I'll say it again. I served in the Military but I'm  ashamed to admit it. No honor to have served. Agree?
541780
for once I'm in agreeance with you.  I'm unemployed and i served 12 years.  i must have put a 100 applications in.  i couldn't even get a job answering phone calls!!!  i guess i can try the local burger stand.  i even have a valid secret clearance, and can't get a job.  i guess my years of experience is no match for a college graduate.  oh, well!!  I'm still proud of most of my service.  i wasn't proud of Iraq though.
979126
of course you should expect them to honor their promises just like they expect you to honor yours. i've heard lots of stories just like yours and am not surprised at all. i also have several friends in the military two in the army and one is a recruiter and he says the same thing. i sent your posts to him and he laughed and said he wasn't surprised either...at a $1,000 a pop for each person the recruiter enlists and finishing ait it can be pretty lucrative which makes the chances of getting a lying recruiter pretty good. its a shame that your lack of knowledge and the fact you're young was used to intimidate you but try not to dwell on that, the whole world seems to be into it. i know a lot of recruiters are like this because even the army put a stop to recruiting and 're-evaluated' its recruiting tactics as a result of so many complaints. don't let these jerks who call you names and accuse you of being a coward get to you either, they either aren't real soldiers or just trying to raze you. either way screw 'em as they say they are not worth your time and you're right to expect to be treated right and not lied to especially by those who are your superiors. hang in there and remember there are a-holes like the recruiters who lied to you everywhere and in the civilian world too...just take a look at some of the responses to your question for proof. i'm proud of you, you're not only a soldier but one who has morals...hooah, baby...hooah !
128817
"For the Good of the Service" is right, but not good.  Anything other than an Honorable Discharge will haunt you for the rest of your life.
1158416
Good point! As a Vietnam vet decorated 26 times, however, I will assume the right to comment on any American war, and you guys are doing a great job and should only be commended. People forget that good soldiers do their duty, wherever it is. If they didn't, they wouldn't be very good soldiers, would they? God bless you all and hope you do get home soon and safely. Liberals, especially those who have avoided service, should SHUT UP!
441324
I served four tours in Iraq...as a United States Special Forces Commander...and it has affected my life...my family...I came back with a moderate - severe Traumatic Brain Injury...and ever since...I have not spoken a word in about four months...I can't tell my daughter that I love her...Or that I'm proud of her. I lost my best friend over there...and not able to do anything. I know families...and wives and children who have lost their father and husband and brother to this war. But we all fought together as one...into something that we believed in. And something...that is our duty to protect and serve this nation. I know that I am proud of my guys...and every single guy over there and every single woman and man who is training up to go over there. It's not as easy as it looks...and at times... Its' not as bad as you see it from the news...but sometimes its not that great either. I know I've learned personally...to never take anything for granted ... because you never know when it will end. I know that I am forever grateful that God gave me a second chance...and its not easy...to get second chances in life. God bless.
166211
First let me answer why no one is answering. Too scared to have been in the Army.\n\nNOW. The real quesiton. I have been in the Army for 8 years and about to finish my enlistment. Sometimes I hated it. Sometime I wouldn't give anything to change my being in. The Army is just like anything else you do. It's what you make it.\n\nBasic sucked. And it should. It should make you taste what war is like. And that little invention of Clinton's-- the Stress Cards were a joke.\n\nAIT was no picnic either. I was in Ft. Lee which is close to my home town. I guess it could have been worse and it wasn't as bad as Basic.\n\nMy career wasn't bad. A year in Kuwait that was better than it seemed at the time. And I made some friends for life.\n\nI joined for no particular reason. But after I took my oath I realized that I was swearing to protect what so many gave their lives to secure for us and I wanted to secure it for future generations.
674993
i think it is good to honor all those that have been in battle and it does not matter what the war was...i do not like war.. but i am glad for all those who made it home...but in what condition did some of them make it home...how much damage does being involed in a war do to a person... i do not think i could sleep nights myself...i have never been in was but just abusive husbands has done great damage to me...
323050
I think that serving your country is an admirable thing to do.\n\nIf you're attending college and are in training, you will not be sent to war.  You're training.  Unless something terribly dire happened and a draft had to be reinstated, you won't be sent to war if you're in college ROTC.
454619
I hope not!  That was such a disgrace and I felt terrible for all those who had served in Nam.  They gave their all for our country and the citizens who spit on those troops should be ashamed at their behavior.\n\nThe fact that a war is not popular is no reason to take it out on the troops.  The troops didn't declare the war or do anything to prolong it.  The troops did their patriotic duty and have every right to be proud of it.\n\nI thank you for your service in Nam and take heart knowing that not everyone would have spit on the troops or you.  I sure wouldn't have!  I am grateful that you loved the U.S. enough to put your life at risk.  Thank you!
693618
When I made the decision to serve my country, it was not because I was forced or coerced into it.  I made the decision to serve, because I saw something of value in this 'Nation of Freedom.'\n\nI lived within a few miles of Arlington, and on quiet summer afternoons, I'd go and visit the cemetery, and listen to the solemn beauty of Taps being played over the hills.  The notes seemed to linger in the air, and I knew then, as I know now, that without the sacrifices made by those buried there and throughout the world, I would not be free to answer this question today.\n\nI cannot describe what I do for a living.  I can't talk about it freely for the sake of my country.  But my desire to keep the confidences of the United States and to go to war for her, are as precious as my own heartbeat.  I promised to defend her against all enemies foreign and domestic.  This means I want to stop another 9/11, to prohibit another Oklahoma City bombing, and to provide for the freedom of her citizens. My decision to honor my oath has been worth the time away from my wife, my friends, and the places I love so much.\n\nGod knows, no one in their right mind wants to go to war or to be separated from loved ones.  I certainly don't want my family suffering the agony of being handed the flag covering my coffin.  But sometimes we have to make sacrifices for the greater good. \n\nWhen I was kid in Arlington, I counted it all blessing to be a citizen of this nation who has given the world freedom.  Iwo Jima, the beaches at Normandy, in Baghdad, in Vietnam, in France, in Germany, in Bosnia, in Leyte...so many places, so many honored dead.\n\n'Ask not what your country can do for you.' The United States has already done what some other countries have yet to accomplish.  It has given a new definition of freedom: Freedom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom from oppression, freedom to live life in happiness, freedom to fulfill dreams. \n\n'Ask what you can do for your country.'  How much is our freedom worth?\n\nI have bled for this country.  I would gladly do so again if my wife, and my children could freely hear Taps being played in Arlington without fear, or to go to church without restriction, or to speak their minds and their hearts when they feel compelled.  For their freedom, and the freedom of all of the citizens of America and her allies, I would gladly bleed for the United States again.\n\nThank you for this question.  And for all of those serving, those buried under the white marble stones, and those who have come home to their families wounded in body and soul, may I say to you that you have my utmost respect and all of my thanks.
635317
Been there, done that, Viet Nam.  The extreme right thinks you can do no wrong and the extremem left thinks you can do no right.  As I looked over the answeres here, just like in American society the majority of people will support you.  A soldier does not have a blank check to do what he wants during a war and is always responsible for what he does.  You state your feelings excellently and it is impossible for those who have never been through a combat experience to know what you are going through in your thoughts and in the actions you have to perfrom during combat.  You must  live with your experiences the rest of your life.  No, it is not easy being a soldier and I pray that you have made the right decisions in your experiences.  I would never judge you and neither should anyone else except God. You sound like the kind of soldier that all of America can be proud of.  Always do the right thing and don't worry about people that want to condemn you, they don't really count.
792735
I can't speak for everyone in the military...But I can tell you that my recruiter was completely honest.  He said that basic freakin' sucked, but graduation was one of the best  days of his life.  And everyone should know that when the enlist they're opening themselves up for the possibility of going to war....If they're too dumb to know that then it's not the recruiters fault if they have a bad experience in the military- it's their own.
793968
so WHEN will the truth be liberated?\nstep up to the plate,candy-@ss-you don't have the courage OR moral fortitude to put yourself in harms' way-so don't insult the brave men and women of our armed forces. I take personal insult to the odious content of your fact-devoid rant.
486606
K-9!(ex "Former Military)! What's this?!!! I don't believe it... the statements you made sound so-o-o-o much like me. Wow!! It's so refreshing!!! I'm proud of you. People and times change but then again some people don't. I still run across some that wish they had gone to VietNam (right) and others that sure try hard to be a Wanna-be Nam vet. I know damn well what they were doing in the 60's and 70's. I was a professional soldier who bitched but only after the mission was accomplished. I enlisted, was not a draftee and did as ordered. I was a hard-ass to my men but I never let them down and nobody messed with them. I fought for them and them for me. We shared everything in our lives together at that time and I mean everything. To some I'm closer to than my own family and always will be. To the women who ignored and ridiculed us... their loss. To the one who has stood beside me for 30+ years... she deserves a medal as do all veteran wives. In 1969 I was on my second tour. I didn't appreciate the protests because I knew that most didn't comprehend what that war was about as a lot now don't. I leave my thoughts of this war in my own mind and fully support the troops who really have no choice in the matter as I didn't. They have enough to do and worry about without having to consider what the people back home are thinking as I did then. I just thank God that America still has young people who are willing to fight for others freedom as I did. We don't have the most perfect form of government as we all would like to see but out of the 45 foreign countries I've been to it's still the best and that flag, the piece of cloth, so many disgrace is still the most beautiful one that I have ever seen for I realize what it took to fly it and to keep it flying. Most women...don't!
741039
I served in Afghanistan and received quite a bit of hate mail from back home. I was injured while on patrol and upon returning home had garbage and other things thrown at me as I entered the base for my discharge. Iraq is far more controversial so I am glad that I do not have to bear coming home from Iraq and receive even worse criticism. Joining the Army was my CHOICE!. You people may not like wars but you are not fighting in it so I don't know what gives anti war protesters the right to spit on me when I am only serving my country and my countrymen, including them. We are told not to argue, but I wish they would put their time to better use than standing outside all day and ridiculing the soldiers. Fortunately others and I are far too proud to take too much offense.
804906
Yes he is shameful.  He testified that American Soldiers committed war crimes in Vietnam (he admitted to participating himself), threw his medals back at the White House, and now that being a Service Member is honorable again, he only wants us to remember his Service.  He was born privileged and married into even greater wealth, and then he denigrates our Service Members who are in harms way.  Very sad.
31384
As a former soldier i can agree with parts of the letter. I dont think that it is fair, or safe to assume that most young people who join the military are naive,I joined after Sept. 11, so i knew what was to come. i wasnt in a dead-end town, i didnt need the college money. i joined because after Sept. 11 happend i felt that it was what i was supposed to do, my dad, my grandfather serviced this country, so it was a questioin of "if they did it then why shouldnt i". i admit that it was hard to conform to what they wanted, to change my way of thinking and adpot theirs(i dont think i ever did). i wanted to speak out, and say i didnt agree with this, or i didnt agree with that. In the begining i was afraid, i didnt want my follow soldiers to think that i was different from them. so i didnt speak my mind, i was always the quite one, but as time went on and my military career grew i realized that i was going about it all wrong. the reason the military is what it is today is because we have soldiers who speak their minds, who arent afraid to say things, who are not afraid of change. the military needs this, if we just had robots then no one could lead when they needed them to, no one could step up and take charge in a deadly situation. i dont agree with the war, i never have and never will, but to me, its not a question of if you agree with the war or not as a soldier. its who will protect my family,the freedoms that i take advantage of as an American,its will you support, will you protect your follow soldier who has gone through basic training, who has been through all the bull**** that you have, that soldier who stands by you, even the "disgruntaled soldiers", its about the bond that you and your follow soldiers have and no one else can understand. no civilan can understand what a soldier goes thourgh, what they have been though, thats a secert shared by only the soldiers and no one can take that away from them.i may not agree with everyting the letter says, but as i follow soldier i understand it and i can respect it. i say bravo to J.D. Englehart for writing this letter, for saying what is on is mind and so many other soldiers. to me this is what American needs, to hear different truths and realize even as a soldier you do have an opinion.