I was a draft dodger back in the late 50's-early 60's. Not a real brave dodger who went to Canada or something. I mean, first of all, I was going to college. That got me "deferred". That's a real polite way of saying "Let someone else go."
Then I left college behind and I was probably fair game for awhile. But then I got married. And my new wife had a 2 year old son. So I'm not only married, I'm a father. That got me deferred big time. All of this was in the time of Korea. Vietnam hadn't even begun yet.
So, I never served my country in the military. Sometimes I feel a bit sorry about that but most of the time I say "thank God". I don't think I ever had that killer instinct.
All of which is to say that I sometimes scorn and sometimes praise those veterans who proudly make their service known. Now, on the scorn side, are those guys who put "General, U.S. Army, Retired" or some such on their mail boxes, their personalized envelopes, their business cards, or whatever.
But there are the other guys. The fighters. The guys who left friends behind on the battlefield.
Well.
I saw a car in a parking lot today and I took a picture. I have no idea what the owner has in his history but he's sure proud of it. And he may have reason to be. Anyway, there's the picture.
What do YOU think?
First-the car would appear to belong to a proud Marine-Marines I know are still proud of the corps
ReplyDeleteand its spirit.
Second-a kind of unfortunate juxtaposition--
The car logo is the same acronym for "killed in action"
If anyone thinks about getting down on you because you were not in the Armed Services, they should take a close look at themselves.
ReplyDeleteYou did nothing dishonorable. Lots of folks had deferments. Lots of folks didn't want anything to do with the military. Nothing wrong with that, unless they ran off to Canada. That's the chicken way out.
I'm retired U.S. Army and proud to say that I know you.
I don't think taking a legitimate deferment is draft dodging any more than a rich guy taking a legitimate tax credit available to him is tax dodging.
ReplyDeletePersonally I don't see adding "General, USAF, Retired" as anything obnoxious. It seems rather dignified and no worse than adding MD or DDS after a name.
Now the stickers all over the car: I've noticed than when people shout at the top of their lungs about their accomplishments, or plaster their cars as you show here, they are often suffering from some sort of inferiority issue. "Look at me! Look at me!"
I've met some people with absolutely incredible credentials and they were to a person very humble and unassuming. They just don't seem to need to blow their own horn, they're that comfortable with who they are.
This particular guy with the stickered up car....who knows. He might just be a very proud Marine with a bumper sticker fettish. Good for him. :)
S
We never speak enough or read enough in the newspapers of the ongoing wars. Reminders help a tiny bit...
ReplyDeleteIs that you, John Wayne?
ReplyDeleteIs this me?