Some Definitions of a Veteran
1. You have at least 180 days of regular active duty service and you were honorably discharged or released.
2. You have at least 90 days of active duty service, at least one day of which was during wartime and you were honorably discharged or released
3. You served in wartime and were awarded a Purple Heart or service-connected disability, or died, regardless of whether you completed the minimum length of active duty service.
4. is a person who is experienced in a particular area, and is particularly used in Russia and the United States to refer to people with experience in the armed forces or law enforcement.
Veterans Day. As a vet myself i declare this one of the most unappreciated and underobserved days on the calander. If were up to me everyone who has served should get this day off with full pay, as it applies of course. We always take time to appreciate the fallen and just say in general "support the troops". Many people say it but then what do they actually do?
I am going to share a few of my own personal experiences and stories from my Army time in an effort to talk about the types of things you don't get to hear about.
My particular unit in Korea was in a small valley, mountains on 3 sides. It was on base tucked in the corner, everything was steep from roads to trails and steep stairs everywhere. One day, a platoon was rotating their tanks through the ammo area. It sits on one of the higher ledges. Either the driver forgot to set the parking brake or it failed and the unmanned tank began to roll. Over the ledge down the slope maybe 100 feet or more was one of the hooches. A soldier who had just gotten off of 24 hour duty was in there sleeping. He never saw what hit him.
Germany, a battalion was doing there winter field exercises. There was snow and cold and all that. It was chow time so the tanks were all parked. for one reason or another 2 of them were parked facing each other relatively close. One of the soldiers was walking by and one of the tanks started to slide on the slick snowy ground. it pinned him between the other tank almost cutting him in half. He was concious. Talking. Laughing. The 2 tanks were the only thing holding him together. They went and got his wife and brought her tot he field so that they could say goodbye. When the tanks were pulled apart what was one became two and he was no more.
Back in the states during another field excerise. Mild terrain and broad daylight. A tank commander was navigating his driver over some hilly sandy terrrain. The sand gave way and the tank slid sideways and rolled over. The commander tried to duck down inside but his microphone cord got caught on the machine gun. He couldnt get all the way down inside. When the tank finished rolling over his face was in a small puddle no more than an inch or 2 deep. In the time it took the other to crewman in the turrent to get to him and cut the cord to pull him in he drown.
Combat action and suicide bombers are not the only way soldiers die. These are the things you dont get to hear about and that everyone else takes for granted. To put this in better perspective (although i do not think a civilian can truly understand) the rule is "train how you fight and fight how you train". What does this mean? Quite simply it means just becasue its practice or training doesnt mean you do anything differently. Therefore there are still plenty of risks, but if you don't take those risks then you are not prepared should your time come for the real thing.
I will say though that soldiers of the last 10 years or so get treated better than say those of the Vietnam era. I wasnt even alive and the stories i hear piss me off.
Anyway. Veterans Day, it should be on the same level as Christmas, Turkey Day, Labor Day, or its counterpart Memorial Day. Yes, it should be that big of a deal.
So while you are out and about, give a vet a hug, shake his/her hand, say thank you, and it doesnt just have to be on Veterans Day.
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