In the wake of another Ft Hood shooting, I have sat here and waited for the backlash that this will no doubt bring. The problem is is that it will not be about the true problem. As a 17 year infantry veteran, I have watched as many of my fellow service members have drown themselves into addictions or destroyed themselves and those around them. We have a real problem that our government wants to blow smoke around and thinks that by placing a band-aid on a sucking chest wound while giving some motrin and telling us to drink water that all will be fixed. (yes that was sarcastic) I will admit that there are leaders out there that truly care about the lower ranks. I have met and respected some of the finest, but between the lack of true caring by the VA to the biggest lie i have seen in headlines (General states that soldiers are ok with losing some benefits) I have came to my wits end and am beginning to see the ones who truly do not give one iota for respect for those in the mud. I give no quarter to the fact that SPC Lopez took out his problems on the one group that should have been by his side the most ( his battle buddies). This was the absolute wrong thing and a tragedy that God will judge him for. I do however place a large part of the blame on those who should have seen the signs and taken this soldier seriously when he asked for help. Their are soldiers new and old that need help in multiple ways and the fact that we are stepped on, pushed on, crapped on, and forgotten about makes me angry in so many ways. We are needed when our government wants to push an agenda and pushed aside like a bastard step-child when its wants. Our country is going downhill fast and its going to be a loud thud when it happens. Please keep your ears open for those that need the help, sometimes its just an ear, sometimes its a direction, because for as hard as we are (or think we are) soldiers are humans that have feelings too. Some just do not know how to cope. Thank you for listening.
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Thank you and bless you ANN BAIRD ODOM for your comments and your prayers. As a soldier, it is very hard for me to resist the impulse to want "get-back" and "make 'em pay." Many, if not most, of our personnel here feel the same way. Some people back home think we are government robots, but nothing could be further from the truth. As a "soldier in Christ" now, I don't want to be vengeful, but I hope and pray that God understands that we do what we do best, not out of hate, but out of love for the very life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness that only He can provide. We want to defend just that for those who are in danger of having it taken away. We know that all this is just a symptom of a spiritual disease, and a spiritual war between good (God) and evil (humans left to their own devices). Please continue to pray, for it is the very best thing any of us can do.
Robert, Charles, and Notahero, I want to thank all of you for your service, and I understand a lot of the pain that y'all are going through. My husband is a Viet Nam era Vet, serving a year at Korat, Thailand as a dog handler, so he was also exposed to Agent Orange. There is no doubt that this POTUS has no regard for the military, and is getting very bad advice from somewhere, regarding pulling out the troops in Iraq, and now it's like we never were there in the first place! I'm sure the Afghanis will want our troops pulled out by the end of this year, if not sooner. I told my husband that if Russia could not win against the Afghanis, then there was NO WAY we could win a war with them. I am appalled at the huge number of military personnel who are committing suicide on a daily basis! These personnel MUST get the help that they need, and in some cases, it's just a listening ear. I do know that the medical care has dropped dramatically since obamacare became law. The VA sent a letter out that states that the health care provided by the VA meets the requirements of coverage by the affordable care act, and they would be able to continue to receive medical care anywhere in the U.S. Well, that's not quite true as my husband has been having to fight to try to get the care he needs, his routine VA Clinic appts for lab work have decreased, and he only sees his doctor at the Clinic once a year! Before 0, he used to see his doctor at least every 3 months. Anyhow, wanted to let y'all know that there are folks out here who are watching what is going on and are very angry about the way our military is being treated, or should I say mistreated, by an administration who does not care about them. I try to keep all in prayer daily, as well as the families as they are also being impacted by these changes.
May God bless each and every one of you!
Thanks Robert and Charles. As a career NCO, coming to the end of my last deployment (not by choice), I can certainly empathize with your comments. If you have seen any of my posts on here, you know that it has been a long time now since we have been on stand down rules of engagement. It really makes my blood boil to have to see everything so many had to give so much for, just given back like it never even mattered. Many of us, actually most of us by now, have a pretty good idea where the next field of battle will be. As you know well, when things get "hot" it is the "brotherhood" that keeps us fighting for each other, but it is the "oath" that keeps us coming back. Time for some get-back. I hope and pray every day that we are wrong, but nevertheless we have been trying to get someone in Congress to care enough to hear the following petition: http://www.petition2congress.com/14287/bring-our-military-home/
It will not be over until it is over.
I would like to know, Why military bases are unarmed?" I know this was brought in by Pres Clinton, and continued thru this administration, who has a big distrust of the military. Has his own special army/police. Sounds like Germany.
And obtw, I support Wounded Warriors, do something for these brave men/women~
Very well said . As a Nam vet I have run ito this same shit for over 40 years. Guys that never even finished boot camp get 100 percent disability, and the ones like me in the bush get nothing but shit thrown at us. One day the people that send us to war are going to have to fight themselves and they will not survive. We continue to fight. For our country, our buddies in the mud, and for the people that need help. Yes all vets have been thru HELL. But we did because our country called on us to do it. And the politicians pad ther bank accounts. Yes it is disgusting, but we can only do one thing. KEEP ON FIGHTING !!!
Semper Fi