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

[Mytical]

A grandfather, several uncles, and I even tried to serve (though they had to kick me out do to 'preexisting conditions'. Vets, Police, Firefighters, Nurses, Doctors, and others who fight to protect you or save your life..all of them I will tip my hat too.

[Amethyst Hunter]

Oh, HELL no. I would've gone off like a...well, like a bomb (sorry for the image, veterans). ....good god, how can someone even ask a question like that??

You and me both. I've never been in the armed forces either.

But my uncle has. (Army)

My dad has. (Ditto)

My grandfather has. (Navy)

My brother is. (also Army)

And if my SIL didn't tear off those heads first, *I* sure as hell would have.

[BeeMused]

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.

Yes, it did happen. The generation of these women slowly dieing out now, only recently some of them became brave enough to tell their stories. And all armies during WWII participated.

From what my mother told me - she was of that generation, a teen during the 3rd Reich - they disguised themselves as old women to be saver.

[jedimaster91]

One of my grandfathers was in the Navy. The other was an Army MD. My father-in-law served in WWII. His (bomber?) plane had to make an emergency landing on Iwo Jima before the Allies took it. This past week I did a scan on this delightful gentleman with a Korea Vet hat.

We really don't say it enough, but thank you to all who serve.

[AccountingDrone]

LOVE the wording!!!

Hubby's bling also didn't come from playing nice with others...

[firecat88]

My dad was a Green Beret. He's been to Thailand, Egypt, Japan, and several other places. If not for a parachute incident that went wrong-- wind carried him a good distance away from the planned drop zone and he landed in some rocks. Cut himself up pretty good and had to have surgery on both ankles)-- he probably would've stayed in service for another few years before retiring. He now works in prosthetics and orthotics, but loves to tell stories about the places he'd been to when he was serving.

My grandfather (dad's dad) was in the Army too. He fought in WWII (he was supposed to go to Duke to study medicine, but had to change that plan at the last minute because of the war), Vietnam, and Korea. I have yet to hear any stories about any of them from him. He doesn't like to talk about it at all. He doesn't get angry when asked or anything, though. He just...refuses to talk about it.

Also, I have great-great-great-I-dunno-how-many-times grandfather who fought in the Revolutionary War (there's a county in Kentucky named for him, apparently. )

To those who have served, are serving, or are going into service:

[ExRetailDrone]

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.

This kind of attitude makes me see red! I have never been in the military, and I know for a fact that I do not have the stuff that it takes to do such a job. I have utmost respect for those that do.

My father was in the Air Force, and while he never saw actual combat, he could have.

My grandfather served during WWII. I have not heard many stories, but I know that there was an incident where he was on a ship off the coast of western Europe loaded with lots of highly explosive things and I believe his ship got hit by another ship (I need to ask my mom, I haven't heard the story in a long time). Luckily, the ship he was on didn't blow up. I want to say there were 2 times where his ship very likely could have blown up but didn't. I have no idea just how much combat he had seen.

My ex's uncle served in Vietnam and I know that he talked very little about his time there. All I know is that he was a sniper and had some intimate knowledge of the tunnel system. I can't even imagine the horrors he saw

My ex's father also served in Vietnam, and most likely due to his exposure to Agent Orange, he later developed leukemia that he fought stoically for over a decade.

A good friend of mine is in the Air Force currently and has been to Afghanistan and Iraq a number of times already. I've heard some stories of things he's seen, and I know the toll it took on his wife while he was gone.

That's only to name a few.

Just because the war ends doesn't mean the veterans' suffering does, physically/mentally/emotionally.

My question to those EWs is what makes them think that they are so special? I wish I could knock it into their heads that they have the ability to act like complete assnuggets because of those who have served and died for our freedoms.

Last but not least, thank you to all who have served, are serving, or will serve in the future!!! I cannot begin to say how much I have for every last one of you, not to mention the families of those serving because they are giving up a part of themselves as well.

[protege]

Just because the war ends doesn't mean the veterans' suffering does, physically/mentally/emotionally.

When my dad was unemployed during the 1980s, he was trying to get help from one of the Vietnam Vets' associations. Some of the guys he met there...were still having war-related problems. Flashbacks, emotional meltdowns, both of which made it impossible for them to get jobs, and many were homeless. Not helping, was the stigma that the war brought--these guys went over there, and when they returned, they were abandoned. They didn't get a ticker-tape parade--instead, they got jeered and spit on. Sorry if I sound a bit upset, folks. I just think that our guys should be better taken care of

To quote a relative, freedom ain't free. Thanks to all who serve(d).

[Jay 2K Winger]

My grandfather served in WWII. He was a bombardier in the Army Air Force. His plane was shot down, and he was the only crew member of his plane to survive. He was captured and spent time as POW in a German camp.

Anyone who said to me "What'd he do that was so special" or anything EW-ish like that would need to start running before I open up the can of whoop-ass.

[LadyAndreca]

My paternal grandfather served in the Navy in WWII. He never saw combat because, as he had three kids when he was drafted (and a fourth born after he got to California), he was at the bottom of the list to be shipped out. He spent the entirety of the war waiting to go out into the Pacific, hearing the stories of the wounded who came back...

My maternal grandmother was a generation younger and served the Army in Vietnam. His work is STILL classified, and probably always will be. No one knows just what he did while he was away.

At least two of my dad's brothers served in Vietnam, though I don't remember the branch (Air Force?). I have an uncle (married in) on Mom's side who's in the Army and been to Iraq twice, and another uncle who was in the Coast Guard for about ten years.

Mom was active duty Army during Desert Storm. Being medical, her chances of being sent were slim, but I remember my friends' parents having to go. Dad is an officer in the Army Reserves, and he's been to Kuwait (as an engineer, his job was to take old facilities left over from Desert Storm and make them useable as a place to process soldiers to Iraq and Afghanistan) and to Afghanistan (he got moved to the capital halfway through to order the US engineers to play nice with the Afghanis, since neither side was listening to a lower-ranked officer) in the past couple years.

Yeah, with family members in four of the five branches, you do NOT dis the military, or any member of the military, around me. I get really pissy really fast!

[ExRetailDrone]

Sorry if I sound a bit upset, folks. I just think that our guys should be better taken care of

I can completely understand your feelings. While I am too young to have witnessed first-hand what took place when our troops came home from Vietnam, I have heard and read enough about it to anger me deeply. Even to this day some people cannot seem to comprehend that just because a person is in the military does not mean that said person necessarily agrees with what they are being ordered to do. And especially in a war like Vietnam when the draft was in full swing and many were serving who otherwise would not have enlisted. And to treat them like shit on the bottom of a shoe is heartbreaking

[Tama]

My grandfather served in Vietnam and told us a few stories, horrific ones, about what he'd seen.

They deserve free meals. After what they've been through they deserve at least that. And for that woman to...ARRGGGH.

[chainedbarista]

a friend of mine served in desert storm; due to all the burning oil fields, she and many in her unit have continuing health issues to this day.

not all the sacrifices made are visible ones...

[imal'sheva]

In Israel, place would go broke if vets got free meals

However, a lot of food places give active soldiers discounts.

When we first got married, it was kind of dangerous to sleep beside my hubby. He would hit out in his dreams. I can't image what he, and all you others soldiers have gone through. the only thing that we, your spouses, SO, family and friends can do is be there to support you.

[terakhan]

Personally, I was at the opposite end of the spectrum. Even when I still was active duty, I never asked for a discount. Like Empryss said, I was just doing a job, albeit a risky one. But I didn't see myself as anymore deserving of special treatment for it than police or firefighters who routinely put themselves at risk to save and protect others as well.