I am a Veteran - The Firearms Forum

02-27-2003, 10:01 PM

Misterstan
Moderator
Posts: 172
(5/25/01 6:27:52 am)
Reply | Edit | Del All I am a Veteran
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The following Letter to the Editor appeared in today's Arkansas Democrat Gazette, forwarded by a friend. The author writes very eloquently why we are not at work Monday. Enjoy the day. Remember the Veterans. They have
earned our respect and admiration.

Stan Lambert
St. Clair Shores, Michigan
---------------------------------------------------------

A Veteran speaks his mind

I am a veteran and I'm probably different from you.

I don't hunt, because I've been the hunted and I know how it feels.

I don't own a gun, because I've seen the effects of one and I don't want to see it again.

I don't care what you do today, because I know that what I did yesterday gives you the freedom to do it. Just don't tell me it's your "right."

I've listened to non-veterans tell me "how it was" just because they once read a book. I kept my mouth shut, because it's rude to call someone names to his face.

I have memories you cannot and will not understand ever.

I have feelings about this country that you cannot and will not understand, either.

I am a veteran.

I answered when I was called, put on a uniform, traveled away from home and did what I was told to do. I didn't hide. I didn't run. I didn't look for some excuse or some way out. I still have that uniform in a storage box and
I will put it on again if the need arises.

Some call me stupid. Some call me brave. Some call me uninformed. Some call me a hero.

I call myself a veteran, and I am different from you.

In the morning, when you see me at work, you should thank me.

In the evening, when we're in a bar together, you should buy me a drink.

On Sunday, when we're sitting together in church, you should thank our God for me.

I don't want any parades. Walking makes me tired.

I don't want any medals or ribbons. I have enough already stored in a dresser drawer.

I don't want any monuments or memorials. They only cause controversy.

Don't call me a patriot. Don't call me a criminal. I only did what you wanted done. I did it and you didn't.

That makes me different from you.

LEWIS M. PASSEN
Little Rock

oneknight
Moderator
Posts: 981
(5/25/01 6:48:10 am)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: I am a Veteran
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Beautiful! Very well said. Thanks for posting the
eye opener and for some, a rude awakening.

Rons Toys
V.I.P. Member
Posts: 47
(5/25/01 8:49:24 am)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: I am a Veteran
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I got this off another site
Ron

They carried P-38 can openers and heat tabs, watches and dog tags, insect
repellent, gum, cigarettes, Zippo lighters, salt tablets, compress bandages,
ponchos, Kool-Aid, two or three canteens of water, iodine tablets, sterno,
LRRP-rations, and C-rations stuffed in socks.

They carried standard fatigues, jungle boots, bush hats, flak jackets and steel
pots.

They carried the M-16 assault rifle.

They carried trip flares and Claymore mines, M-60 machine guns, the M-70 grenade
launcher, M-14's, CAR-15's, Stoners, Swedish K's, shotguns, .45 caliber pistols,
silencers, the sound of bullets, rockets, and choppers, and sometimes the sound
of silence.

They carried C-4 plastic explosives, an assortment of hand grenades, PRC-25
radios, knives and machetes. Some carried napalm, CBU's and large bombs; some
risked their lives to rescue others. Some escaped the fear, but dealt with the
death and damage. Some made very hard decisions, and some just tried to
survive.

They carried malaria, dysentery, ringworms and leaches. They carried the land
itself as it hardened on their boots.

They carried stationery, pencils, and pictures of their loved ones - real and
imagined.

They carried love for people in the real world and love for one another. And
sometimes... ...they disguised that love: "Don't mean nothin'!"

They carried memories for the most part, they carried themselves with poise and
a kind of dignity. Now and then, there were times when panic set in, and people
squealed or wanted to, but couldn't; when they twitched and trembled and covered
their heads and said "Dear God" and hugged the earth and fired their weapons
blindly and cringed and begged for the noise to stop and went wild and made
stupid promises to themselves and God and their parents, hoping not to die.

They carried the traditions of the United States military, and memories and
images of those who served before them.

They carried grief, terror, longing and their reputations.

They carried the soldier's greatest fear: the embarrassment of dishonor.

They crawled into tunnels, walked point, and advanced under fire, so as not to
die of embarrassment. They were afraid of dying, but too afraid to show it.

They carried the emotional baggage of men and women who might die at any moment.

They carried the weight of the world.

They carried each other.

Remember them this Memorial Day, May 28th.

dap22
Senior Chief Moderator II
Posts: 588
(5/25/01 8:49:41 am)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: I am a Veteran
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Amen brother! Should be required reading for all citizens.

Indybear57
Moderator
Posts: 316
(5/25/01 9:34:03 am)
Reply | Edit | Del
ezSupporter
Re: I am a Veteran
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Stan and Ron-good posts by both of you. We must never forget. Also recommend "We Must Not Forget" on the Chief's page if you haven't read it already.

Edited by: Indybear57 at: 5/25/01 10:37:04 am

Misterstan
Moderator
Posts: 175
(5/25/01 9:42:19 am)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: I am a Veteran
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Ron,

I believe it was Sharon who posted the same article prior to our losing the Vietnam Memories Discussion topics.

Thanks for finding it and putting it back on the board for us.

You sure do find some interesting sites on the Internet. I, for one, am grateful for you sharing the best ones with us.

Stan Lambert
St. Clair Shores, Michigan

LarryJK
Senior Chief Moderator III
Posts: 18
(5/25/01 10:31:16 am)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: I am a Veteran
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"Two Thumbs Up" to you all!!

02-27-2003, 10:01 PM	#1
Guest Adnanced Senior Member Posts: n/a	I am a Veteran Misterstan Moderator Posts: 172 (5/25/01 6:27:52 am) Reply \| Edit \| Del All I am a Veteran -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following Letter to the Editor appeared in today's Arkansas Democrat Gazette, forwarded by a friend. The author writes very eloquently why we are not at work Monday. Enjoy the day. Remember the Veterans. They have earned our respect and admiration. Stan Lambert St. Clair Shores, Michigan --------------------------------------------------------- A Veteran speaks his mind I am a veteran and I'm probably different from you. I don't hunt, because I've been the hunted and I know how it feels. I don't own a gun, because I've seen the effects of one and I don't want to see it again. I don't care what you do today, because I know that what I did yesterday gives you the freedom to do it. Just don't tell me it's your "right." I've listened to non-veterans tell me "how it was" just because they once read a book. I kept my mouth shut, because it's rude to call someone names to his face. I have memories you cannot and will not understand ever. I have feelings about this country that you cannot and will not understand, either. I am a veteran. I answered when I was called, put on a uniform, traveled away from home and did what I was told to do. I didn't hide. I didn't run. I didn't look for some excuse or some way out. I still have that uniform in a storage box and I will put it on again if the need arises. Some call me stupid. Some call me brave. Some call me uninformed. Some call me a hero. I call myself a veteran, and I am different from you. In the morning, when you see me at work, you should thank me. In the evening, when we're in a bar together, you should buy me a drink. On Sunday, when we're sitting together in church, you should thank our God for me. I don't want any parades. Walking makes me tired. I don't want any medals or ribbons. I have enough already stored in a dresser drawer. I don't want any monuments or memorials. They only cause controversy. Don't call me a patriot. Don't call me a criminal. I only did what you wanted done. I did it and you didn't. That makes me different from you. LEWIS M. PASSEN Little Rock oneknight Moderator Posts: 981 (5/25/01 6:48:10 am) Reply \| Edit \| Del Re: I am a Veteran -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beautiful! Very well said. Thanks for posting the eye opener and for some, a rude awakening. Rons Toys V.I.P. Member Posts: 47 (5/25/01 8:49:24 am) Reply \| Edit \| Del Re: I am a Veteran -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I got this off another site Ron They carried P-38 can openers and heat tabs, watches and dog tags, insect repellent, gum, cigarettes, Zippo lighters, salt tablets, compress bandages, ponchos, Kool-Aid, two or three canteens of water, iodine tablets, sterno, LRRP-rations, and C-rations stuffed in socks. They carried standard fatigues, jungle boots, bush hats, flak jackets and steel pots. They carried the M-16 assault rifle. They carried trip flares and Claymore mines, M-60 machine guns, the M-70 grenade launcher, M-14's, CAR-15's, Stoners, Swedish K's, shotguns, .45 caliber pistols, silencers, the sound of bullets, rockets, and choppers, and sometimes the sound of silence. They carried C-4 plastic explosives, an assortment of hand grenades, PRC-25 radios, knives and machetes. Some carried napalm, CBU's and large bombs; some risked their lives to rescue others. Some escaped the fear, but dealt with the death and damage. Some made very hard decisions, and some just tried to survive. They carried malaria, dysentery, ringworms and leaches. They carried the land itself as it hardened on their boots. They carried stationery, pencils, and pictures of their loved ones - real and imagined. They carried love for people in the real world and love for one another. And sometimes... ...they disguised that love: "Don't mean nothin'!" They carried memories for the most part, they carried themselves with poise and a kind of dignity. Now and then, there were times when panic set in, and people squealed or wanted to, but couldn't; when they twitched and trembled and covered their heads and said "Dear God" and hugged the earth and fired their weapons blindly and cringed and begged for the noise to stop and went wild and made stupid promises to themselves and God and their parents, hoping not to die. They carried the traditions of the United States military, and memories and images of those who served before them. They carried grief, terror, longing and their reputations. They carried the soldier's greatest fear: the embarrassment of dishonor. They crawled into tunnels, walked point, and advanced under fire, so as not to die of embarrassment. They were afraid of dying, but too afraid to show it. They carried the emotional baggage of men and women who might die at any moment. They carried the weight of the world. They carried each other. Remember them this Memorial Day, May 28th. dap22 Senior Chief Moderator II Posts: 588 (5/25/01 8:49:41 am) Reply \| Edit \| Del Re: I am a Veteran -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amen brother! Should be required reading for all citizens. Indybear57 Moderator Posts: 316 (5/25/01 9:34:03 am) Reply \| Edit \| Del ezSupporter Re: I am a Veteran -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stan and Ron-good posts by both of you. We must never forget. Also recommend "We Must Not Forget" on the Chief's page if you haven't read it already. Edited by: Indybear57 at: 5/25/01 10:37:04 am Misterstan Moderator Posts: 175 (5/25/01 9:42:19 am) Reply \| Edit \| Del Re: I am a Veteran -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ron, I believe it was Sharon who posted the same article prior to our losing the Vietnam Memories Discussion topics. Thanks for finding it and putting it back on the board for us. You sure do find some interesting sites on the Internet. I, for one, am grateful for you sharing the best ones with us. Stan Lambert St. Clair Shores, Michigan LarryJK Senior Chief Moderator III Posts: 18 (5/25/01 10:31:16 am) Reply \| Edit \| Del Re: I am a Veteran -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Two Thumbs Up" to you all!! -->