Who says blogs don’t matter?
BY Herschel Smith
15 years ago
From Google Analytics:
See network domain number 139 that particular day from Washington, D.C. Analytics shows this to be a previous (repeat) visitor who didn’t come to TCJ via other links. Here at The Captain’s Journal we’re glad to have each and every one of our readers, from the executive office of the President U.S.A. to DoD, CENTCOM, Dyncorp, Cornell University, FEMA, the U.S. Senate, and John Deere.
On November 2, 2009 at 11:13 am, Warbucks said:
My local community held a Vetran’s parade yesterday down Main Street. Invited by a friend, I rode shotgun on a restored early model 1940’s WWII jeep. Alvin maned the 30-calibre, I set with the owner’s 3.5″ bazooka while the owner drove the jeep slowly down Main Street in the parade.
Retired and active duty ranks lined the parade route and the parade mingled with hundreds of civilians. There was endless applause and cheers along the route coming from the curbs. Ribbons and metals where so thick that several seem more like walking ribbon platforms than human beings.
All in all with nearly 200 entries and hundreds of participants, a few local politicians and mayors and one congressman, I was interested in one thing…. listening to attitudes and opinions of our current leadership that emanated around me from these vets.
Here’s what I think I heard. No doubt my perceptions of President Obama’s leadership of his war is colored by what I may feel and think, but on this day I listened more than I talked. The active duty crowd was silent as you might expect even among vets.
A Korean War vet….”Either engage the enemy to win or bring the guys home….
A WWII vet……….. “Don’t fight wars that are not declared.”
A Vietnam vet …… “Here we go again.”
A Vietnam vet …… “Use your %$&*#@* heavy weapons and back up the troops”
A Vietnam vet …… “This is now his war G– D— it!”
A Vietnam vet ….. (me) A war that must be won, that may require new understanding of winning (http://www.responsibilityproject.com/films/player/the-home-run/)
A lone vet with a trombone set in the pickup truck in front of our jeep and played each service branch theme on his trombone from Anchors Away to Marine Corp anthem, which raised cheers two blocks ahead of his truck.
As I walked back to my car several blocks from the parade with what’s left of my old uniform — one jacket and a survival knife — several people looked me straight in the eye and said “Thanks.”
I gained the sense that no one was saying “thanks” to this administration as yet even as half of them had to be Dems.
The moral of the story: you fill this part in ……
On November 2, 2009 at 11:04 pm, rrk3 said:
All I am not a vet I was a peace time Marine for the short time I was in. However when the subject comes up and someone says thank you for doing your part I always get a chill.
My dad who is a two war vet Vietnam with the Marine Corps, Desert Storm with the ANG is still more proud of his time in Vietnam with his beloved Corps. It has been very interesting lately as my grandfather just moved to the area to listen to them talk as my grandfather is also a two war vet Korea and Vietnam with the Marine Corps. They have some stories to tell and for some reason when those two old salts get together the tale start being told.
Thanks to everyone for making me feel welcome here it is greatly appreciated. My comments maybe slow for the next couple months as I just started another semester tonight. I will be here as time allows.
RRK3
On November 3, 2009 at 6:22 pm, Warbucks said:
rrk3
I received your intelligence analysis paper on FATA alternatives and read it with great interest. I believe you taught me some valuable lessons which I greatly appreciate. Thank you.
On November 3, 2009 at 8:50 pm, rrk3 said:
Warbucks,
Thank you for the kind words they are greatly appreciated.