Kush
Junior Member
X)
Posts: 153
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Post by Kush on Jun 18, 2009 5:15:47 GMT -5
I'm not in the military and don't plan on joining anytime soon, not after Iraq. My granddad fought in WWII but he died when I was young so I don't know too much about him. Other than that, completely non-military.
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fei
Full Member
Posts: 274
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Post by fei on Jun 18, 2009 5:35:48 GMT -5
Kush My granddad fought WWII as a Navy officer for the British Empire, he was station at South Africa before the war broke out. He was ship to Malaya to defend British colony, he at Repulse warship when the ship was badly damage by zero fighter. He and few volunteers British solder fight the jap on land, unfortunately they lost and became POW. After the war, he was awarded medal of bravery and service to the British empire by King himself. I still got a pic of the medal when i visit him in England years ago.
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monroe
Junior Member
Fastidious Grunge Lover - a study in contrasts
Posts: 152
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Post by monroe on Jun 18, 2009 17:25:26 GMT -5
My family also has an extensive military history dating back, I believe, to the Indian Wars.
Grandfather was pilot in and PoW during WWII, great-uncle was shot down over the Atlantic and never heard from again another was a Marine. There were also several participants in the Vietnam and Desert Storm conflicts, but I won't drone on about it.
Of course, unlike most military families, mine is particularly liberal (and wealthy, albeit dysfunctional). At the risk of sounding snooty, it's a more mature liberalism than the Chardonnay-Starbucks variety because it has been tempered by conflict.
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Post by rob on Jun 19, 2009 6:48:10 GMT -5
At the risk of sounding snooty, it's a more mature liberalism than the Chardonnay-Starbucks variety because it has been tempered by conflict. you rule. Seriously. In the west, I'm constantly surrounded by liberalism in its most pacifist, populist and naïve state. Highlight of my political/military life: meeting Madeleine Albright
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Post by Subuatai on Jun 19, 2009 8:22:56 GMT -5
You're lucky mate, I never met my grandpa, all I have are very old photos. He was Kalmyk, and served in the Red Army during WW2. Guess it seems I'm on the other side of the fence here, considering most EANers are Americans.
< Commie
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Post by mrxcloudyxloc on Jun 19, 2009 15:15:12 GMT -5
I'm in the Air Force, stationed here in Korea. I'll be separating in a few months tho, and getting back to "normal" life. Got to finish my degree, I'm 23 and I only got 31 units from college work, and then another 90 or so from Community College of the Air Force and the Defense Language Institute.
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Maverick
Full Member
"I live to fly"
Posts: 532
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Post by Maverick on Jun 20, 2009 3:46:42 GMT -5
I'm in the Air Force, stationed here in Korea. I'll be separating in a few months tho, and getting back to "normal" life. Got to finish my degree, I'm 23 and I only got 31 units from college work, and then another 90 or so from Community College of the Air Force and the Defense Language Institute. Might be a good idea to stay in for a few more years due to the horrible economy. There was a LT (captain in the air force) who just retired with over 20 years in the military. He is an aviator with two degrees and still can't find a job. Times are tough right now. Though the military sucks at times, it's job security. Just a thought.....
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Post by mrxcloudyxloc on Jun 20, 2009 5:28:39 GMT -5
I'm in the Air Force, stationed here in Korea. I'll be separating in a few months tho, and getting back to "normal" life. Got to finish my degree, I'm 23 and I only got 31 units from college work, and then another 90 or so from Community College of the Air Force and the Defense Language Institute. Might be a good idea to stay in for a few more years due to the horrible economy. There was a LT (captain in the air force) who just retired with over 20 years in the military. He is an aviator with two degrees and still can't find a job. Times are tough right now. Though the military sucks at times, it's job security. Just a thought..... Yeah, well the GI bill provides a book stipend, BAH stipend, and all of my fees for college, so even with a part time job I'll be living comfortably for the next 3 years or so til I finish my degree. With the job I have my schedule is unpredictable and it makes it impossible to finish my degree, hence the limited amount of units I have, so separating and finishing college is definitely the best thing for me to do right now. Besides, once I finish college if I still can't find employment I can always come back to Korea to teach English, so I'm not too worried about the economy. I also didn't mention that I'm TS/SCI cleared, that definitely gives me a leg up in the economy because intel jobs are virtually recession proof.
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Shock
Full Member
Posts: 261
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Post by Shock on Jun 20, 2009 5:57:11 GMT -5
No i am a pacifist.
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Post by amalgam on Jun 20, 2009 10:54:15 GMT -5
^ You can't exactly pacify an invading army... without soma.
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monroe
Junior Member
Fastidious Grunge Lover - a study in contrasts
Posts: 152
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Post by monroe on Jun 20, 2009 22:55:33 GMT -5
Rob, I know the type you're talking about. Many of them aren't so much liberal as they are trendy-these were the Reaganists of the 80s.
Alcal, that's a respectable position. Pacifists played a crucial role in modernizing the western world and ensuring basic rights for the common citizen, despite often being at odds with the military. It's important to remember, that pacifism and cowardice are two different things. Also, that there are ways to fight without taking up arms.
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Post by palaver on Jun 21, 2009 10:16:27 GMT -5
you rule. Seriously. In the west, I'm constantly surrounded by liberalism in its most pacifist, populist and naïve state. Highlight of my political/military life: meeting Madeleine Albright I was never a fan of Madeleine Albright. But then, I was never so naive about U.S. foreign policy. Lesley Stahl on U.S. sanctions against Iraq: We have heard that a half million children have died. I mean, that's more children than died in Hiroshima. And, you know, is the price worth it? Secretary of State Madeleine Albright: I think this is a very hard choice, but the price--we think the price is worth it.
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Maverick
Full Member
"I live to fly"
Posts: 532
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Post by Maverick on Jun 21, 2009 13:35:47 GMT -5
Though we all want peace, it will never happen. Whether you like it or not, countries will always need a standing military. War sucks, end of story.
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Kush
Junior Member
X)
Posts: 153
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Post by Kush on Jun 21, 2009 16:02:35 GMT -5
Unless you're Costa Rica. Man, I love Latin America.
Amazing. My granddad also received a medal although it was simply for doing his duty.
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Post by Groink on Jun 22, 2009 2:20:22 GMT -5
Hey Mav, how many flight hours have you logged so far? Where are you in your PFT?
I did my x-country solo last weekend! I'm not sure what the military analog to that is. ;D
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