Judge back from Kuwait with praise for youth [younger generation doesn't deserve negative comments]

JAX Times Union ^ | 11-19-04 | GREGORY PIATT

[OXENinFLA]

Ruth says Guard tour showed him younger generation doesn't deserve negative comments he's heard.

By GREGORY PIATT
The Times-Union

Duval County Judge James A. Ruth returned to Jacksonville this week after nearly a year as a Florida Army National Guardsman serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lt. Col. Ruth earned a bronze star for meritorious service while on the staff of the Judge Advocate General's Office at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait. Back in his Jacksonville office Thursday, Ruth talked about his deployment with the 50th Area Support Group.

Q: What were your expectations before deploying and what are they now after spending a year in Kuwait?

I know America has the best trained fighting force in the world. I felt that going into our support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and felt that as I departed. Now, I have personal data and experiences to support those feelings and beliefs. I understood I was deploying with a unit, fellow soldiers. I now have a new appreciation which I didn't have. Now, when I deploy, I deploy basically with my family, my friends, my co-workers and a whole host of support mechanisms and different people who support me. The support was overwhelming. You know your family and friends support you and you don't take that for granted. But what was really amazing was the people who support you who don't know you. [Before you deploy] you don't know about those people and organizations and how they are really passionate about supporting American troops.

[OXENinFLA]

From the last question

I wish everyone in this country could see the youngsters -- who at one moment play video games or listen to rap music or whatever and then in the next moment they are ready to put their lives on the line for this country -- so they can put away these notions of the lost generation. What I saw of this generation doesn't agree with negative things people say about this generation

Just wow!

[OXENinFLA]

GOTTA READ THIS!! PING...

[Ready4Freddy]

Great article. How does a JAG officer in the rear get a Bronze?

[OXENinFLA]

Try this again..............

GOTTA READ THIS!! PING...

[OXENinFLA]

Q: Overseas deployments have hurt the National Guard with its recruiting nationally. Many have left the Guard because these deployments have interfered with their families and jobs. How did your fellow Florida Guardsmen take the deployment and will they and you continue on in the Guard?

What a loaded question.........

[dakine]

"bronze star for meritorious service"

Quick look here, tells me he received MSM (Meritorious Service Medal), the bronze star (small "b") denotes he had already received an MSM and this is a second or third, etc. one...

I could be wrong, but I can't read entire article...

[starfish923]

Great article. How does a JAG officer in the rear get a Bronze?

Good question. But I have an answer.

There are two "tracks" in the military now. Both, it seems, are EQUAL in value.

1. One track is the combat track. You know, the one that GENERALS used to take to become generals.

2. The second track is the, um, administrative track. That's the one that is NON-combat...where women and, er, others become generals. Our past general presidents were NOT in this track.

It's my guess that JAG officer and Bronze Star met in the grueling paper-combat war.
Perhaps I am being a tad judgmental here.

[starfish923]

I have no idea how the word "equal" got into my Starfish name....pushed many a wrong button, I guess.

[Ready4Freddy]

Perhaps. :>) Tough to trudge the combat track when there's no combat.

Was wondering if the bases in Kuwait had been attacked - didn't recall any reports of that.

[starfish923]

Excuse me, but is this a positive article about those nasty Muslim Arabs?
I thought this wasn't allowed on fr.

[Ready4Freddy]

That's your tagline. You probably typed it in when posting at some point. Delete it next time you post a reply.

[starfish923]

Tough to trudge the combat track when there's no combat.
Yes, it is. Part of it all is the TIMING.
Hard for me to have a ton of respect for any general who never saw combat. Just old habit, I guess.

Was wondering if the bases in Kuwait had been attacked - didn't recall any reports of that
I don't either. But, our media reports exactly what they want us to know and see. No more, no less. It's all a carefully constructed, politically crafted package. We are taught whom to hate and whom to love by our beloved media.

[ken5050]

Please see especially comments 6 & 7 this thread..might be worth a discussion/link.on the "Foxhole"..I was very surprised when I read it initially..now, I'm confused.

[Chieftain]

...is this a positive article about those nasty Muslim Arabs?

You are reading something that's not there. The was ZERO mention of Arabs OR Muslims in this article PERIOD.

Why are you that confused?

[OXENinFLA]

Excuse me, but is this a positive article about those nasty Muslim Arabs?

What are you talking about?

[Parity]

"bronze star for meritorious service"

Hate to burst your bubbles, folks - but one can get a Bronze Star without necessarily coming under direct fire. Oh - you do have to perform the "meritorious service" in a place designated as a "hostile fire" or "combat" zone, which Kuwait is. But basically, the above line tells me he got a Meritorious Service Medal-equivalent because he was in the right place.

That's why a Bronze Star can have a "V" device, indicating valorous action(s) while under hostile fire, as opposed to simply serving in the right area (not denigrating the service, just making the distinction.)

This distinction is what caused the hullabaloo over Kerry's Silver Star with spurious "V" device. Unlike the BSM, the SS is ALWAYS for extraordinary - read valorous - action under hostile fire.