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war stories
war stories when my cousin came back from vietnam where he'd been a medic, he spent two years washing his hands until they literally bled. now he's an ER nurse but he lives alone and he's still what our family calls "off". he was the only cousin out of 114 to go to war. my dad was an army soldier in the apcific theater in WWII. i remember finding pictures in his dresser when i was snooping as a . he took them away from me vry gently but he never talked about the war then. mom met him after he came home. he was 6 feet tall and he weighed 120 pounds. he had a scar on his face that ran from under his eye to his chin. it made him look quite stunning. i never thought of my father as a warrior. he was a courtly and kind man with a gentle humor. when he came home from war he was treated as a hero. there was a parade and it was easy for him to find work. he slid back into life and married. he never talked about the war. sometimes his war buddies would gather and they would drink and talk and laugh....but always in another room, always without us. when he was humbled by alzheimers and it worsened, the war became vivid to him again. he would talk to his buddies in the foxholes and i, now an adult, would listen to these converations and weep silently oustide the den door. these were things a should not hear, things a man held private because they were part of what tore at his soul. killing is not something tht one does and then talks about. it is deeply and profoundly personal. and it changes you at your core. even when you do it for a reason you believe in. even when you do it for the best of reasons. as his , i wish i din't know what he had suffered. i wish even more that he hadn't suffered it. war changes people in ways that cannot always be seen as easily as my cousin washing his hands all day. my father held inside himself, a stranger. someone he'd never known until he had to. and then, when he came home....he was expected to simply set that person aside and go on living. veterans day is coming. for all of those who serve and yes, for all of those who chose not to serve, let us stand as one to give thanks. the courage of these men and women is unparalled. veterans homelessness is rampant. i spoke at a VA conference last friday. the numbers are staggering. and with the mean and women returning from iraq and iran, the numbers will only grow. if we can't show them this small honor, shame on us. do what you can to help. if you know a homeless vet, call your local VA. they have a hotline. or let me know, and i'll get you a number to call. homeless yes. less, never. You cannot conceive the many without the one. |
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Be sure you observe Frid. I always do. ---------------------Dennis US ARMY (RETIRED) AND YOUR FRIEND I never mean to offend(blog or comment) anyone ,If I do contact me please. Please check out my blog Harley-Davidson Drive(19harley86)
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When people talk about sacrifice in war, they usually mean death. Having known several military men (and women) the sacrifice that the survivors make is every bit as real. Great post. Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety. Other women cloy The appetites they feed, but she makes hungry Where most she satisfies. For vilest things Become themselves in her, that the holy priests Bless her when she is riggish. ~~ from Antony & Cleopatra
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Very nice tribute! I'd like to add that returning veterans should be able to return to their previous jobs as well. AS with many other institutions in the US, we need to do a better job of providing "post" (fill in the blank) services to those who need the transitional support. Never ignore those who care for you you will have lost diamonds while you were collecting stones
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An excellent reminder! I just finished the book Three Day Road, which is a WWI tale and pretty much the ultimate "horrors of war" book. An eye-opener for someone like me who will never experience anything remotely close to that. I didn't even think of the coincidence of Veteran's Day being Friday, but I'll appreciate it much more this year, I think.
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My dad never wants to talk about Vietnam. Having read a lot about it, I can see why. Karl Marlantes has a new book out drawing from his experiences there: What It Is Like To Go To War. I'm just about to read it. I read his excellent novel Matterhorn (about 'Nam) last year. About as good a read as All Quiet on the Western Front, The Naked and the Dead and the James Jones Trilogy. I couldn't get my dad to read it though, not that I was using it to try to break the ice. I respect his need to keep his memories between himself and the others who were there. Sebastian Junger's War makes some very interesting observations about combat from a remote outpost in Afghanistan, the one featured in his documentary Restrepo. Great post, WE. John Lee Hooker Recommended: [blog lucyjane78]
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