I'm new to the forum and fresh from 14 months in Iraq as a US Army civilian. I'm also a 1911 addict with examples from Springfield, Colt, Kimber, STI, and Sig Sauer to name a few.

Quixote

Welcome to the group, hang around, we are going to grow!
Dan

welcome!!

and thanks for your service!!

Hello,
Nice to have you, and welcome!

Thank you for your service. AND, WELCOME!

Welcome aboard!!

Jeff

Welcome home and thanks for your service. We are still building our community and we're glad to add you to our ranks.

I was telling someone the other day, I can't get used to people thanking me for my service. I retired from the USAF after 20 yrs and never had anyone thank me whie I was on active duty.

LOL, I was Army for 64/73....I have never heard them words. No big deal to me. Any how, welcome to the group...again. Back then, people didn't care...you were the bad guy!
Dan

I was just the right age to go into the military just before the Gulf War broke out. I went to engineering college instead. I signed up for ROTC because that got me a spot on the rifle team. That and a 98,96 during the try outs. I didn't think Clinton was that bad. My generation learned a lot about foreign policy and how it protects our homes and way of life during the 8 years that ass was in office. We had a grandfather fighting the Germans and the other fighting the Japanese during WWII. I regret that I didn't come to appreciate what they went through until after they had died. While I think some people will "thank you for your service" just because it is the vogue thing to do, I for one make it appoint because there was a time when I was too naive to do it and now its too late to pass on that gratitude to a lot of Veterans, a lot of them combat Veterans, because they have left this world never hearing much in the way of gratitude. Even though we through parades for our returning WWI and WWII veterans, it was obvious that the civilians were thanking them for winning, not going through hell on their behalf.

Many of the thank you's that are going out to Veterans today are genuine thanks for enduring the hardships of service that the rest of us either couldn't hack, or wouldn't sign up for. You probably will not be able to tell the difference between someone who is just thanking you because it is the thing to do, and someone who genuinely feels in debt to you for what you have done, but I assure you the appreciation of the service you provided is coming from the hearts and souls of the American public more than it has ever been.

As you might have guessed, I take this subject very seriously. I'll tell you guys a little story about the status of the charity auction gun when I get a little more time today.

Until then, Thank You for your strength, courage and preservence in serving to protect the ideals of the United States and give my daughter a safe place to grow up. It isn't the TSA that is keeping more 9/11 style attacks from occurring, it's our presence in Pakistan, Afhganistan and Iraq that is keeping them disorganized and on the run.

My 2 cents

Well stated!
Dan

I didn't meant my comment to be complaining, I just learned that listing military in the 70's was more of a negative
on applications than it helped. I just went onward and functioned! I thank everyone that has served silently.
If it came out wrong...my apologies!

Dan,

No apologises needed. I wasn't going off on you. I was trying to point out that what is on the surface of the general public is misleading. I was just a kid in the 70's, but I've studied enough history to see Jane Fonda laughing it up with the AAA NVA, the protests, John Kerry throwing his ribbons or medals away, and people verbally attacking returning veterans who were just kids when they left for war only to find themselves fighting an enemy that had been fighting constantly for over 10 years prior. The general public tends to jump on the same bandwagon as the media. I think they are doing a lot of that now, it just has swung the other way. Our soldiers deserve better than fair weather supporters. I think this "I support our soldiers, I just don't support the war" crap was made up by some ex-Clinton press aid because it makes as much sense as "don't ask don't tell" If you are going to really support the soldiers, you need to understand the conditions of the war and you can't do that by turning a blind eye to it.

Anyway, today's situation is better than the Vietnam era in many ways, and I hope the trend continues to improve. It will always be an uphill battle because the media knows that tradgedy, conflict, and corruption makes a better story than victory and supporting the current guys in charge. It seems to take 20 years before people can look back at a war or conflict and judge it's true necessity.

I think all of this politcal rehetoric I hear coming out of both parties has me constantly irritated. I'll try to be more positive in the future.

Now we need to get better support for our returning vets, because of thier service to our country are disabled. they can't live and start a family with what they are going to get. I saw a report the other day that said that are ratio of enemy killed to our wounded is like 7 U.S. soldiers wounded for every insurgent killed! with this amount of wounded coming back we really need to revamp our disability programs to better support our men and wemon that need our help! I saw this on the history channel or discovery it made me want to cry. I hope that we will continue to improve our support of our returning vets in there time of need. +1 on evrything your saying T, A war needs media coverage about like you need to pour gasoline in a rageing fire. What needs to be done over there can't be done with public scrutany and the media attacking every move that is made. they need to do a press blackout, then do what needs done!!!

I'll back this 100%.......never did need media in a combat zone! Kill ratio sucks, sounds familiar....."do your mission but don't hurt any feelings"
Dan

Quixote,

Welcome to the forum . You will have a lot of fun and learn and be able to share your experiences with the rest of us. That's what makes this place so cool.