[Webmaster's note: Please see first: Defensive Misgivings, which inspired this post.]

For at least fifty years now ethnic identity has been at the head of the American agenda. African-American, Hispanic-American or Mexican-American, Asian-American, and gradually Jewish-American, Polish-, Italian-, Irish-, and other Hyphenated-Americans. The rule is, we must never notice these differences, while remaining always carefully aware of them. We must remember which group is the "group of the month" and appreciate its unique contributions and specialness, while simultaneously denying that it is in any way different, or that its members can even be detected by appearance, accent, or name. More recently we have discovered Gay-Americans, and even deaf-mutes, and others with congenital disabilities are demanding to be treated as hyphenated minorities. Even women. Women who are neither "disabled" nor in any sense a minority often demand their Hyphenated recognition. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the desire of everyone for a special identity, and to have it recognized, just so long as it does not become self-satirizing.

But what is an ethic group? It is not race or skin color, nor is it language, though these features may form a significant part of the formula. Essentially it is a uniquely defining background and shared experience which sets the members of the group apart. Frequently a part of this experience involves being stigmatized. Essential is a sense of self-identity.

Gradually, I came to realize that I am a Veteran-American. Am I kidding? Veterans as an ethnic group? How can that be, when they’re all sorts of colors, have all sorts of weird accents? True. But there is something else. For over half a century, we have been singled out by society, and while once upon a time we were not a minority, but the majority, like the American Indian we have gone from being a majority to a minority in our own land.

Special bond and experience? Of course. Its called war, though even those who served in peacetime share the experiences of training and barracks life. We have our own special language. Even if our language has dialects special to the World War, Korean, Viet Nam, and Gulf generations, we still understand each other as civilians cannot. We can understand military terms and make sense out of news reports as even the reporters cannot. And we have an understanding of what war is all about, and what is at stake in politics. There is a mindset which seems to be peculiar to Veterans, characterized by greater sense of self-discipline, and duty, of attention to detail and thoroughness, more attention to old-timey virtues.

Like a number of the acknowledged minorities we have seen our members mistreated because of our identity. And called ethnic names. "Dago"? "Nigger"? "Kike"? Use those names at your peril. But "Babykiller", "Warmonger", "Fascist", they seem to be socially quite acceptable.

Veterans are scorned, both by society and by government. Government budgets for caring for wounded and disabled Veterans is always limited, but budgets for the needs of other, civilian ethnics always seem to be limitless. And what company would deny a contribution to an Aids project or to a Rainbow Coalition shakedown? But when Military Veteran and Family Asistance came begging a few corporate contributions for programs to help our newest veterans readjust, the CEOs of major companies such as IBM, EDS (Ross Perot) [See editor's note below], Raytheon and many others lined up to give us the doorknob up the butt. AIDS, self-inflicted in the line of hedonism, is more worthy than wounds inflicted in the line of duty by the enemy. [/sarcasm]

And now I hear about the National Guardsman in Pierce County, Wa., attacked by a gang of civilians for being military. and other incidents also have happened in the recent past.

Other ethnics have sometimes tried to conceal their identities, changing their accents, and sometimes even trying to modify their skin color or hair. And then, every so often a few will try to emphasize their ethnic identity for political purposes. For how many decades have Veterans been concealing their status, not mentioning that of which they are most proud, trying to explain "two missing years" on their resumes, as if it were time spent in prison. And if Blacks have Rev’run Al and Jessie, we’ve got Kerry, McCain, and Murtha. Blacks hear "I don’t date outside my race", we hear "I don’t date babykillers". And yes, we also have Veterans whom we consider traitors to our ethnicity. See the above list for a few examples. The big difference is, we tend to disown those who would self-anoint themselves as our spokesmen. So of course, I am not speaking for you, I am speaking to you, urging you, us all, to stand up and demand our own share of recognition.

I’ve got a case of the ass. A big one. I’m not impressed with "Thank you for your service" which is becoming almost a cliche as "Have a nice day", or "welcome home" about forty years too late. It is appropriate for greeting someone at the airport dressed in DCUs. But to an old guy who’s been called a babykiller for forty years, its just rubbing in the salt. In January 1977, Jimmie Carter amnestied all the draft dodgers, deserters and other swine, proclaimed them my, our equals. That is a whistle which, like an ex-president, cannot be unblown. Then they elected a draft-dodger as president. Twice! Now they wish to honor us, equally with those who spat upon us?! No, not really. They’re willing, finally, not to honor, but to to forgive us for our service, forty years after the fact. And only if we become penitents and supplicants, meekly standing in line to beg a pittance from some bureaucrat who "served" in Canada from 1968 to 1977.

Then I observe the hedonistic slackers around me, those who do not, and will not serve. Those with no self-discipline or any willingness even to wipe their own lardbutts. Who demand, but do not give, who seek to cash in on the colors of their hides or their choice of sexual oddity, who worship only the Eternal ME. I say to myself, these are NOT my people.

I do not care what the color of your skin, or of your uniform. If you served honorably, you are my brother or sister. By the Grace of God and the US Congress, I am a Veteran-American. And proud. And you WILL NOT make me hide in the closet.

-Rurik

Webmaster's notes:

Check out http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1696722/posts and http://www.bootmurtha.com/MurthaUpdates/SEP2006/09-06-06.htm! BZs, Rurik.

It's going to take a few days to make it happen but as soon as we can we'll start selling Veteran-American bumper stickers, tees, etc in our CafePress shop. (Click the hat on the sidebar to learn about our shop.)

Ross Perot sold EDS to GM years ago and has, in fact, been very supportive of Military Veteran and Family Assistance and The Phoenix Project. It's the current management of EDS that sucks.

Contributed by George Mellinger on September 6, 2006 at 12:48 PM in Best of Old War Dogs, Caring about our troops, George Mellinger, Jean Fraud Kerry, Mad Jack Murtha, Patriotism, Peacenik Stupidity, Politics, Viet Nam, War? What war? | Permalink

Comments

Posted by: John

This is the Best of the "Best of," George. A ringing statement of Why We Are Here. But I still think it would be advisable for all of us, Vietnam vets included, to move on from resentment of past slights and ac-cen-tu-ate the positive, e-lim-i-nate the negative. If we have a role today, it is as a vast reservoir of devotion to this fragmented nation of ours, hence of leadership in a potential movement to knit it back together. I hope I am not just living in a old man's fantasy world.

Posted by: John | Sep 6, 2006 1:56:59 PM

Posted by: ponsdorf

I've never been a fan of the hyphenated-American thing and it's been annoying to have it force-fed by the PC crowd. It's simply divisive.

However, your idea has a wonderful element of satire that I relish.

I do prefer John's uplifting interpretation, but I hope to have one of each on my truck.

Posted by: ponsdorf | Sep 6, 2006 2:41:42 PM

Posted by: Bill Faith

The only reason this post isn't already hanging at the top of the site is that I'd have to bump Defensive Misgiving prematurly to do that and I know you wouldn't want me to. It will be there sometime soon.

Posted by: Bill Faith | Sep 6, 2006 4:47:02 PM

Posted by: The Gray Dog

I would have responded earlier today, but unfortunately work often interferes with my personal life. I agree with John, that this is a "Best of" the Best of. While there may be a hint of resentment, I read it more as "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more!" I would go farther and say it might be healthy if the rest of the country got a little irate with our current state of affairs.

I also agree with Ponsdorf, that I hate the hyphenated American bullshit. However, "Veteran-American" is more of an "in your face" statement to the rest of the sorrowful beleaguered pseudo minorities.

Again, I go back to John and agree that Veterans should be seen as a source and resource of leadership. But in order to heard, sometimes you have to yell "Sit Down and Shut Up! It's our turn to talk!"

Well done Rurik! I want the bumper sticker, t-shirt, cap and jacket!

Posted by: The Gray Dog | Sep 6, 2006 4:49:47 PM

Posted by: 1st Cav

Bravo George! I too share your very insightful sentiment. I've never cared for the PC culture we live in and agree whole heartedly with your excellent point of view!

Sharon (Mrs.) 1st Cav

Posted by: 1st Cav | Sep 6, 2006 6:14:48 PM

Posted by: tommy in nyc

While as a veteran of the USN(90-93) I understand the anger of not being treated as decent brave men that you deserved to be please knock off the clear bias towards the Dem party. VP Cheney got 5 deferments and 43 campaigned for some politican and was AWOL for 6months. So before youse start calling Clinton Carter and Clinton draft dodgers or scumbags for not serving or giving amnesty for draft dodgers youse need not look no further then our current executive Admin. Also hole snipes rock.

Posted by: tommy in nyc | Sep 7, 2006 9:09:47 AM

Posted by: Rurik

Sorry, But it was Jimmie Carter who amnestied the draft dodgers, not Gerald Ford or Ronald Reagan. It was Democrats, and their even further Left fellow travelers, who spat on returning veterans and called us babykiller, not Republicans. It was John Kerry who accused us of fictional war crimes not Ollie North. And it is Kerry and Murtha who are trying to undermine our troops today, and who refuse to condemn the excesses of the antiwar movement.
As for Dick Cheney's deferrments. I have no trouble with anyone, from EITHER party, who received a deferrment operating by the admittedly complicated rules. But Dick Cheney never used his deferrment to demonstrate against the US miiltary in a foreign capitol or travel to a hostile country. Nor is there any evidence that he obtained his deferrment by some unethical method. Slick Willie gamed the system in a number of dishonest ways which have been documented. (See the notorious Colonel Holmes letter.) Nor did Dick Cheney ever declare in print that he "loathed the military". A couple months after I came home, I wrote a letter to a draft board in behalf of a friend seeking conscientious objector exemption. I had no problem with that either. And had you kept your cool after seeing your first Democrap nailed, you would have noticed that I also included a Republican on my short list of names - Jphn McCain still is counted as a Republican, isn't he?
And I did not call "Clinton Carter and Clinton" draft dodges and scumbags. I do not know who "Clinton Carter" might have been. And I never would call Jimmie Carter a draft dodger - he graduated from Annapolis and served in the Navy, so far as I am aware, without blemish. And I did not call anyone a scumbag; I prefer other insults. Contrary to you, and most of your Democrap friends, I only make specific accusations which I believe to be true.
As for Bush II (which is what I guess you mean by your semi-literate evocation of "43"). The AWOL slur has been refuted - he front-loaded his flight hours, a practice permitted by NG regs. And surely even you cannot object to someone because he "campaigned for some politician", unless you are one of those moonbats who believes in voting by ballot stuffing and fraud alone.
But my particular objection is not that some people do/did not serve. For that there can be many different valid reasons, and they are the ones who make the Servers special. It is how people treat those who do and did serve that matters. Nor is this a matter of money and extraction of government benefits; it is from first to last a matter of treatment and respect.
Finally, I am familiar with you from your misguided posts at other sites. I presume your use of "youse" is supposed to establish your street cred as some sort of woikin' stiff or union thug. Bullshit. I've lived in NYC, and have been friends with real clock-punchers - and you are not one. You're a two bit lumpen-intellectual wannabe, perhaps a fudge-packer from East Village, so why don't you knock off the whining about a Democrap legacy which can be neither undone nor escaped. Take your pose over to the Kotz who might appreciate it.

Posted by: Rurik | Sep 7, 2006 12:59:12 PM

Posted by: Arkay

Veteran-American? That's a bumper sticker I'll buy. And a hat, if it's got a brim all around -- not a baseball cap person. And a t-shirt or six or seven for my Veteran-American compadres.

Very well written article. I'll send a link to my friends, and thank you for taking the time to put OUR thoughts in perspective.

Posted by: Arkay | Sep 8, 2006 11:48:25 AM

Posted by: relpayme

Rurik,
I have always hated that PC crap myself, and you are absolutely correct SIR!! The way Veterans are treated in this country of many "Ethnic" groups is shameful at the very least!! As far as this AMERICAN is concerned Veterans should be the one & only GROUP that should be "taken care of". To see that Veterans get anything & everything they need should be a priority to our government. Corporations dish out millions for a 30 second spot during the Super Bowl, but shut the door when a Veterans group come knocking for a little help. There's something really,really wrong about that!! May God Bless you and yours. Thank you!! Hopefully more people in this great REPUBLIC will WAKE UP to all this SHIT coming out off the mouths of our so called leaders who couldn't fight their way out of a paper bag. Some may be Veterans too, but the hate has taken hold and they have misplaced their HONOR!! Brothers in Arms...This is a call to you. Everyone must get involved in the fight for our FREEDOM. We have men & women being killed by our enemies "just because they're Americans. Speak up to those who lead this Congress and demand an answer to the question "What are you going to do to FIX this problem we have." "You've got 24 Hours to get it done." "Now Lead or get the Fuck Out!!" Ask them if they would stand by and watch or lead the way when the time comes to defend our own shores. It's here and they don't even know it!! EXPENSIVE & PRICELESS = FREEDOM - Just ask a VETERAN!!

Posted by: relpayme | Nov 2, 2006 10:33:14 PM

Posted by: Ralph Rogers

..."YOUSE" GUYS ARE GREAT! -- LOOKING FORWARD TO THE T-SHIRTS AND STUFF!

Posted by: Ralph Rogers | Nov 7, 2006 1:36:15 PM

Posted by: W.R. from Hershey, PA

To whom it may concern:

Yo. Please be advised that me and my brothers-in-brown take exception to the above "fudge-packer" comment. After all, it's either do this, or get stuck in Iraq!

W.R., United Fudge-Packers of America (AFL-CIO), Hershey, PA

Posted by: W.R. from Hershey, PA | Nov 7, 2006 2:18:00 PM

Posted by: Bill Faith

'"YOUSE" GUYS ARE GREAT! -- LOOKING FORWARD TO THE T-SHIRTS AND STUFF!'

Ralph, check out "A brief introduction to our Old War Dogs store"

Posted by: Bill Faith | Nov 8, 2006 11:32:37 AM

Posted by: IJK

I enjoyed finding and reading this post about Veteran-American so much I added a link to it to my VFW Post Web Log at www.vfwwebcom.org/mo/post3770
I will be also adding this site to my bookmarks so that I may return and read some more. Thanks for the excellent essay and keep up the good work. We think along similar lines.
Cheerily
IJK

Posted by: IJK | Dec 16, 2006 9:34:08 PM

Posted by: SFCJon

When the shirts and bumper stickers are ready, so am I. I served 20 years as an Infantry NCO and wanted to go further; however, I just couldn't obey my oath to "obey the orders of the President of the United States" once Clinton started issuing orders. After 10 years of retirement, I have discovered my service and abilities are of little value in the civilian sector. For all intents and purposes, I have re-entered the civilian sector in an entry-level position. Any time I apply for a position and cite my experience, the response has been, "Oh, that was in the Army. ANYONE can do that in the Army."
I guess my problem has been I am extremely proud of my military service and career and have never been hesitant to tell others about it. Of course, those in the civilian sector look at my service as an advanced form of welfare. Do you know how many silly-vilians actually are surprised when you tell them you pay taxes and social security while you're on active duty?
I've mentioned to my wife (who, incidentally, is just as proud of my military career) that I spent 20 years defending freedom for people whose language I couldn't understand only to find that someone took my country away while I was serving. Our "fellow" citizens have become too complacent, for the most part, and don't understand the Constitution they use to rationalize political correctness was earned by the blood of hundreds of thousands of patriots. This crap of "I support the troops, but not the war" is lip service, regardless of whether it is some politician or man on the street saying it. It's time to retake this country back. Those of us who have "seen the elephant" have been quiet long enough. Nixon actually had it right when he referred to the Silent Majority. Only I don't think he was speaking of veterans.

Posted by: SFCJon | Feb 3, 2007 7:56:48 AM

Posted by: SrrChiefChet

"Political Correctness" definition:

A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end. This message is neither politically correct, nor tries to be, as I do not necessarily adhere to the principal. Point in reference: When I was assigned Shipboard Instructor duty aboard an all male warship, and had to teach my shipmates, officers and enlisted alike, about the United States Navy’s new policy concerning “Sexual Harassment,” I discovered that we could not discuss nor mention or even refer to “her ass” because it was not politically correct! One must modify one’s pronunciation to affect the new term, “HARRIS” as in HARRIS-ment. Later, under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy we were not to discuss HARRIS’ sexual preferences either.

Just Being a B.R.A.T. (Be Ready All Times)

This segment is dedicated to Military Brats everywhere since time began.

When your Mother or Father say, “… you’re JUST BEING A BRAT… “ make sure you thank them for giving you the greatest life style anyone can imagine … being a Military BRAT! When I was growing up as an Army/Air Force Senior Officer’s BRAT, the worst thing my Father could threaten me with as a punishment was, “… I’ll send you to school with Civilians…” “Please Dad, don’t do that. They’re boring and can’t understand half the stories I tell them about who I’ve met, where I’ve been, or what I’ve seen and done!” Civilian kids have no str. America doesn’t recognize a “Traditional” Class Structured Society (Nobles, Titled, Gentry, Knights and Merchants, et cetera.) America’s “Society” is simply Upper, Middle and Lower (Rich – Working Class – and Poor.) But hold on … what about our “Warrior Class?” The United States Armed Forces? Japan had Samurai Warriors (and their families) and Europe had its Knights (and their families.) Ancient Sparta raised its children to be warriors from birth; as did the Amazons (fierce female warriors believed to have been from the Greek Island of Lesbos ruled by Queen Lesvia – hence the term lesbian and who kept men as “sex slaves”) and they were highly regarded. In the Civilian world, children used to be expected to go into the same business as their Fathers (Butcher, Baker and Candlestick Maker.) Our brother and sister BRATS aren’t especially “expected” to join the Military, but many do because that’s the life we grew to know and love. WARRIORS! Always moving and seeing this great big beautify world we live in, meeting other kids from different cultures and celebrating the differences.ucture in their lives

Ask your Grand-parents or maybe Great-Grand-parents what was happening in our schools in the ‘50s. We were in the Middle of the “Cold War” with Russia since the formation of the Communist Government following World War II in Europe particularly the raising of the Berlin Wall. Russia saw what happened in Japan when we used our Weapons of Mass Destruction, got their own and threatened to use them against us. In our American everyday schools we had “Bomb” drills!”, “Duck and Cover” drills, “Air Raid” drills to name a few. Ever heard of the Cuban Missile Crisis? Did you ever see the movie, “Red Dawn?” Paratroopers from a hostile nation invade the U.S. and the kids take to the woods to fight back. See the movie. Military BRATS back in my time were taught to take charge and lead the attack to defend our homeland against invaders while our fathers were off to fight the war on foreign soil. Remember that America’s economy is based on war from the beginning of colonial times. War is good business – invest your sons and daughters!

B.R.A.T. = Be Ready All Times. Being a Military Dependent sounds like we’re helpless doesn’t it? But being a Military Brat has a certain and identifiable ring to it. When Brats meet other Brats after we get older, we instantly have a magical connection, a friend who knows and understands … been there, done that and have an ID card in my T-shirt pocket to prove it. We grow up differently; faster and harder then our civilian counter-parts and we know it! We go to Department of Defense (DoD) Schools overseas (and some CONUS Bases) and are government “guinea pigs” to test new teaching methods and study our ways of learning faster. Don’t let the grown-up Soldiers and Marines fool you. WE are the original Few and the Proud, sometimes an Army of One. So anchors aweigh and off we go into the wild blue yonder!
MACS(SW) USN, Retired aka "Baron" Chezlov

Posted by: SrrChiefChet | Mar 6, 2007 11:55:48 PM

Posted by: muldrake

I love this!

To all Veteran-Americans: I support you and thank you for your service! God Bless You!

From one of many US Troops' Supporter/American :)

Posted by: muldrake | Mar 14, 2007 1:31:20 PM

Posted by: Cait

When our Reserve unit was gearing up to return home from Iraq our Family Readiness Group began looking for help underwriting our Welcome Home celebration. We contacted Mr. Perot, told him what we were hoping for - a very modest request - and he immediately came on board. Further, he vastly increased our request which enabled us to welcome our Soldiers home in style. Mr. Perot shook the hand of every individual Soldier and personally thanked the family members for their service as well. He was a class act.

Can you imagine GM coming on board for something as small, yet important, as welcome home event? Much less putting forth some significant dollars for our wounded? Not in this lifetime.

Posted by: Cait | Mar 20, 2007 2:06:49 PM

Posted by: B Stanley

Hi there!

I'd like to invite veterans and active service folks to view my trailer "Warpaths" at the On the Lot website.

Warpaths" was my homage to my two cousins. One made back from Vietnam but the other one, a Lakota Navy SEAL. never did. Unfortunately, a story rings true about so many vets.

Unfortunately, I had to trim it down to 5 min. to enter the competition and a lot of good footage hit the cutting room floor.

If you like it, rate it, using the stars at the top.

Here's the link:

http://films.thelot.com/films/33570

Thanks,

B

Posted by: B Stanley | Mar 28, 2007 9:00:27 PM

Posted by: E. Smith

George:
While I am not a war vet, I did serve active in the gulf (USN) just prior to Desert Storm. Thanks for acknowledging (and including in your band) those of us who served honorably. Many of us had our lives on the line too (served nearby the USS Stark that lost 37 men to 2 Iraqi missiles in '87) even in "preacetime".

But most of all, thanks for saying what most of us silently think and feel as we go about our post-military days in silence, unrecognized and unappreciated.

Posted by: E. Smith | Jun 24, 2007 10:30:02 PM

Posted by: albee

AS A RETIRED ARMY E-8 EVERY TIME I GET TICKED IN ONE THESE FREE FOR ALL BLOGS OVER IRAQ I TELL EVERYONE OUR KOREAN WAR GENERATION WILL BE THE LAST TO GO TO BAT TO SAVE ANOTHER COUNTRY AND COME OUT WITH A FREE AND PROSPEROUS SOUTH KOREA.

THOSE DAMN RINKY DINK DEMOCATS THREW THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE TO WOLVES AND RATS NEVER LOOKED BACK TO SEE WHAT THEY HADE DONE. I CAME HOME FROM VIETNAM IN '70 TO FIND THAT FAT ILLEGITIMACY, TED KENNEDY, SUBMITTING LEGISLATION TO CUT FUNDING FOR THE WAR I JUST LEFT. I OWE HIM ONE RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES.

VETERAN-AMERICAN SOUNDS GO GOOD, I GET THE SHAKES.

Posted by: albee | May 3, 2008 3:44:15 PM

Posted by: Ed Davis

THANK you for that article specially the last paragraph.
Full well do I understand what has been said.
USMC 68 -70 Honorable Discharge SGT-E5 (refused a medical)
Hue 68, I am entitled (was) to wear Bronze Star w/V & Purple Heart.
I am also now 80% disabled, from PTSD, Physical wounds (took a year in the San Diego Naval Hospital to put me all back together again).
Agent Orange ? one doc says yes another VA hospital another says NO.

I found this sight by mistake, BUT I will be back to visit my brothers in arms.

Bumper sticker I want one will go great with my Ky purple heart license place, USMC sticker and my other sticker that says

For Those wo fought for it,
Freedom has a flavor the Protected will never know.

Posted by: Ed Davis | Jul 22, 2008 10:37:26 PM

Posted by: Virgil Jacas

The responsible for the "implementation" of the hyphenation (anti-american politics) was non other that the "super hipocrite and full-of-prejudice" Rev."never-had-a-productive-daywork" Jessie Jackson Jr.; in 1983, when "suggested" that every American should be address by his or her ethnic background. The rest is history, and another blow to the principles of The Democratic Republic was cemented. " One Language-One Flag-One Nation". Thank you all Vet's, for your service, and thank you very much for allow me to me to tell the "TRUTH"

Posted by: Virgil Jacas | Jul 25, 2008 9:42:43 AM

Posted by: chuck aka XtnYoda

Did there ever actually come anything of production of this idea? I would dearly LOVE to use a bumper-sticker, or anything else.

Someone gave me recently a marine corp veteran ball cap. I've never worn anything related to my years of service, but after reading this article a few months ago I've worn the cap several times, always to surprised observers who know me.

"Were you really in the Marine Corp? Did you really serve in Viet Nam? Were you ever in combat?"

Thanks for the article, and looking for the sticker!

Posted by: chuck aka XtnYoda | Oct 4, 2008 10:56:08 AM

Posted by: vetfromhell

I am a disabled vet in Georgia. Do you know of a company with hosting rates that a vet on SSDI and 50% VA could afford? I want to start my own blog. I have the technical part down, but tight on income.
Thanks

Editor's note: I've emailed vfh suggesting he check out www.blogger.com

Posted by: vetfromhell | Oct 15, 2008 1:14:02 AM

Posted by: Haley RM2

I'm a Navy vet. Was in the Navy when the Gulf of Tonkin "incident" happened (or didn't happen). I go out of my way to greet active duty soldiers/sailors and vets. I've had many conversations with WWII vets in WalMart. My thanking them for their service comes from my heart. I'm sorry to read that my greeting may mean nothing. Nothing more than "have a good day". It puzzles me. When I offer my hand in thanks, their faces light up. I'll think about it next time.

Posted by: Haley RM2 | Mar 10, 2009 3:36:53 PM

Post a comment

Comments accept simple HTML for formatting and linking.

Comments are moderated and may not appear on the site immediately. Comments in violation of our comment policy will never appear on the site.

TrackBacks

TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451e4ed69e200e5508366938834

Trackbacks are moderated and do not appear immediately. Trackbacks from posts that do not link to this post will be deleted and will never be visible here.

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Veterans as an Ethnic Minority: