Nobody tells them they are going to ruthlessly murder boys like themselves, or be murdered by them. That they or their buddies will rape little girls and old women, and that they will be witnesses or accomplices to such acts. Or steal war booty that belongs to the people whose homes and lives they have just ravaged. Nobody talks about the lack of conviction necessary to "follow orders" to do those things, or not to do those things and doing them anyway.

I don't know where you get your information but where I went to school on this subject I was told time and time again that I would be killing other men my own age. I never raped anyone, and no one that I know did so, I didn't steal anything, nor did anyone I know, and was an accomplice to the belief that as an American it was my job to go when my country called. In hindsight I don't really give a rat's ass whether or not I should have gone or not. I can't do squat about it now so what's the big deal? I'm sure as shit not going to get whiney about the great injustices of my choices. They are my choices and I'll live with them. Hopefully make some changes with my own kids. And be proud of whatever choices they make.

You folks make a lot of assumptions about who we "War mongers" are and you don't know shit about me. If you get sanctimonious you're gonna get a shot back. It's called human nature. What I, and most of the Veterans responding here are about, is remembering the loss. I don't do the big deals about this day. I visit a grave or two of men I knew who fell. And I REMEMBER.

Jesus Motherfucking Christ you think that I don't live with the same things your Dad did just because I joined? You think my family reacts to war any differently than yours? Well I don't believe so. I made a choice, your Dad made a choice, and I'd bet my next paycheck that he and I saw things much more alike than you will ever be able to attest to. You are operating on second-hand information. Your Dad and I knew it first hand. And the draftees I fought beside held the same beliefs that I did.

Now here - I've left you plenty of stuff to take out of context and butcher around. Same fucking thing the God Damned politicians do when they incite us to go off and do the bidding of those who elect them. You're no better than they are.

I'm not mad - I'm hurt - and if your Dad heard how you were mouthing off he'd be hurt also. I'm betting he was not an offensive man - normally neither am I. But I don't have a lot of respect for people that talk out their rears about something they really don't have a clue about. And then hide behide misinterpretations of what others, who do know, have said gleaned from experience.

My last on this one also - have a riot with it - you have something else to say to me then PM me -

Steve