General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Military servicemembers & veterans DU appreciation thread! [View all]pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)Even though I served in one of those fucked up wars in which we never should have been involved.
I knew many dozens who died for that mistake, and far more who were wounded and maimed.
But I'm proud to have served with honorable men, who were willing to lay down their lives for one another.
When a friend of mine--an officer--was down with a sucking chest wound and the medevac chopper couldn't get in because of intense ground fire, my platoon sergeant came to tell me that my platoon of 36 men had voted--unanimously--to rappel into the firefight to take the pressure off so my friend could be extracted. It would have been a suicidal mission, and our higher HQ nixed the proposal.
My friend didn't make it. But I'll never forget those good, good men with whom I was privileged to serve.
R.I.P. Joe Rufty, Panel 14W, Line 80.