[voodoochild]

Well, today at my daughters school, I read a huge poster made for one of the classes pen pals. It seems they were pals with an SFC Christopher R. Brevard. Well after reading the big board there, I realized he was killed in action. Damn, did that put a lump in my throat. My wife said she cried when she read it the other day and she couldn't read it again. I was tearing up as I continued to read all of the stuff on the board. I felt compelled to share it with you guys. I also signed the guest book at one of the sites for his family, to let them know how much I appreciated his sacrifice. Just was a wake up call to me, seeing a face instead of just a name, especially seeing as my daughters classmates were pen-pals with him.....

Honor the fallen: Army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher R. Brevard

[chucktx]

thanks.....sad, but uplifting.

[Slimjim]

I know what you mean, Chris. We are losing some great young men and women over in that hell hole. I know we can't just pull out like the democrats want but we do need to get the Iraq government (if that's what you call it) to take more of the burden of protecting their country. We have a lot invested in lives and money but it's time to start working ourselves out of a job over there.

[voodoochild]

Amen, Slim. Who the hell can we call to get that done?!

[Slimjim]

You got me . I think we had all better consider very carefully who we vote for in the upcoming elections.

[voodoochild]

You ain't kiddin Slim....the only problem is you have to vote for the lesser of 2 evils.

[Peyts]

Its always great to hear people speaking of doing more to remember our war veterens. I recently joined a bike group called The CAV (Canadian Army Veterans) Motorcycle Unit. What a great group of guys and gals! 99% of the group is comprised of military veterans, with the other portion of the group being veteran supporters.

Just being around these people is an honour. And I believe that they are also honoured to be finally getting some of the recognition that they deserve.. ie. its good to see civilians supporting their troops again.

Politicians are the problem. There is always some hidden agenda behind a campaign. I feel for you with the war in Iraq... that has become a bit of a nightmare with the high casualty rates of your military. But how else do you deal with it? (Other than pull out the troops and carpet bomb the whole friggin place! Turn it into a big parking lot.) I believe that your soldiers are doing a great job over there... but I don't know if that is a country that can really be changed... I mean, you're dealing with a group that believes they will get life in "heaven", a bunch of virgins, etc if they blow themselves up in a market or other populated area.

We are dealing with a similar problem in Afganistan. We have lost a lot of young men and women in this campaign, and there is no end in sight. Again, people who will blow themselves up, use chicksh*t IEDs, etc. I agree with our actions - the damn Taliban, and any other major terrorist group, needs to be eliminated, otherwise we are all going to be victims of future acts similar to 9/11... either that or most of our civilians will live in constant fear of such acts.

Here's the point. Support your troops. Support the troops of your allies. Rid the world of as many of these pieces of sh*t as possible. Then get out and bring 'em home... but only when the job is done as best as it can be.

STAND BEHIND YOUR TROOPS. IF YOU WON'T STAND BEHIND THEM, THEN BE MY GUEST AND STAND IN FRONT OF THEM.

[2fastnaz]

The lives of 100 Iraqis isn't worth the life of one of our service men and women. That said it would be a hell of a mess if we left and we'd be back in 10 more years cleaning up a bigger mess than we have now.

I don't know what the answer is..... other than nuke em all and let "allah" sort em out.

[voodoochild]

I like that idea 2fast, clear out our boys and then turn it into glasssssss. Allah can have what's left.

[skull2007]

when we lose those many men and women to war we lose the finest and bravest of our society. or the human race for that matter

[FLHTbiker]

I think we should send the politicians to war and when we run out of them, simply elect new ones.

[voodoochild]

FLHT, that's an AWESOME idea! Too bad those chicken sh*t mother f**kers wouldn't go. Like Ozzy sang in War pigs, "they only started the wars, why should they go out and fight, they leave that up to the poor".

Whew, I better go take my medication.......

[Red Rider]

Dang Voodoochild, ya pushed my button. I know ya probably didn't mean to - and I am on my meds, so real mellow r'now - but back when War Pigs was released he was closer to being right about the poor, definitely not now. My brothers & sisters in arms today are not forced by poverty into service. In fact, the uneducated poor can rarely even get in if they wanted. No, the servicemembers today are really the best we have left in America.

More join for the adventure more than the money. Many as a way to prove to themselves and the world that they can grow up. Many to serve a higher calling. Many to get the heck out of wherever they live - be it rich or poor, most good young men and women want to get out on their own, and not be living off their momma's tit forever. Yes, a higher per capita percentage do join from "red state', rural America, but then they aren't as subjected to the browbeating of "America Sucks" that is so chic amongst the Paris Hilton/Danny Glover/ABC-NBC-CBS broadcaster of the week crowd.

I have sent men in on missions "in Harm's way". Before that - and for as long as they let me - I went on those missions every friggin' chance I got. Most were volunteer, and unlike what you may think there is rarely a shortage of volunteers to get the job done. Often I was among the dissappointed many that "had their time, make room for someone else".

You may not mean to, but when ya say what ya said it jangles us vets to no end. And it also may dissuade some fine young American from joining up....which is precisely why that backhanded pity comment is so often retreaded in the mainstream media.

I don't spend all day patting my back about what a wonderful guy I was for serving 27 years, and don't need others to, either. I served because I KNEW I was doing some good for more than my own pocket. I was offered much more $$ to work as a civilian many times. That wasn't what would have worked for me. I didn't need glory, but I did need to do something for others that they couldn't do for themselves. I see that same commitment in today's Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines.

So please stow that crap about our warriors being too poor to live as civilians. It is an insult and it is not true. We're also not "brainwashed" psycho baby-killers either. If we do kill babies, it is not want we wanted, and we don't need to be reminded about the horrors of war by those that let others fight them for them. If I get reminded too much on my next trip to California, I may become a psycho - but that is another stoy....

Again, I realize you were really more pissed at the politicians and likely did not intend to belittle the troops....but you did. I could rant on all night, but my codeine is fading away and need more to be able to even work this keyboard.

[voodoochild]

Damn Red, I'm sorry!!! I hope to hell no vet took that as a poke at them. NO WAY NO HOW would i EVER say anything derogatory about our troops or the sacrifices they made or are making. It is because of you and them that I have the very freedom that I enjoy. PLEASE, do not interpret what I wrote in a negative way!! Anyone who know me or sees what I write should/would ever think I would belittle ANY serviceman or woman. I apologize again for any misinterpretation of my words. Damn, after I read your post I was feeling sick. I can't believe that what I wrote would have made a vet annoyed. I certainly did not intend that at all. If ANY VETERAN on this forum took offense at what I wrote, PLEASE accept my apology!

(tucking my tail and walking away with a foot in my mouth.....)

[Red Rider]

Thanks for your reassurance. I really didn't think you meant it the way it came across - you were just quoting Ozzy. It just goes to show us all how cliches can be dangerous in how they can characterize whole groups of people. I've made similar errors in the past, and will in the future. I expect (or at least hope) I'll be man enough, as you were, to apologize when I do.

I just wish Sen. Harry Reid were the man he used to be, and apologize to the troops for his stupid comments. But he won't. He's one politician I'd like to see being a sapper for IEDs in Baghdad today. He'll just be another REMF, though, and encourage our enemies for his own power.

But that is a whole other rant.....and my latest dose is kickin' into 5th gear.
Have a good one (AKA HAGO, in MILSPEAK).
Out.............

[voodoochild]

Glad to hear we're cool Red. You had me worried for a while. I just wish the politicians would fight their own fight. They don't seem to worry about our men and women that are fighting for us, it's all about their own agenda. Bastards.....