Where is everyone

Yes, I can't understand that. Surely today's invasions are no 'better' than
what happened in Vietnam yet homecoming US soldiers are, I believe, hailed
as heroes while Vietnam veterans were insulted.

Mary

Posted by Juno on April 14, 2008, 12:27 pm

Mary Fisher wrote:

>> BEI Design wrote:

>> ... I must say though that people have a greater feeling of concern and

>> support for the troops then they did during Viet Nam.

>> Juno

> Yes, I can't understand that. Surely today's invasions are no 'better' than

> what happened in Vietnam yet homecoming US soldiers are, I believe, hailed

> as heroes while Vietnam veterans were insulted.

> Mary

Mary, I don't think it has anything to do with the invasion as much as
the fact that many people in this country has grown up enough to realize
that the troops are there because they are sent there. They joined the
armed services to defend this country and were sent into combat, they go
because they made the commitment, not because it's what they really want
to do. I think there is a large percentage of service people who are
against this war and know they are caught in a trap. Again I could go
forever about this subject but I think it's best not to start me on a
bigger rant.
Juno

Posted by Mary Fisher on April 14, 2008, 2:41 pm

> Mary Fisher wrote:

>>> BEI Design wrote:

>>>

>>> ... I must say though that people have a greater feeling of concern and

>>> support for the troops then they did during Viet Nam.

>>> Juno

>> Yes, I can't understand that. Surely today's invasions are no 'better'

>> than what happened in Vietnam yet homecoming US soldiers are, I believe,

>> hailed as heroes while Vietnam veterans were insulted.

>> Mary

> Mary, I don't think it has anything to do with the invasion as much as the

> fact that many people in this country has grown up enough to realize that

> the troops are there because they are sent there. They joined the armed

> services to defend this country and were sent into combat, they go because

> they made the commitment, not because it's what they really want to do. I

> think there is a large percentage of service people who are against this

> war and know they are caught in a trap. Again I could go forever about

> this subject but I think it's best not to start me on a bigger rant.

> Juno

One of our sons in is the Royal Air Force. Last year he was sent for
training for Afghanistan. He's quite high ranking (after 20+ years) and
before he finished he was told that he'd be going to the Falklands instead,
he's there now.

We were relieved but guilty too because our relief was at the expense of
someone else's parents, wife, children ...

Best not to start me on that rant either.

But troops were in Vietnam because they were sent there ...

Mary

Posted by Juno on April 14, 2008, 3:01 pm

Mary Fisher wrote:

>> Mary Fisher wrote:

>>>> BEI Design wrote:

>>>>

>>>> ... I must say though that people have a greater feeling of concern and

>>>> support for the troops then they did during Viet Nam.

>>>> Juno

>>> Yes, I can't understand that. Surely today's invasions are no 'better'

>>> than what happened in Vietnam yet homecoming US soldiers are, I believe,

>>> hailed as heroes while Vietnam veterans were insulted.

>>>

>>> Mary

>> Mary, I don't think it has anything to do with the invasion as much as the

>> fact that many people in this country has grown up enough to realize that

>> the troops are there because they are sent there. They joined the armed

>> services to defend this country and were sent into combat, they go because

>> they made the commitment, not because it's what they really want to do. I

>> think there is a large percentage of service people who are against this

>> war and know they are caught in a trap. Again I could go forever about

>> this subject but I think it's best not to start me on a bigger rant.

>> Juno

> One of our sons in is the Royal Air Force. Last year he was sent for

> training for Afghanistan. He's quite high ranking (after 20+ years) and

> before he finished he was told that he'd be going to the Falklands instead,

> he's there now.

> We were relieved but guilty too because our relief was at the expense of

> someone else's parents, wife, children ...

> Best not to start me on that rant either.

> But troops were in Vietnam because they were sent there ...

> Mary

Yes they were sent there to Vietnam but this country was in a lot of
political turmoil at the time and didn't accept that fact. Now people
are looking at the troops with a different perspective. They know these
men and women are there because they were sent and not because it was of
their choosing. The atmosphere in this country is a lot different now
and more accepting of that.The war is an entirely different story.
I'm sure you are very relieved that your son h as been sent to a
different and hopefully safer posting. It's not easy to have family
members in the military.
Juno

Posted by Mary Fisher on April 15, 2008, 11:45 am

...

i> I'm sure you are very relieved that your son h as been sent to a

> different and hopefully safer posting. It's not easy to have family

> members in the military.

> Juno

The Falklands tour of duty is 100% safe - well, at least as safe as being on
an airbase in England :-)

A military presence is maintained since the invasion, mainly an airbase and
they have to have some senior personnel on base. It's only for three months,
unlike the first time he went nineteen years ago when his job was to mend
aeroplanes. He wrote to say that it's very different now from then, there
are a lot more people living on the islands - both British and Argentinean -
and a tourist industry has developed. His wife and daughters are there this
week, living in a holiday house he rented for their trip.

They loved the two years they spent in Germany too but that station has
closed now so he'll never go back there. He's spent time in many other
countries (including USA) but for much shorter periods.

I understand what you say about having military in the family but it's what
he wanted to do from being at school. He pestered the recruiting office for
a whole year before they gave in, he was seventeen at the time and has never
wanted to leave - he just resents being at the beck and call of politicians
(and not only British ones, sorry to say) when his oath of allegiance was
made to the Queen and her subjects.

Ah well, that's living in a global village I suppose ...

Mary

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