General Music Chat

Will be coming to your town... On or about Dec as Troops pull out of Iraq.

As a staunch supporter of veterans, I would like to share some thoughts about this:

If we learned anything in Vietnam, it was how horrid life in the jungle was for the soldiers, and how equally horrid the homecoming was for them. (We were so indifferent to our soldiers back then...)

Today, I think that's changed . I believe that the homecoming will be more positive and supportive ,. You might already notice that there are many Private sector company's pledging to "hire veterans". If that's true...I think this it is an outstanding program, on numerous levels.

One of our Key failures in the 70's was that we did not offer to professionally "re-integrate" our soldiers back into the civilian life style. Basically, we left them hanging...

Jobs are the gateway to their 'healing" and re acclimation.

If you hold a position of authority in your day Job, consider coordinating a support division, replete with qualified VA resources. For example; I just interviewed and assessed a Vet (who has combat related issues) and I have helped him to identify the correct actions he must take to deal with his particular set of stresses. This was necessary, because we had an incident with him, where he was quite verbally caustic toward another employee... (A tell tell sign of Irritability and anger, which prevails with combat veterans)

IF yo hire a vet, the best service and support you can provide is to listen to his story, not push for the gory details, not judge, but observe how he handles those questions. Learn about VA resources, and adopt plans accordingly. Learn about the tell-tale symptoms of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and be prepared to offer help accordingly. Many of these vets have seen some atrocious action, and will be inclined to suppress the experiences.. Some are functional, in that they can hold down their jobs... but employees should learn to recognize the 'emotional zombie" that arises from that.

Above all, consider that Productivity is not an excuse to look away... Vets need honesty throughout the process of re acclimation.

These are just my thoughts..

An added note:

With the increase of troops landing home, so too will there be an increase in demands for Gigs on the military bases... Check out those clubs and ROCK-ON!

You are awesome Dog! I hold the highest regards to our VETS!

you boys are optimists. I have a nasty feeling that bozo and his pack of hounds have another war cooking with Syria and / or Iran. I don't think our soldiers are going to lack for things to do...

Talbot

You are awesome Dog! I hold the highest regards to our VETS!

Anybody who supports vets and holds the highest regards for them are awesome.

you boys are optimists. I have a nasty feeling that bozo and his pack of hounds have another war cooking with Syria and / or Iran. I don't think our soldiers are going to lack for things to do...

Talbot

I think you might have nailed it about Syria... But I believe that may come a little later... I'm thinking the US Gov will seize this opportunity to re-group. (And we still have Afghan to worry about)

The people with the inside tack will tell you the grunts are being replaced by special forces & CIA people.
There is no "draw down".

It is just another political lie / ploy.


God bless our veterans.
The politicians whom use them as pawns should be hanged in the streets.

This country owes a debt to all of these men and women. Yesterday today and all of their tomorrows!
They should all be treated like Heroes.
side note:
Don't know what kind of hours and days of combat these soldiers have seen, but I saw the average Vietnam Vet spent 240 days/year in combat. WWII 10 days. History ran a VN in HD over the Veterans day weekend. It was amazing what those kids did. If you get a chance I recommend watching it.

The people with the inside tack will tell you the grunts are being replaced by special forces & CIA people.
There is no "draw down".

It is just another political lie / ploy.


God bless our veterans.
The politicians whom use them as pawns should be hanged in the streets.

It Might depend on which side of the fence the sources are... The Generals are telling the Pentagon that they still need forces in various areas. Congress is telling the Pentagon, that we ran out of money... I'm sure, somewhere in the middle, somebody has the complete picture...

In El Paso, we'll know its happening when we start to get a slew of announcements on news, media, and even plugs for businesses...

My father in law (who is a 5th generation Texan) is a Vietnam Vet! Ironically he is only 10 years older than me! I married a younger woman! I turned 18 in 1976 and VIVIDLY remember the Vietnam war the POW MIA!
I especially remember the fall of Saigon in 75 and particulally the Vietnam Refugee's that came to this country! As the Awesome folks we are as a nation. We gave the live's of our young men that FOUGHT for their freedom and when we discovered the corruption of the South Vietnamese Government and realizing the war at that point was unwinable. We had NO choice but to pull out! Thus the North Vietnamese moved in and Saigon became Ho Che Mihn City! At that point we took in all of the Freedom fighters from their country that we possibly could. After all we OWED them that didn't we? Then we GAVE them all the support we could 0% interest loans and an opportunity in the greatest country in the world! Thank you very much as a carpenter I got to help build Mihn Egg Roles! We built their first building on Finfrock Street in Get Down Pasadena Tx. and added on to it 3 times in 5 years. Then built a Hell of a complex for them!
Wow I just realized the next gig we are playing is just a couple hundred yards from this place! Crazy how life comes around FULL CIRCLE!
To you Good folks out there I say this coming Thanksgiving day give a special thanks for your FREEDOM and please remember the folks that are not with their family fighting for your freedom so YOU CAN BE WITH YOURS!

The problem is that we subsequently (after WW2) learned that after a certain amount of combat (250-300 days as I recall) men were wrecked. Tough men, weak men, didn't matter. They just start falling apart.

I remember how horrified I was when a very tough fellow told me he was losing his nerve. It in no way impacted my respect for him but reminded me that I too, might get to that point.

While our boys go through the nightmare of it, fighting as they like to think, for freedom; the political scum are flushing that very freedom down the toilet. Seems like a double betrayal really.

Talbot

The problem is that we subsequently (after WW2) learned that after a certain amount of combat (250-300 days as I recall) men were wrecked. Tough men, weak men, didn't matter. They just start falling apart.

I remember how horrified I was when a very tough fellow told me he was losing his nerve. It in no way impacted my respect for him but reminded me that I too, might get to that point.

While our boys go through the nightmare of it, fighting as they like to think, for freedom; the political scum are flushing that very freedom down the toilet. Seems like a double betrayal really.

Talbot

I have always contended that the younger folks today don't understand what it is they should be guarding. One generation plants the tree, the next generation enjoys its shade, and the next generation chops it down for firewood...

That's where we are socially in America.. Its all gone to firewood... No trees left, no shade, and sadly, the people who planted them in the first place are the ones that need the shade the most now...

The percentage of combat days is severely skewed by technology.
The amount of land mass and the numbers of men in combat in WWII as well as the slow rate of transportation coupled with the exceeding long distances traveled in two major theaters of war.
I have seen estimates that the numbers of non combat support personnel in comparison to Vietnam and WWII was 100/1

Not to diminish what the Vietnam era vets went through, the WWII vets I have worked with and cared for spent a hell of a lot more than 10 days walking in their friends blood.

The percentage of combat days is severely skewed by technology.
The amount of land mass and the numbers of men in combat in WWII as well as the slow rate of transportation coupled with the exceeding long distances traveled in two major theaters of war.
I have seen estimates that the numbers of non combat support personnel in comparison to Vietnam and WWII was 100/1

Not to diminish what the Vietnam era vets went through, the WWII vets I have worked with and cared for spent a hell of a lot more than 10 days walking in their friends blood.

I think the point of the numbers was really directed at some of the incompetence in planning during VN. In VN the US soldiers spent a great deal of time under fire or in battle.
In WWII you had a plan. you took a town or a hill and you protected it.
In nam they took a hill and shortly after deserted it. The South wasn't prepared to hold their own and the US soldiers would be sent to another assignment.
Then a month later the hill would be back in the hands of the North. The US viewed winning as nothing more than body counting of the dead. Hamburger Hill was a prime example. No real strategic value but lots of Northerners to kill. A month after the battle we walked away, eventually the NV took it back.

All true ... another point of interest is the kill ratio in VN was astounding.

I've heard a lot of folk, even some vets say Nam was un winnable.

I disagree whole heartily,. Had the same "rule of engagement" applied in VN it would be not but a smoking hole in the ground .

No one gave a sh*t how many " civilians " burned to death in the bombings of Japan and Germany. The idea was to win a war, not a political popularity contest.

But I digress from the point.

I deeply respect what our veterans have sacrificed and having had opportunity to work closely with so many of them particularly WW II & Korean vets makes me just that much more aware that they don't consider themselves heroes.
Just Americans with a job to do.
That is what makes the heroes in my book.