Measles Outbreak at Vaccine-Denying Church

[Drich]

I guess if an SA-7 or Stinger hits my EC-130 as I take off from from Bagram AB in Afghanistan, Drich won't even bat an eye at our deaths because we weren't the team of Army Rangers on the ground doing the "real" work.

You're right, Drich. We don't hold every service member up to the same status; we don't because there are assholes like you with whom we must serve. You're the real d-bag, but don't take my word for it.

My uncle was an f-4 phantom Rio, who had 2 phantoms shot out from underneath him. He was in an unarmed f-4 running interference for fighter bomber strikes. The first time they made it to the ocean before the bailed out, and the second he was inland. and it took him two weeks to get out. but by then he contracted malaria and was sent to a base in Germany.

This goes without saying. if you are in harm's way (getting shot at) you are a combat troop. IF you are on or served on an EC-130 you were in harms way. The respect due you by civvies and fellow troopers SHOULD Be different than someone who changes tires in the motor pool in a rearward operating base.

How would you feel if you found out I did your old job via a drone? and what if I started telling people I was deserving of the same adoration and respect as you who has been in Harms way, just because we accomplished the same task, but me from several hundred miles from any danger..

Better yet, What if you were a fighter pilot with one confirmed combat kill, and I was a drone pilot with 10 confirmed kills. Would you look to me and refer to me as a double ace if I asked you to??
-or-
wouldn't you think that would be a little asshole-ish of me, to call myself a double ace, and then proceed to punch me in the face?

Again my whole family serves/served as combat troops.. My thoughts are their thoughts here. I have a cousin who is a captain in the 101st. He flew missions as a black hawk pilot. Another who is a marine sniper (currently deployed) The Uncle who fought in Vietnam as a RIO on the F-4, A cousin who is a colonel in the Army Rangers, was deployed in 03 as apart of the primary invasion of Iraq. Both grand fathers fought in WWII one as a 1st lieutenant in a forward Air base in the Pacific, and the other for the Japaneese army, another as an Air force gunner in Korea, and a Korean uncle who fought with the Navy durning that same period. And I have lost family several members, and have family deployed in service of this country in 'other' ways as well. (None of which are on the table for discussion.)

It is for those who can not defend this honor as combat troops that I speak up, and take the flak of those who think themselves as deserving of the same honor as those who are in Harm's way... These men and women who serve in the direct line of fire not only stand between me and the bad guys, they also stand between the support troops and the bad guys. And for that, those of you who serve as support troops owe these men and women a little graditude.

Maybe I and those in my family who have fought for this country who think as I do are wrong. Eitherway I do not think it too much to ask that those of you who serve in a support role to pay those who are in Harm's way the honor of not posing as someone who spends his military career in Harm's way.

If you were indeed in Harms way during your deployment then you too should stand up and fight for this honor for being a combat troop, for it is yours to have. Not every man or woman who puts on a uniform, is a combat veteran. You earned that title, and therefore should have earned a little more respect from those who supported your efforts, along with everyone else. don't let some pretender take it, if not for you for everyone who has served in your position and died doing the job you do/did.

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I'd like Dirch to admit that his "There are no atheists in foxholes" statement was incorrect. Then we can all go about our day.

I will admit the only one who can know is the 'atheist' himself.