Thank you for your honest writing, not just in this post, but in the others I've seen. Thank you for your service in the name of those who depend on you, even as you depend on yourself. Thank you for your honesty. Thank you for living and paying respect to those who have died. Thank you for facing not only war, but yourself. Thank you for thinking and feeling. Thank you for honest expression of your honest feelings. Thank you for posting.

''I an unworthy of the honors that had been bestowed upon me, but if you ask any soldier you would get that same answer. The true honors belong with the entire team; those who fell, and those who didn't get back up. The true honors also belong with the spouses, friends, and loved ones of every soldier back home, who didn't necessarily choose to be heroes, but nevertheless are the heroes of our heroes'' EXPERIMENTAL: SALUTE! There's an old JOE SOUTH song in my day called, "Walk A Mile In My Shoes". Back then, MANY folks had 'skin' in the military. During the Vietnam War era. These days, less than 1/2 of 1 percent do in REAL terms. In my HUMBLE view, methinks that's led to many of our citizenry becoming distant from our MILITARY and their FAMILIES. While I support an all 'volunteer' service, I also support a mandatory, 1 year service requirement for all 18-19 year olds. Go through basic training of various services. After serving such 1 year requirement, they would return to society if wanted or they could remain in a particular branch of service. This way, every citizen would find out exactly WHAT our service men and women go through. I have to believe, that WARS (Before, During & After) would be handled differently after all citizens of a 'generation' have gone through this system. This 'system' would also leave America 'ready' in case of emergency needs here or overseas similar to that of Israel and how their country operates their military requirements. I DISAGREE with you, my FRIEND, on ONLY ONE thing you said above: You ARE "WORTHY" of any honors. As is ANYONE who WEARS a military uniform. Even those who never see WAR actions but who could DIE in TRAINING exercises. To this DUMB old CITIZEN, it takes a 'special' courage to DON the uniforms of our MILITARY branches of service no matter WHAT, if ANYTHING happens or does not happen during such services. May you never forget your past because that's what made WHO and WHAT you are today. But may you never 'regret' or 'diminish' your past either for the same reasons. My BEST to you and yours, TallPockets/brian.

I don't think you have to be Career Military to have walked the distance, to have fulfilled the promise that was made to yourself and your Countrymen to protect our Country, our way of life and freedoms. I only served 5 years from 1969-74 and I'm pretty damned sure I finished my walk, with Honor and Pride. I fought in Viet Nam, we were not praised as Heros, given Parades or welcomed home with open arms when we returned, it was quite a different time then. Never the less once a Soldier always a Soldier and maybe only we that have served and watched our Brothers fall beside us can truly understand what that means. As you say in regards to those Soldiers who stand in service to their countries, they are just you, on the other side of the coin doing the same thing as you, what they think is right. I have nothing but respect for our Soldiers, past, present and future, whether they were on the front lines or in support, they have earned that respect by having the courage to raise their hand and say this. I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God. Peace

Thank you for your service and best of luck in your future!

Well done, and well said! Salute!

I thank you for your honesty, for sharing...your service no matter how long! I am the grandchild of veterans, have been married to two military men...one of my dearest friends has been deployed to Iraq more times than I can count (and Lord blessed us with his safe return everytime)...yes, you are worthy as are all the men and women who proudly wear the uniforms of service in the name of freedom for all...Thank you and God bless.