An active duty guys take on the purple heart band-aid

Some of you know my story, but for those who don't these are the Cliff's notes: Been on active duty for 18 years now, been enlisted, warrant officer, and now I'm ending my career in a few years as a captain, maybe a major if there is some colossal error that will get me promoted, lol, and I've been all over the place to include the Balkans and Afghanistan. Got some weird virus that a bunch of guys are apparently getting that affected my balance and ended my career as a helicopter pilot. Been a Democrat for about 6 months.

Flabbergasted is a good word to describe my feelings when I first saw the picture and then read the comments. I mulled on it for a little while, and the shock gave way to sadness. First of all, I couldn't believe that anyone could be that ignorant. Then I couldn't believe that anyone could be that callous. But I could believe that they could be that stupid.

What they did really doesn't shame my service or anyone else's, but it shames them as Americans. It really shows how their sayings of "support the troops" are nothing more than bumper sticker slogans with no real meaning. And it's out there for the whole country to see in it's undeniable, naked truth.

The sadness gave way to an anger, and now it's white hot after I've looked at the picture again and had a couple of beers. The anger comes from the fact that few outside of this forum realize the hypocrisy, or quite frankly care.

Well, by God, it's time to make people care! It is time to get a commander in chief who understands the gravity of armed conflict, and will not use troops as cannon fodder for his own schemes--not someone who understands how to work on a senate campaign during a time of war.

I'm almost to the point of being civil in my discourse when discussing politics. It's time to start getting in people's faces about this.

Now.

It IS a slap in the face to you and your comrades, and to Americans as a whole. These people will stop at nothing.

You're on a roll! Only pass it on to the OTHER active-duties!

what should I tell the vets I know? what should I tell the non vets I know?

My hubby is an ex MP (no combat) but he is pissed too...

give me some words please

"What they did really doesn't shame my service or anyone else's, but it shames them as Americans."

"It is time to get a commander in chief who understands the gravity of armed conflict, and will not use troops as cannon fodder for his own schemes"

everywhere I go and forcing people to comment. You're plenty civil, x-g.o.p.e.r, and thanks for your lucid post. Carry on...

undying support and thanks for your service.

You expressed your anger and disgust far more eloquently than I could if I were in your shoes.

its shocking, shameful and above all disgraceful. As I've said before, only cowards and the ignorant try to measure the battle wounds of another. This has finally *radicalized* me. I'm no longer trying to win through moral suasion and polite debate. I'm adopting an assertive "in your face" persona.

This activity shames us all. What sort of culture not only produces filth like these human hyenas but does not immediately denounce them?

I will admit that a very conservative colleague who is also a veteran took me aside today and said that he found the "band aid" demostration disgusting. So, its not only us, decent people are at the very least uneasy about that gimmick.

They should be outraged.

I don't understand why vets and active duty military people aren't ALL outraged
by the attacks on Kerry's service. This bandaid thing takes Military Service
to a whole new level--something that can be trivialized with a cheap shot
by people who have never put their own ass in the line of fire. I wonder
if one of the long-range effects of this will be to render meaningless the
honors that the Military bestows on its own.

It's fucking disgusting. These people should be shipped off to the front lines.

when leaders had to LEAD their troops into battle. Wouldn't it be great to see Bushie and his little shrubs on their own personal crusade to Iraq? I forgot that is what he is doing - only like always he sends others to do his fighting. Thank you X both for your service and you addition to the discussions on DU.

:hi:

It's sobering.

Hi, x-g.o.p.er, good to see you again. :hi:

I want to point something out that I'm sure you already know:

It really shows how their sayings of "support the troops" are nothing more than bumper sticker slogans with no real meaning.

Their "support the troops" is really militarism masquerading as support for the troops. Their PATRIOTISM is really nationalism/militarism masquerading as patriotism. You're entirely right: it's mere lip service (as the bandaids show), and this is the reason why.

best equates with soccermania. Nothing more than a sports battle to them. Those players "belong" to them and "they better put their bodies on the line for the home team and they better not complain about it because that's what we pay them for." Or is it Wrestlemania" I don't really know. All I know is that it is sick.

Edit: Maybe it is too much reality TV dulling the senses.

This will backfire; because in the end the truth always wins. Let us hope it wins by November.

I'm ex-military from the Reagan era.

These aren't republicans, these are brain-dead, reactionary fascists.

It's mind-boggling to me. Bush could be an axe-murderer and these jackasses would still vote for him. I've never seen anything like it.

I have to believe that anyone who has ever been in combat and came within an inch of losing their life would never want to have to be in that situation or put anyone in that situation unless it were absolutely necessary.

Iraq was not necessary. It was a lie and they duped their trusted lemmings into jumping off the cliff into the abyss.

and i HATE them TOO. Vile pieces of SHIT they are!!!

On Digby's blog a few weeks ago, he had a story about a Naval Station in Florida. The story described the military personnel on that base as "revering George Bush." I have been troubled by that since. How in the hell can military people find anything about Bush that is worth reverence? As do you, so do I think the Iraq War was a war of choice. They were not a danger to us, or anyone else, really.
I was in the USAF for four years a long time ago, and I know a little about blind worship of superiors. It happens to young personnel, who rally can't think for themselves yet. But these young people are going to be the ones to suffer the most, needlessly, by some Bush "catastrophic success."
My son is beyond military service age, thankfully. The gold star mothers should hold the fools dearly for their gold stars. I blames two groups of people mostly: all of the bushies, and the naderites. I suspect Nader sleeps well at night, but he shouldn't. He ought to be begging forgiveness, personally, from every gold star mother.

He should read it to them to show them just how low the Republicans have sunk this year.

Thank you for your thoughts.

These silly hyenas need to be called on their treasonous acts.

served in Germany and Croatia with SFOR as a flight medic. I was injured in 97 on a training range, didn't get a purple heart as it wasn't in combat but still had to deal with the pain of a broken femur and pelvis and 2 years of rehab.

I can't imagine what the guys are going thru who are coming home from Iraq injured or in aluminum coffins. God bless them for doing their duty and serving this country, despite the terrible leadership and lies that took them to war.

me all at the same time.

I know Max Cleland, Terry McAuliffe and probably others have spoken up about it, but I think we need all the vets on Kerry's team out there, and vets at the grassroots like you, expressing the outrage.

(maybe 'Nam vets??---I didn't catch it---was on CNN Headline News) issued a statement just blasting this demonstration and he let it rip. In fact the anchor reading it put a lot of 'rip' into his own voice. Usually on Headline News they read things pretty straight and don't put emotion into it. Need some big newspaper ads with their mugs and the bandages and saying how vets spit on the republicans for disgracing all vets with their display that showed that the military is a joke to them.

saying today when I found out about what the purple heart bandaids were for. I was telling everyone I talked to politically that this was the most disgusting show of disrespect for our Military. I know they don't care about disrespecting a US Senator(shades of Max Cleland)but to be dissing our Military like this?!!

Thank you for speaking out, x-goper!

"It is time to get a commander in chief who understands the gravity of armed conflict, and will not use troops as cannon fodder for his own schemes."

I love a guy who can articulate what I've got all bottled up inside and can't seem to say right.

Thanks. ;-)

I'm saving your post. It's one of the best I've seen. Also nominating.

I'm not really that articulate, I just get lucky every now and then.

As for the marraige thing, I'll meet you in Vegas in three hours, lol. But I warn you, I'm uglier than the ass of a baboon.

I'm gorgeous enough for both of us.

Assuming you think possums are gorgeous. ;-):loveya:

That's a load off of my mind! :)

help you get it out.

Thanks for sharing with us. I was also disgusted by their gall. I am certain this stunt will only turn people off, as it should. It shows the Republicans for who they are, and it ain't pretty.

week. I know three decorated vets ready to march.

My husband's active duty, 4th ID, just recently back from Iraq. He despises bushCartel with every fiber of his being.

Even forgetting being lied to war; any soldier would vote for the man who tried to cut their hazard duty & combat pay WHILE they were in combat; who has cut their veterans' benefits WHILE making more veterans; who would rush them to war WITHOUT PROPER EQUIPMENT and then claim it was NOT for an imminent threat...

Fact is, any soldier who would vote for bush is mentally unhinged or totally ignorant of the facts. Period.

My husband's active duty, 4th ID, just recently back from Iraq. He despises bushCartel with every fiber of his being.

Even forgetting being lied to war; any soldier would vote for the man who tried to cut their hazard duty & combat pay WHILE they were in combat; who has cut their veterans' benefits WHILE making more veterans; who would rush them to war WITHOUT PROPER EQUIPMENT and then claim it was NOT for an imminent threat...

Fact is, any soldier who would vote for bush is mentally unhinged or totally ignorant of the facts. Period.

You SAID it!!!! :thumbsup:

" DO it! I'll go! My husband, the Vet, will go! MARCH ON WASHINGTON D.C.!! Let's do it! Talk about "IN YOUR FACE" Veteran protest....this would be THE ONE! Make the repugs look as bad as they ARE! Show the world what assholes they are!

MILLION MAN/WOMAN VETERANS "ANTI-BAND AIDE MARCH ON DC!"

As a recently retired squid, this stuff chaps my hide. I won't claim any great medals... my highest award was a 'he's getting out, give him a medal to impress his wife' Navy Achievment Medal. (Paperwork award, given for everything from saving lives to filling the soda machine. Really.)
But I earned it. Some officer decided that I was good enough, had done enough during 20 years of non-combat service, to be awarded it. The C.O. signed it, using up one of the awards he's allowed to give out each year. So it's mine.
They don't give out Purple Hearts. They are earned the hard way, with pain and blood. There is no limit to how many a unit can issue a year. It doesn't take a junior line officer putting himself in, it takes a medical officer signing off that "yes, this man was injured by hostile fire". They are given for wounds that may well eventually kill the man, and for small wounds that heal completely. The difference between the two are a matter of inches.

Republicans once more remind me of what Kipling wrote over one hundred years ago...

"Making mock of uniforms
That guards you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms
(And they're starvation cheap!)"

So, this Petty Officer 1st Class salutes the Army Captain... for saying what I did not.

HHurricane
SM1(SW), USN Ret.

and put them on the defensive for *'s "medal's":

Repugs have insulted and belittled all veterans with “BandAidgate”. It’s time to turn the tables on them! A few suggestions for protesters:

Hang silver spoons (“cokespoons”) and empty beer cans or beer caps from protest signs. Attach “AWOL’ streamers for added effect.

Make necklaces from beer tabs or caps. Hang a small silver spoon as a pendant from them.

Always carry copies of AWOL’s records, plus military enrollment forms to protests.

The GOP has insulted the American Military. Bush* himself showed unbelievable disrespect for the Texas air National guard when he didn’t perform his duty. IT’S TIME WE PUT THE GOP ON THE DEFENSIVE!!

that sux that you had to stop flying!!! my uncle was viet vet CH-47 army pilot. he loved to fly, he would have gone 2nd tour but they wanted to promote him to a desk which is unthinkable, of course, for someone who loves to fly. anyway just wanted to say i know the pain that giving up the stick must have caused you and GIVE 'EM HELL!!!

doesn't prevent you from training helicopter pilots, does it?

A cousin is at Ft. Hood,recently returned from Iraq.

God bless you for speaking the truth. We're all outraged and frustrated.

I believe that people who never served in the military are capable of being passionate about our troops. And it astounds me that an entire administration can stoop to a level of callosness like we see now. I never trusted them. But even I never expected them to be this bad - to have hearts so rotten that it's a miracle their hearts can still be beating in their chests.

How anyone can support this administration when time after time they reduce military benefits and now add insults to the injuries. When the administration is clearly behind the Swift Boat Ads as well as the Purple Heart Bandage mockery.

I so appreciate that you shared your thoughts. It gives me more hope - and I had a lot to begin with. The troops have been on my mind for weeks over the current campaign tactics of the right wing. I'm relieved to hear that you moved through to feelings of anger and then on to action. And I'm so glad that you're encouraged by DU.

is this statement

It really shows how their sayings of "support the troops" are nothing more than bumper sticker slogans with no real meaning.

They "Support the troops" only if they perceive the troops to be like-minded politically. Some of "the troops" who have been most vociferously attacked have been Democratic soldiers.

RNC member Morton Blackwell gave out "Purple Heart" band-aids at the RNC convention to mock John Kerry's wounds and medals.

If you agree laughing at wounded Veterans isn't funny, hold Bush, Cheney and other chicken hawk Republicans accountable.

Write to Blackwell at:

blackwell.cnp@usii.net

To all veterans and to everyone outraged by this bullshit infantilism.

Because they deserve better than this.

Thank you so much for your post. I PM'd you for permission to forward it. I hope you'll let me. This is too important to let it pass.

...nobody at this forum hates you.

Welcome!

Thirty-four years ago, my neighbor was returned from Vietnam. He took a rocket propelled grenade to his body. He came home to be buried.
A few months later, I was visiting with his mother. She had received his Purple Heart and Combat Badge. She was proudly showing them to me. I will never forget the way she was holding that Purple Heart. It was all she had left of her son.

Stupid smiling twits with purple heart bandages stuck on their chins enrage me. A Purple Heart is no laughing matter.