To those that have served...?

Question

This past weekend I had a BBQ at my house. It was great! Neighborhood kids came over and played with my dogs, family constantly coming to the grill asking for seconds and thirds. Even my next door neighbor came over to eat since his wife is out of town and he's tired of 'nukem food'.

The question came up while we were eating, "If I was called by the USMC tomorrow, would I serve again?" Would I go through years of empty holidays, all the pain, the hard work? All those sleepless nights under foreign stars, never knowing what the dawn would bring? Would endure combat again? Would I be willing to die for my country?

Would I do it all again?

My answer was simply..."Yes." I say this with resolve because I know, freedom isn't free at all. That BBQ we were enjoying came at the cost of those who stand silent guard over us everyday. They never ask for a 'thank you', but from my family and I, they get one everyday.

So, to those that have served, would you serve again if called?

This question is under our current circumstances. Not the 'What if?' catagory.

And no, I don't look down on those who would say 'No'. This is just a personal question that was asked to me, now I ask you.

Good Luck in your tour, Winnie, and thank you for YOUR guard.

Answer 1

Our son has been back for 1 1/2 yrs from Iraq. He is now entering a PTSD program. Asked him if he would return to Iraq, knowing what he knows now and having PTSD, bad knees, hearing problems and stomach problems, he says HELL YES. It has alot of rewards seeing the kids happy faces, knowing he is helping others.

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.
Ronald Reagan

Answer 2

I couldn't because I was injured, butI would if I could. I don't agree with all the resons or everything thats going on, but I'd rather it be me there than the young guys there today. I remember being that young guy, and I'd rather spare them, we need them at home. But dispite how I feel about us being there I would serve because this is a great country where we have the freedom to disagree and voice our opinions, and hopefully soon there will be progress, but on the side. If my kid wanted to serve UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES would I allow it, and would do everything in my power to prevent it.

Answer 3

First off, thank you, and bless you for your service and your insight in understanding that freedom does come at a cost.

I haven't even yet served - I've just joined the Navy - which is a far cry from the USMC, I know - but I can say without doubt that I would gladly serve my country over and over, and I am as positive as I can be without having done it, that I would serve once and again in any military branch

Answer 4

Sadly I have never served. I will tell you the truth. Not a day goes by in my life that I don't take a moment to appreciate all that people like you have done or are currently doing. I cannot thank you enough. I can type this comment, take my children to the park, hike on a mountain side, even plaster my car with bumper stickers. I can do all these things because of the freedom hero's like you and have given us.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

I just hit my retirement date the first of last May and am subject to being recalled. I would go back (as opposed to going to Canada), grudgingly but very much willingly if that makes any sense as I have always known that I could be recalled after retirement. The only thing going for me to not get recalled is that I retired as an infantry first sergeant and there are a bazillion of us. We're not a small few of specially trained support personnel who the army may go short on. The only thing that I would actually try to NOT get assigned to is a MTT team. They train the Iraqi army and I would not look forward to training, living, and fighting with them. Some of the IA that we worked with were good but the majority were out of control and their culture is to far out there for me.

Answer 6

Im trying to get back into the Army after 17 years out, but the military has a long history of disdain for recruiting veterans. I have never heard an intellectually defensible reason why.

Answer 7

Not in Iraq. Don't get me wrong, I miss the life sometimes and I miss the comraderie but I don't think things like Iraq are worth a single American life (and unfortunately it's cost much more than that).

Would I serve in say a hypothetical war where we were actually attacked by a country? Sure. Without hesitation.

Answer 8

YES. I spent 15 years in the Naval Aviation before being grounded for hearing loss... amusingly, they called me back up for the Kosovo situation, but sent us home again after our 2 months of refresher training.

I tried to go back after 9/11, but was too old at the time (37 yrs old).

Answer 9

Yes, but I must admit the uniform would be a tad tighter now days. Actually I could do the job better today since I've done it in the civilian world since I got out.

Answer 10

I am right now. I got that call and came back in a heart beat. Once A Marine Always A Marine, Semper Fi