I think many of those who joined or were drafted, did so, with the thought that they might be giving their life for their country, they were genuinely ready to give their lives for what they believed. They were ready to "die" for their country. That takes something special, in a person.
I never was in a landing craft, ready to land on a beach, in a foreign land, facing enemy fire, knowing that there would be heavy casualties. That takes a really special kind of a person. Just think of that, "Willing to die, for my country." Wow. How does one sleep at night, aboard a ship, in a foul smelling, crowded, cramped ships berthing area, knowing that tomorrow morning, as the sun comes up, you will scale down a rope ladder, get in a flimsy not well protected landing craft, head toward a beach, and wade ashore, facing hostile gunfire. I cannot imagine what thoughts would go through ones head.
These were not extraordinary people, just regular people, caught up in a war, not of their choosing, but now, facing the enemy and possibly death. Those who survived are truly VETERANS. They are the ones who should be "thanked" for their service. I imagine they would be the last ones who would want to be singled out.
Thank those thousands who are in hospitals, those without limbs, those whose brains could not comprehend the enormity of the whole "war" thing, and were emotionally wounded.
We are grouped as Veterans, because we "served." I don't consider myself a "veteran". I am almost embarrassed when someone "Thanks" me for my service.
My Dad, in WWI, was in the "trenches" in Germany. He was surrounded by bombs and gunfire and people dying. He has heard the command of, "Over the top," which meant facing German machine guns, with nothing to protect yourself, completely exposed, comrades dropping on either side of him. That is a Veteran. Bob Shook, WWII was on the Yorktown when it went down, he survived and was rescued. Red Wallace marched all over Europe, my brother was in a submarine in WWII. God only knows what all Caleb Dooley saw during the Civil War, and that was neighbors killing neighbors.
I saluted the "uniform" not the man. So, when you "Thank" a Veteran, you are actually thanking ALL Veterans, that gives those words much more meaning. So, yes, I am a Veteran, and thank you, for your recognition.
