What's this "warrior" stuff?

[AverageOldGuy]

Trump has nominated Pete Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense.

Every third word out of Hegseth's mouth is "warrior."

Hegseth has announced he will form a panel of "warriors" to review the records of current generals and admirals to determine which are "warriors" and, as such, should remain on active duty while the non-warriors can retire (or maybe be stripped of their rank and shot, who knows).

I served 28 years active duty --1967-1995, including a tour in the bush in Vietnam. I've been to war. I've been in gunfights that lasted for what seemed like a month. I still attend an occasional gathering of Vietnam vets, just about all of them are combat vets. You know what we talk about when we get together? Surely we must tell war stories -- you know -- there I was surrounded by VC, almost out of ammo, clenching my Kabar in my teeth, bullshit, bullshit, bullshit.

NO. THIS IS WHAT WE TALK ABOUT:
1. Our grandchildren
2. Our enlarged prostrates.
3. And the guys who did not come back alive.

I met a guy 15 years ago and count him as a friend. Two years after I met him, after we had seen each other a few times each month, I learned he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Look him up. Nicest, most pleasant, unassuming, helpful, quiet guy you will ever meet. You know what he talks about? His grandchildren, his sailboat, and Marines who died. Does he strut around with his MOH, even though he's authorized to wear it damn near full-time? Absolutely not. He's a warrior. He doesn't have to play the part.

Old soldiers do not tell war stories. We do not thump our chests and proclaim that we are warriors.

That piece of shit Hegseth served 20 years in the National Guard, including one year as a platoon leader (43 people) in Iraq and the rest of his 20 years going to monthly drills. Saw very little combat. I know some Guard guys from Vietnam, I know some Guard guys who died in Vietnam. Hegseth is not qualified to polish their boots. This asshole thinks he's qualified to manage 3,000,000 people and a trillion dollar a year budget. Spit.

Watch closely the next time this asshole speaks -- count the "warriors", he has all the requisite tats all over both arms plus a swastika on his chest -- which makes him a warrior? Kiss this old soldier's ass.

I read the police report quoting the woman he raped. She said, when he was on top of her, his dog tags were dangling in her face!! DOG TAGS?!?!?!?! This muthahfukah wears his dog tags all the time? Mine are laid away in a drawer with some other stuff. I don't know anyone who wears his/her dog tags. We must not be "warriors."

In mid-December I will be at a dinner for one of the Senators from my state (a Democrat) who is on the Senate Armed Services Committee. I intend to tell him he damn well better vote against Hegseth.

I live in the DC area; my daughter lives on Capitol Hill. When we visit her, I go for walks around the Hill. If I ever encounter Hegseth, I'll tell him face-to-face to kiss this old soldier's ass.

[dchill]

1. The only place I ever saw my dad's (WWII vet) dog tags...

...was in his dresser drawer. Pretty sure no one he served with wore their dog tags after they took them off. It would have been crass, to say the least.

[TrollBuster9090]

61. My Dad's, too. He was in the US Army Corps of Engineers in WWII.

He gave his dog tags, medals, and collar devices to us kids to play with; and never once made a fuss about being a veteran. Never thought it was something that made him better than others. (I remember there was only one thing that worried him about his Army days. He was a PFC, and they made him an acting Sergeant for a few months, which included a $5 a month salary bump. When they put him back to PFC they forgot to cancel the 5$ salary. To the day he died, he was always a little bit worried that the government was going to come after him for that money, plus interest. They never did.)

My Dad was a veteran, and a great guy in every sense. But that alone wouldn't qualify him to be the SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, and he'd be the first one to admit it. Which is what any SANE person would do.

The thing that bothers me about Hegseth, and MOST of Trump's nominees is that THEY'RE NOT QUALIFIED for these jobs, but they can't see it! That alone is a disqualification.

If I got on an airliner, and the owner of the airline company came out, put a Captain's hat on me, and said "How'd you like to be the PILOT for this flight?" The first thing I'd say wouldn't be "Gee, what an honor! Thanks, I'd be happy to fly the plane." No, the first thing I'd say would be "Are you CRAZY? I've never flown a plane in my life. I'd get us all KILLED before we even left the runway!" Again, that's what any sane, rational person would do.

These Trump Administration jack-offs are the greatest example I've ever seen of the Dunning-Kruger Effect. They're thoroughly unqualified for these jobs, but they're too stupid to realize it. And so are Trump's supporters.

[brush]

2. That alleged rapist was a relatively low-ranking officer, a major, who never commanded...

Last edited Sun Nov 24, 2024, 07:55 PM - Edit history (3)

more than a company of men, 100-150 men, if at that, and tsf taps him to head the Dept. of Defense with 1.7M active duty and 778,000 Nat'l Guard troops.

He mouths "warrior" over and over but it hardly pertains to him.

[keithbvadu2]

24. My uncle was captured in the Battle of the Bulge. 5 or 7 months as a POW. Talked of eating cattle beets.

[orangecrush]

45. Major Malfunction

[brush]

46. Heehee. Yep.

[Ocelot II]

3. My uncle was in the Battle of the Bulge, got a medal for it.

He never, ever talked about it, not even to his kids. Nobody but my aunt knew anything about what he'd gone through, or about the medals and the specifics of his service, which finally came out through military records after he passed away. The real heroes don't brag.

[underpants]

5. My grandfather was in the Bulge

2 years at the Army hospital at the Greenbrier.

He had shrapnel coming out of him for years.

[slightlv]

59. The real heroes have seen way too much

and lived a lifetime affected by it. I know my Dad did in WWII. I have his foot locker. I prize it for where it's been, what it meant to him at the time. I am SO glad he's not here to see that "his" Republican party has become the party of the same people he fought against in the war.

[travelingthrulife]

78. Mine was a tank commander in Battle of the Bulge.

Never spoke about it until he was in his 80-90s. Turns out he did
reconnaissance well behind enemy lines.
But both he and my Mom told me they would have sent any of their sons to Canada to avoid service during Vietnam war if they had desired that option. Remained opposed to war and to guns. Never even interested in guns for hunting.

Coming from depression era parentless poverty, he did think US Army rations were good!

[haele]

4. A Bush the Younger conceit. Trying to live down skipping out of Vietnam.

"Our Soldiers are War fighters"
In a war he lied about to start.
So it's all about a fictitious warrior code supposedly similar to the Spartan that screwed over their kingdom in the long run because it is unsustainably insular status quo.
Just Brute force everything, thinking is for weaklings. No value in trying to innovate or grow. Just take what you want from other people until you run across a group that will fight back and pound your asses into retreat or oblivion.

Haele

[Walleye]

31. I hated the term "Homeland security". Americans don't call their country Homeland. Homeland is our ancestors' country

And the republican politicians we have in Washington now are so un-American. I can’t even understand what they’re saying half the time.

[Diamond_Dog]

51. I thought I was the only one who thought the word "Homeland" sounded kinda fake patriotic.

[stage left]

53. Homeland

sounds sort of fascist, like the Fatherland. That's what I've always thought.

[Pinback]

85. Yes - Das Vaterland

Always my first thought when I hear the term.

[TrollBuster9090]

62. What bothered me about it was that Fascists, Nazis, and Communists always referred to their country

as 'the homeland.' (Or, in some cases 'the fatherland.') I mean, obviously the United States IS the homeland. But the use of the term is definitely a faketriot thing. They should have called it something else.

Just as they should never have combined and re-named Border Security and Immigration as "ICE." It's meant to convey a scary, aggressive feeling. Very fascist in word and symbolism.

[OldBaldy1701E]

6. Hear Hear!

I would rather hope that you start with this...

[Scrivener7]

7. I read every word of this OP with huge interest. Thank you, AverageOldGuy.

I know Hegseth is a moron, but it's interesting to read what real warriors are like.

[Evolve Dammit]

8. Thanks for the insight, and your service. Much appreciated from another average old guy.

[BarbD]

9. It was Dwight Eisenhower who warned us

to beware of the military-industrial complex.

[brush]

27. He was right. Ike would probably be centrist Dem today.

[rubbersole]

34. Faux would call him a liberal.

[milestogo]

10. Clearly, he's a warrior against girls and women.

Girls and women, beware.

[allegorical oracle]

11. TSF calls even non-military females warriors. Believe I heard him use it when he first

named Pam Bondi for AG. It's part of TSF's shtick to look and sound like a tough guy. For someone who is the third generation of Trump males to EVADE military service, big talk's all he's got.

Thank you for your service.

[3auld6phart]

39. TSF''SGrand father was A German

Army Service dodger. Went to Canadas Yukon as ( Gold) digger found it easier to be a gawd damn pimp could not return to Germany for fear of being arrested, as a deserter.

[Sane1]

12. He's a Trump Team Sex Warrior

Raping and grabbing whatever they want.

[Irish_Dem]

15. Drugging women and then raping them. What a brave guy.

[Irish_Dem]

13. After my father died, we found a big box of his medals we had never seen.

He was USAF and flew combat in three wars. WWII, Korea, Viet Nam.

He rarely talked about what he did, we never heard any stories at all.

There was no bragging or warrior nonsense.
He was humble.
It was just his job.
He always said the Air Force signed his paycheck but he worked for the American people.

We lived on military bases and everyone was low key, humble, unassuming.
Most people don't realize how smart, brave, educated and skilled USAF crews are.
Because they don't strut around.

No one on base waved flags or flew them on their houses.
There was one flag in front of the base commander's office and we never saw it.
You didn't want to have to go the base commender's office if you could help it.

The active duty were the real deal, and were just doing their jobs.

[Bobstandard]

25. My USAF dad serve in three wars too!

I have his service ribbons. I only saw them when he wore them with his dress blues.

I’m so glad he didn’t have to experience Trump and the slide to fascism we’re witnessing.

[Irish_Dem]

72. I am so glad my father is not alive to see this.

His heart would be broken.
He risked his life on so many occasions, for nothing.

I know for a fact that my Dad did not wear all his medals with his dress blues.
Because we found quite a few of them after his death we had never seen.

But he rarely wore his dress blues. I always saw him in his flight suit.

I am so glad to meet you! Another USAF kid.
I loved being in a military family.

[HighFired49]

36. Thank you for posting this

Reminds me of, and was almost exactly my dad's story. Army Air corp, Berlin Airlift, and Korea, and Viet Nam in the USAF.

He never talked about his service unless he was asked about it directly. Never did I hear the word "warrior" from him.
We also lived on military bases, and nearly everyone treated their service as just a job, but one that they were proud and honored to do.
Never did we hear much bragging about anyone's dad or mom, as we all knew that even they were outranked by someone, and that wasn't the point of military service, anyway.

Not long before he died, I was helping him organize some stuff, and came across a box of his medals. All I had ever seen were the bars on his uniform, and he told me that those were just "indications of jobs he had done while in service." No brag about being really good, outstanding, or a "warrior". Later, after he died, I looked up those "indicators" of his service, and he was a pretty outstanding Airman.

I cringe at the idea of these creeps being anywhere near our service people, much less in command of them. Makes we want to weep.

[Irish_Dem]

73. Yes thank you for adding the quiet pride and honor part.

It was their job, yes.
But they had a quiet pride and honor about it.

Yes the parents did not brag, nor did the children.
Yes there was always someone of higher rank.

(Though USAF boys were very proud of the military aircraft,
and would brag about them. Make little models of them and make their
own little flyable models.)

And always we aware of the people whose planes went down
and never came back home. That was the ultimate sacrifice.
If you were still alive, you were considered lucky.

My father's brother was USN, he was killed when his ship was
sunk at Guadalcanal in WWII. My father never bragged about him.
In face the could never talk about him at all, it was too painful.

Yes my father did dangerous work but did not brag about it at all.
As a 20 year old he was tail gunner in a small airplane flying the Burma Hump.
High altitude flying in the Himalayas was quite dangerous back then,
no maps or decent instruments. And people shooting at you. The death rate
was quite high. My dad never discussed it.

No idea what he did for two years in Korea, he never discussed it.

In Viet Nam we were overseas with him and old enough to see which airplanes he was flying,
and could figure out what he was doing. Flying dangerous missions deep into
enemy territory. He never discussed it.

Yes the fact the MAGAs all pretend to be so patriotic as they destroy our
country and democracy is beyond distrusting and heartbreaking.

[Katcat]

14. My hubby is a Vietnam combat veteran too.

No he doesn’t talk about it much and when he does it’s usually trivia.

[alarimer]

16. These so-called "warriors" are all wannabes

Tough-guy talkers and not much else. They all think they're John Fucking Wayne (I don't think he fought in a real battle either).

Usually these tough talkers are compensating for something (take a wild guess).

[Seinan Sensei]

44. Posers all

Up to and including strut-and-prance wannabes like Toby Keith, and his ‘boot-in-your ass’ anthem

He never served

[mommymarine2003]

17. My father was a career Marine officer. He served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. He very rarely talked about the wars.

He did create scrapbooks that covered his life, including the war years. He was a fighter pilot in the South Pacific. I know that his plane was damaged from gunfire, but he was able to land safely. He did tell me a story of communicating with another pilot out over the Pacific. The other pilot was lost, and my father was trying to find a cloud or anything that they both would be able to recognize. Finally, the other pilot ran out of gas and crashed into the ocean. The story was so sad. I always have wondered what my father must have been feeling at that moment and that he couldn't save him.

[erronis]

20. Such a poignant tale, and one of many. Many scrapbooks and memories. Thanks for sharing!

[calimary]

21. My Air-Force-veteran dad NEVER ONCE talked about it.

And I never felt any sort of green light to approach him about it. It just never was a subject he brought up, in ANY way. That door was closed, locked, and cemented shut.

[spanone]

18. K&R

[paleotn]

19. Wonderful. More play soldiers with delusions of grandeur.

[erronis]

22. They are con all the way down and up.

And their news outlets will cast it as "truth" and the imbeciles will nod their heads.

[liberalgunwilltravel]

23. Not much of a warrior

Last edited Sun Nov 24, 2024, 07:43 PM - Edit history (1)

If you believe his story, he couldn’t defend himself against a drunk woman. Some warrior.

[underpants]

26. He did same heavy action but the size and the scope of the DoD is beyond him.

There are about 100 deaths a month even in a peacetime military. There are quite a few AWOLs daily (I saw two in my plantoon). There’s a ton of admin stuff let alone personnel stationed overseas, family members, ships constantly on the move

It’s a 36 hour a day job.

He doesn’t have any idea. He’s a firebrand who’s on TV (second string) running his mouth

There are warriors. There are Cav Scouts 😎
But there are a lot of other people. Mechanics cooks trucks HR recruiting intel/language MPs you name it.

[Karasu]

28. It's just more of the same dumbass "alpha male" Republican posturing these fucking cartoon villains have been pushing...

...for the last 8 years, completely devaluing the actual sacrifices made by veterans and the reasons why they're made in the first place.

[mobeau69]

29. We had National Guard in Nam?

I remember guys joining the Guard to avoid going.

[orangecrush]

43. Some ended up going anyway

Know a couple from my area.

[mobeau69]

56. Bummer for them. I would've been po.

[Joinfortmill]

30. Man, oh man, Love this! Thank you for your service

I married a Vietnam veteran. His soul was wounded and eventually our marriage ended. It took a very long time for my heart to heal. I hope his wounded soul did too.

[sheshe2]

32. Highly recommended.

Thank you for your post and for your service.

[moniss]

33. Years ago my doctor

was a guy who had his office in the 1st floor of his house and his wife was his nurse. The bill was never high and they didn't push if you didn't pay right away. Later I moved to a different area and lost contact with him. But I still used my dentist from that area. Just before my next dentist visit I read in the local newspaper that my old doctor had died. I mentioned it to my dentist.

He told me that yes he knew and we talked a little about him. I was floored to learn that he had been in Korea early at one of the first MASH units. His wife was an Army nurse he met later. He never spoke about it or had any of his Army stuff on the walls etc. Just his Diploma etc.

[rsdsharp]

50. I found out within the last few years that the father of my best friend when I was growing up

(who was also our family doctor) had been in the Marines, and had been wounded on Iwo Jima. In addition, my 7th grade geography teacher had also been a 19 year old Marine on Iwo. He appears in the photo of the first flag on Mt. Suribachi being lowered as the second (famous) flag was being raised. Neither man said a word when I knew them.

[Tweedy]

35. Mr. Hegseth language suggests he wants the U.S. to be at war

Mr. Hegseth’s language also indicates he wants our military members counting coup on our public streets.

[ChicagoRonin]

37. No one less authentic than one who brags

I study martial arts, which means I do run into a fair share of wannna-be tough guys.

One thing I've noticed is that all of them (whether they are students or instructors) frequently use the language of war and combat in their training and teaching.

However, one elder instructor I know, who was a wartime combat marine in Korea and Vietnam and subsequently a police officer NEVER frames what he does in terms of actual warfare. He never tries to impress students with tales of being a soldier. In fact, he's one of the most affable and gentlemenly persons I've ever met.

And another advanced student I know who was a Navy Seal, never tells anyone about his job, or ever tries to show off. He is kind of scary to work out with, but that's only because he projects an unnerving degree of quiet confidence.

[orangecrush]

42. Those who know

Don't talk.

Those who talk dont know.

Good post.

[ancianita]

38. That word? It's part of his narrative coverup of his incompetence & stupidity when it comes to the

biggest military in human history.

Expect more bluster lingo as his coverup. This is just the start of his long lingo list.

The more he speaks, the more proof he doesn't know shit about running anything but his mouth, and following trump's orders.

We can't just stare at/react to the trainwreck. We have to look away and always turn to the fact/truth helpers.

[orangecrush]

40. Best post ever.

Thanks, AverageOldGuy.

You are anything but average, you are a cut above.

[Doodles]

41. Great post.

Thanks, Average Old Guy for this and your service. My dad was WWII navy. He would tell a few funny stories but nothing involving much danger. Just wouldn’t talk about it. He died in ‘19. I’m glad he didn’t have to see Trump rise from the ashes again. He’d never believe it & he was very well-informed at 93. Such a slap in the face to all of the real warriors who have served over the years.

[peacebuzzard]

47. I do not think the Sec of Defense, the Pres and so on

can just on a whim eliminate the ranks or force the brass into retirement.
I am pretty sure the military groups do not exactly have to follow the plans of the executive branch, and probably most of them think these new incoming guys on the hill are idiots.
The Pentagon and the military brass are fairly strong advisors but can also check when civilians go too far—at least, I hope so.
I spent four years working for top commanders overseas, managing clerical duties and documents; the top brass have each other's backs.

[FirstLight]

48. Warriors of god and white supremacy

The word is a dog whistle for those fuckers who wrote project 2025 and all of their Nazi ilk

[Runningdawg]

65. Onward Christian Soldiers - Have you seen the VPs tattoo??

[Tribetime]

49. Drumps Cabinet

?si=8MnvJnFpKus37ytj

[eppur_se_muova]

75. "You said rape twice!" "I like rape." *chuckles* "You'll do." DEFINITELY tsf Cabinet material. nt

[Aviation Pro]

52. This is the hangover from Iraqi Freedom and Just Cause

Cowardly jerkoffs who wallow in the warrior ethos with punisher bullshit. It’s infected the entirety of combat arms including Special Operations Forces.

The GWOT was a miserable failure.

[90-percent]

81. However

The war on dandruff was a wonderful success.



"We have to get those bastards that did this to us" - Dick Cheney, after combing through raw unvetted intelligence in his successful efforts to invade a country that had ABOSLUTELY NOTHING to do with 9-11. Hijackers were mostly Saudis and other American middle east allies. An analogy from those days. " invading Iraq after 9-11 is like FDR invading New Zealand after Pearl Harbor". And Paul Wolfowitz stated that the invasion was justified to eliminate Saddams WMDs, as that was the only thing they could all agree on. .

-90% jimmy

[Diamond_Dog]

54. Thank you, AverageOldGuy.

These over-the-top fake patriots and tough guy bullies make me sick. I never knew all this about Hegseth other than he was an asshole so thanks very much for educating us here. I can’t imagine any veterans like yourself think Hegseth should be in charge of anything beyond a lemonade stand. He is a bully. He is not a real man, by my definition. Right up Dump’s alley, since he is a fake patriot and bully,too. I wonder what former Marine Vance thinks of this rapist.

[Mr.Bill]

55. My family war stories:

My dad was a WWII Army Air Corps vet. I knew he served in WWII, and he flew in an airplane in Europe. That's all I knew, and I didn't know or care about it. My dad was a good guy. When I was in my 30s, my dad went to some reunions for his bomber wing. It was then I found out he was the flight engineer and top turrett gunner and he flew 50 missions over enemy territory in a B-24. His unit earned a Presidential Citation.

The other story is that I have lliterally met dozens of Navy Seals. They were usually sitting on a bar stool next to me, if you know what I mean. What is the likelyhood that two out of three Navy veterans I happened to meet were Seals? The other ones were all Submariners, again, if you know what I mean.

[haele]

67. Lol, there are apparently enough just retired Navy Seals around

To crew ten entire Aircraft Carriers (average crew of 5k) to hear the barstool sitters talk. When in reality, maybe an average of 10 actually finish training every year. Means there's been just over 900 since they started in 1962...
Ya, over 50 years around the DOD, I knew about 20 'Nam era River Rats, and over 500 BUDs graduates.BUDs is the first half of Underwater Demolition (EOD or "sabotage" divers), and SEAL training; most end up being either EOD or support personnel for special operations.
I know a former SERE instructor that oversaw the live scenario training (drop you in the high Nevada Desert and see if you survived). Short, quiet guy, Native American, built like a fireplug.

Actual SEALS are a lot rarest, I officially met 2, and like the SERE instructor, they were medium height, quiet, non-descript wiry build type guys who were extremely intelligent and alert. They never would call attention to themselves, because part of their mission always require they go in, blend in, and get out without being noticed. They aren't SWAT.

Over the years I've met a lot of guys who tried to tell they were SEALS, but they looked more like no neck Gym Rats pretending to be Jesse Ventura or Arnold the Governator. Maybe they actually went through BUDs, but their attitude was pure cosplayer.

Haele

[Mr.Bill]

68. Glad to have someone confirm

I wasn't exactly exagerating.

[Hekate]

57. Your post is one of the best I've read, drawing the line between predatory rapists & those who serve the country...

…and its people.

Thx for your post and for your service.

[usonian]

58. General Fortune B. Cookie says:

Great wind comes from an empty cave.

It's all cosplay.

[Texasgal]

60. My Grandfather is a WW2

purple heart recipient. He NEVER talked about the war or his even his 26-year Naval career. He never even spoke of his purple heart; I had no idea until I was well into adulthood.

My grandfather was a true WARRIOR. He had no reason to gloat, it was his honor and duty.

[orwell]

63. These are the stories...

...that need to be told to the young "men" who worship, Joe Rogan, Elon Musk, and the rest of the BroMan Empire.

They are confusing performative, cosplay, "warrior imagery" with true heroism.

Heroism isn't limited to men, the military, fire, or policing.

It is extraordinary levels of sacrifice for something more than yourself.

Thank you for this post and your service. It reaffirms my faith in human nature.

[surfered]

64. Per Wikipedia...

Hegseth volunteered to serve in Baghdad and Samarra, Iraq, where he served first as an infantry platoon leader and later as civil-military operations officer. During his time in Iraq, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge,

I wasn’t there and don’t have any more details. However, a platoon leader is just not qualified to run the pentagon . Maybe with his TV experience he might be a spokesman, but not Sec of Defense.

[Aussie105]

66. Be wary of loud brash people who talk big.

Their bravado signifies nothing, their words but hot air easily blown away by the winds of reality.

As for Trump and his administration though, that pretty much describes all of them.

[AKwannabe]

69. Right on right on!

Righteous rant!
UffDa!!!!

[murielm99]

70. My dad never spoke about his war experiences.

When my baby brother was nineteen, and I was twenty-nine, my brother dragged the truth out of him, one halting sentence after another.
Before that he spoke about his experience visiting Chicago for the first time, as a wet-behind-the-ears farm boy. He talked about basic training. He talked about leave in India, the cattle, and seeing the Taj Mahal. He talked about being an MP in China when the war was over and he was waiting to go home. He talked about his plane trip home.

It turns out that my Dad was one of the first army rangers, a Merrill's Marauder. He trained as a cavalry man, with an actual horse. They were called overseas to be replacement troops in India, with Merrill's Marauders. Even as he spoke of this, he skipped over a lot of the description of combat. Their horses were left behind in the states. There were a lot of combat casualties, and a lot of people who died of disease. My dad got hepatitis in China, and went home weighing ninety pounds. No one recognized him. He stayed on the slender side for the rest of his life.

[applegrove]

71. Say it, brother!

[oldmanlynn]

74. Need to turn this into an article on one of the big media sites

Definitely well written and thanks for sharing with us.

[Beck23]

76. Hegseth is a nutjob

[Omnipresent]

77. It's code for "His fellow douchbags".

[mn9driver]

79. The warrior thing is weird.

There are those that talk about being one, and those that don’t. I know which I’d prefer to have with me in a fight*. Hegseth is not, and never will be one of those.

*(those days are long over for me, and I never did see hostile fire)

[NoMoreRepugs]

80. Hegseth obviously is a superhero of sorts in his own mind.

[Lithos]

82. Father in Law was a WW2 medic

Silver star during the Normandy invasion for crawling across a minefield. He was in the Battle of Hurtgen Forest. He told me, and only me, about the time he and his best friend were caught in an artillery barrage. The Germans were exploding shells at tree top level for the trees to serve as shrapnel. He jumped out one side of the jeep, his friend the other. A shell exploded, and he looked at his friend and said, "he had disappeared." They had a mental break and spent a year in a hospital in England and suffered from PTSD for the rest of his life.

My grandfather-in-law was a tail gunner in a B17. His bomber helped drop supplies to the Dutch in early 1945. He said he watched the Germans let the Dutch run up and retrieve the supplies. The bombers would only drop when they knew there were Dutch civilians to collect them. The Germans then shot the Dutch to get the supplies. Drank himself to death.

A friend of my father was in Vietnam. He remembers watching people fire at VC from the side of the road and seeing what happens when 50 caliber bullets hit the head and body.

War is hell and no one brags about it.

L-

[chouchou]

83. It's the surface people. Seems they never "Got" ... "Don't judge a book by it's Cov..."

Most Republicans ARE surface people. They judge you and can't/won't take the time to see what's-going-down.
In short >> PHONY.

[Mountain Mule]

84. My Dad was career US Army

He fought for our Country and our people in WWII, Korea, as well as two tours in Vietnam. He finally retired after 30 years of service to the American people and he did not wear his dog tags after that. It is truly disgusting that some sexual predator would run around and try to present himself as some sort of patriot when he is anything but.