I'm a veteran ( U.S. Army - 1966-1970. Berlin Brigade, Germany. MOS: 98G4L63). We've come a long way since the 1970's in respecting service to our country. Take a quick look at the photo of the Computing Division of the Veteran's Administration in 1929 HERE to see just how far :-)
Today's pause in our activities to think about the sacrifice some have made for us is especially poignant when we reflect on the horrible violence at Ft. Hood in recent days. Any member of the armed services accepts they may fall to enemy fire and are willing to sacrifice to protect their loved ones at home. But I doubt any member of the armed services accepts falling to fire from a "comrade in arms"... especially when it is state-side and not accidental "friendly fire" (a term that has always struck me as an oxymoron), but rather malevolent fire. My heart goes out to the families of the victims and to the members of the Units affected. There is a brotherhood-in-arms that is struck in the military that one has to experience to understand.
Having written the last sentence, I am struck with the changes in that regard as well. Dave Grossman pointed out in his excellent book On Killing and on his website that changes in the way soldiers were deployed during the Vietnam war made significant changes to the Unit's and individual's psyche. The bond of earlier units was somewhat destroyed by "individual rotation" and the commitment to team became weakened. The "isolation" of the individual soldier became more apparent.
On top of this, the country withdrew it's general support. No longer was the vet welcomed home with parades and gratitude. Rather the vet was forced "underground" to survive. I remember vividly coming home on leave from Berlin in the fall of 1969. I was flying in uniform to get cheaper rates on stand-by and was walking between my International and domestic flights in New York. As I walked down the concourse, a young (college aged) woman approached me and seeing my uniform, spat on me and yelled "Baby Killer". My initial response was shock, then anger. My experience was, unfortunately, not unique. I know many other Vietnam era vets who suffered abuse from people stateside. And we wonder why there were so many of them who turned to drugs and drink. It was a national tragedy.
I have talked with many vets from that era. I, like them, was raised in the 50's. It was a time of duty and patriotism. I call it the "John Wayne" era. Many of my high school graduating class (1964) never returned from Vietnam. Those who served were not recognized for their service, but rather derided for it. I remember talking with my life-long best friend (Tim Dallas) while sitting on a beach in Oregon in the 1990's. He was a Cobra pilot in Nam. He said he felt "betrayed" by his country. He went to war to protect us and came home to be vilified by those he swore to protect. His words stayed with me. I think he spoke for many veterans of that era. He said sometimes he felt the lucky ones were the ones who didn't make it back... they didn't have to face the rejection of the public... a scary thought.
The good news is that somewhere along the line our country made a shift back to sanity regarding veterans. Today we are, once again, engaged in two contentious fronts. Our armed forces are putting themselves in harm's way in locations and situations not fully supported by the public. Fortunately, any anger is now directed at the government and is not directed at the individuals in uniform. This is good and hopefully will allow those in uniform to feel our thanks for their service.
To the veterans I personally know or knew (Jack S. Tanner, Tim Dallas, Bob Dallas, Dick Schrad, Jane Stalker, Mike Koob - who is currently in Iraq, Bob Holder, Chris Williams, the men and women of Berlin Brigade) and those I don't know or have forgotten, I send my thanks for your service, company, and duty. I hope everyone takes a moment to think of those they know who have served or are serving and recognize their commitment to the principles of freedom and peace. No sane person who ever put on a uniform thinks war is good. It is a necessary evil which must be engaged from time to time. We all hope each encounter is the "last encounter" (... the war to end all wars.). It appears it is not. In that regard we haven't come very far at all - and it saddens me. But let us not confuse the futility of armed conflict among nations with the service of uniformed services. Those who chose to serve are doing a great service for us all.
Though sometimes I admit it is embarrassing when traveling outside CONUS, I'm still proud to be an American and am proud to have served our country. If you see a person in uniform in your travels, do as I do; stop and thank them, buy them a cup of coffee, talk with them. Let them know they are appreciated.
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