Posted on 10/03/2018 3:29:16 PM PDT by jazusamo
66-70, and I make sure it is understood that I am an Era Vet.
Ooops...I must apologize.MIT,unlike most colleges, doesn't have an athletics program.My post was meant to poke not so good natured fun at Bluementhal but I forgot that not everyone is a sports fan! :-)
Exactly.Everyone who's served honorably in our Armed Forces has sacrificed *something*.But those who have served in combat have sacrificed enormously.Of course to claim yourself to be greater than you actually are is beyond disgraceful...particularly in this kind of situation.
Ex-Democrat governor of Florida admitted to “purposeful misstatements” when phone banking voters about Social Security.
DEMOCRATS ALWAYS HAVE “PURPOSEFUL MISSTATMENTS”. THEY CAN’T EVEN ADMIT TO LYING!!
I would put a lot of emphasis on the word "relatively".
I spent my time "behind the wire" for the most part. The greatest risk I probably faced was getting killed or injured in a vehicle accident. I've never seen the actual numbers but have heard that a very high number of troops died in "non-combat" accidents.
Next in line to that might have been a form of "friendly fire" caused by high numbers of unhappy, hard-drinking (or drugged up) troops.
Finally there was some risk from disease. Not that long ago there was a medical alert sent out recommending that Vietnam Era Veterans get tested for hepatitis. Despite having not been a drug abuser, I found through testing that I had naturally occurring immunity to hepatitis A and B. Some believe that the air-gun vaccine injectors were responsible for spreading blood borne diseases. It's also possible that I contracted hepatitis from finding myself taking care of biological necessities while being in ankle deep sewage for weeks on end.
I think that I have read that every soldier in combat requires five or more soldiers behind the lines for support. I spent a lot of time on guard duty; ready to face whatever arrived. I once spent 17 hours one day without a break. I was very fortunate that the enemy went elsewhere.
I would guess that some of the veterans who returned having faced violent combat consider themselves very fortunate compared to those who were killed or seriously injured. I don't think it is as simple as those in combat and those "behind the wire".
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.