Since Friday is Veteran's Day, a day to recognize the great sacrifices that men and women have made for the continued freedoms we enjoy, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank any veteran that is a member of the PTO for serving in the military. It is something that is done at great personal sacrifice. So I for one wanted every veteran that is out there to know how much I appreciate your service and THANK YOU.

I want to say it was a pleasure for my deceased husband to spend 26yrs in the US Army. He was a fine 1Sgt. Loved by all his soldiers and his family.
God Bless them all for there great sacfrice for us all. I no the lonelyness of being a military wife. But it was worth it all. I would do it again. Thanks Dan for loving me as your wife for 36 yrs. It was wonderful.

Bless those who fight on the front lines, as well as those who struggle on the home front. My heart is with all of you.


If you can read thank a teacher... if you can read in English, thank a solider!

Although I'm not a soldier, my father fought in India in the Second World War and both my grandads fought in France during WW1, I shall be going to our local memorial on Sunday morning at 11.0am for the Service of Rememberance

As an military retiree, I would like to say thank you. We must continue to support our veterans especially the ones overseas in Iraq. May God Blessd them and you.

I spent 4 years in the Navy and although I never saw combat, I feel a great pride in serving my country...I am awaiting designation for a 30 month sentence (I hope to reduce with RDAP and HWH)....I am going to treat it like Boot Camp - structure - hurry up and wait mentality, etc...Thanks for the post....

Thanks from me too and as an aside no matter how much I whined about being locked up my dad ALWAYS told me I had it better then people in bootcamps. He of course went on about how rough it was on "the front" during WW II and THAT shut me up.

At any rate...........three cheers for all our Vets!

When I read the letters my dad wrote home from the Battle of the Bulge during WWII, I am always struck at the similarities between many things in his letters and the letters I receive from my husband in prison. Longing for home, bad food, ridiculous policies, and rumors, rumors of what may happen next. Z.

Here are some sad stats. Military Vets are:

51% more likely to serve time in jail or prison.
60% more likely to become homeless sometime in their life.
46% more likely to be unemployed then a non vet.
37% more likely to become divorced

Have a shorter average lifespan then the average american. For men, it's 4 years shorter.

This generation is the first generation in the history of our country where more people in our population (citizens) have NOT served in the military, and those who have.

There was a good article in Details magazine 2 months ago about the plight of american military vets in our time.

I served in the Army during the first Gulf War. I did my time, got my honorable discharge and used the GI Bill to go to college. Yep, just like the commercials - but it's very sad that I am the exception rather then the rule.

Bronc: i"d love to see a source for those stats. I know it is hard to generalize but my dad is a vet who has hundreds of friends, none have ever been convicted, few are divorced, all have steady employment, so are we in a rarified world? We do have a few drinkers...lol.

bellisq, I second that motion. My husband lived to be 73 and was healthy all his life, till he developed CJD (Human form Mad Cow disease) and died. God Bless him.Don't no anyone convicted, thrown out, messed up. Just lovely people. We have all kinds, Like in Civilain Life. They do respect there fellow soldiers no matter the color of their skin, or there job. They are all Soldiers.

That makes three of us!

Especially stats on female military retirees, if any! Two of the items I fit, did time after my retirement, and am divorced. Never been homeless or unemployed not someting I plan on!

And I have to disagree without seeing the source and for that matter the study.

I proudly became an American Citizen, retired after twenty years serviced, was in the Gulf as well, albeit at sea, did the GI Bill thing, got my degrees and have had a wonder life since retirement with the exception of conviction and prison, but life is good.

I honestly believe that more vets make it to higher goals in life than many civilians, for one reason: discipline and drive!

I really need to check out those stats or living four years less life than others, I plan on out living my Grandkids and hopefully they will live well into their nineties! ;)

Patti

Hi Patti,
I'm only guessing, of course, but those stats for veterans living fewer years than nonveterans could be factoring in such things as "Gulf war syndrome," agent orange exposure, complications from injuries suffered during war.
Exposure to depleted uranium munitions is a serious problem and I would think that cancer and other conditions caused by that would result in a higher mortality rate among Persian Gulf veterans.
m.m.


I really need to check out those stats or living four years less life than others, I plan on out living my Grandkids and hopefully they will live well into their nineties! ;)

Patti

Hi Patti,
I'm only guessing, of course, but those stats for veterans living fewer years than nonveterans could be factoring in such things as "Gulf war syndrome," agent orange exposure, complications from injuries suffered during war.
Exposure to depleted uranium munitions is a serious problem and I would think that cancer and other conditions caused by that would result in a higher mortality rate among Persian Gulf veterans.
m.m.

Meowmachine,

Hey are you home? I am home sick and would love to call you after I nap off this medication.

Anyway, I believe you are correct, for those of us who were exposed to the old style ammo and chemicals it it was bad enough. The standard heavy gun on a Coast Guard cutter until late in my career was the 5"ers from World War II then we switched to the modern 76 mm that is pretty common today.

With everything that one is exposed too in the military I can understand the shorter longevity, even though the stuff I was exposed too probably contains quite a bit less chemicals, etc. than those in the Navy, Army, etc., are exposed to. I do know for a fact, that both boats (buoy tenders) that I was permanent party on for six years or so, had not had the asbesto removed. Both boats dated from 1943-44 and were pretty much as they were then, minus the armament. The last time I saw sea duty for other than deployments to the Gulf in 91' on Navy vessels and one British vessel was in 1989. So I can see the point.

Then again my Grandfather was in Battleships during WWI and II and Dad was in subs during WWII and then destroyers until his retirement in 1964, different times and different risks I understand, but GrandDad made it to 80 and Dad is still going at 92.

Small sampling I understand in my case, however I hope it is accurate in my case, barring a return of the Cancer I fully intend, God Willing to beat my Great Uncle's record of 108 and he is still here, but he was a Cavalry Officer in WWI and was actually gassed accidently by his own side, and he is still ticking so I can only hope!

Patti

So I can see his point