Now – concerning the “ex-military” bash – if – and that IS an IF – the conversation actually happened and was eavesdropped into, I have some doubts –
Were these people REALLY “ex-military” – there are scads of posers running around these days – I have personal experience with people who claim Ramboesque combat exploits – some never served at all. Some entered basic training and were separated for things such as “inability to adjust”. One guy publicly shed TEARS relating how “I DIED in Vietnam”, and bragged about his having been awarded the Silver Star – come to find out after I submitted a freedom of information act request about him, he DID serve during that particular conflict – as a FORKLIFT operator for a year in South Korea. While it is very true that anybody who ever honorably served in the military deserves respect – all the way and then some – regardless of branch or specialty, I’ve always angrily wondered why some who honorably served as say, heavy equipment operators or fuel delivery specialist tell tall “Special Forces / Ranger” tales of their exploits. My Father proudly served during the Korean War as a truck driver. Hated talking about the war, but never, ever lied about or embellished his experiences when pressed to actually speak about them. He left service as a PFC with an honorable discharge. Period. One local goombah claimed he was an active duty Infantryman – 11B (that was my MOS for 21 years before I retired, so I have some knowledge about these things) stationed at - get this – Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri and Ft. Gordon, Georgia – I pointed out that unless he was assigned to Drill Sergeant duty or some sort of special assignment, that it was HIGHLY unlikely he could have been assigned to either of those posts. He couldn’t get away from me fast enough when he found out I knew what I was talking about.
Having said that – real former warriors, IMO. Will be the ones people will turn to for advice, help and protection – not to say that all former military types are noble, honorable people (Charlie Rangle for example) however, I believe most are straight up.
Former warriors may have a low tolerance for stupidity and ignorance, but they usually DO understand honor and duty.
So, maybe the “ex-military” types that were standing around, as we used to say “selling woof tickets” weren’t at all the real deal.
I agree with you in summary as well as in detail. I have had the same experience with some “Ex-military” who turned out to be clerks.
By the way, I honor your dad in his truck driving, as they are very much part of the frontline war effort. My dad’s unit, for instance, use to line up when a truck pulled in with empty spam cans and waited patiently as their cans were filled up with the truck oil that was hauled in a 55 gallon drum in the back of the 2.5 ton. Cleaned their M1s and 1911 A1s with it. Most of those rifles and pistols came back to the armories still within military spec.
Truck drivers are one of the keys to winning a war. Logistics, logistics, logistics.