Military Veterans and Recent Events

[Ætheling]

I wanted to start a thread to share amongst vets (not saying non vets cant post here) to decompress. This also isn't a feel sorry for anyone thread, its meant to be form of therapy as I know many of you are hurting over this the same way I am. I did not deploy to Afghanistan. I was active duty on 9/11 in 2/20th FA 4th ID. Seems like another lifetime at this point, I am 41 now and enlisted as a teen out of HS. I was, I am still shocked as to how much this has affected me and continues to do so.

I can accept war and I can accept the casualties and KIAs that come with it. It is part and parcel of what the ultimate cost of serving is. It sucks but it is an understood cost that will always be paid in war.

I AM having a hard time accepting what has happened over the last two weeks mostly because I feel this is not part of the normal course. This was caused by weak men, political leaders that do not understand the meaning of honor, it seems they only know dishonor. For political expediency they ordered a hasty retreat leaving weapons of war behind for the enemy. They also ordered to leave behind and did leave US citizens, Allies, and Afghans that helped us to the cost of themselves and their families. What will happen to them is beyond comprehension. They are also our brothers and sisters in arms.

These weak men have dishonored every warrior that died or left a piece of themselves over there by giving the order to run and give everything back to the terrorist that we fought for 20 years. They threw it all away. The Taliban is now stronger than when we arrived 20 years ago. They have dishonored the entire military, Veteran community, the USA, and most of all they have helped facilitate the recent KIAs of service men and women from the USMC, US Army and the US Navy. UNACCEPTABLE.

I feel anger, dishonored, and most of all I feel helpless. I want so badly to do something but there is almost nothing I can do for my brethren. We vets are strong strong people and we will be fine in the end, but right now many of us are ****** to levels never before imagined. I don't feel like a visit from the Secret Service so I will not say what I really think. Keep your heads up ladies and gentlemen. I think it will get worse before it gets better but we will find a way to punish those that have allowed weakness to dishonor our country and our service men and women. For now keep those that are still trapped over there in your hearts and think about donating to one of the private groups of Operators that are still trying to get OUR people and their families out of there.

This We'll Defend!
Always Faithful
Not Self but Country
Fly Fight Win

[soldierarcher]

Desert Storm Veteran myself. This Afghan pull out feels worse than Vietnam. Complete lack of leadership at all levels. Several General Officers our Commander in Chief and more should all be fired!

[Playa]

I just want to say, thank you for your service to each vet that posts on this thread

[Froggy]

I'm more ****** off at the recent failed leadership of this country than I was in 1971 when I came back from Vietnam. I was really mad back then because I felt my friends had died for nothing. The following year was the Watergate Scandal that forced Nixon out of office. Students and others were protesting on almost every campus in this country. Those were some troubled times.

Now I'm even madder and at the same time sad for our country.

I pray for all the casualties, families and especially for the young soldiers who will live the rest of their lives with the emotional effects of these ridiculous military decisions.

[jshouse]

not a veteran, but want to say thank you to all that are, as well as those still serving.

[Bullseye07]

I’ve typed and deleted and re-typed this idk how many times as it’s hard to explain how I feel about it. And what I say probably isn’t a very popular opinion, but this is coming from a Marine combat vet that served in Afghanistan…

I know that what the Taliban is doing to people is bad, but at the same time the Afghan people as a whole have laid down and allowed them to grow in power. The people could’ve stopped them 20 years ago or any time since then and haven’t. Instead they rely on anyone else to save them. They smile to our face and act like they’re thankful, then turn around and call the taliban with our location, force size, vehicles, weapons, etc. We couldn’t even trust our interpreters in country. Too many times I saw ANA(Afghan National Army) soldiers standing at a post turn their weapons on Americans standing post with them. Kids raised to hate Americans throwing rocks at us every chance they get until they’re big enough to carry an AK around.

They never wanted the Taliban to leave. They wanted us to leave. Now that we’ve left, all these people want out and I just don’t have a lot of sympathy for them. Not to say that there aren’t some that wanted changed, but the Afghan people have to take a stand on their own. Taliban members and sympathizers WILL slip through the cracks as “refugees”. They’re coming here and will be bringing the fight to us.

This whole exit has been botched. And anyone involved in the planning of it should be courtmartialed. They knew the Taliban would re-take Afghanistan and allowed them to do it without getting our people out of harm’s way. It makes me sick.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tuffbroadhead]

That same feeling, those thoughts are being felt at all levels, Active Duty, Reserve, Retired, and on the Contractor level. I keep hearing that it happened fast enough that infrastructure for contractors egress was lost, we have people still in the fight and the news is not covering it , hell of a time to have a closet full of blue shirts and tan 511's.

[Geezy Rider]

I am so thoroughly ashamed of America’s government right now that I can’t really express my true feelings. I just don’t have the vocabulary. The fall of Saigon hurt but this hurts worse.
My heart is broken for the families and service men.

Not that that idiot would understand what I would be saying, I sure wish I could speak to the potato in chief face to face.

[Ætheling]

I started this in ATC hoping it would help some people vent and feel better so now it will be missed by many it was intended for.

[Voodoo]

I wonder if the OP is going to determine which DD Form 214 Veterans are “faking it” as per the deleted thread about “parking” ?

Salute and Prayers to most Veterans.

People need to channel their feelings and realize we are at war as said by Marcus Luttrell and continue the good fight !

[Artos]

Upset as I am over this, it's hard to imagine if I had participated within the 20yr span...I was born while nam was happening & only have shared stories to compare to this mess.

Once again, it is Pennsylvania Avenue that is to blame for another war that ended in a way where our vets felt betrayed & used...Thank you each & every one that have served be it here or abroad. There are more patriots than you realize out here that have your six.

[Starvin]

I am so thoroughly ashamed of America’s government right now that I can’t really express my true feelings. I just don’t have the vocabulary. The fall of Saigon hurt but this hurts worse.
My heart is broken for the families and service men.

Not that that idiot would understand what I would be saying, I sure wish I could speak to the potato in chief face to face.

My feeling also. America best wake up and get this country under control. It will be hard to heal when there are thirteen American flags in my front lawn for our fallen warriors

[Ætheling]

I wonder if the OP is going to determine which DD Form 214 Veterans are “faking it” as per the deleted thread about “parking” ?

Salute and Prayers to most Veterans.

People need to channel their feelings and realize we are at war as said by Marcus Luttrell and continue the good fight !

Dont come on here starting crap. This is not about you. Dont turn this thread into something disrespectful.

[muzzlebrake]

I'm just an old Vietnam Army vet. It hurts. Deep down it hurts because there is nothing I can do about it. There was nothing I could do about it in 1975 either.

There's a special place in hell for these so called leaders in our government that enrich themselves off the blood of our children.

I too know what needs to be done. We don't have to say it but we know.

[Olphart]

I am ****** and hurt for the families of those that perished!

I enlisted in the Navy in '66 right out of high school, opting not to be drafted. I volunteered for Vietnam (67-68) and once there, left a cushy job in communications for a position on a supply boat going up and down rivers near the DMZ. Our floating target boats hauled troops, ammo, food, equipment to those fighting the fight. We had some incidents of defending ourselves, but I made it back after my tour. I still can't fathom why the U.S. handled Vietnam like it did and the resulting failure, except to blame politicians of that era. Afghanistan is another failure for the same reasons.

There is no logical reason for politicians to direct activities during times of warfare conflict. Yes, make the decision to go or not, but let those that are in positions of military hierarchy and training to oversee and direct specific tasks, especially those in command in country...and stay out of their way. The presidents in office now and during Vietnam mismanaged under a fear (or promise) of political benefit and the results are obvious.

1. You don't leave Americans behind
2. You don't go into conflict and base decisions based on politics.
3. If you're going into war/conflict, do it with might and with everything you have to get it done and over with least time and harm to our personnel and those that help us.
4. If you are leaving an area, you either take your equipment with you or you destroy it so that it can't be used by the enemy.

The failures of Vietnam, Benghazi, Iraq, and Afghanistan fall directly on politicians and those military commanders (in Washington) that are/were "yes" men.

God Bless our military personnel that suffer under such conditions and I thank you for your service, past and future. Hopefully, the future will not include a repeat the past mismanagement.