military meme

[Zavulon]

WTF?

Why China is the Factory of the world nowadays? Because the economic alliance "Chimerica" was established after the Vietnam war. That was the start of American deindustrialisation.

 

[eagle1462010]

 

[rightwinger]

Why China is the Factory of the world nowadays? Because the economic alliance "Chimerica" was established after the Vietnam war. That was the start of American deindustrialisation.

You Goofy

 

[Zavulon]

You Goofy

Any alternative explanation of the current poor American situation?

 

[whitehall]

If they are "haunted" it's by memories of what they have seen and done, not by our nation and most of our citizens.

The wording is explicit. It's not what I have seen but "what I have done". It implies guilt and it is insulting to Veterans. The left has gotten away with their subtle effort to portray US Military as the enemy since LBJ's war.

 

[The Sage of Main Street]

Iraq and Afghanistan, past 22+ years.
Better to protect this nation on foreign soil than on our own.
Remove threats before they can get over here.

Before They Could Stab Us in the Back, They Removed Our Backbone

Better to remove the threats here, which have more power over us than the threats over there can ever hope to achieve.

 

[whitehall]

It's a question police ask suspected felons. "Have you done something that haunts you at night"? It's insulting when referred to Vets who served honorably.

 

[Mushroom]

The interesting thing is that Combat Engineers who often enter combat before the infantry and almost always leave combat after them aren't authorized to wear the CIB.

Which is why the Combat Action Badge was created in 2005. Something that was long overdue in my mind.

And interestingly enough, I knew more than a few Marines that had the Combat Action Ribbon prior to joining the Army. And not a single one of them (even the 0311 that had a Navy Commendation Medal with V) had them converted to either a CIB or CAB. But one did have both, as he was awarded a CAB in Iraq after joining the Army.

 

[Mushroom]

It's insulting when referred to Vets who served honorably.

To many, there is no such thing. All Veterans are either backers of the Police State, brainwashed minions of the MIC, or some other such nonsense. And are generally looked at as worse then felons.

 

[Mushroom]

View attachment 1055302

I actually knew a guy that would have laughed at this and agreed. But with good reason.

He was in the Air Force, and was at Koto-Ri. This was during the Korean War, and they were building an air base there when China entered the war. He said he first learned about this when a bunch of Marines entered their chow hall and ordered them to pack up what they could take with them, they were leaving in an hour. They said they would do so when the Army who was guarding the base instructed them to, and the Marines said the Army had already left, they were the rear guard of the retreat. So if they wanted to sit and wait, they would likely be doing so inside of a POW camp at best.

So he and a couple of dozen Airmen with no weapons joined a Marine Infantry Battalion in fighting their way out of the Chosin Reservoir area. Using an M-1 that he was given after one of the Marines was killed. He almost never missed a reunion of the Marine unit that he had ended up joining, and they always made him feel more then welcome as they saw him as one of theirs. But he never attended any Air Force reunions.

 

[AZrailwhale]

It's a question police ask suspected felons. "Have you done something that haunts you at night"? It's insulting when referred to Vets who served honorably.

Hell as a civilian, I've done, or not done, things that haunt me at night.

 

[Mushroom]

Hell as a civilian, I've done, or not done, things that haunt me at night.

I have had PTSD from many incidents throughout my life, only one connected to the military.

All but that one are related to vehicle accidents I was in, or when I was attacked while doing Loss Prevention. The only military related one was being caught in a vehicle in the middle of a large Pro-Al-Qaeda rally. Nothing happened, but it was that tension and fear if they had realized who we were (we were in civilian attire in an unmarked civilian vehicle) that causes me problems on occasion to this day.

And that is the second time I was trapped in a vehicle during a protest. The other outside San Francisco in a vehicle that was marked as US military and everybody inside was traveling to a Naval Hospital for treatment. Even decades later, if placed in that situation again I might just run over any protestors to get away if I was in that position again. When people see those videos of people running over protestors trying to block a road, that may well be me in the future. It is a real terror I have with reason of being trapped in my car while protestors that are likely hostile to me try to keep me trapped in place.

 

[ESay]

And that is the second time I was trapped in a vehicle during a protest. The other outside San Francisco in a vehicle that was marked as US military and everybody inside was traveling to a Naval Hospital for treatment. Even decades later, if placed in that situation again I might just run over any protestors to get away if I was in that position again. When people see those videos of people running over protestors trying to block a road, that may well be me in the future. It is a real terror I have with reason of being trapped in my car while protestors that are likely hostile to me try to keep me trapped in place

Did the protesters in SF attempt to threaten you or it was because of your feelings you felt in the ME?

 

[Mushroom]

Did the protesters in SF attempt to threaten you or it was because of your feelings you felt in the ME?

Other way around. The one near San Francisco was in the early 1990s during the Gulf War. The one in the ME was over a decade later.

But some of the protests in that area could also turn quite violent. In the weeks before, there had been a reported sniper attack on a military recruiter in the area (later proven false but that was not known yet), and a Kuwaiti citizen trapped in the US by the invasion tried a counter-protest and was attacked in San Francisco. And such incidents were already known in the area. And we had already had several incidents outside of our base where our family members were threatened entering or leaving base housing.

Now you are stuck on the freeway in a van with 7 or 8 other military members. Every single one of you "broken" to one degree or another. Repeatedly over the decades, if the military learns of such things they have gone out of their way to have us avoid being in the area. I have had Army Reserve drills cancelled because of planned protests in the area. Or being prohibited from wearing my uniform because of them. It is simply something about California protests that can lend them to being more violent-damaging than protests in other areas.

If there was such a protest in the area I live in now, I would not think much of it as people are simply not as "radicalized". But in Portland or Seattle? Nope, my vehicle might likely become a battering ram as they have shown they can be just as violent and destructive as those in Baghdad by the Bay.

I knew guys in the Army that went to see the "Occupy Wall Street" encampment when that was going on. And they reported no problems, but then again that was in El Paso. But I would tell them they had rocks in their head if they had tried that in San Francisco, LA or Portland.

 

[ESay]

Other way around. The one near San Francisco was in the early 1990s during the Gulf War. The one in the ME was over a decade later.

But some of the protests in that area could also turn quite violent. In the weeks before, there had been a reported sniper attack on a military recruiter in the area (later proven false but that was not known yet), and a Kuwaiti citizen trapped in the US by the invasion tried a counter-protest and was attacked in San Francisco. And such incidents were already known in the area. And we had already had several incidents outside of our base where our family members were threatened entering or leaving base housing.

Now you are stuck on the freeway in a van with 7 or 8 other military members. Every single one of you "broken" to one degree or another. Repeatedly over the decades, if the military learns of such things they have gone out of their way to have us avoid being in the area. I have had Army Reserve drills cancelled because of planned protests in the area. Or being prohibited from wearing my uniform because of them. It is simply something about California protests that can lend them to being more violent-damaging than protests in other areas.

If there was such a protest in the area I live in now, I would not think much of it as people are simply not as "radicalized". But in Portland or Seattle? Nope, my vehicle might likely become a battering ram as they have shown they can be just as violent and destructive as those in Baghdad by the Bay.

I knew guys in the Army that went to see the "Occupy Wall Street" encampment when that was going on. And they reported no problems, but then again that was in El Paso. But I would tell them they had rocks in their head if they had tried that in San Francisco, LA or Portland.

And who these protestors were? Aggressive anti-war 'liberals' or Arab Americans living in the area? Harassing servicemen's families and banning uniforms on your own soil. Just unbelievable. I read that similar stance towards the Army was at the times of the Vietnam war, from anti-war activists. But wasn't the Gulf War viewed as some sort of a noble mission protecting a small nation from despotic and power-thirsty dictator?

 

[whitehall]

To many, there is no such thing. All Veterans are either backers of the Police State, brainwashed minions of the MIC, or some other such nonsense. And are generally looked at as worse then felons.

I rest my case.

 

[Mushroom]

And who these protestors were? Aggressive anti-war 'liberals' or Arab Americans living in the area? Harassing servicemen's families and banning uniforms on your own soil. Just unbelievable. I read that similar stance towards the Army was at the times of the Vietnam war, from anti-war activists. But wasn't the Gulf War viewed as some sort of a noble mission protecting a small nation from despotic and power-thirsty dictator?

In San Francisco, what would you think?

Tens of thousands of noisy demonstrators have coursed through San Francisco like an angry river of dissent this week, transforming its streets into the nation’s most visible center of resistance to the Persian Gulf War.

The crowds have blocked both the Golden Gate and San Francisco Bay bridges seemingly at will, disrupted work at the federal building, torched a Highway Patrol car and drenched large parts of downtown with vituperative graffiti.

Tradition of Dissent Unleashed in San Francisco : Protests: The city has been home to the nation's largest anti-war demonstrations. Crowds have blocked the Golden Gate and Bay bridges.

Tens of thousands of noisy demonstrators have coursed through San Francisco like an angry river of dissent this week, transforming its streets into the nation's most visible center of resistance to the Persian Gulf War.

www.latimes.com

And since 1991, that has become sadly common in California. With the protests streaming onto the freeways and the protestors marching up and down between the parked cars. I saw it first-hand in 1991, and again in 2003 in LA before I left the state.

Marshals Service personnel provided security at federal buildings throughout the country during 80 anti-war demonstrations in the first three weeks of the Gulf War. One of the largest week-day demonstrations occurred in San Francisco shortly as the war began: An estimated 20,000 to 30,000 persons at the downtown federal building.

Marshal Reginald Boyd said 431 protesters were arrested for illegal actions during a single day by Federal Protective Service personnel and Deputy Marshals. At one point, demonstrators set bonfires on the steps of the federal building, pelted the structure with rocks, burned the American flag, and ran a red flag up the flag pole. Most of the operations at the federal building were shut down for three days during the largest and most violent portion of the demonstrations.

Historical Reading Room — Anti-war Demonstrations: The Gulf War | U.S. Marshals Service

Marshals Service personnel provided security at federal buildings throughout the country during 80 anti-war demonstrations in the first three weeks of the Gulf

www.usmarshals.gov

I can only imagine that you were too young to have seen this going on. But such protests in California are typically quite violent, with lots of property damage and assaults.

And it continued even after it was over.



Maybe there is just something in the water in California, but at almost any protest like that, violence and looting follow. And it always puzzles me how little is available of video reporting of these incidents, most of what can be found is actually print sources (if they have not been paywalled).

 

[ESay]

In San Francisco, what would you think?

Tradition of Dissent Unleashed in San Francisco : Protests: The city has been home to the nation's largest anti-war demonstrations. Crowds have blocked the Golden Gate and Bay bridges.

Tens of thousands of noisy demonstrators have coursed through San Francisco like an angry river of dissent this week, transforming its streets into the nation's most visible center of resistance to the Persian Gulf War.

www.latimes.com

And since 1991, that has become sadly common in California. With the protests streaming onto the freeways and the protestors marching up and down between the parked cars. I saw it first-hand in 1991, and again in 2003 in LA before I left the state.

Historical Reading Room — Anti-war Demonstrations: The Gulf War | U.S. Marshals Service

Marshals Service personnel provided security at federal buildings throughout the country during 80 anti-war demonstrations in the first three weeks of the Gulf

www.usmarshals.gov

I can only imagine that you were too young to have seen this going on. But such protests in California are typically quite violent, with lots of property damage and assaults.

And it continued even after it was over.



Maybe there is just something in the water in California, but at almost any protest like that, violence and looting follow. And it always puzzles me how little is available of video reporting of these incidents, most of what can be found is actually print sources (if they have not been paywalled).

Yeah, not only was I too young, but it was maybe 15 years later since then when I started to pay any attention on American policies as a whole.

 

[Mushroom]

Yeah, not only was I too young, but it was maybe 15 years later since then when I started to pay any attention on American policies as a whole.

Tis cool, was not an attack at all but a supposition.

One thing I have realized, is that an amazing amount of "history" has in many ways been lost. I was even amazed as I spent some time trying to find videos of the vandalism and pure chaos of the protests in 1991 and 2003 in California. A great many I clearly remember as I was there at the time. And I found... damned near nothing. In 2003 before I left LA there were times I could not even get to work, as they would completely shut down multiple freeways across the city. But in trying to find videos of that, nothing.

Notice I pointed to an article that happening in 1991 and the vandalism at the Federal Building. But in trying to find a video of any of those, nothing. The period from the 1980s to around 2010 can be really interesting. A hell of a lot of that was actually covered in newscasts, but is now largely unknown as that footage seems to be "lost". Like the 1991 case where a Marine Recruiter in California reported he was shot at in his vehicle. Turns out after an investigation they discovered that had not happened (and I want to say a rock broke the window). But that was huge news at the time, and put all of us seriously on edge. But in trying to find a reference to that, came up with absolutely nothing (it might be lurking in pay access sites, which I do not use as references).

In many ways, it is kinda like trying to explain the tension and almost fear that enveloped much of the country and even pop culture during the Cold War. For those that grew up after 1992, it is almost impossible to understand how we all just accepted that civilization as we knew it was quite literally a push of a button away from ending. And something many are freaking out about now that it has returned.

Myself and most my age I know, we just shrug and smile at each other. As such fears had been around for decades before we were born, and it was all we knew until we were well into adulthood. And that quite literally growing up with nuclear armed missiles around three miles from my house was actually "normal".



The video above shows the RADAR and fire control station for LA-96, a NIKE site that was active from 1957-1974. But it does not show the actual launch site, inside Van Nuys.

Nike Missile LA-96 Launch Battery Site Los Angeles Defense Area California

www.themilitarystandard.com

I remember riding my bike there as a kid, and being amazed as sometimes I caught the missiles raised up out of the ground and the soldiers working on them.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

On this map on the top-right side where Woodley and Victory meet, that is where the missiles were. I lived right by where White Oak and Balboa meet on the bottom-left corner. Most younger than 50 can barely believe that there were nuclear missiles right in the heart of a largely residential area. But to those my age and older, it was simply how things were back then.

And for anybody curious, when the anti-missile treaty was signed, the US was allowed to keep two sites intact for museums. One of them is literally in Sandy Hook, New Jersey (NY-56). The other one is literally across the Golden Gate Bridge a couple of miles from San Francisco (SF-88). Both are public museums now open to all. And about 15 years ago, less than a mile from where I lived in Fairfield, CA was T-86. There were around 265 of them scattered around the US, the vast majority having nuclear missiles on the pad.

 

[Concerned American]

Many (US Army), not all combat vets, wear this on their uniform;

Combat Infantryman Badge - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The Marine Corps awards the Combat Action Medal/Ribbon