Veteran's day shout out to those who sacrificed to protect and defend.

[SteelCurtain]

No offense to anyone, but I've pretty well had it with the never-ending panegyrics that make military personnel out to be some special class of person. Did I say 'person'? I meant 'archangel'.

They're no different than anyone else. Some of them are exemplary human beings, some of them are scum. People who are not forced into military service tend to join up either in a fit of nationalism (which a good deal of them come to regret) or because they aren't trained or fit for anything in the private sector.

Couldn't be more true. Having been in Navy and stationed on a USMC base, I have seen some exemplary men and women, and some scum of the earth assholes in the same uniforms. There seems to be no grey area. I met so many people that I just had that feeling like I could learn so much from, like I just needed to be around them to make myself better. And time after time I met men and women who shook my faith in humanity.

I always feel a little guilty and awkward when people thank me for my service.

Two reasons:

1) I joined the Navy because I wanted to be a pilot, because my dad was in the Navy, and because I was just good enough to play Div 1 college football, and I had a good chance to start as a Freshman at the Naval Academy. Not because I had a special desire to serve my country.

2) I was in the Navy. My job was driving a $1.2B ship in a circle for 8 hours straight, then go to my office and make junior sailors clean their spaces, run drills, and occasionally do something worthwhile like launch/recover a hovercraft or facilitate an underway replenishment (UNREP). There was not a day where my life was in serious danger. On my shore tour, on board MCAS Miramar in North San Diego, I was certified and volunteered to facilitate PTSD support groups with Marine Corps/Navy personnel that actually had boots on the ground, and had real shit to deal with coming home. I didn't do anything like those guys/gals. I just had a mostly shitty job that didn't pay great. So I feel awkward when I get the same compliment as they do.

One thing I do know is that shitty person or not, being in battle will change you, and never for the better. So when I think of supporting the troops, I think of making sure that every one who has ever been in theater has the appropriate medical/psychiatric care.