As a career soldier for the U.S., I became immune to all of that until I went to Afghanistan in 2002. I lived amongst the people for ten months and discovered just how badly the U.S. propaganda machine is and decided I wanted no more part of it. That decision got me into a spot of trouble with the higher ups. I retired soon after. It didn't take away the numbness. I still have it today, twenty two years later. That doesn't mean that I don't care. It just means that I can see around the death and destruction and fight to do something about it without the emotional baggage. Once you smell death, you never forget it. Once you see death, you never unsee it. I use that to fight back against the leadership that provokes wars for profit. Even though I am just one soldier, I like to think I am part of a larger unit around the world fighting for what's right and humane.
I am one of those who caught the tail end of the Vietnam War in 1974. I didn't spend more than a couple of months sailing up and down the coast that winter in a small boat so I don't qualify as much as the guys who tramped through the jungles. I was only 18 at the time. But, I did deploy seven other times after that with my last trip being to Afghanistan with the 489th Civil Affairs Batt. in 2002. I am all about being a Veteran for Peace now.
As a career soldier for the U.S., I became immune to all of that until I went to Afghanistan in 2002. I lived amongst the people for ten months and discovered just how badly the U.S. propaganda machine is and decided I wanted no more part of it. That decision got me into a spot of trouble with the higher ups. I retired soon after. It didn't take away the numbness. I still have it today, twenty two years later. That doesn't mean that I don't care. It just means that I can see around the death and destruction and fight to do something about it without the emotional baggage. Once you smell death, you never forget it. Once you see death, you never unsee it. I use that to fight back against the leadership that provokes wars for profit. Even though I am just one soldier, I like to think I am part of a larger unit around the world fighting for what's right and humane.
You are. Veterans For Peace was begun by conscientious men and women of your generation, but old guys like me from Vietnam are also present.
I am one of those who caught the tail end of the Vietnam War in 1974. I didn't spend more than a couple of months sailing up and down the coast that winter in a small boat so I don't qualify as much as the guys who tramped through the jungles. I was only 18 at the time. But, I did deploy seven other times after that with my last trip being to Afghanistan with the 489th Civil Affairs Batt. in 2002. I am all about being a Veteran for Peace now.
Good Pawns wish they could be Rooks or Knights.