My father volunteered for WWII and then when it was over and there weren’t any jobs, he joined the newly formed USAF and went to Korea and retired as an NCO. I once asked him when I was little why he joined and he said, “so you didn’t have to.”
He would never in a million years claim he was a hero, but I think he was and I think that of all of those who served. They deserve recognition, respect and a simple thank you.
The problem is that liberals believe the military is for people who have no other option so they look down upon them. The military is not a cushy job no matter your MOS and these people who join knowing full well they could be in a shooting war deserve respect and recognition.
Thank you to all the veterans out there, you are appreciated and respected and thanks to your sacrifice, I’m free to write what I want and worship how I want; Thank you.
You are welcome!
Very few living military veterans ever consider anything they have ever done as particularly “heroic”. Especially those who have a dusty junk drawer filled with medals and certificates.
Some gave all, all gave some.
Like your father, I would never claim to be a hero, because the sacrifices I made during my two terms of enlistment were because I had a specific list of people I personally represented, so they didn't “have to”, and also my own goals.
The only person who personally acknowledged me as a veteran today was my own daughter, born well over a decade after I left the DOD.
That was all I needed to chase away the shadows of bitterness that always comes on Veterans Day for me, as I remember all those that gave all.