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Have you ever stopped to think about citizen-soldiers? About who they are?
National Guard soldiers are people like you, your sister, your neighbor, your mom or your dad. They read books, go to ballgames, care for their parents, worry about their children. They have lives, jobs and commitments that non-military people can relate to.
That is, until they are called up on federal orders to serve in places like Afghanistan.
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Stephanie Himango/ NBC News
An Iowa National Guard soldier hugs a little girl during a sendoff ceremony in Ankeny, Iowa on Aug. 5.
Then their lives become anything but ordinary. Some soldiers trade tractors for M-4 rifles, business suits for camouflage, sandals for combat boots.
Citizen-soldiers are a significant part of the 1 percent of the United States population serving in the military.
For at least a year, a group of Iowa National Guard soldiers are leaving everything familiar in order to serve. But dates for deployment and return are not finite moments when all of their responsibilities begin and end. For months before and after their deployment, they have family dynamics to manage, work-related issues to navigate, relationships to maintain.
As of Monday, nearly 3,000 Iowa Army National Guard soldiers officially left home for what will be a one-year deployment to Afghanistan, making it the largest deployment of the Iowa National Guard since World War II.
The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division comprises 2,800 soldiers from Iowa, about 350 from the Nebraska Guard, and about 100 from other states. The brigade will continue their training in Mississippi and California before leaving for Afghanistan in October. But for the families back home, they have said their tearful goodbyes for a year.
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Stephanie Himango/ NBC News
A group of Iowa National Guard soldiers salute during a sendoff ceremony in Des Moines, Iowa on Monday, Aug. 9.
Ripple effect of deployment
With a state population of about 3 million, the deployment will have a significant impact on the residents of Iowa. These citizen-soldiers will be absent for a full year from their roles as teachers, medics, firefighters, community leaders – not to mention their altered roles as fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, sons, daughters.
One person who can grasp the magnitude of this deployment is Brig. Gen. Timothy E. Orr, Adjutant General, Iowa National Guard.
"When we deploy a battalion, we touch anywhere from 270 to 290 communities. This brigade will deploy, and they will cover almost every community in the state of Iowa," Orr said, the top commander for Iowa's National Guard.
"We call this Fort Iowa," he added, explaining that everyone has an important role to play. The will behind this fight, he said, includes the men and women back home, the families, the employers and the communities.
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Stephanie Himango/ NBC News
A young girl says goodbye to a soldier in Des Moines, Iowa on Monday, Aug. 9.
Next greatest generation
Orr's impression of the soldiers themselves is measured in familiar and reverent terms.
"I think when you look at this generation, it's the next 'Greatest Generation,'" he said, referring to the men and women who fought World War II.
"The men and women we have today are volunteers. We've been at war for over eight years and yet every day we continue to get more and more men and women who want to serve."
He pointed out that the National Guard soldiers are one part of the U.S. population that serves in the military. Referring to the collective military effort, he said "they're carrying 100 percent of the load on this global war on terrorism ... and in my book that makes them very special. They don't have to be here," he said. "I think they're role models for society and for young people today."
Related article: For soldiers, training mirrors Afghanistan's realities
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
See more reports on the deployment of the Iowa National Guard on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams this week.
Leave a Comment:
eversince George the american idiot Bush started sending national guard and reserves into combat instead of having the draft come back to fight hiw wars nobody should question anything. what really needs to be done is to bring back the military draft for every male 18 - 26 years of age - if women want to serve in combat let them enlist if they want to because a war zone is no place for women at any time unless they are nurses or doctors.
a draft for 3 years would be sufficient to make men out of a lot of the crap that is roaming our streets and the ones who are still home with their parents because they are too lazy to go out on their own. very sufficient for basic training, a.i.t. and then see some combat because our damn country cannot survive without having a war some place every few years
vietnam vet
Sorry, I don't want to go die for bush.
sorry, i'm gay. Opps, i told, guess that means i'm out.
But i am VERY thankful, and support those men & women who choose to serve to protect this country, and to uphold the beacon of light for freedom and democracy for the world to see and look up to.
-Dan
I would let the women in combat MOS' if that's what they want. However, do not drop the standards.
Your statement about "a war zone is no place for women at any time unless they are nurses or doctors" is a little dated. The modern battlefield is so fluid that there really are no more front lines. Even if conventional warfare was being fought, the weapons of today make the whole theater of operations the battlefield.
I agree that all 18 - 21 year olds (notice I didn't limit it to just men) should be required to perform 3 years of national service. Not necessarily military service, but national service. Although I'm retired Army, I could see an option of them serving either in the active duty military or Peace Corps (if they're against the military) or another civilian authority (e.g. CCC).
One more change; National service "would be sufficient to make" adults "out of a lot of the crap that is roaming our streets and the ones who are still home with their parents"
Hi Julie,
I think that many men still have this "cavalier" notion that they have to protect the "fairer sex." Too many people feel that because of this a man might put himself into more danger than needed in order to protect a woman. Is it true? Who knows! I do not know how I would react in that situation, but I am glad we did not have women "pounding the bush" with us in Vietnam. Not only for the "protection" part of things, but the "privacy" issues as well. When you are in the field there is no room for differences -- your life depends on it -- and to worry about where to go when "nature calls" has to be a problem. If the unit is all women -- no problem. If it is all men -- no problem. If it is co-ed -- problem.
Lew, Not to go into detail but a poncho does wonders.
LOL. Yes, we can make our women look Mexican. Great idea, then when we invade they can be disguised as corn workers and apple pickers. The enemy will never know. I think you have something here Julie
thevons,
Love your comment. Had me laughing but you do know I was talking about an Army poncho? It's the big square camouflage wet-weather resistance article that cover the whole body.
However, if we ever invade Mexico or any other Central American country, we'll now have the element of surprise thanks to you. :-D
the real reason people join the national guard was to get additional money to supplement their salaries from their real job so their family could live better - same goes for the reserves that is until George the war hero Bush decided to change things instead of having the balls to have the draft reinstated. it is like sending the sheep to their slaughter because they went over with no idea what was in for them unlike enlisted people on their first tour that were basically ready for anything - was that extra money any good to most of these guys ?? hell no. chill out julie you have no damn idea what you are babbling about
vietnam vet
if you join the armed forces, you've got to understand that you have the chance to be deployed and you always have to be ready because its what you chose TO join. no one is forcing you to join...i respect all soldiers and I'm planning on joining the air force because its in the family. i know, i would hate to have to see my dad go for a year, but you've got to be ready for it, because you just never know when or if someone will be deployed. I know I'm going to get a lot of hate for this but oh well..
Julie,
I appreciate the acknowledgement. I might make a run at becoming the next National Security Advisor. Ha
Dan - so the guys in the National Guard are just in it for the money and the only people that should be going to fight for our country are criminals and thugs? The National Guard training sessions are really just for show and not to really prepare anyone for anything of use? Our 18 year old kids are better equipped to go out and fight? Oh and women are too soft to fight? Just want to be sure that I got your comments right there. I have the utmost respect for all vets and military personnel, but dude - your comments are a little off if I'm reading you right. I would like nothing more than to see all our service people come home - to be honest I think they are needed here on the border more, but I think you have to give these guys and gals some credit.
Ummm...Dear Dan260821,
First of all, Julie is a 20 year Army Veteran/Career Soldier. Career soldiers do not babble. They are concise. Also, she would have considerable field time, and combat duty time over the span of her career. I am willing to bet that her experiences are not only longer, and more involved than yours, but that she probably also outranks you. So shut your piehole.
Secondly, the draft? Are you insane? I am also a Vet...and I would much rather fight alongside a soldier who volunteered for service rather than someone who doesn't want to be there...someone who is only laying down suppresive fire for fear of a court martial otherwise. Screw that. If you don't want to be there, I don't want you there. Of course, I get it that no one wants to go to war...but when you volunteer for it, you get my vote. You sound like someone who WAS drafted, jilted because of it and now think that everyone should have it just as bad as you. That isn't progress.
Robert
Dan, I'm not sure if you're aware (and I'd assume not judging by your post) but the majority of the National Guard and Reserves were Active Duty who went to the Guard and Reserves to remain in some type of military service after their stint on AD is done. Unless they are at drill or training or activated, they don't get paid (unless they are Active Guard Reserve soldiers, who are full time soldiers), so your argument about them supplementing their income by being in the Guard or Reserves is ridiculous.
Now while Active Duty soldiers will deride the competency of the GUuard and Reserve (and some of the derision is warranted but not all) they are citizen soldiers. THey don't train year round like we do, but they are making a HUGE sacrifice and NO ONE should ever downplay that fact. Many don't agree with the reasons we're in Iraq and Afghanistan but ultimately it was the American people who allowed the bush administration to put us here. Yes, he is a buffoon, but who is more the buffoon? The idiot who put us here or the idiots who allowed him to put us here?
Dan...
Um, Nice try danny boy. I was a National Guard Recruiter in San Diego, California (84-86). Let me correct your mis-statement above. The real reasons people join the Guard are (in highest priority to lowest):
Of course, there are more reasons but these are the majority of the reasons I saw while a recruiter. Also, I served in the Army reserves (for 6 months before switching to the Guard) with the 163rd at Camp Pendelton and then with the 40th Inf Div out of Los Alamitos. As for the experience of the Guard, most are prior service and the Guard units are first sent to "refresher training" (e.g. Ft. Irwin, etc) before going in theater to conduct combat operations. I guess your idea of the Guard is from the first Rambo movie where everyone is is just a "good 'ol boy" playing Army in their backyard. While OPFOR we had Guard units supplement the OPFOR. The OPFOR had a 96% win ratio against US Army brigades. Think we could have that record with "good 'ol boy" playing Army? Get real, danny-boy!
Now, what's your experience with the National Guard and Reserve?
I could go into more but Zen, Gordy, & Robert has it pretty much covered.
Thanks Zen, Robert & Gordy for your replies to educate Dan .
Do all war vets that are lucky enough to return home, return to there families the same as when they left. As being a vet to one of the wars we might have easily of lost, you should be ashamed of yourself for calling on a draft to all males 18/26. You might as well draft ages 12/86, moron! The US Gov. kills more innocent people right here at home than natural causes in my area. No, for what? I am thankful for my freedom so to speak, but the price my blood paid is out of your league pal. IN GOD WE TRUST not the Cabinent and its Joint.
King W and his Dick did not invent sending the National Guard on deployment outside the USA. They were idiots for many reasons, but not that one.
What is amazing is having the worse president ever followed by the biggest failure in history. Who can out do these supreme bottom dwellers after the Obamanation gets re-elected?
Yes, you really added to the conversation. Thanks for your comments. No, really, you're awesome. I don't know why YOU aren't the POTUS, because I'm sure YOU could do a much better job...
GOD BLESS THEM ALL! May they all return to their loved ones safely after they serve our country.
Hey, they're all Republicans in iowa, right? And believe the US should be running around the world killing everyone who get in our way, correct? So what can anybody be complaining about? The only difference I can see is that a Black man is in the White House, and that's what these racists are all upset about. It was OK was Bush did it, and sent our National Guard to fight 2 stupid wars. So just pipe down, OK?
All Republicans in Iowa, Iowa is a moderate state. Divided down the middle. Obama started his climb here, not saying I am for that but don't pigeon hole the state because you are ignorant.
If you ever make it to Iowa I'd put a leash on that sharp tongue of yours red. We are pretty much right down the middle. If you want to insult our great state you're going to have issues with Iowans Democrat or Repulican. I hope they return home safely, we all know someone if not many of those being deployed. I am wondering though and I am not trying to cause an argument here, I thought Obama was going to bring our troops home, isn't that what he said?
Keep using racist for every one who disagrees with obama.Thanks to all of you one note wonders the word racist has lost any meaning that it it once had. Now all it means is that you disagree with the president because he is black. Not because his economic policies are going to finish this country off.
It s not our goal to go around the world killing everyone..... But we do take a particular joy killing morons on Red Vespa's!
Youre an ignorant moron.
What does any of this have to do with the article?
Hate is hate no matter which side it's coming from Vespa. You should remember that before you post to derail a topic.
How do you manage to come up with a comment like that? Zen Freedom really pegged this one.
Something is seriously not right when the largest deployment since world war II is happening and just last week they were "supposedly" pulling the military out of Afghan. People, I am not a believer in conspiracies but with everything that is happening in todays world could we (as in north america) be preparing for a major war? Maybe even WWIII? Lets hope not, but something is not right here
I don't remember anything saying we were pulling out of Afghanistan, so I don't know where you're getting that from.
vons - use some common sense here. These soldiers will be relieving other soldiers currently in Afghan so that they can go home to their families and friends after a long hard year.
we are bleeding our reserves dry; we have nothing left fo a emergency/ or a attack; their equipment is being used up; for what/ a 6th centyary country !
Well, we should be blaming the all of the presidents since the Desert Storm that started the active duty military reduction and those that kept it going or didn't rectify it. Basically every president from GW the first to Obama.
I took the early retriment option after Desert Storm. Saw many divisions go away, along with the manpower. We did it after WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Desert Storm. Guess history does repeat itself.
As a someone who was deployed for 22 months with the 1/133rd Inf. 34I.D. in o6/07 and a current soldier in this unit, I can tell you that the Iowa Natl.Guard is very well equipped with top notch equipment. We have known about this deployment for the last year officially (almost 2 years unofficially). There is not a "whoa is me attitude" with in the ranks. The unit motivation is solid as well as grounded. I joined up after a 19 year break in service. Got out at 19, reenlisted at 40. At this point in the game, there is nobody left with the attitude that they just signed up for the college money and never thought they would be deployed! (except maybe some Air Force personel.......Kidding)
The only honest debate is whether or not there is any country in the middle east that has the capacity to develop into anything that might resemble a responsible society that is governed in a civil manner. Nation building has worked when applied to western cultures(Germany). It worked in Japan, which was already industrialized and had a very disciplined society. I have some very strong douts about any success in the middle east. You can include 90% of Africa, Haiti, Mexico and all of Central America in my humble opinion. Why? Corruption, graft, tribalism,nepotism a lack of will by their people to come together for the common good of developing a nation with long term goals. Think Chicago, only much worse!
My mission is to carry out the mission I signed up for. That doesn't mean I would start herding people into walk-in ovens if ordered. You would be hard pressed to prosecute this action at the soldiers level with anymore balance of diplomacy and our overwhelming military ability to eradicate the enemy at anytime if we had a 100% green light to do so. People make the mistake of thinking in linear terms as opposed to multi-dimensional! No simple answers !
What you're forgetting Rob, is that the majority of these third world countries have just come from under imperialistic rule of european countries within the last century. Exactly how long did it take the US to have a national identity and escape from "Corruption, graft, tribalism,nepotism a lack of will by their people to come together for the common good of developing a nation with long term goals"?
I am a retired (disability) Vietnam Veteran and understand completely the need for the National Guard and Reserve components of the military. What I am interested in knowing is how many National Guardsmen/women are members because of the extra income and how many feel (truly believe) they are doing their patriotic duty. It seems that many times when NG units get called up many members complain about the fact that they are being deployed. This is a fact of life that they understood when the signed up (voluntarily, I might add.) Did they actually believe that all they were going to have to do is attend weekend drills once a month and go to a two week summer camp after Basic Training and AIT? I am not a big supporter of either war that is being fought right now, but since the NG and the regular military is all volunteer I do not believe that any member of the military has a right to be upset that they are being deployed. I joined the Army in 1965, volunteered for Jump School and became a Combat Medic -- was there any question in my mind (military) as to where I was headed? No, and I could not complain -- I made the choice.
Lew, the trouble today is that few people take responsibility for their conduct.
Ooops. Wrong place. See 6.1 above
Yes, they are getting prepared to start WWIII for US/israels greed, paranoia,deceit or whatever lie they are spewing. It's not rocket science, they are going to invade Iran, for illegal unjust reasons, and no grounds for it and they expect WWIII to start from it. The Greed and the want to control others starts wars! They have no control over Iran, so this is there way of getting it. They are probably hoping to scare the $hit out of Iran to give in before they actually strike or they might do it anyway just to knock them back to the dark ages. Iran is getting to smart and it scares corrupt politicians in our government because it impedes on the process of having the word in there pockets. So we will lose a lot of good men that think they are fighting for a good reason over another unjust war. Anybody actually surprised. Don't worry our government will give some kind of spew about how we are americans and we fight for freedom and against terrorism, and most of you will eat it up as usual while they laugh in the background.
" So we will loose a lot of good men that think they are fighting for a good reason" - Great line WOW
Ignorant would best describe the diatribe you put forth! Stupid is as stupid does! All emotion, no logic, reasoning ability or factual basis!
W-O-W and vons, I'm afraid you two really have no concept of what is going in Afghanistan right now. We are in no shape, form, or fashion preparing to invade Iran. That would be a larger mistake than the invasion of Iraq. Stop the fear mongering and do some research on what is taking place in Afghanistan right now and stop spreading BS.
I am sorry that these people are being taken from their jobs, homes families, and everything else to go to a country that most of us dont feel deserves protection. Let them stay home and protect their families, and OUR soil!
Hard to believe so many people volunteering to go die. True heroes or crazy fools, call them what you want, you have to feel the drama surrounding these folks. Ill bet more then a few regret volunteering to go over there. When the body parts fly there are no cool songs in the background, no awesome slow motion close ups. Just real blood and suffering.
Only an Idiot or zealot (radical Muslim) volunteers to die. I would pay you a $1000.00 a head for every soldier you could find that would tell you He volunteered to die! Aren't you supposed to be in Haiti, Sean Penn
I mean in the way that a pizza guy probably sells alot of pizza and a car salesman probably sells a bunch of cars, a guy running around a mine field full of bullets flying probably gets alot of dead. It is the job.
Now we are sending our National Guard? This almost makes me cry! When will we send the "soon to be " citizens of this country to pay their dues first? When will it be mandatory, just as in high school and sports etc. the one must pay his/her dues before being rewarded with citizenship to this great country? Not a fan of Bush but I certainly feel since his departure this country has no direction. If we continue to allow are children to be afraid of joining the military, we simply won't have one. Let's ball up!
Marty...we've BEEN sending national guard troops to Iraq and Afghanastan since the beginning...going on 9 years now....
Service guarantees citizenship? Sounds like Starship troopers.
Good Movie
Keep all of this in mind when it is time to elect our next set of representatives. Why can't "We The People" find anyone in the United States to elect for office that think and act as our founding fathers did? Those men were brilliant and thought so far ahead that they were able to come up with a Constitution that has withstood the test of time. It is time to get rid of our nonrepresenting representatives and find citizens that will stand for the people, elected by the people.
We could really use their help on our borders. However, why don't people who take part in extreme sports and activities like bungee jumping, scaling down cliffs, etc., where they put themselves and rescuers in danger, join the armed forces. They would be serving their country and could get their danger fix. I really respect our service men and women.
God bless our troops! It's a testament to us we have such men and women in this country. But, I wonder for what? Seventy five percent of the "people" in Afghanistan can't read or write. Flush toilets are years and years away for them. They just killed a group of doctors who have helped them for years. They cut noses off women for infractions. The biggest thing they have going for them is the Wednesday afternoon goat auction. We should just leave three brigades there for security purposes and bring the rest home!!!!!
There are plenty of people in the US, including our military, who can't read and write. There are only a few jobs in the military which require you to have a GT score over 100. The majority of our military have a GT score below 80.
What kind of security could three brigades provide, Robert? I don't think you know anything about Afghanistan.
as far as this vietnam veteran is concerned these guys are no different that we were back then except for the fact they are national guard and reserves who basically have no damn place in any combat situation in any foreign countries ''national guard'' means right here and for another fact that they come home as so-called heroes while us vietnam vets came back to nothing but ridicule, no jobs and constantly being called baby killers and if you slobs do not like to hear the truth about how we were treated it is too damn bad
vietnam vet
I did 16 months in Iraq and want to say thanks for your service to our country. You men got a raw deal, But if you did your duty, than all you need is the respect of your brothers who were with you and yourself.
I never understood how anyone who shouted babykiller to a Soldier or Marine, didn't require their mouth to be wired shut for 3 to 4 months. I would have pulled 90 days in the brig before I would have allowed some Hippy to walk away after saying that to me with out giving him a life alterating responce. Do you regret not dealing with that differently?
DAN - I too, want to thank you for your service to our country!
"For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know!"
Thank you, sir! God bless you!
Listen PEOPLE!!! Its not about who our President is or who our President was, its about who we are as a country and as citizens of the greatest continent in the world. Its sad to see that so many of us can only sit here and put the blame on someone else, when we can only blame ourselves. In many ways we are just as guilty as the person next door and its about time someone steps up and starts taking responsibility for their actions. What a waste of time is to you, means the world to someone else. We are very selfish people, living in a very selfish world. Instead of always bringing up our past, and what we could have done, or what we should have done, or how terrible this peroson was LETS maybe think about our future. If we only took the time to learn about what is in our future and how we can better ourselves instead of blaming the past for our current problems, maybe we could find a solution to helping make a better World, not just country.
Hey Red Bulls - Get Some!!
S/F
Toronto FC
Sorry to inform the liberals, but Bush has been out of office for a while now. This is now Obama's war. You can only deflect blame and accusation for so long. Time for Obama to stand up and take responsibility in dealing with Afghanistan, he is the Commander-in-Chief. Time to put that Nobel Peace Prize to use.
I do agree with those saying we should re-instate the draft. It should be for 4 years. I would also make it a requirement for both men and women to serve. Women should not need to be in a front line combat unit, but they should serve.
Sorry to inform justanotherjoe57, but Bush and his crowd blamed Clinton for almost everything for 8 years; it's just the political thing to do.
Too bad Bush and Cheney took their eyes off the prize and committed our resources to Iraq.
Its not Obama's war..It's Obama job to try to clean up the mess Bush/Cheney left him and the country.
Not really sure why this is a debate over which President to BLAME!!!!! Each President we have ever had in the USA is blamed for something...We deal with it and go on....This is a topic about 3000 National Guards from Iowa putting their lives on the line for ALL of you idiots playing the blame game!!!! You should be going back to your Family Values and Thanking these Men and Women for putting their lives on the line...These people are leaving behind their children, spouse, parents, brother/sisters and their friends...And may not come back to any of these people!!! So I would like to take a Moment and THANK ALL of the Men and Women whom are over seas fighting to Protect US, The Citizens of the USA... Oh wait we have to blame someone because along the years we have lost OUR Family Values and don't give a damn...And the younger generation is following in your footsteps...So step up and support these men and Women and STOP playing the blame game...
Holy crap, finally another person who gets it! Thank god, i thought everyone was half retarded
Our Florida National Guard deployed Delta Company, the entire first battalion, last January. Just helped do a mid-deployment Yellow Ribbon for their families. These, too are citizen soldiers from towns small and large throughout our state. Their families are making a major sacrifice to be separated for a full year. These are not career Army families, just citizens like the rest of us.
Whatever you think of the politics, these soldiers and their families deserve our support and respect.
what the hell did you think us soldiers did when we enlisted like i did or were drafted to fight in vietnam - we all made a major sacrafice but not one to my knowledge was in the national guard or reserves until Bush decided to use them for something else than they were prepared for - us vietnam vets didnt get anything resembling respect so stop crying on my shoulders because we too were citizen soldiers whether you like it or not but we never got the respect that we all deserved but i respect our military but in no damn way do i respect the fat slobs in washington or the pentagon who use people like cannon fodder to further their careers
isn't it ironic that the simple fool who started using national guard and reserves in combat roles was himself a texas air national guard member who basically nobody knew except for the name on the roster. the wanna be pilot that none of his fellow pilots or ground crew remember ever seeing and the same one who very rarely went to his required meetings and where ever he went in his air national guard days only his name was mentioned but no body behind the name and then something where he weasled out of his obligation to run some politicians election that was eventually lost.
yep, that piece of sh it was George W. Bush, all talk and absolutely no action or honor. if that s.o.b. was in my unit over in vietnam the chances are that one of us would have fragged his worthless, arrogant a ss but the chances of any national guard person going into combat was just about zero because they had to put in writing to their commanding officer that they wanted to go into combat and very few did and i give the very few a lot of credit for not being coddled little pussies like Bush was ''i would do anything to avoid going to vietnam'' but having the balls to send national guard and reserve troops to die in his self made war in Iraq and the real war that he got out of in Afghanistan to get even with Saddam Hussein for threatening his old man. how this piece of sh it actually got away with what he did still amazes me - invading a country that did nothing to us
this country needs to bring back the draft in the worst way for any male 18 - 26 for 3 years of duty to our country. if women want to join leave it up to them because as far as this vietnam veteran is concerned war is no place for a woman unless she is a doctor or a nurse
vietnam vet
Dan, Buddy, You answered the call, be proud. I didn't join back up in the hope I would be showered with praise when I returned. Could care less to be honest with you. I went back in for the experience of it. The fact that a bunch of Hippies, protestors and perhaps large segments of the public never gave you the welcome you wanted/deserved changes nothing about your service! Idiots and misguided souls. There still kicking your ass because you mistakenly asign value to their opinions.
The kids manning the military are up to the fight, they wine a little more about various things. They have a since of entitlement that reflects this generation as a whole. But they are the best of this generation and have answered the call. That is all you can ask.
DAN-260821
1. National Guard/ Air Guard and Reserve forces were called up for and served in Vietnam.
2. National Guard/ Reserve Units Deployed to Desert Shield/Storm.
3. The Vietnam era draft was for 2 years of active service with a 6 year total obligation (service now incurs an 8 year obligation last I heard). We have had an all volunteer force since the early seventies, I see no need to go back to a draft but might support Compulsory Military or National Service. (The Drafts have all been unpopular and unfair In my opinion)
As far as National Guard vs Reserve Units, It used to be that most National Guard Units were Combat Arms, Most USAR Units were Combat Service Support. Dont know if that is still true (I retired in 1993) but could be why National Guard units are being deployed.
Thanks to all who served honorably at any time.
This is no way to fight a war.