[MR2] Veteran's Day

[William Brandt]

Hi Wayne - my "scumbag" remark was directed towards those for whom  the 
holiday is much more important to make a 3 day weekend than to spend any 
time thinking what it commerates

In some ways I know that my guilt is somewhat misdirected feeling bad for 
those who sweated in the jungles (and died) vs. got nice duty in Europe (or 
on a carrier) or in  Monterey - but much of military service is the luck of 
the draw.

One of the most moving books I read was an autobiography by Lewis Puller - 
many of you (or most) have no idea who this guy was but if you were in the 
Marines he was the son of their legendary general Lt General (3 star) Lewis 
"Chesty" Puller - the most decorated Marine in US history. Being the son was 
hard enough but....

The son was a Lt on patrol in Vietnam and stepped on a land mine.

Thanks to being medivaced - (he would have surely died in earlier wars) they 
were able to save his life but at a terrible cost - both legs and 1 arm 
amputated.

His book deals with the literal years he spent in hospitals (was roommates 
with Navy SEAL Bob Kerry at Walter Reade  - the NE Senator at one point) - 
rehabilitation, heartbreak of divorce - life in general !@#$%^ on him.

The book dealt with his eventual triumph over everything thrown at him but a 
few years ago after the book he decided to end it all and committed suicide.

So for me Veteran's day is to remember serviceman like him and not an 
extension of a weekend...

Bill
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <waynearndt at waynearndt.com>
To: "William Brandt" <wbrandt1 at sbcglobal.net>
Cc: "MR2 List" <mr2 at mr2.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 10:47 AM
Subject: Re: [MR2] Veteran's Day


> On Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:40:48 -0800, "William Brandt"
> <wbrandt1 at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>>
>> Yesterday I stop at a Jr College seeing about polishing my skills in the
>> computer industry - they decided to "honor" Veterans Day yesterday to
> give
>> themselves a 3 day weekend - scumbags...
>>
>> Bill
>>
>
> While I'm not a veteran I must admit I have no more respect for anyone 
> than
> I do for veterans, other than the good Lord of course. FWIW, I work for
> local govt and we have today off but here I am...at work. I'm not a 
> veteran
> so I don't deserve it off. Besides I'm in IT and days off is when all the
> big jobs get done. I have to admit I may have contributed to some of the
> college scumbags getting the day off, at least in Michigan..while I was in
> college we had Martin Luther King day off but not Veteran's day. I wrote
> our governor at the time and expressed my feeling that Veteran's day is
> much more important.
>
> -wayne
>