Tonight I am going to tell my wife

[Caliga]

Nope, he was a US Navy pilot stationed in the Pacific, flying PBY Catalina flying boats.

[The Brain]

[Siege]

I've always been interested by the lack of war stories. It's understandable nowadays with our small armed forces, but in my childhood the country was full of WW2 vets and elderly WW1 vets, plus I lived in army barracks most of the time because of the old man's job.............and yet very few stories.....

I guess a lot of guys who have seen action simply put it in a separate compartment, to keep us in blissful ignorance about the realities perhaps  ?

Plenty of war stories have been put in print.
As I said, it is easier to type about your experience than to tell somebody that wasn't there.
Why?
I really don't know.
I guess when you are typing you are kind of talking to yourself.
And more importantly, your personal emotions are safe behind the computer screen.

I don't think I have ever EVER talked with anybody about my personal experience face to face.
I mean, with my friends that were there with me we get drunk and talk about the our brothers that didn't come home.
But for example, my new buddies in my new unit, they don't know, and I will never tell them.
I mean, we talk a lot about our deployments and we share our experiences from the tactical point of view, but we all avoid the painful details.

[Jacob]

That makes sense Siege.

If you ever do write it down I for one would be interested in reading.

[Siege]

I guess a lot of guys who have seen action simply put it in a separate compartment, to keep us in blissful ignorance about the realities perhaps  ?

Also, keep in mind that statisticly few people are involved in actual combat.
There are 7.5 soldiers per 1 infantryman in the US Army.
I believe this proportion was even higher during WW2.
And even though non-infantry soldiers can have a couple of bad days during a deployment, do not kid yourselves, in the infantry is were shit happens and were people pay the price.

I suspect many of these veterans may be witnesses to grity scenes, but that do not make them infantry.
Not to diminish their service. We cannot advance far without supplies.
But if you want to make a diference on the battlefield, there is only one job for you.

[Legbiter]

You're an awesome soldier, who'll never have to buy a drink for yourself if you ever wind up in Iceland.  No, seriously.

Tell your wife that when you need a good punchline.

Well....at least the drinks'll be free in Iceland. 

[Habbaku]

But if you want to make a diference on the battlefield, there is only one job for you.

In a tank?

[Eddie Teach]

But if you want to make a diference on the battlefield, there is only one job for you.

Infantry win battles, support personnel win wars.

[The Brain]

I can't think of anyone who personifies the Queen of Battle better than Siege.

[Valmy]

Also, keep in mind that statisticly few people are involved in actual combat.
There are 7.5 soldiers per 1 infantryman in the US Army.

Even with all of our private contractors?  We should do it like the Roman Army and have all the support services also be done by infantry men

[Malthus]

But if you want to make a diference on the battlefield, there is only one job for you.

Infantry win battles, support personnel win wars.

Amateurs discuss tactics; dilettantes, strategy; but professionals talk about logistics. 

[Grey Fox]

Cooks are the most important part of the military.

[HVC]

Cooks are the most important part of the military.

A army does indeed march on its stomach. Although they have feild rations now, so their cooks are machines somewhere desicating meals.

[Zeus]

Cooks are the most important part of the military.

A army does indeed march on its stomach. Although they have feild rations now, so their cooks are machines somewhere desicating meals.

The best kind of cooks. (I.E. Don't complain, don't go on strike, and, more importantly, don't need to be paid).

I'm terribly sorry for your losses Siege. Death is natural but rarely pleasant. Doubly so in war.

[Malthus]

Cooks are the most important part of the military.

If you can't feed, you can't fight - at least, not for long.