General Discussion

cbrer

(1,831 posts)

83. "Purpose" is an entirely subjective term

Mon Mar 11, 2013, 11:27 PM

Mar 2013

That can mean anything from "Saving the world", to "Saving your buddies".

At 18, when I was a young badass desirous of tuition money and aware of the "babe-magnet" qualities (in some eyes) of the uniform, and lacking any cogent political awareness, I joined up.

A few (ahem) years later, the only "purpose" I'm aware of has been enforcing political decisions, whether true or false, and maintaining a healthy level of technical expertise in the MIC.

War never goes away for many people such as this young man. The loneliness, desperation, true terror, and psychological mind-fuck that occurs for that "purpose" transcends borders, races, or social strata.

To say that war is hell is to say that Adolf Hitler wasn't a nice person.

Tears welled while reading this young mans story, as they do now. I've left, loved, and lost much. And if it weren't for the sheer dumb luck of not being there when it happened, it could EASILY be me. The faces never leave me.

If it weren't for the true love of my family...

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

105 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Read this. All of it. [View all] WilliamPitt Mar 2013 OP

i wish I knew what to say.... hlthe2b Mar 2013 #1

That puts life into perspective, doesn't it? Lifelong Protester Mar 2013 #2

It certainly does. senseandsensibility Mar 2013 #70

. riverwalker Mar 2013 #3

Don't forget. He will die for George W. Bush. He will die for Dick Cheney. JDPriestly Mar 2013 #89

Eloquent and simple erronis Mar 2013 #104

Words are pitifully inadequate cbrer Mar 2013 #4

Did any of those 3 wars you're a veteran of have any purpose? Why did you enlist? Curious. xtraxritical Mar 2013 #80

"Purpose" is an entirely subjective term cbrer Mar 2013 #83

So it was desperation and being ployed with girls, that's about the only way they get xtraxritical Mar 2013 #99

No cbrer Mar 2013 #101

All because of that fucking UNNECESSARY war!!!! Cooley Hurd Mar 2013 #5

Be Truthful donnasgirl Mar 2013 #58

First off, it's "bawling", not "balling". Secondly, there are different levels of guilt TwilightGardener Mar 2013 #64

Post removed Post removed Mar 2013 #65

LOL. I've seen ya on other threads. TwilightGardener Mar 2013 #66

Post removed Post removed Mar 2013 #67

Truly remarkable... Where is MIRT? n/t BeHereNow Mar 2013 #71

Don't know--but a particularly nasty one here. TwilightGardener Mar 2013 #72

How sweet Donna is.....NOT HangOnKids Mar 2013 #95

Oh I believe Satan has a special place in hell reserved for the BFEE. Initech Mar 2013 #77

The one's he will die for? Those politicians, those war profiteers Autumn Mar 2013 #6

Don't let this thread sink October Mar 2013 #7

This is why my number one issue is the war(s )"First do no harm" panader0 Mar 2013 #8

K/R Solly Mack Mar 2013 #9

Aaaah, shit. 11 Bravo Mar 2013 #10

+1 glinda Mar 2013 #20

Yes, what you said. babylonsister Mar 2013 #31

Yes! Thank you for Duval Mar 2013 #57

K&R idwiyo Mar 2013 #11

... progressoid Mar 2013 #12

He is one of the many victims of George Bush's War. May they all somehow rest in peace. nt. OldDem2012 Mar 2013 #13

and complicity from erronis Mar 2013 #105

There are no words. brer cat Mar 2013 #14

Powerful piece... ljm2002 Mar 2013 #15

Fuuuuuuuuuck! whatchamacallit Mar 2013 #16

You Took The Words & Tears Out Of My Mouth HangOnKids Mar 2013 #21

Another beautiful young man Milliesmom Mar 2013 #17

As a veteran of the war in Iraq, this war is deeply personal to me Victor_c3 Mar 2013 #18

No need to go there, Victor. You witness to your own experience; that is enough. Hekate Mar 2013 #26

Thanks to you and everyone who replied to me Victor_c3 Mar 2013 #90

Dude, we understand if it's too hard for you. Go have a bath, relax....you don't have to respond. Evoman Mar 2013 #33

You joined for the right reasons: babylonsister Mar 2013 #37

Victor Skittles Mar 2013 #45

I only wish the Chickenhawks had to feel the same pain.... Swede Atlanta Mar 2013 #19

Yup olddots Mar 2013 #23

I know. They caused So. Much. Pain renate Mar 2013 #24

Kick. :/ SalmonChantedEvening Mar 2013 #22

As long as the is a hell I hope that Bush, Cheney and Romney all end up there for sending southernyankeebelle Mar 2013 #25

There is probably no hell sulphurdunn Mar 2013 #32

Ooh, yes! babylonsister Mar 2013 #38

I wish we could. Believe me if it were Obama they would have sent them already. southernyankeebelle Mar 2013 #42

Bush Jr and his Father should be forced to live in a 8 by 10 prison cell npk Mar 2013 #54

This is a brave man. His story is so sad, and Hedges has told it so well. LuckyLib Mar 2013 #27

This is so damned overwhelming. Curmudgeoness Mar 2013 #28

There has been a great outpouring of support for Tomas here in Kansas City but we are now at a loss proud2BlibKansan Mar 2013 #29

. myrna minx Mar 2013 #30

kick! undeterred Mar 2013 #34

Bless Tomas cp Mar 2013 #35

Welcome to DU cp Auntie Bush Mar 2013 #60

You may want DUers to read all of this and I agree. But they should LISTEN to all of this NK kelliekat44 Mar 2013 #36

What a wasted life. My heart goes out to him and his family. Frustratedlady Mar 2013 #39

Too sad malaise Mar 2013 #40

proud2BlibKansan knows this young man; babylonsister Mar 2013 #41

Thank you babylonsister. n/t Duval Mar 2013 #56

... proud2BlibKansan Mar 2013 #75

I would love to toss the entire "cast" of "Fahrenheit 9/11" in a warzone with no ammo or armor. HughBeaumont Mar 2013 #43

Would That Curses And Incantations Could Visit The Most Vile Evil On The Bush Administration cantbeserious Mar 2013 #44

I can not stop crying, for Tomas Young sheshe2 Mar 2013 #46

Powerful. So sad. MannyGoldstein Mar 2013 #47

So very sad. It's heart breaking. nt Honeycombe8 Mar 2013 #48

This video is for all those hurt by this war: midnight Mar 2013 #49

Kick alfredo Mar 2013 #50

Tears in my eyes. n/t Paper Roses Mar 2013 #51

+1000 smirkymonkey Mar 2013 #52

I remember reading about him previously. Sad how it's ending up for him. TwilightGardener Mar 2013 #53

Tax the very wealthy . . . another_liberal Mar 2013 #55

We may be heading for the same kind of needless conflict with NK or Iran if the President allows the kelliekat44 Mar 2013 #59

OK, I read it. All of it. existentialist Mar 2013 #61

Kick pinboy3niner Mar 2013 #62

I hope Tomas finds the peace he is seeking. reteachinwi Mar 2013 #63

Remember---look forward, not back (eye roll) radiclib Mar 2013 #68

God Damn the Neocons and the war profiteers. loudsue Mar 2013 #69

K&R SunSeeker Mar 2013 #73

Will, you really should have added a 5 tissue box alert. BeHereNow Mar 2013 #74

Lost two friends in Vietnam.. Permanut Mar 2013 #76

This is incredibly sad. The dead, the wounded, the mentally destroyed. Paul E Ester Mar 2013 #78

Multiply Tomas Young's pain & grief times thousands Martin Eden Mar 2013 #79

.... Duppers Mar 2013 #88

I'm gonna sound pretty callous here Plucketeer Mar 2013 #81

Damn ismnotwasm Mar 2013 #82

Tomas Young was a trained soldier. He voluntarily enlisted to save his country. I have no doubt mountain grammy Mar 2013 #84

I read it. All of it. ReRe Mar 2013 #85

Enough is enough. Cut the big war budget by 50% grahamhgreen Mar 2013 #86

tears are falling. Duppers Mar 2013 #87

Up WilliamPitt Mar 2013 #91

Kick Plucketeer Mar 2013 #92

Incredible. :-( Fantastic Anarchist Mar 2013 #93

So tragic. CrispyQ Mar 2013 #94

Human costs of war were never considered by Bush admin duhneece Mar 2013 #96

To many war = death Smilo Mar 2013 #97

He sacrificed his life for the $3 trillion war for profit. Initech Mar 2013 #98

"$5.00 says there be no outrageous "Terry Shivo" BS about this. Damn farkin' shame. Shame on us, snagglepuss Mar 2013 #100

This is just so sad for him Worried senior Mar 2013 #102

My heart is broken reading about each and every challenge this young man has had to endure. Ninga Mar 2013 #103