www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Actually, you should change your name to ASSHAT, because that is what you are.

"we" didn't kill anyone in Vietnam, if you served and you did, then Lucy, you got some esplaning to do. I can put you in touch with the appropriate authorities and if you were in the service and if you killed innocent women and Ch*ldren, then I suggest that you contact them, they can try you in the appropriate court system. Just let me know.

Otherwise your gross and inaccurate generalization maligning veterans is not appreciated, ASSHAT .

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“Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” And we are the guys that keep them in Eggs & Grits

I won't get into the mix other than to say I would think a Vietnam veteran has the right to express his opinions and things he saw? Isn't that one of the freedoms fought for? Not trying to stir anything, just a point of view.

Yea, but there seems to be a time and place for everything..you started a thread thanking vets..his comments had no room in there..




Cujo

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"Pain is the fuel that fans the flames of my pyre. A battle plan is only as good as the general carrying it out on the field. This is my war son, and I have the biggest bombs and the smallest conscience"...

Probably late but still on my mind. Rarely post but this day has always been very special to me. Perhaps some of you have not read this.

YO Veterans:

Every year during Veterans day I feel quite somber. It’s a day to commemorate this country’s war veterans since this nation’s inception. Most Americans have no clue at to the significance of the sacrifices that out men and women have gone through during the wars and conflicts this nation has endured. Even more sadly, the younger generations are seemingly expelled from military history and as a result it provokes a disdain for our military and this country. They are unaware of the fact that almost no soldier wants to go to war but does so out of duty. There are no good wars but there were and is several million good men and women who answered the call of duty..including hundreds of thousands that made the ultimate sacrifice.

I visited a couple of local shopping malls yesterday as I do just about every veteran’s day. Not to shop but to seek out fellow veterans. I once wrote an article about “Lonely old men in the mall.” It is indeed a magnet for lonely people to wander, sit and seek the company of strangers. Many have no living family or are estranged from the family they have left. Then there are the individuals that are down on their luck or just don’t care anymore. You would be amazed to know how many of these people are veterans.

It was early and the mall had just opened an hour earlier. After walking through the food court I approached a benched area that is popular for resting and observers. Several individuals were seated but the one that caught my attention was a frail elderly man dressed in a suite that was pressed but one that was more in style 40 years ago. He sat there eating an ice cream while slowly glancing at shoppers walking by. He had that look of loneliness yet pride.

I walked over and sat on the bench next to him and nodded. For some reason I just knew. “WW2 or Korea?,” I softly inquired. He stared at me and countered, “why.” Normally I would have been a bit uneasy but this type of encounter was not new to me. I wrote on CRT about a similar one at McDonalds on Avenue Central when I met a old soldier.

I answered back, “as a Vietnam veteran I always acknowledge veterans of other wars and thank them for their service.” Apparently, that broke the ice and he began to engage in conversation. Oh what a conversation we had and I marveled at what this man had lived through. He was 82 years old and had served in the marine corps in both WW2 and Korea. He had fought in the Pacific theater including Iwo Jima and Okinawa. His first cousin had died in the Bataan death march earlier in the war. He remained in the corps until after 8 months in Korea where he was badly wounded and suffered from frostbite. He did rather well reviving his recollection of the war but when he began to speak of buddies he had lost….tears welled in his eyes and he choked up. I did the same.

I asked him if he lived in town and he replied that he lived in Macon, Ga. and was visiting a daughter in law. His Ch*ldren and wife were no longer living. We shook hands and I gave him a slight hug. As I turned to go he muttered, “thanks for remembering.” Somehow the noises and the shoppers were oblivious as I walked to the exit. With very moist eyes I could only think of that humble and most valiant man.

Circus,
That was a wonderful thing you did for your fellow veteran. The small amount of time it took you to ask him about his service was very commonable to say the least. I too am a Vietnam Veteran ( USMC 69-70). I belong to a Marine Corp League (183) in St Louis, MO. Last month I was in my Wal Mart parking lot early about 6:30 AM and saw this gentleman attempting to unload his cart. He had a tudor Yaris Toyota. He had several large packages paper towels, toilet paper, and several other assorted things. As I walked up he had both doors opened trying to fit his purchases into the the little car. I said "hi great day we have" He said yes and went on shoving his stuff into the car. I recoginized his cover that he was a WW II Navy Vet. I asked him if he had this much trouble loading his Navy ship with stuff like this. He turned and grinned and said"my ship was much bigger". I said "let a veteran give you a hand" He said you a veteran?" I said "Yes Sir part of the Navy, Marine Corp Sir"
With this he old guy stepped back and let me help him load his vehicle. With two bungie cords from my truck we got it loaded. Not that he could see out of the back window but he was loaded and ready to go. (We had to spilt a couple of the very large packages of paper products to get them to fit, but we were loaded and ready to go). Finished we started to part company and he said "let me pay you for your help" and he went for his wallet. I said "let's call it even, next time you see a vet in need of help lend a hand" His response torn my gut out. "I'm too old to help anyone I can't even load my own car". I said "Sir you would have got it loaded with out my help I am sure of it. I just wanted to help you load it before all of the crazy shoppers got here later in the morning and the lot got busy" He said "thank you Marine I owe you one" Made me tear up as he drove away. I'm 63 and this gentleman was every bit of 85-88 maybe more. The "old guys still have it"
Just a thought. Dosn't have to be Veterans Day or Marine Corp birthday just take care of the old guys you will be there soon enough.
Thanks
Bobshere

As I said, if the guy is a Viet Nam Vet and to me that it a big "IF" and he has a confession to make about a war crime he commited, then I will be happy to contact a military prosecutor and get him sorted out. Otherwise, he can keep his PIEHOLE shut about Veterans in general.

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“Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” And we are the guys that keep them in Eggs & Grits

Bobshere:

That was a good thing that you did. I'm sure the man thought of it afterward and appreciated your helping hand. We veterans mostly stick together and help those that did not make it through as well as others. Many of us live with our own horror memories but always give appreciation to those before us and those who are in harms way currently. It is an elite group of past and present soldiers that served this great nation. I really miss my buddies that did not make it back alive and pray for their family pain and anguish.

There is no good war. There is no excuse for men and women dying except for protecting themselves. It still leaves an question of "Why."

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Damn if I'm going to repeat this shit again. I need a drink.
I've been drinking vodka every day for 45 years and I have certainly never found it to be habit forming.

Thanks Irish Drifter and anyone who served or is serving in any capacity. I wanted to mention our cigar board has sent over 15,000 plus decent cigars and an equal amount of other stuff to those deployed in the last two years. I do say this because I am proud of it but to also show the hundreds and thousands who do care enough to donate those to me to send. It is with great pride and all I can do as I was to young during Nam and to much into my life to do anything afterwords so I do what little I can now. I need say no more because I quoted a great post above that say's it all.

Thanks again.

Dave

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LOL I would Love to never hear the word game used again ever again! :)

My old man was a pilot and flew the Hump in WWII. Am starting to look more into the history of those guys and it is some pretty interesting stuff.

That's a good line, when I am traveling in uniform (still a few more months until I retire in June 2012 ) I am always trying to show appreciation to those who come up and thank me for my service. Its all good, but I will definitely use that to signify that I sincerely appreciate folks who do that, even if it is just something you say, it takes courage and the guys and gals coming back from a deployment in an austere definitely appreciate the sentiment.

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“Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” And we are the guys that keep them in Eggs & Grits

I served back in the seventies right after the Vietnam War a volunteer at that. I joined because in my area up here in the northwest there were no jobs or very hard to get unless you had a very good in at a company. (Boeing Bust) also they were offering a GI Bill for colledge that couldn't be beat. So I served with a lot of Vietnam Vets. My time in the army was the only time in my life I felt like my coworkers had my back come hell or high water good times or bad. I am totally antiwar and antimilitary establishment. Too many rah rah morons with degrees who will send K*ds off too war or get them all shot up who never served . It is all a money making power grabbing sceem for the politicians and their handlers. You see all this glory, courage,duty,honor crap peddled everywhere by the powers that be in the movies,on television,in the news, by the politicians and all it is, is way brainwash the public or some young K*D to support the latest campaign against the new evil villan. Got to keep that money flowing. The vets know what the real deal is at least those who were in sustained combat. And about that killing whom and Ch*ldren if some K*D is coming at you with a AK I know damn well you will protect yourself or your buddie you phucking hippie prick.