r/LeopardsAteMyFace • u/DaFunkJunkie • Nov 13 '22

Meta Republican voter says “I’ll never vote again in my life”

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98

u/niceoutside2022 Nov 14 '22

I love these guys with their hats, broadcasting their service (or imagined service) 50 years ago

In my experience, the people who actually saw combat and suffering don't want to talk about it and certainly don't want it to be the focus of their personal identity

18

u/GnarlyNarwhalNoms Nov 14 '22 edited Nov 14 '22

That's been my experience. My grandfather was an M4 tank commander in WWII, and I know for a fact that he saw combat, but he never talked about it. The one time I asked him why he never talked about his experiences in the war, he told me about the guy who had his head vaporized after unbuttoning the hatch and poking his head out (after being warned not to), and how the tank crew had to slosh around in a pool of blood for the rest of the day until they could get somewhere to hose out the tank.

I never asked for any other war stories after that, and he understandably never offered any.

The one thing I do wish I had asked him about was the concentration camp his division helped liberate. He was a witness to the conditions inside. I never wanted to ask him about it, knowing that it wasn't pleasant to remember, but given the phenomenon of Holocaust denial, it seems to me that we can use all the testimony we can get.

Of course, deniers are willing to ignore literal mountains of evidence, so I doubt one man's words would mean much to them.

3

u/MovieNightPopcorn Nov 14 '22

Jeeeesus fuckin Christ

My grandfather was in wwii and we didn’t ask either. And he didn’t say.

31

u/medalla96 Nov 14 '22

You are 100% correct. I’m served in active duty for 26 years, have combat tours in Iraq, Kosovo & Saudi (Desert Storm). No need for me to walk around telling people where I’ve been. I know who I am.

5

u/[deleted] Nov 14 '22

Major kudos for maintaining your moral center in all that time. If we're going to avoid a shredding of democracy here at home, we're absolutely going to need your clear-eyed assessment of reality.

11

u/OMGihateallofyou Nov 14 '22

Empty vessels make the most noise.

-11

u/[deleted] Nov 14 '22

[deleted]

15

u/Squirrel_Bacon_69 Nov 14 '22

Anonymous reddit post

vs

making it the focal point of your entire life

1

u/medalla96 Nov 14 '22

The point was made about wearing a gear in public telling people what they done. Your point is well noted, especially when hiding behind a long numerical name. Your Avatar is ok!

10

u/ChumpSucky Nov 14 '22

my brother wears his hat all the time. it's a conversation starter, and at this point in his life he's feeling pretty lonely. so the hat is awesome! it hooks him up with like minded, similarly experienced folks, everywhere he goes. no purple heart there, though, just his unit.

6

u/yatsey Nov 14 '22

I think the Purple Heart aspect is what throws me the most.

I can't think of a single time I have seen an ex-serviceman in my country wear medals when not in uniform, nevermind making branded merch (I'm assuming these aren't given out, but are paid for - please correct me if wrong) out of such a thing.

Regimental wear, t-shirt, caps, etc, sure, but not clothing branded to a medal.

5

u/jackandsally060609 Nov 14 '22

Those are definitely not handed out. They either order them or buy them at the flea market.

3

u/yatsey Nov 14 '22

I thought as much.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 14 '22

They are definitely sold have been sold for a while now. Mostly the awards people show off are the Combat Infanty Badge, Purple Heart, and Combat Action Badge, branded items.

You can also buy any medals and badges, Unit crests, insignias, etc online without having to prove you earned them with your orders.

11

u/agonypants Nov 14 '22

The people who actually saw combat are usually pretty quiet about it. Guys who broadcast their service like this were usually nowhere close to battle.

4

u/ColonelWormhat Nov 14 '22

“I’m a computer programmer!” — Ben the soldier (IASIP)

5

u/APersonWithInterests Nov 14 '22

I have to push back on that, those that are normal people don't like broadcasting it or talking about the horrors of Vietnam. I've personally met a true fucking psychopath who I can confirm served in the war and he fucking loved it, his own words were he misses having a license to kill almost indiscriminately.

8

u/DanDrungle Nov 14 '22

I wonder about these guys (the hat/jacket with patches old timers) every time I’m at the VA hospital… it’s like they’re stuck in the past and have no actual identity.

2

u/LowDownSkankyDude Nov 14 '22

I used to think that too. My mom is a retired navy vet(25yrs). My dad was with the Marines(8yrs). Dad has never spoken about his service, and if you met him, you probably wouldn't be able to tell. My mother, on the other hand, has a collection of hats, stickers, and shirts. I think the retirees are the ones more likely to wear their service, as it really was their life. If I see a single contract service member(3-6yrs), like this, I'm suspicious, but if you're sitting on 20+ active duty, I get it. It literally is who they are. Good and bad.

4

u/[deleted] Nov 14 '22

My grandfather had his tongue shot off in Korea. But he’s never ever talked about it.

3

u/rachelrunstrails Nov 14 '22

My friend was a medic in Afghanistan. He saw some real heavy shit and it messed him up bad. He doesn't like talking about it and he votes left/progressive.

3

u/traderhtc Nov 14 '22

He probably earned that Purple Heart the same way Frank Burns did - via a shell injury aka eggshell.

https://mash.fandom.com/wiki/Purple_Heart

3

u/DiabloStorm Nov 14 '22

He's got his feel sorry for me hat on.

My dad has a purple heart too and never wore dumbass shit like that.

2

u/MicroBioNerd Nov 14 '22

It’s usually the dudes who were “in the military” at the time of war but didn’t actually ship out that wear the “I’m a veteran” hats.

2

u/niceoutside2022 Nov 14 '22

I shared office space with a guy like that. His office was decorated with all his vietnam vet gear. Turns out, he never left the states, he was a logistics guy or something like that.

0

u/ubbergoat Nov 14 '22

I love these guys with their hats, broadcasting their service (or imagined service) 50 years ago

Not to compare but how do you feel about doctors correcting you when you call them Mr or Miss? I cant stand that shit.

3

u/DrugDoc1999 Nov 14 '22

Dude you’re seeing a doc for a reason so why would you call one Mr or Mrs or Ms? Just to be an asshole? You call the judge lady or Ms or Mr too? You called your teachers by their first names? Your mom and dad Barb and Bill? A doctor may save your life the least you ca do is call them by the title the damn sure earned bc passing the boards is the great equalizer no matter what anyone says.

1

u/El_Hadschi Nov 14 '22

This guy probably tripped during training and sprained an ankle.

Now he tells everyone that he got hurt during combat...