, you just made my day with that one! Rock on, FK!
Oh, and to keep shit on topic; Big tip of the hat to my gramps, #1 Jimmy, who served with the Fighting 69th in WWII, and is the other guy who came back. His pre-Pearl Harbor stories of Kaua'i where he managed to be a carpenter for the colonel and general are teh awesome (so are the pictures of him working
Veterans and presidents (Score:2)
I believe if John Kerry was elected, he wouldn't do that.
I believe exactly the opposite, and am 100% convinced that Kerry would have done the same. I also believe that it's a hollow gesture, no matter which of them holds the title of President. It's like politicians kissing babies. It's not done out of genuine concern (or affection for the babies). It's just one of those things that come with the job. May
Re:Veterans and presidents (Score:1)
I agree with you that K
Thanks (Score:2)
Armistice Day (Score:1)
Re:Armistice Day (Score:2)
You could claim that I did. Although I didn't. The fact is that I'd never heard of veterans day before a few days ago. To me, Nov 11th has always been, and always will be Armistice Day. It's a day to remember those who have died or been injured in active service. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the guns stopped firing, six hours after the armistice was signed.
Say thanks for me to your cousin (Score:2)
Re:Veterans are fags (Score:2)
Jesus, man... at least work at it and try to make it seem not like a troll...
Start off with an anti-war sentiment for Iraq... focus on killings of innocents... bring religion and politics in a little to lure in those people, then end up with something like "I hate all veterans, and think all of them are fags."
Try harder next time. Ain't no one biting on that shit.
Another poor trolling effort (Score:2)
Keep trying, though. I hate to discourage a newbie troll...
Re:Another poor trolling effort (Score:2)
See... this is why you need to work on your trolling better. You are letting me get to you instead of vice versa.
YHBT, HAND.