Adopt a Soldier

[FF_Graybeard]

As many of our flight simmers know, being old salts, what mail call means. However there are many soldiers that receive very little from home if anything. With the Holiday season here, and beyond, what better way to say Thank you. For information you can check out the fogies web site or contact,  ljaldrich@adelphia.net

or  www.flying-fogies.com   Thanks to all and Happy Holidays

[Craig.]

Sounds interesting, but "thank you for what you're doing" would probably be the last thing I'd write in such a letter.

Bjorn if you ever do have to do the military bit, you'll realise how very lonely it gets for these guys. You may like to take the doom and gloom outlook on life but believe me, the military could make your life absolutely miserable. A simple thanks for putting your life on the line when you have little choice, will always help to at least let them know, their friends and family many times 1000's of miles away do remember them.

[ATI_7500]

Still don't get the "thank you" part.

[ozzy72]

Bj

[Romulus111VADT]

Still don't get the "thank you" part.

Your living in a free society thanks to veterans and the military. If not for them, you would know what hell on earth is like. We veterans have spent our time in hell so you and future generations don't have to live in fear of people like Hitler and many others. This is more than enough reason to thanks all veterans- your freedom!

[ATI_7500]

Your living in a free society thanks to veterans and the military. If not for them, you would know what hell on earth is like. We veterans have spent our time in hell so you and future generations don't have to live in fear of people like Hitler and many others. This is more than enough reason to thanks all veterans- your freedom!

Oh yeah, I should seek the next best Wehrmacht soldier and thank him that his army lost and that I can be free now. Or maybe I should write to a russian soldier and tell him that I'm extremely grateful that I could spend four years of my life under an oppressive puppet regime of Soviet Russia.

Honestly - you don't join the military for being a hero. You either join because you have to or because you're desperate  or because want to defend whatever you believe in.
But not for gratitude.
It's just luck or coincidence for me that things are how they are. And if they were different - well, I can adapt...

The only thing I ever want to say to a soldier is "Can you tell me some stories?"

[eno]

Bjorn ........ you really do have a rather large chip on your shoulder.
The Army will be a good thing for you, you'll soon find that there's bigger, uglier and far more ill tempered people than yourself who have far bigger chips on their shoulders.... the difference is they have rank and if they don't earn your respect they beat that respect out of you.

I think you'll find it a humbling experience.

[BMan1113VR]

But not for gratitude.

if you mean "out of gratitude" "I, and I am sure other Vets, would disagree with that.

[Stratobat]

Honestly - you don't join the military for being a hero. You either join because you have to or because you're desperate  or because want to defend whatever you believe in.
But not for gratitude.

Yeah??... How would you know?

Regards,
Stratobat

[ATI_7500]

The Army will be a good thing for you, you'll soon find that there's bigger, uglier and far more ill tempered people than yourself who have far bigger chips on their shoulders.... the difference is they have rank and if they don't earn your respect they beat that respect out of you.

Sure, they would try. But what you do and what you think doesn't have to be the same.

if you mean "out of gratitude" "I, and I am sure other Vets, would disagree with that.

Rather "for earning gratitude".

Yeah??... How would you know?

Bercause no one is sick enough to think "oh, I will be the hero for everyone,everyone will love me,because I risk my life" when he/she joins.

[Stratobat]

Bercause no one is sick enough to think "oh, I will be the hero for everyone,everyone will love me,because I risk my life" when he/she joins.

Heretic,

There actually are people out there who are exactly like that!

Regards,
Stratobat

[Craig.]

This should perhaps be locked? or at least calmed down a little.

[eno]

Bjorn ............ I think quitting whilst your behind would be the prudent  move here.

Untill you have any military experience you have no right to comment on any man's reasons for joining up. Once you have that experience then your opinions would possibly seen as valid.

Untill then I think a little respect needs to be shown to anyone past and present who for whatever reason has joined the armed forces. Which side they have fought on or are fighting on is irrelevant.

[Hagar]

I would just ike to point out something you lot might be mssing. This topic is the first post by a new member of the forum that we don't know anything about. I suspect that he knows less about the members here. This topic is obviously aimed at Americans supporting their own forces on active duty.

Anyone knowing Heretic's background should not be surprised by his point of view. Although it might have been better if he'd kept quiet he's entitled to his opinion. This is an international forum & some members will not feel the same way about this as others. Many will keep quiet for fear of offending their friends with different views but I can't stand by & watch a regular member being vilified for his beliefs. Unless anyone has experienced what he's been through they have no right to criticise. If people are willing to listen instead of constantly shouting him down we might all learn something about how people from other countries feel about things.

[ATI_7500]

There actually ARE people out there like that!

And they get what they want because it is expected from civilians to see their soldiers as heroes defending their "freedom".

Once you have that experience then your opinions would possibly seen as valid.

So my opinion on that topic is nothing because I don't have military experience.

Untill then I think a little respect needs to be shown to anyone past and present who for whatever reason has joined the armed forces. Which side they have fought on or are fighting on is irrelevant.

It's the whole "respect" thing that sickens me. Why deserves a soldier more respect than anybody else?


- Edit: Never thought you'd stand up for me, Doug. Thanks.