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antigone382

(3,682 posts)

21. My brother was in Afghanistan and Iraq...

Wed Aug 7, 2013, 09:39 PM

Aug 2013

...his company lost three men in a bombing in Haditha. I once saw a very understated bracelet on his wrist with their names on it (I knew their names because I first heard about the incident in the news and I had no way of knowing if it was him or not...and after that I just made it my business to know a little about who they were), and I made the mistake of mentioning it to him, which clearly made him pretty uncomfortable...other than that he has never really talked about his experiences or made a show of his veteran status that I have ever seen.

My brother is in many ways an anomaly, perhaps even out of another time in many respects...but he is one of our more recent veterans, at least as much so as the guy wearing the flashy T-shirt. There are a range of people in any generation, I'd say.

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A war. A Father and a son. Some guy in the grocery store [View all] 1-Old-Man Aug 2013 OP

My father served in the USAF 23 years and never, ever wore anything off duty that indicated any kestrel91316 Aug 2013 #1

discretion is the better part of valour. nt Snotcicles Aug 2013 #37

It certainly has.. SoCalDem Aug 2013 #2

Post removed Post removed Aug 2013 #5

you have a nice day too SoCalDem Aug 2013 #6

I feel much better, thank you. nt hack89 Aug 2013 #8

This message was self-deleted by its author TxGrandpa Aug 2013 #12

my dad onethatcares Aug 2013 #3

I've seen lots of old guys in hats that say "Korean War Veteran' or "Vietnam Veteran" etc... mwrguy Aug 2013 #4

Watch your mouth!!! OldRedneck Aug 2013 #22

this, from tags on their vehicles to the hats, the old guys just wear different shows loli phabay Aug 2013 #32

Recommend, and thanks for babylonsister Aug 2013 #7

My uncle, one of my dad's brothers, liberalhistorian Aug 2013 #9

Chicken Hawks RadioFreekentucky Aug 2013 #10

Agree. It bugs me too. trof Aug 2013 #11

My father was in WW1 zeemike Aug 2013 #13

Well, the drawdown is underway. A lot of those MADem Aug 2013 #27

Actually I have found a lot of his records. zeemike Aug 2013 #28

You should be able to find out, from his record, how he got the purple heart if you don't already MADem Aug 2013 #30

Yes I found out a lot about what he did in the war. zeemike Aug 2013 #31

That's great that you have all that! I agree about research, MADem Aug 2013 #33

The battle of Bellue Woods, I believe that was the battle that earned the Omnith Aug 2013 #43

the neocons since 1975/8 declared that we'd gone soft and were letting Moscow take over everything MisterP Aug 2013 #14

This message was self-deleted by its author Ilsa Aug 2013 #15

My Father Served BillyRibs Aug 2013 #16

My father was supposedly in Thailand during the Vietnam war. nolabear Aug 2013 #17

Thanks for sharing usGovOwesUs3Trillion Aug 2013 #18

Really a brilliant OP. My dad was a marine sufrommich Aug 2013 #19

Things changed under Reagan...what was real became fake and vice versa. Moostache Aug 2013 #20

Forget the 1970s nadinbrzezinski Aug 2013 #26

My brother was in Afghanistan and Iraq... antigone382 Aug 2013 #21

Real Pride and Love for ones Country randr Aug 2013 #23

You would be surprised as to how many chickenhawks are strutting around in costume. Spitfire of ATJ Aug 2013 #24

My father was with the resistance in Poland nadinbrzezinski Aug 2013 #25

They really never talk about it. My Uncle finally told his children I insisted. gordianot Aug 2013 #29

My father in WWII, in the South Pacific, he would never ever talk Raine Aug 2013 #34

My Daddy served in WWII. Are_grits_groceries Aug 2013 #35

Great idea... Sotf Aug 2013 #36

Thank you for your service bluedeathray Aug 2013 #38

My stepfather spent 18 months in Korea. hobbit709 Aug 2013 #39

2 tours in Nam, tumtum Aug 2013 #40

My uncle was in Merrill's Marauders and ellie Aug 2013 #41

I agree completely Omnith Aug 2013 #42