The 0.45%

In World War II, 11.2% of the nation served in the military in four years. In Vietnam, 4.3% served in 12 years. Since 2001, only 0.45% of our population has served in the Global War on Terror. These are unbelievable statistics.

Over time, fewer and fewer people have shouldered more and more of the burden and it is only getting worse. Our troops were sent to war in Iraq by a Congress consisting of 10% veterans with only one person having a child in the military. Taxes did not increase to pay for the war. War bonds were not sold. Gas was not regulated. In fact, the average citizen was asked to sacrifice nothing, and has sacrificed nothing unless they have chosen to out of the goodness of their hearts.

The only people who have sacrificed are the veterans and their families. The volunteers. The people who swore an oath to defend this nation. Those of us in uniform.

We stand there, deployment after deployment and fight on. We’ve lost relationships, spent years of our lives in extreme conditions, years apart from kids we’ll never get back, and beaten our body in a way that even professional athletes don’t understand. And we come home to a nation that doesn’t understand. They don’t understand suffering. They don’t understand sacrifice. They don’t understand that bad people exist. They look at us like we’re a machine – like something is wrong with us. We are the misguided ones – not them. When we get out, we sit in the college classrooms with political science teachers that discount our opinions on Iraq and Afghanistan because WE WERE THERE and can’t understand the “macro” issues they gathered from books with our bias. We watch TV shows where every vet has PTSD, and the violent strain at that. Our Congress is debating our benefits, our retirement, and our pay, while they ask us to do more.

But the amazing thing about us is that we all know this. We know our country will never pay back what we’ve given up. We know that the populace at large will never truly understand or appreciate what we have done for them. Hell, we know that in some circles, we will be thought as less than normal for having worn the uniform. But we do it anyway. We do what the greatest men and women of this country have done since 1775 – WE SERVED. Just that decision alone makes us part of an elite group.

Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few.

We are the 0.45%

On this 11th day of the 11th month, 93 years after the ending of the "Great War," let us remember those who have come before us, and those who serve now, who strive to keep our homes, our countries, and our world safe from all who would seek to do harm to others. Take a moment out of your day to honor all who have ever worn a uniform and know that we have done so so that those who choose not to don't have to. We have done this so that others may live in peace and safety, and so that people don't have to worry about the things that go bump in the night, because we hunt those things.

Lastly, before I step down from my soapbox, just remember, freedom is never more than one generation from extinction. To all who came before me, I salute you. To all who are currently serving, you have my thanks, and I am proud to serve alongside you.

Geronimo 69, out.

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A veteran is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America' for an amount of 'up to, and including, my life'.
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Well stated!

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"Most people that have no idea what they are doing have no idea that they don't know what they are doing." - John Cleese

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Indeed. I've always had regrets about my decision to not take a commission, but damnit, now I feel really bad.

Thank you, Geronimo, for your service.

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Great post and I salute you for your service.

A couple of additional points that came to mind with Veteran's Day near -

This generation usually cant fathom how service members were (mis)treated during the days of the Vietnam conflict. Gotta be proud that our military men and women dont have to dodge stones and insults and hold their heads in shame when returning home after deployments today. That was an extremely ugly period in US history and I hope we never see a repeat performance.

I talk to people all the time about the Army and more times than not, they convey that they wished they had joined when they were younger. I say its never too late to play a part; one way to give back is to volunteer time with one of the many organizations out there that support the troops. It could be done with personal time spent at hospitals etc, organizing basic items/food for deployed personnel (we used to love getting cookies and letters while in Iraq) etc etc. There are so many ways to give back and show your appreciation, you would be amazed at how much even the smallest act means to someone separated from their loved ones and normal ways of life on these year + tours of duty.

Again, great post Geron.

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Good thread man. Myself and all other service members who read this approve.

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Kill the enemy. Take their souls. Drink their blood.

Thanks, Geronimo, for posting that. After over 25 years in uniform and a few assorted Iraq tours, I've recently had to make the difficult transition from military to retired military. (Dopey doctors, anyway ... grrr!) To those of you still serving and those that have served in the past, thanks! Catch you at down at the local VFW!

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Geronimo, well said, and I entirely agree.

For me personally, this time of year is a time of both pride and pain. Pride in my sister, a current USAF Staff Sergeant going for career, pride in those who serve today and yesterday, pride in those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us, and the US.

But, pain, too. This time of year is a constant reminder that I grew up wanting to join the Corps and serve this country as US Marine, but this wasn't possible because I was born with severe chronic asthma - a permanent bar to service. This year, I would have been in the Corps for 14 years had I joined out of High School, and it's quite possible I'd have made my life-long goal of Gunnery Sergeant by now.

And my pain this time of year isn't just for me, it is, again, also for those who made the ultimate sacrifice for this country and it's people, and also for those who have not come home - the MIA, possible POWs. It is also with those who have served and been wounded or killed, and their families as well.

This is, in the end, an emotional day for me, as it is every year. I urge anyone who can serve and who has thought of doing so, to serve. I urge anyone who has not served, to do like me, and thank as many of those they know who do serve for the right to be free, since freedom is NOT free.

From me, to those who have served or are doing so now, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

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