How many of us DU'ers belong to a gold star family.....

[BlueMTexpat]

19. Thankfully, none of my

nearest and dearest who served was killed in action. My heart literally goes out to anyone whose nearest and dearest were. There literally are no words.

My paternal grandfather was a US Cavalryman in WWI; my dad served on an Navy evacuation transport, the USS Tryon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Tryon_(APH-1)) during WWII. They evacuated casualties from battles in the South Pacific and transported them to hospital ships that were positioned at much safer distances from the frays, as well as carrying troops and supplies into battle. He never was quite the same afterwards. Although he did not himself fight, he dealt firsthand with the worst battle casualties - often while under fire - and was never quite the same afterwards.

My brother was a Marine Lieutenant who flew helicopters in SE Asia, technically Vietnam, but as we have all since learned, in other theaters as well. He returned as solidly anti-war as John Kerry and converted my grandfather and father to those positions. He was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 35, however, and died at 37 ... chemicals from his military service perhaps? We have had others in the extended family diagnosed with colon cancer, although none of us in the immediate family. The other diagnoses occurred at more advanced ages and no case was terminal.

My own sons never had to serve although my older son tried to enlist in the Navy after completing his university studies. At that time, the Navy was not taking new applicants (he would have been eligible for officer status). I consider that refusal fortuitous as he would likely have been conscripted for Bush I and Bush II wars - ALL of which I personally opposed.

I have several cousins - both male and female - and a nephew who served in the military. Those who served in active war zones returned physically unscathed and the overwhelming majority are vehemently anti-war. The husband of one cousin served in Vietnam as a medic and was very seriously wounded, but he returned well enough ultimately to complete his medical studies.

I didn't realize that it was even possible to loathe Trump more - until this latest. I also loathe anyone who justifies ANY of the crap he says.