How many of you have served your country in the armed services?

Or some Western Army. * Actually I kinda hoped you were napping, and wouldn't see this*

21 years in the U.S. Navy as an enlisted communications specialist! Been to some wonderful places, saw some wonderful sunrises/sunsets at sea and met some of the most awesome people!!

ffs

No need to thank us for keeping the Soviets out of Western Europe for 40 years.

I wouldn't even know where to start conversing with you, Chris. From the post that I replied to, I would have to consider it a lost cause.

German.

If anything, we are NOT allowed to be proud to be military.

My dad did his obligatory military service in the 1960s. And if I start about my grandads, I'll run into trouble.

Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Noble Eagle, US Navy.

I wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for my Dad who did his part many years ago. I am not American but I don't see why we can't acknowledge and thank the people who do put their lives at risk for others. The history of my family includes many who died fighting - both men and women. There is no shame and nothing off-topic about saying thank you.

My family has a very strong military background, and my grandfather probably would have fought against yours. But both my grandfather and your grandfather were pawns; both were doing what they thought was right, and both had been made to believe strongly that they were on the 'right' side.

It's the past, and it's cool that the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of those who fought are not fighting against each other, but instead playing SL with each other

As long as it was the West German Army, it's OK. I think the average life expectancy of a front line NATO unit during the Cold War was 30 minutes or something like that. Those guys were in the hot seat if things went bad, and it was a group effort no matter what uniform they wore. Most soldiers look to serve their countries with honor no matter what flag they serve under. It's their leaders that deserve scorn.

Well said Brenda.

This topic can get very touchy. Let's be civil to each other. After all, we all prefer peace to war. And ultimately, we are all One.

Except for those damn ad farmers.

Really I cannot fathom why this thread even is here. It seems to me that it can lead to no good.

This is actually the first thread I ever reported.

Don't talk religion, politics, or war with friends.

C'mon friends, let it go.

No matter what your nationality I say be proud of your family's military service. Unless they were one of the Politicians or HEAD Generals pulling the strings they were just fighting for their countries and families. I will never fault a person because their great grandfather was part of the Panzer Division. My family split during the first world war. Half came to America where my great grandfather served in the US Army, half stayed in Germany where his brother served as part of the Panzer Division (he was a medical officer) I am proud of both because they fought to keep their families alive and protect their way of life.

reported for what reason?
many of us in sl share a military background or have family and friends in the military its nice to know that even though we may be countries apart we share something

My granpa used to shoot at your granpa! Cool we have something to bond over now!

Really..

where did i say that? i did NOT
but alot of us do share the same emotions
proud of our military family members
hope those still serving come home safe

if you dont like the topic dont read it and dont post in it no need to rain on what others are discussing

Completely off-topic and inflammatory to name just two.

Your offended by the fact that someone has family in the military?

Also how is it off topic? Looking at the front page its right in line with everything else.

the original topic was about family members in the military so most of the replies are not off topic as for inflammatory its only that way if you let it be

I wish all of our leaders would get into a room and take each other out. That way our boys and girls could lead a full life instead of some of them dying way too young.

Maybe they all need to get a second life to find out what the world is all about and how much we really care about each other.

This is why this thread should NOT be locked. Someone making inflammatory comments might read this and learn something. Or at least consider other opinions.

How can we ever learn anything if we bury thoughts/ideas that vary from our own? As long as we don't throw mud for the sake of throwing mud...

Um, there WAS no West Germany back then. Grandad 1 stayed at home and did his best to avoid military service (he was a vintner and as a farmer, he was needed at home. He sometimes went to point lights at enemy airplanes, but his group of recruits wasn't particuarly eager to actually find any...the Adolf portrait in his living room got him into jail for a week because it was the wrong Adolph (Kolping, a Catholic, founder of the Kolping society).
Grandad 2 went to Stalingrad, so he probably shot at Russians only, not Amerians. He was caught in the big battleat Stalingrad and ended up a POW. Afterwards, he was a mad acloholic.
Grandad 3 (Yes, I have 3, my dad was adopted) also went to Stalingrad, as a train driver. He got blown up, including his train.

None of them even WANTED to be military at that time....

/me raises hand.

20 years, Gulf War I & II. USAF.

I was referring to your Dad in the 60's.