Shouldn't be hard to understand at all but I'll try to put it in simple terms. To all those who ran off to another country, burned their draft cards, spit on us, smeared dog @#$% on my parents front door or otherwise disrespected our country I salute you still with my middle finger! Got it now?
LOL I hear you loud and clear, Bill !
But - as I believe Fred asked - please don't lump all who didn't serve together in one pot.
My grandfathers served in the Spanish-American War, the Mexican conflict (Pancho Villa), and WWI. My father and a bunch of uncles (Dad was 1 of 11 kids) served or enlisted during WWII. One of my adult sons served in the Air Force.
I enlisted in Air Force ROTC during my college years, hoping to make a career of it. Despite (1) a congenital heart defect, and (2) being blind as a bat without glasses. I was light years ahead of anyone else in my group academically, but didn't much buy into all the spit and polish during the first year. The second year I committed fully; joined the Pershing Rifles Military Fraternity, took leadership roles in several areas, and was approved for promotion to a rank almost unheard of for second year students. Then I (of course) failed the physical for Advanced ROTC.
Yes, I should have known - but is it wrong to hope against all odds? I was absolutely devastated and dropped out of school, never again to be so incredibly motivated to pursue a specific career goal.
So, to all who served in any capacity, at any time: THANKS! To those who ran ... well, I surely hope you didn't return. And, to anyone who thinks those of us who didn't serve just didn't want to: please re-read the above until it sinks in.
I would like to add a comment regarding the greatest generation: We often see the ticker-tape parades, the celebrations following VE and VJ Days. I have an uncle - 91 now - who served as a SeaBee during the ugliest of the Pacific conflicts. He watched a carrier - with a good friend and I believe a classmate aboard - get hit by a kamikaze, and of course spent many hours under attack, wondering if the ship he was aboard would meet the same fate.
He doesn't talk about it much, and for the most part doesn't want to. But his oldest daughter -who very recently retired from a career as an army officer herself - related that he told her those servicemen and women who didn't live in the big cities for the most part just quietly came home and went back to work. No parade, no celebration, no welcome home ...
I can understand that the nation was weary of war, but I especially like to express my appreciation to that group while we still have some of them.
Dennis