Too fucking right. My father *volunteered* for Vietnam at a time when many of the idiots pushing the Iraq war were running for the hills or getting 5 deferments. When politicians shake soldier’s hands in photo-ops while cutting their benefits with the other hand, there’s a problem.

Happy Veteran’s Day, dad. Rest in peace–you did your duty honorably.

When we were driving to the various sites here on Okinawa, I asked Jesse about the details of his G.I. Bill-provided education. He confirmed again to me that the G.I. bill was his great opportunity to gain the educational credentials he needed to pursue his intentions to become a high school coach and later, a high school principal. It was a great opportunity to talk with an Okinawa Battle vet, and all the Marines were very grateful for their C.O.’s efforts to bring SSGT Jesse Harper (USMC-ret.) back out to see Okinawa and share his experiences with all of us. Jesse looks great for being 80, although he suffers to this day from the effects of the frostbite from his service with the ‘Frozen Chosin’ in Nov-Dec 1950.

Great post Steve – thanks very much for putting it out. And here’s my salute to all my fellow vets for their service. I am hoping that Jim Webb will lead a determined effort to ensure that all of our Iraq and Afghanistan vets receive every bit of support and assistance that is their due.

Semper Fidelis,
Dave in Okinawa

Jim Webb on his anger after Vietnam and being a Democrat.
it’s toward the end.
I was born after Vietnam,, so to me, it’s tough to see it in black and white. I do understand, however, that some people grow and heal.

I always like that they have Veterans’ Day on Armistice Day — a day of peace should be used to remember those who helped us achieve it.

I never understood why Vietnam Vets were treated so horribly. I still don’t– they were mere tools of a foreign policy run by men who treated the war like a game of Risk. Not unlike today.

My father was in ROTC during the final years of Vietnam on a rather progressive campus, too. He never referred to it, but my grandfather said it was pretty bad (my dad was following his footsteps, my grandfather having served in WWII and Korea). I’m lucky that my dad was always a proud democrat and taught me to question everything and to value a good education. He also taught me to love history, particularly American history. He would be disgusted seeing what this administration has done on every level, but particularly how they’ve treated the Constitution and the military.

As my father’s death was service-related, the GI bill helped me go to school, too (state college and a semester of a state law school). It wasn’t much, but it helped.

Veterans’ benefits are shameful today, cut every year by, I swear, polticians (mainly Republicans, it seems) who claim to love the military but clearly hate the troops. The men and women serving (and their families) should have every benefit while serving and when they get out.

just sayin’

i really don’t like the ageism implicit in the broadside against my generation. i will end this comment with the one i share with my younger gay brothers about the world we gay boomers (still alive) have left them:

“You’re welcome. And I’m sorry.”

NEW YORK You’d expect Molly Ivins — syndicated columnist, best-selling author, and veteran eviscerator of the pompous and mendacious — to freely offer her opinions to a reporter, and she does, even suggesting this lede: “Molly Ivins Still Not Dead.”

The third recurrence of the breast cancer she has been battling since 1999 (and which recently claimed her good friend, former Texas Gov. Ann Richards) has left the 62-year-old Ivins with precarious balance, minimal hair, and no illusions about the redemptive quality of life-threatening illness. “I’d hoped to become a better person from confronting my own mortality,” she laughs. “But it hasn’t happened.”

The Commonwealth combine their Memorial and Veteran’s Day into Remembrance Day. So if you see people walking around with red flowers in their lapel, they’re probably British or Canadian.

…or Australian, New Zealander,Pakistani, India, Singapore, Maldives, Brunei, Sri Lankan, Malta, Bahamas, Jamaican, Ghana, South African, Ugandan (in fact 16 [I think?] African countries)…and more than a few more.

Yes, they probably may be Canadian or British, but lets not forget all the other Nations of the Commonwealth that sent their children to war and who a remembered at the 11th hour of the 11th Month each year.

Lest we forget.

When the Jesus people started in on the abortion issue, I used to say that they could pass any legislation they wanted, it would not affect me, I have money and therefore I have choices.

I don’t like to blame an entire generation for anything, but the number of people in my group who really committed to fight the good fight was just too small, and didn’t include me.