A Real Man

[George Gervin]

I love George Bush. He is the best president of all time.

[Drbio]

stfu Gervin. Take it to the political thread. Why does this Gervin asshole continue to be allowed to troll our forums?

[Drbio]

chummy- I don't know your motivation, but I watched two of my good personal friends go off together a little more than a year ago and welcomed only one back so excuse me if I find your "original" post not worth a crap.

[chumdawg]

Doc - The piece is a nice tribute to soldiers who bravely fight in battle.

[I think it's quite condescending to the rest of us, but I'll leave it at that.]

[dalmations202]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

Doc - The piece is a nice tribute to soldiers who bravely fight in battle.

[I think it's quite condescending to the rest of us, but I'll leave it at that.]

Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 minutes.
You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.
*You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends.
You make sure your cell phone is in your pocket.
You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you.
You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
You complain about how hot it is.
You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.
Your maid/spouse (*) makes your bed and washes your clothes.
You go to the mall and get your hair cut.
You're angry because your class/work(*) ran 5 minutes over.
You call your girlfriend/wife(*) and set a date for tonight.
You hug and kiss your girlfriend/wife (*), like you do everyday.
You roll your eyes as your baby cries.
*You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.
*You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men like him.
*You see only what the media wants you to see.
You are asked to go to the store by your parents/spouse/children (*). You don't.
You stay at home and watch TV.
You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get comfortable.
*You sit there and judge him, saying the world is probably a worse place because of men like him.

------------------------------------------------
He stays up for days on end.
He goes days or weeks without running water.
He gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.
He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.
He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.
He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.
He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.
He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.
He doesn't get to eat today.
He wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are clean.
He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.
*He's told he will be held over an extra 3 months.
He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.
He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.
*He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet.
*He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and remembers why he is fighting.
He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded.
He sees the broken bodies lying around him.
He does exactly what he is told.
He takes whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep, and eat.
He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap, only to be woken by gunfire.


Chum, I think Doc wants to tribute the men who do this for us. It isn't about what we do, but what they do. I do nearly everything in the top list NOW - except the lines that have an asterick in front of them. I am a combat vet. I did everything in the bottom list except the ones that have the asterick beside them -- ( my first child was 2 years after ETS)

I have had family in the 1st Marine Division (Afghanistan) when they went in. He is back home. I had family in Iraq in the Air Force as a mechanic. He is back home. Their stories are not as nice as you have heard. I still have a cousin who is stationed in Saudia Arabia right now, and is there now. Another cousin just retired June 28th. If I had stayed on Active Duty, I would be able to retire in less than 2 years (provided I was still alive).

One of my best friends that I grew up with was a communcations Sgt for 12 years in the Navy for nuclear subs.

I think I have a pretty good idea of how soldiers think, and how it all works. The tribute is never enough. They do so much more, even when they don't realize it. Most of the time, soldiers are really just doing their jobs. They do what they are trained to do -- just like police officers, and firemen. They sign on the dotted line to do it though. Most don't want to fight, nor want to go to war -- but are willing to give it all for this "way of life".

The tribute isn't meant to be condescending to those who don't do what soldiers do. As I have said, I do most of what is written as being what normal civilians do, and so do most soldiers - when they have the chance. The difference is that the soldier is "Willing" to go farther and give more than most "voluntarily".

[Drbio]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

Doc - The piece is a nice tribute to soldiers who bravely fight in battle.

Damn right it is.

Originally Posted by chumdawg

[I think it's quite condescending to the rest of us, but I'll leave it at that.]

Bullshit.