[Rhodes22-list] Re: Commitment to war

[Lloyd Crowther]

Deena,

This list has members of many persuasions.  Amoug the older of us, Stan and 
I both were in WWII .  Stan represents the parents who do not want their 
kids to get sucked into the present situation because of their beliefs, for 
which I do not blame or condone them.  I on the other hand have a son, the 
youngest of my five kids, who has just been promoted to bird colonel in the 
Army.  I am very proud of him and what he has been and is doing. Some of the 
long time list members may remember my message about his adventure at the 
pentagon on 9/11.

I have been on this list for, I guess, five or six years now and sometimes 
disagree with the pronouncements of some of the list members.  But this list 
is basicly about Rhodes22s so I try to keep out of all the political stuff 
and try to learn more about this sailboat from the other members.  And I 
have gleaned a lot Rhodes22 information over the years, for which I thank 
you all no matter your other outlooks on life are.  Life is like salt and 
pepper, some people like alot of one and little of the other, but in the 
long run everybody likes some of it sometimes.  Spice to taste but lets not 
loose sight of the basic purpose of the list.  And Deena, you have your 
supporters too, even if they aren't always the most vocal on the list.

Lloyd


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Deena" <pestyone57 at comcast.net>
To: "stan" <stan at rhodes22.com>; "The Rhodes 22 mail list" 
<rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2005 8:13 AM
Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Re: Commitment to war


> Unfortunately it is the right choice.  My husband is a former US marine, 
> and
> currently a lieutenant colonel (Military Intelligence) in the US Army
> stationed at US Central Command.  He was retired and called back shortly
> after 911.  He is still on active duty and will do another 2 1/2 years. 
> He
> did not have to go.   It was a declared war and there is not going to be a
> draft, at least for sometime since we do have a volunteer army and a lot 
> of
> reservists thanks to Clintons draw down. We went from an army of 2 1/2
> million to a little more than 400,000 active duty.  Big drop.   If we were
> not over seas, there would be a lot more deaths here in the US.  You would
> be surprised at what the US has already found and stopped here.   I have 2
> boys, one who will be appearing in the movie the "New World" I wouldn't 
> want
> them to go on any political venture either.  But sometimes you have to 
> make
> a stand.  Deena
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
> [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org]On Behalf Of stan
> Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2005 7:51 AM
> To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Re: Commitment to war
>
> thanks for the rare sharing, Rummy.
>
> Still waiting for Steve and friends to back up their bravado with 
> enlisting
> or Bush to let his daughters sign up.  Maybe war is exciting and glamorous
> for some who stay home and hire others - but if it really, really, really 
> is
> the right thing to do, as several on the List seem to think, then it 
> should
> also be the right thing to declare war, have a fair draft for those asked 
> to
> serve and rationing for the fully committed home front.  I for one would
> never allow my kids to be taken for any half hearted venture where the
> politically correct back up is tax cutting and magnetic symbols.
>
> stan, WW11
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <R22RumRunner at aol.com>
> To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Sent: Friday, May 20, 2005 4:15 PM
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Re: Commitment to war
>
>
>> Herb and all,
>>
>> Neither the body count or the number in country had anything to do  with
>> our
>> commitment or lack thereof in Vietnam. When a soldier is being fired 
>> upon
>> and
>> has to radio for permission to return fire, that's a lack of  commitment.
>> Remember, we didn't have cell phones in those days and military  radio's,
>> as good
>> as they were, often couldn't contact anyone. I was with an  armored unit
>> in I
>> Corps (DMZ area) from 1970 to 1971 and saw a lot of strange  stuff, but
>> having to ask for permission to return fire is the one thing that  really
>> burned my
>> butt. Sometimes we just didn't ask for permission and pleaded  no radio
>> contact when questioned after the fact. It was easier and saved our 
>> butts
>> on many
>> an occasion.
>> The one thing that concerns me when these discussions come up on the list
>> is
>> that I doubt that many people on either side of the issue know what
>> happens
>> to the human body when it is hit with a fifty caliber round or a grenade.
>> Or,
>> when a RPG hits a tank and burns through the armament and blows up inside
>> the
>> tank turning those bodies into chipped beef. War isn't pretty people. 
>> Part
>> of my  duties while in Vietnam were to identify bodies at the morgue when
>> they
>> were  brought in from the field. I still have nightmares about my
>> experiences,
>> and  don't talk about them very often. The decision to go to war has to 
>> be
>> taken very  seriously. People talking about body counts like your 
>> counting
>> cord
>> wood makes  me sick. Take a walk through a veterans hospital sometime and
>> meet
>> some of the  walking dead. Your thoughts on war will change, I guarantee
>> it.
>> War isn't good  for any living thing.
>> Time to step off the soap box and mix a drink. Coke has a new Diet Coke
>> made
>> with Splenda. No more Nutrasweet poisoning. Yeah!
>>
>> Rummy
>> __________________________________________________
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>>
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