Originally Posted by Rochard

Idiot.

I was one those who had no other real option at the time. At age I was drug addict, strung out, stealing loose change from my minimum wage job at a dry cleaners to get by. By chance I ran into a Marine Corps recruiter I know, and forty-eight hours later I was at Paris Island knowing that my father - and his father before him - had both died in combat as US Marines.

Every day of my life I am thankful that I joined. It gave the morals and values I have today, made me who I am, and I now know that I can do anything I set my mind to.

I never saw combat, so you don't owe me jack shit. But you're welcome anyhow.

Originally Posted by davecummings

Living in San Diego, loaded with active duty military (and retirees, too), I respect and voice my gratitude to any/all of them, and often. I belong to a running club that has lots of military folks of all ranks in it, many of whom have served repeated overseas tours ---I worry about them just like I did for my own soldiers when I was a Unit Commander with the 4th Inf Div during the enemey's Tet Offensive in Vietnam. No matter what politics you or I hold/feel, the troops are a cross-section of society who deserve our good wishes for their personal well-being; IMHO, they ARE America!!!

Dave

Originally Posted by Rochard

When your in the US military, you don't get to pick and choose who and when you fight. You serve at the pleasure of the President; You go when your told to go and you fight who your told to fight. The US military doesn't practice democracy, they protect it.