Mr. DiPippo- I remember when the civil rights advocates went after "state homes", the media aided and abetted them with thier horror stories of "rampant" abuses! Next thing you know our streets were full of people who either could not or would not take charge of thier own lives! These advocates really made a horrendous mess with thier playing god with people's lives! Now we are stuck with an underclass incapable of responsibility that are a blight and danger to themselves mostly. We have had a rash of homeless being beaten and murdered by "packs" of amoral teenage boys, the stories by the victims families shows how desperately they needed to be cared for! Refusal to take medicines which would improve thier lives and a preference for filthy and disease to being a functioning individual!
Maybe the military should have classes on budgeting for incoming recruits!
tmw
This article isn’t news, it’s a propaganda piece.
The article states, “Unprepared for combat beyond her basic training, the supply specialist soon found herself in a firefight, commanding a handful of clerks.” Notice there is no mention of how any alleged lack of training contributed to the implied lack of performance by these soldiers. There were no casualties and there is no mention that the mission to deliver supplies was a failure.
This alleged lack of training is not supported by any evidence. However, the article does provide some evidence that Gamboa was well trained and was given the skills necessary for civilian life. It stated, “Unlike many low-ranking soldiers, Gamboa received army training with civilian applications - logistics - and started a job with a fancy Fifth Avenue clothing store this week.”
Although the article attempts to prejudice the reader by stating that low ranking soldiers are not privy to the same level of training, it clearly contradicts itself. The fact remains that while this article makes claims that the US military did not train Gamboa well enough and provided no support for civilian life, there is solid evidence to the contrary and it is regarded with scorn by the reporter. This indicates a strong bias on his part.
There are NOT hundreds of thousands of sad, socially crippled homeless Vietnam Vets!! The Old Media has made this lie into a never ending urban myth which suits their needs to bash the military while justifying their own cowardly draft dodging during that period. There are thousands of homeless alcohol and/or drug dependant souls out there who have learned to CLAIM to be effected by service in Vietnam. This doubly applies to anyone incarcerated so to qualify for social service programs while in the joint. The Veteran Administration is too meek (lawsuit avoidance) to challange the flood of false or exaggerated claimants and feathers its own bureaucratic nest by claiming more numbers in treatment.
This whole situation is documented in the myth-buster book, "Stolen Valor" by B.G. Burkett/G. Whitley, about the phony war service and disability claims by many individuals (from the phony war medals wearers to "Agent Orange victims" who never served in Vietnam).
The truth is that the Vietnam Vet comes from the same patriot base material as the WWII (their fathers) and the Global War on Terror (their sons) servicemen. It fits the selfish agenda of the sellout, leftist media/academia/intelligencia to selectively and dishonestly compare and contrast the generations of America's Warfighters.
This article is as right on and truthful as I have ever seen. I know this because I'm a Disabled American Cavalry Veteran. I served my country during wartime, spent almost all of my money, came out almost broke, and it was all my doing.
I spent some time on the street and lived in the Salvation Army in the San Francisco "Tenderloin District." It was tough. The VA helped me right back out of it. I did PTSD counseling and intense workshops, as well as the Vocational Rehabilitation Program for disabled veterans. They sent me to flight school at the best school in the world. They paid for all of it. I also trained in computer science as a sideline. When my disability became too pronounced to work as a pilot, I turned to web design.
Thanks to the VA I make it just fine. Thank God for the 100% disability pension I receive.
It's a shame that the Liberal Left -- just to oppose Bush and anything he does -- blindly includes veterans and active duty soldiers in their seething hatred for anything patriotic and American. These people aren't Americans. They're saboteurs of our Republic. That's right, I said Republic. The US is not a Democracy.
Thanks for this thoughtful piece, Rocco.
praise G-d for veterans!
and i nearly forgot to remember to thank you, lance, for your service to our country.
nanc,
Thanks, but save it for the boys on the job now. They're earning every cent of their low pay. Being broke is part of being a soldier. The experience just wouldn't be complete without that.
Hell, that's the easy part. The tough part is dodging bullets. The tougher part is coming home. Even tougher than that is coming home to seething, hateful, anti-American, wanna-be communist, Liberals who only are allowed to live because soldiers fight for their freedom. They just don't get it. They owe these boys...bigtime!
Remember those stories of people spitting on Vietnam Veterans? Those were the Liberals. They haven't stopped. After running off to avoid the draft, they returned to defame our boys in uniform.
I still have one good leg and can strap on a boot and kick some Lefty-Liberal ass at any time. You just say the word.
Oh, and I almost forgot, every US Army soldier and Marine -- women alike -- are trained to be basic riflemen.
All of us learned small squad tactics, suppressive fire, ambush techniques, escape and evasion, grenades, automatic weapons, bayonetts, mines, and all the other stuff you need to know in a firefight.
After you gain all of this and more, then you go off to typist school, or cooking school, or mechanic school.
There is no excuse for any Army soldier or Marine to be unfamiliar with needed skills to handle an ambush.
OoooooooRaaaaaaah!
Lance, I'm honored to have you commenting here. Thank you for your service and thank you for the compliments.
Thank God for people like you who speak the truth about our troops. As a former Marine I remember all too well the reception I got from the civilian population. It is a self fulfilling prophecy to constantly talk about defeat. Those who do so have no idea what the defeat they wish for would mean for them personally. Perhaps after one or more of our cities have been turned into a glass ashtray they will learn the reality of war. Semper Fi & Molon Labe. MIKE (C 1/5 & I 3/4 USMC)
well, God bless you all - and mr. dipippo whose own son is serving our country.
i never know how to say good memorial day, so i'll say, "here's to life and the people who insure it!"
p.s. - lance? i know a half-arse you could kick! hey, you started it~!
and thank you michael murray - God be with you.
My son thanks you, Nanc.
well, he doesn't need to thank me - i'm one of the reasons he is gainfully employed - i need all the protection i can muster.
nanc,
I'm only half hurt by your comment...***snicker***
This post is turning into a chat room...
bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!
It usually does, Lance! And thank you and Mike and Rocco's son, my late, my Dad and soon enough my son!
tmw
Thank you Lance and Michael Murray. This Memorial Day our thoughts will be with you and those who have served our country.
Especially those who gave their lives for our country so that we can enjoy our freedom.
In addition, those citizens of Germany, Japan, England, France, Netherlands, Iraq, South Korea, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Panama and many other countries owe our soldiers for the liberation and defense of their countries. They do not owe us any gratitude and they can continue to scorn us for continuing such efforts on the behalf of other countries. The fact that they are free is enough of a reward for us.
I spent 3 1/2 years as a recruiter. Not ONCE did we target poor people. We had no demographic data that would even include such a thing. Want to know what we looked for: SMART, Healthy, drug free and criminal free backgrounds. Sounds like some of the people your average head hunter would go after.
I appreciate what you have to say here. Keep it up.
Irt your other piece: Spent a very short time in Iraq and with the exception of ONE person who told me I was a baby killer and was going to hell, people have been very supportive. FYI
Good on you too EB! Knew there had to be a good reason why we get along, I'm an AF brat meself and married an army vet who lost his dad in WWII over Ploestri, Romania. Affinity I believe it's called. My son will go into the Marines in a year or less, what branch were you?
tmw
thank you elbro - i think recruiters should get combat pay with all the crappe they must endure!
20 year Navy man...my last duty station we worked with some Force Recon marines...awesome fellas and brave
Tell everyone who has served in your family TMW..my family and I owe you a debt. and I'll be praying for your son
We would like to thank all those who served past present and into the future for their service that keep us under the blanket of freedom.
God Bless all of you.
Jan
My late was the last of the former batch, that's why my son is going to head in! A couple of months ago, he and his mentor headed over to talk to the recruiters! He took the short test and scored high, I homeschool so he hasn't learned a bunch of foolishness! He is doing his GED prep, so he can do the GED then take a few classes at the local community college, then off he goes! He's going to specialize in communications. I'm moderately proud of him! Yeah! The only trouble he's been in has been with me, but these last 4 months he has choosen to mature. People at church come up to me and comment on it! I'm teaching him budgeting by having his SSI payments in a seperate account, he helps with bills, pays his tithe, bys his own stuff and groceries. He's a cool son and I'm glad he's mine!
tmw
God bless you - tmw
I failed to mention that when I retired I was making the most money I have ever made in my life. Well over 65k in direct and indirect compensation.
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