Yes our restaurant is complete unamerican and hates the U.S. military

[protege]

I would have too. My grandfather served in WWII, and refused to talk about any of his experiences until the day he died.

Many WWII-era vets never talked about what they did overseas. My grandfather served with the 87th Infantry Division (the Golden Acorns). Until the day he died, he never talked about his combat experience. I had no idea what he did...other than he fought during the Battle of the Bulge, towards the end of WWII in Europe. His job, was to check bridges, and disarm explosives. Occasionally, he got to "blow shit up," including buildings, bridges, and the occasional Nazi position or two. He apparently thought I was "too young," and didn't want to give me nightmares.

It wasn't until after he died in 2001, that details began to surface. That's when I found out that he was one of the best marksmen in his unit, could disarm roadside bombs, rode motorcycles during the war, fixed jeeps, etc. Only recently, did the true horror of the war become apparent--his unit had put together a scrapbook of sorts of photos that various survivors had taken. Those were much different than the sanitized images usually depicted in textbooks. Entire city blocks were wiped out, the bodies weren't covered, etc. I'm sure they ran into a concentration camp or two inside Germany...but details of those weren't included.

[chainedbarista]

well said, seshat.

also, may our soldiers never experience the horrors of vietnam and having their country turn away from them when their service is over.

purple heart irony:

what do you get if you are wounded in a war zone? a purple heart.

what do you get if you're a total screwup and shoot yourself? a purple heart.

sadly, there is no distinction between a heroic injury and a stupid one.

Than she yelled something along the lines that "these people dont have real jobs" and "what did they do sooo special"

A older man stood up and told his story abouy WWII. (had me in tears)

than about 3 -4 other people told stories until these people stormed out.

thank you, sir, for braving the horrors of war for us. we can never thank them enough.

[RavenStarr]

Than she yelled something along the lines that "these people dont have real jobs" and "what did they do sooo special"

.

Oh man, My son Michael is in the Air Force. But he wouldn't have been standing up to tell a story. I know him well enough that he would be making this bitch cry. Did I mention that he is the king of the verbal smackdown?

I used to be in the Army. People like that make my blood boil.

To ALL soldiers past present and future I will never be able to thank you all enough for working so hard and sacrficing so much.

[MoonCat]

I never found out much about what my father saw in WWII. Only two things ever came out.

He was at Dachau shortly after it was liberated.

And there was an incident when a couple of young German women came out of a house. They were armed and not happy to see American soldiers. He cried when he told me that one.

[Becks]

and other bling that he got for not playing nicely with the other children.

LOVE the wording!!!

[Victory Sabre]

About half way through our meal a guy came in. We were pretty close to the check in area.

The very nice guy manning the area told the guy it would be about 1hr wait. The customer went off. He wasnt a vet and didnt think he should have to wait behind "these people"

He demanded that the next place that was empty would be for him and his family. Just than his wife came in and couldnt understand why they had to wait they were not here to get a free meal.

Than she yelled something along the lines that "these people dont have real jobs" and "what did they do sooo special"

A older man stood up and told his story abouy WWII. (had me in tears)

than about 3 -4 other people told stories until these people stormed out.

Even though I never served, I would have gladly joined in in naming and shaming those wastes of air. I have several good friends who have served. My dad served in the Marines in peace time. My Uncle served in WW 2. Several great-great uncles served in the Spanish American war. My great-great-great-great-great grandfather served in the Revolutionary war. These idiots would have gotten one hell of an ear full from me.

Yesterday I was at the local VFW, and before the poker tournament, there was a ceremony before the tournament started. It was very moving. The bar also gave away free drinks to vets, as well.

[PepperElf]

coming from a military vet here - you are not unamerican.

not all of us are entitlement whores like that.
and to be honest i usually don't go out to the free-meal places anyway. the lines are usually too long. come to think of it i don't think dad goes out for it either, for the same reason.

i was going to do it yesterday tho but couldn't find my wallet so ... i stayed home and listened to The Two Towers

[Seshat]

Entire city blocks were wiped out, the bodies weren't covered, etc. I'm sure they ran into a concentration camp or two inside Germany...but details of those weren't included.

I never found out much about what my father saw in WWII. Only two things ever came out.

He was at Dachau shortly after it was liberated.

I think that liberating the concentration camps must have been horrific. Especially for the early ones, when there was no way to give food, clean water, shelter, clothing and medical care to the victims; so the liberators had no choice but to watch still more victims die in their care. Victims they could have helped, had they had the facilities.

The total helplessness must have cost so much sanity.

And there was an incident when a couple of young German women came out of a house. They were armed and not happy to see American soldiers. He cried when he told me that one.

It's my understanding that the German civilians were told that the Allies were coming to rape, murder, pillage, etc etc.

It's also quite possible, humans being humans, that some Allies lived down to that.

well said, seshat.

Thank you.
Thank you.

[Sapphire Silk]

I'm a vet and I'm proud of my service (even though I was never in a actual war zone I had the same chances of being sent to one as anyone else).

EE, you were in Korea for a year. It is still an active war zone, with occasional shooting across the DMZ. Don't sell your service short. You went through a lot. Your family went through a lot. I'm proud to be your friend.

Some stores in our chain were offering free sandwiches for Veteran's Day. Ours wasn't and boy did I hear an earful from customers about it.

<snip>

Sorry you had to go through that. I was at Subway yesterday, and the store was offering free sandwiches to active duty military. An Air Force Captain came in with some ROTC boys in uniform. He asked if the ROTC kids could get free food, too. No, sadly was the answer. They were really nice about it, ordere their meals politely and left with no fuss. Character . . . gotta love it.

My husband is a veteran. We were out to dinner at a place that was offering free meals to vets. Let me tell you the place was packed we waited for over an hr.

the place was very good at getting people in and out the fast that they can. Very good staff.


About half way through our meal a guy came in. We were pretty close to the check in area.

The very nice guy manning the area told the guy it would be about 1hr wait. The customer went off. He wasnt a vet and didnt think he should have to wait behind "these people"

He demanded that the next place that was empty would be for him and his family. Just than his wife came in and couldnt understand why they had to wait they were not here to get a free meal.

Than she yelled something along the lines that "these people dont have real jobs" and "what did they do sooo special"

A older man stood up and told his story abouy WWII. (had me in tears)

than about 3 -4 other people told stories until these people stormed out.

Errrgh. Errgh. Must hold back outrage. What a total utter bitch. How dare she. How DARE she!

Epic pwnage on the part of the vets there.

My dad was in the Navy during the Korean War. He drove a landing vehicle during the landing an Inchon. When I was a kid, he always told me he landed Marines after the city had already been taken, and never took fire.

He lied. I found his letters home after he died. He was in one of the first waves. He just couldn't talk about what he saw to me or my brother.

My great uncle was in the cavalry during WWI. He never spoke about it to anyone in the family . . . except to me.

There just is no way to describe what people go through in war. I'm glad I've never been through it.

We should treat our vets better than a free meal on Veterans Day.

God bless all who serve.

[Peppergirl]

. An Air Force Captain came in with some ROTC boys in uniform. He asked if the ROTC kids could get free food, too. No, sadly was the answer. They were really nice about it, ordere their meals politely and left with no fuss. Character . . . gotta love it.

This. Times 10.

Sad that teenagers can be polite when told no, but some so-called grown adults were likely throwing hissy fits and acting like EW's all day.

[lobo94]

I was a soldier in the US Army from 90-94. I served in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. The closest I came to combat was being a mechanic in a forward support battalion during the ground offensive into Iraq;we followed the infantry, armor, and artillery guys. The only Iraqis I saw were enemy prisoners.

The way I see it, I was a soldier, doing my duty. I don't see it as, people owe me.

That said, I make it a point to thank those who have served.

Thank you to the veterans here for your service.

As to the people who, in a previous post, wondered why "those people" were so special...I'd like to see them ask that of a Gold Star Mother, a grieving widow, or the child who grew up without a father.

[Frantic Freddie]

No vet's money is good around me,what kinda beer you want?

[RavenStarr]

No vet's money is good around me,what kinda beer you want?

This is the best post I've seen so far.

[Bella_Vixen]

Salute to all vets.

Like I've mentioned before, one of my great uncles helped liberate Auschwitz.

When I was younger, we were told that he helped liberate a concentration camp, but only recently did I find out which one.

We were told to never mention WWII to this particular uncle, and NEVER mention concentration camps.

He had nightmares for decades. After watching a TV special, he took one of his guns and went out to shoot himself. Luckily, he didn't go through with it.

I cannot begin to imagine the horrors of war up close and personal.

[Eisa]

My dad was in the Army. He served in Korea at either the tail-end of the Vietnam War or a few years after. He won't talk about it.

Although he has taught us a few words in Korean, including how to say "kiss my ass."

He actually saw a Korean guy a few years ago at the post office and said something in Korean...and the guy was thrilled because no one could seem to tell that he was KOREAN, not Chinese/Japanese/what have you. So they had a nice little conversation.