qtndas01 wrote:Today I am proud to be an American. However, I don't beleive it will bring closure to most people - just reopen old wounds. Without going into too much detail I served in a combat zone from Feb 67 - May 68. The marines DO draft people. I was with the 5th Marine Brigade. When I got home I took a line from Bob Dylans song "Knockin' On Heavens Door - Put my guns in the ground, I don't need them anymore." i haven't touched a gun since. We were the silent masses. No one asked where we were or cared to here about anything we went through. We stood out by our haircuts even if you didn't wear your uniform. Every Memorial Day I shed some tears. It reopens old wounds. Today my American pride overshadows some of the bitterness - A lot of my brothers have died from Prostate cancer. I have survived mine.
Welcome Home Brother!! I too share some of the hurt you speak about. I know that this guy deserved to die about as much as any human being ever deserved it. Consequences are real and I have no problem with what we had to do. Having said that, I doubt that we are a lot safer, I hope and pray I am wrong. I pray for the men who did this mission. They will not be the same ever again. Killing another man, no matter how much he deserved it will change them as it changed us. I am not a bleeding heart, few Army Rangers are, but I still feel no joy at the death of another, enemy or not.
Now I will go back to my prayers for those of ours who are in harms way right now. They are the ones who are bearing the load today. God bless them all.