How do you compare Vets ?

Question

I know people think "Anyone" who served is a hero, actually anyone who served, majority of us just did our jobs.

My Questions is when you say, anyone who served is a hero, how do you compare a Lt Micheal Murphy ,Medal of Honor winner to someone like "Nineteen_Questions" a weeney who comes on yahoo forum boasting he is a vet who never left USA, no fair play to the wee guy he served in uniform for FOUR whole years looking at photos in a nice safe air force base in the US, I mean it takes a lot of guts to do that AND all would be fine if this fine outstanding wee hero left it at that, BUT he has taken it upon himself to EMail real vets on this forum and demand they prove to him they served.

Now in my book someone like that deserves not only ZERO respect but contempt as well, what is your opinion ???

Yes he is quick to report when it gets to close to truth for him.

And this most likely will be reported to as he can not respond to something straight out like this but run and hide

SR Thank you for an excellent answer, I am fully aware that there is a need for "REMF's: and for every front line soldier there is 2 in support, however what I object to is a person like him questioning people who are without a doubt "Frontline" compared to him, its no disrespect to his having served its his disrespect thinking his "Safe" service justifies him insulting other vets ! see what I am saying ?>?

Answer 1

I strongly agree with you.

OIF 2003
US Army 15 years

Answer 2

The only Vet I call hero's are the ones that served in WW1, WW2, Vietnam, OIF 1and 2. they went through some real sh*t for years. The soldiers that sat on the @$$es in the rear while are not hero's, to me, but did help the others who were deployed with needed supply's.

All the other OIF's 3-6 have been too much like garrison, We are at war in a combat zone, you do not do PT test and flag soldiers that are over weight. Thy might be dead tomorrow and the 1SG and above are saying you are a bad soldier and are not going to get an award because you are fat or can't pass a PT test. But go on this 12 or 18 hour long mission get shot at and almost kill a half dozen time. come back for 4 hours before next mission and make sure you do PT and eat healthy, and make sure you get some sleep for your next mission a few hours.

Answer 3

I did find his profile and looked at the list of questions he has asked. Interesting bent on things to say the least.

In corporate life I dealt with many retired FBI, DEA, Secret Service types. Once I got to hang out with a group of active FBI. One guy had been with the Gang Squad in LA for 2 or 3 years, had great stories. As we all dealt with crime or it's prevention in one way or another "war" stories were swapped.

In attempting to understand why people do the things they do it always came down to "don't try".

A normal person will never figure out what is going thru a sick persons mind. We are all sick, some are just much more so!

In this case the solution is to read the questions and NOT respond to the "crazies". They need our outrage. It's their fuel. They WILL give up if ignored.

SSG US Army 73-82 Big time REMF

Answer 4

REMF's are just as necessary as the front line grunts. As were those of us who served after Viet Nam and took the services back from the druggies and those who had their spirits broken. I never saw service in VN but I still had people spit on my uniform and call me baby killer. When I started an officer did not go on the weather deck at night alone. When I left they could go anywhere anytime. I served 6 years in the US Coast Guard and three in NMNG during Gulf War I. Do you count me in the REMF's? Do not! I have been shot at and shot back I do not know who you are talking about, but if he is puffing up his service then tell who, where, and how. I will stand by you on calling him and Yahoo Answers can take a walk. I am proud of my service and all are heros who did their jobs, even if it was sitting in the bunker wit the Key around your neck.

Answer 5

Have it too easy? Not really, at least in Viet Nam they knew who their enemies were. As for the weapons... technology has advanced since the 70s. This is not the same war, so why would we want to use the same weapons? Comparing Iraq and Nam is like comparing bananas and radishes...they are nothing alike. One was jungle, the other is urban. One was decades ago... one is happening right now. You really cant compare wars that happen decades apart...thats like comparing Nam Vets to WWII Vets. As technology advances, so does war. I understand your point that the war may seem easier... but its still war. There is still the fear that you may not come home alive...and even if you do, there is a very high chance that you will have wounds (physical and mental) for the rest of your life.

Answer 6

I guess what i have to say is this. I view people of service with higher esteem, then civilians. but not necessarily the same as people that serve in actual combat MOS's. I think the people that serve in these fields should be regarded the highest. But even though I feel that way there are service men and woman that are not in combat MOS but have been under fire and I think they deserve respect also. But as for a person that never served in a combat zone and attacks people that have is a definite NO-GO. This person may have served but to do this to people that chooses to be outside the FOB and and directly deal with the enemy is sicking.

Answer 7

i believe that just because you were in the military does not make you a hero.There's alot of people that join the military, but purposely pick a mos that will not be in combat.Peopl find out that they were in the military and they thank them and call them heroes even though they might not have actually done anything.There are also the people that think that because they were in iraq at some point in time that they just as good as the people that actually go into the cities and villages and do the actual fighting.This is something that really bothers me.From my own experience i know what i did out there i know what my squad mates id, my platoon mates, my company, we all worked are asses off fighting,we took heavy losses fighting, and what really upsets me is that all the people that did not do any fighting,the closest they came to combat is a mortar round dropping a mile away from them, but they got all the same awards that we got and all they did was stay at their camp and wait fo us to do all the fighting.then they come home and talk about ho hard it was and having to hear explosions.Maybe i'm wrong,maybe hearing explosions from the safety of camp is alot harder than being next to the explosion.

Answer 8

1. Agree with you on Nineteen_questions, who obviously has never served. Just tries to stir up trouble with his hatred for vets. If he had served he'd understand. It's because of people like ""him" that I refuse emails. Can't figure out how to wash and disinfect the crap out of my computer.

2. I don't think you compare vets. I would not have served in the Vietnam War without the men and women back here providing support so we can do the job. Too me, a vet is ANYONE who puts on a uniform of this great country and serves honorably. One of my brothers also served in Vietnam, but two others served without deploying to the 'Nam. Not that they didn't want to, just wasn't no position for them at the time. But they served honorably and I treat them with the respect as a vet as much as I do for one who did go to the war. My daughter served but did not go into the Gulf War but my son has served 3 tours in Iraq. Both are my heroes and both are veterans.

God bless America and our troops in harms way.

Answer 9

I'm no expert for sure but the fact he demands proof from other vets makes me wonder if he doesn't feel like a weenie for not really serving in hard battle. I think he's way out of line but I'm thinking he isn't real proud of his service. In all fairness tho anyone who has served has taken that chance to be put out in battle and should all get respect and honor due them.

Answer 10

Having the gift of returning Desert Storm troops back to Hawaii I shall never compare. Always equal until proven otherwise. From First Class cabin to the rear, they all got the same! The Commander at the door, however, was shocked at how many Flight Attendant privates he had :) we all switched wings & badges!
spent a day with some veterans I would like you to meet
[e-mail] details Thank you for all you do !!!

Answer 11

I mostly agree... and even for those that were in combat, while I appreciate their service, that fact doesn't give them a pass for life to be scumbags and traitors. (Murtha, Kerry). I even respect those on active duty to disagree with policy, as long as they obey orders and don't do anything stupid like going AWOL or deserting.... After all Benedict Arnold was in the Military... as an officer to boot.