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Americans, Armistice Day, Lebanon, Marine Corps, Military, schools, Veteran's Day, war, World War 1, World War II
Veteran’s Day in the US and Armistice Day in the UK is here. There will be remembrance services throughout both countries for the men and women who served and died for their countries. This doesn’t glorify war nor is it a symbol of peace, it is just what it is, a remembrance.
I’m a veteran. I served in the US Marine Corps from 1979-83. When I served, I wasn’t seen as a hero, in the eyes of most of America, I was little better than a welfare cheat. I was once told that I only went into the service because I was too lazy to try to get a ‘real job.’ On the other hand, many people thought servicepersons were all a bunch of druggies. Once a minister said to me, “You can’t tell me you marines don’t do drugs.” Not many Americans saw us as heroes.
The main reason for this attitude is simply this. While no country in the world honours its war time military better than the USA, it views its peacetime military with indifference, even disdain. Because they aren’t actually putting their lives on the line, the country doesn’t want to know. In my experience, because I served in the years immediately following the Vietnam War, the ‘druggie’ belief seemed to stick even more. Therefore, I felt I was treated with both indifference and disdain. Rednecks and police who, according to movies, honour those who serve were particularly hostile towards us.
Growing up, I was very patriotic. I genuinely joined the Marines because I genuinely wanted to serve my country. Using Jesus’s very own words, I wanted to take four years out of my life to render unto Caesar the things that were Caesar’s. However, America didn’t seem to see it that way. Even those in my church thought service people were all a bunch of heathens and even tried to dissuade me from joining. But I wanted to serve my country.
Well, I did my four years of service. The closest I came to any combat was a humanitarian operation in 1980 with the Cuban Refugee Operation, where my unit was awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal. So, I got out and tried to get on with my life. I looked forward to being a civilian again and after four years of living under military discipline, I felt the need to relax a bit. Four years of having to wear a crew cut made me want to grow my hair long. Furthermore, I wanted to be an individual again and asserted that individuality. I had eccentric footwear.
Unfortunately, the people in my area didn’t see it that way. To them, serving in the military was no excuse for growing my hair or dressing different. Therefore, I suffered intolerance as a result. Not only that, some of the things promised to me as a veteran never materialized. My college refused to give me college credit for courses that serving in the military would get credit for. After being out for year, I began asking myself, “What was the point of serving?” Because I didn’t see any.
It was twenty-five to thirty years after I served that people began to thank me for my service and I am truly grateful for that. On the other hand, if people thanked me when I did serve and the years immediately after, I wouldn’t have been so bitter for so many years.
So, I wish all veteran’s a Happy Veteran’s Day. While those who actually put their asses on the line deserve even more thanks, those who served but didn’t have to do that deserve respect for taking three or four years out of their lives to give to their country.