Vietnam Era Vets, Kindly Shut The Hell Up

[Firestorm]

What the hell? Every time there is any piece on the news or a show about the returning veterans from the conflicts in Iraq or Afghanistan, some ancient jerk off in BDU’s they likely bought at the local thrift store gets on there and whines about the lack of assistance for Vietnam vets.

Your war is over. Yep. Sad to have to be the guy to tell you, but Vietnam is over. The last soldier left in the last helicopter out of Saigon in April 1975. More than thirty years ago. Please stop trying to turn every single television opportunity that CURRENT veterans to share their experiences into yet another useless, whining diatribe about how Vietnam vets got the shaft, no parades, no benefits, etc.

Seriously, enough with your bullshit.

I am so tired of hearing how “today’s military” couldn’t handle a “real war” like Vietnam. Really? A real war? Funny how when I was up to my ass in Panamanian rebels getting shot at and having every other ass head in the country trying to blow us up, felt pretty damned real to me. Felt equally real escorting a convoy and getting ambushed by some raghead with a cell phone and too much time on his hands. If what I experienced wasn’t “real” war, please tell all my friends and combat buddies that they can all come back now, the game is over. While you’re at it, you can fix my moderate hearing loss from that IED, since it didn’t happen in a “real” war.

Did you get the shaft? Yep. You lost. Losers don’t get parades and accolades and the prom queens cherry. Sorry that you got fucked over, but deal with it and move on already.

I don’t see any other group of vets pulling this shit. I have yet to see a WWII or Korea era vet stand up and whine about not getting a parade or not getting their just recognition. I sure as hell don’t see them crying like little bitches on national television every time a returning combat soldier from Iraq, Afghanistan or any other CURRENT conflict gets a little air time. What makes this even sadder is that I know several veterans, who served in Korea, then Vietnam and then moved on to the next shit hole and you don’t see these guys whining. The only ones whining are the idiots who were drafted, one tour wonders, etc.

In short, if you’re really as macho as you portray, then kindly walk into a chopper rotor, step on a mine or whatever it is you need to do in order to shut the hell up.

[Josie]

Mhmm. yep.

[KommieKat]

Did you get the shaft? Yep. You lost.

And you guys didn't?

Excuse me, but what exactly did you win?

Seems that both of you got shafted.
It's just a matter of time when current military personel will realize this, unless you're way behind the lines and taking advantage of every offer they have for training and education.

[CrAnIuM]

Vietnam vets.

I'm going to 180 on this one.

The average age of a Vietnam vet was ~19.

Troops of that era were openly lied to. ( At least my era had mostly plausible lies)

Most Vietnam Vets saw nearly constant combat.

US troops were never given the Armor and close support Aircraft that they asked for to nullify the Vietcong. Troops were often not allowed to pursue and rarely allowed to take the fight to the enemy.

OFFENSE wins war. Not DEFENSE.

Poor kids were screwed. Offered nothing. Given nothing. DRAFTED. Treated like shit on return. <-- double that for Black poor kids.

Abandoned by the system that forced them into indenture.

Overshadowed by the unfair attempt to compare them to the "greatest generation". Circumstance of 1940's combat and civil support can not be compared the mid 1960's. Civilians were far too anti establishment to care for the military or for any action taken by "Tha Man"

They are constantly told that they LOST the war.

The WAR is not even called a WAR in some text books. Its labeled as a "Police Action".

^ A man in that scenario is condemned by his fellow man. Unjustly blamed for a POLITICAL action.

Warriors don't often start wars. Politicians almost always do.

Vietnam vets have MY full and honest respect.

***

WWII vets. Well hell, A foreign nation invaded our soil. Occupied parts of the US protectorates, bombed our shores and ports, killed our civilians and peace time military. There was an open aggression in democratic Europe. There was almost NO way for the vets of WWII to not feel as if they were fighting a just and deserving WAR. Nearly ALL media was pro military. Nearly ALL industry was pro military. The American Flag was greeted with nearly universal cheer and approval as it rolled into yet another formerly occupied city.

The average age of a WWII troop was ~24. Most WWII troops did NOT see constant combat. Some sure, but not all.

A Man ^^ in that scenario walks with his head high and shoulders back. Proud. And rightly so.



Korea vets have a similar story to Vietnam vets but AT least can say that they engaged REAL uniformed communist troops on the field of battle. And helped nulify communist expansion (arguably)

********************************************

I will say this though.

The US is soon to start having "hero fatigue" 10 years of combat for folks that stay home and are consistently inundated with stories of bravery and grand maneuvers is starting to have a toll of folks.

I mean that in a way that people no longer pay attention to car alarms. When was the last time you noticed a car alarm and actually thought "oh shit .. a thief!! ". Same goes for reporting about combat, it gets too common place and loses its value.

[proper stranger]

And you guys didn't?

Excuse me, but what exactly did you win?

Seems that both of you got shafted.
It's just a matter of time when current military personel will realize this, unless you're way behind the lines and taking advantage of every offer they have for training and education.

Bingo!

[proper stranger]

I'm going to 180 on this one.

The average age of a Vietnam vet was ~19.

Troops of that era were openly lied to. ( At least my era had mostly plausible lies)

Most Vietnam Vets saw nearly constant combat.

US troops were never given the Armor and close support Aircraft that they asked for to nullify the Vietcong. Troops were often not allowed to pursue and rarely allowed to take the fight to the enemy.

OFFENSE wins war. Not DEFENSE.

Poor kids were screwed. Offered nothing. Given nothing. DRAFTED. Treated like shit on return. <-- double that for Black poor kids.

Abandoned by the system that forced them into indenture.

Overshadowed by the unfair attempt to compare them to the "greatest generation". Circumstance of 1940's combat and civil support can not be compared the mid 1960's. Civilians were far too anti establishment to care for the military or for any action taken by "Tha Man"

They are constantly told that they LOST the war.

The WAR is not even called a WAR in some text books. Its labeled as a "Police Action".

^ A man in that scenario is condemned by his fellow man. Unjustly blamed for a POLITICAL action.

Warriors don't often start wars. Politicians almost always do.

Vietnam vets have MY full and honest respect.

***

WWII vets. Well hell, A foreign nation invaded our soil. Occupied parts of the US protectorates, bombed our shores and ports, killed our civilians and peace time military. There was an open aggression in democratic Europe. There was almost NO way for the vets of WWII to not feel as if they were fighting a just and deserving WAR. Nearly ALL media was pro military. Nearly ALL industry was pro military. The American Flag was greeted with nearly universal cheer and approval as it rolled into yet another formerly occupied city.

The average age of a WWII troop was ~24. Most WWII troops did NOT see constant combat. Some sure, but not all.

A Man ^^ in that scenario walks with his head high and shoulders back. Proud. And rightly so.



Korea vets have a similar story to Vietnam vets but AT least can say that they engaged REAL uniformed communist troops on the field of battle. And helped nulify communist expansion (arguably)

********************************************

I will say this though.

The US is soon to start having "hero fatigue" 10 years of combat for folks that stay home and are consistently inundated with stories of bravery and grand maneuvers is starting to have a toll of folks.

I mean that in a way that people no longer pay attention to car alarms. When was the last time you noticed a car alarm and actually thought "oh shit .. a thief!! ". Same goes for reporting about combat, it gets too common place and loses its value.
I agree with almost all of your post.
ALL who have served this country at the risk of their own lives deserve our respect, thanks, and ANY assistance they can squeeze out of the current govenment.
Also, I think that the Vietnam Vets got the shaft big time.

[proper stranger]

You lost.
Vietnam Vets lost nothing..The politicians lost that one for us.

[Zeabot]

OFFENSE wins war. Not DEFENSE.
I think that slips a lot of people's minds. We were pussy footing around in Vietnam because we didn't want Big-Daddy Russia sending in the clowns.

[Mamba]

I'm going to 180 on this one.

The average age of a Vietnam vet was ~19.

Troops of that era were openly lied to. ( At least my era had mostly plausible lies)

Most Vietnam Vets saw nearly constant combat.

US troops were never given the Armor and close support Aircraft that they asked for to nullify the Vietcong. Troops were often not allowed to pursue and rarely allowed to take the fight to the enemy.

OFFENSE wins war. Not DEFENSE.

Poor kids were screwed. Offered nothing. Given nothing. DRAFTED. Treated like shit on return. <-- double that for Black poor kids.

Abandoned by the system that forced them into indenture.

Overshadowed by the unfair attempt to compare them to the "greatest generation". Circumstance of 1940's combat and civil support can not be compared the mid 1960's. Civilians were far too anti establishment to care for the military or for any action taken by "Tha Man"

They are constantly told that they LOST the war.

The WAR is not even called a WAR in some text books. Its labeled as a "Police Action".

^ A man in that scenario is condemned by his fellow man. Unjustly blamed for a POLITICAL action.

Warriors don't often start wars. Politicians almost always do.

Vietnam vets have MY full and honest respect.

***

WWII vets. Well hell, A foreign nation invaded our soil. Occupied parts of the US protectorates, bombed our shores and ports, killed our civilians and peace time military. There was an open aggression in democratic Europe. There was almost NO way for the vets of WWII to not feel as if they were fighting a just and deserving WAR. Nearly ALL media was pro military. Nearly ALL industry was pro military. The American Flag was greeted with nearly universal cheer and approval as it rolled into yet another formerly occupied city.

The average age of a WWII troop was ~24. Most WWII troops did NOT see constant combat. Some sure, but not all.

A Man ^^ in that scenario walks with his head high and shoulders back. Proud. And rightly so.



Korea vets have a similar story to Vietnam vets but AT least can say that they engaged REAL uniformed communist troops on the field of battle. And helped nulify communist expansion (arguably)

********************************************

I will say this though.

The US is soon to start having "hero fatigue" 10 years of combat for folks that stay home and are consistently inundated with stories of bravery and grand maneuvers is starting to have a toll of folks.


Great post ! Would give you kudos but it won't let me so...


And


I mean that in a way that people no longer pay attention to car alarms. When was the last time you noticed a car alarm and actually thought "oh shit .. a thief!! ". Same goes for reporting about combat, it gets too common place and loses its value.

Desensitization - right there!

[KommieKat]

There is not need to quote the whole damn post.

You can simple quote like this:



Great post !............
right there!

Please think of this for the future, or is this a case of "Sentiment" that you've got to carry everything over from the past, like one of those hoarders you see on cable TV that have a pile of diapers full of shit that has sat in the corner of the living room for over 10 years because they had their water turned off and were too goddamn lazy to change their lives, leave the past behind and move the phuck on.......

[Josie]

have a pile of diapers full of shit that has sat in the corner of the living room for over 10 years because they had their water turned off

..huh?

You're so randomer.