The Greatest Generation!

[ChuckBooty]

So in preparation for the new HBO miniseries "The Pacific" I've decided to re-watch the "Band Of Brothers" miniseries. When I see the way that the Greatest Generation conducted themself I just sit in awe.

Words can't describe the stoic bravery, heroism, sense of duty, love of country, and the pride that these men took in the way that they fought.

It makes me feel like a fraud somehow for even having the NERVE to slip my foot into the same boots. They don't fit.

I lift my mug (yeah, I'm throwing back a few as I watch tonight) to the Greatest Generation. True Americans!

[ChrisO]

Amen to that. Cheers! & God Bless America!

[BluNorthern]

Amen! My old man was a WWII paratrooper in the 509th...N. Africa, Italy, S.France, Belgium and Germany. He was 17, 5'6 and 118lbs dripping wet when he enlisted, one tough S.O.B! God Bless each and every one of them. Miss you, Dad.

[themailman]

What a slap in the face to me and my generation who are currently fighting and dying for you in godless foreign countries.

[Crusader Matt]

Thats the truth, the toughest SOBs to walk American soil (and I'm a new generation kid). Grow up in the Depression and then fight WWII? Gosh dang, thats why my generation disgusts me, even my parents generation.

I like Band of Brothers and the upcoming Pacific, but even so I dont think its an accurate portrayal, but gives you an idea. I say that only because from the stories i've heard and my understanding of the great war as told by my relatives who fought in the Pacific and European theaters, movies and miniseries cant help but be polished and clean (even if still being blunt and graphic). But still very good shows.

[Crusader Matt]

What a slap in the face to me and my generation who are currently fighting and dying for you in godless foreign countries.

Whoa, let me explicitly say mailman that my sentiments towards the WWII generation fully continue to our soldiers and veterans today. And those fighting for me in my eyes hold the same honor, and are the ones continuing that legacy. So when I talk about disliking my generation, let me be very clear that it excludes all servicemen and women. I know you werent talking to me directly, but i thought i should just say. Anybody who fights for me, regardless of the time period or war, deserves highest honor. I was just paying special appreciation to the sacrifices of my grandfathers.

[themailman]

Thats the truth, the toughest SOBs to walk American soil (and I'm a new generation kid). Grow up in the Depression and then fight WWII? Gosh dang, thats why my generation disgusts me, even my parents generation.

I like Band of Brothers and the upcoming Pacific, but even so I dont think its an accurate portrayal, but gives you an idea. I say that only because from the stories i've heard and my understanding of the great war as told by my relatives who fought in the Pacific and European theaters, movies and miniseries cant help but be polished and clean (even if still being blunt and graphic). But still very good shows.

We have an all volunteer military at this time, fighting 2 wars, and we are at full capacity. WW2 brought on the draft, we volunteer en masse. Its amazing that the very people who enjoy the security of our military will say the 18 yr old men and women dyng right now are not as great as the generation of our grandparents.

But youre right, except for those of us in my generation that have served, you are all disgusting.

[CavTrooper]

Easy up there mailman!

Chuckbooty is a servicemember as are a whole bunch of us here, combat veterans and the like. My grandfather served in the Pacific in WWII, a paratrooper in the 503rdPIR, he and his brothers were volunteers, those guys had it harder than any of us today do. When they went to war, they went and did thier job until it was done, none of these half asses 6-9 month deployments the Marines do now, or 12-15 months tours that Soldiers do, they stayed in country until the job was DONE. They didnt have internet, sat phones, at&t trailers, KBR chow halls, reliable mail service... none of that stuff we have now.

Those MEN were harder than any of the MEN we have serving now, they did thier jobs with pride and dignity and came home and made great things happen in this country. My gradfather went to school and became a doctor, his brothers all became sucessful men in thier own rights.

They were tough!

I agree with chuckbooty, as hard as you think you are now, you, nor I will never hold a candle to the greatest men and women to walk the face of this earth, the veterans that came before us.

[phroggunner]

Let's not get too sensitive mailman, no one is taking a dig at our current military.

As you stated, many in WW2 were drafted and left their families and jobs whether it was convenient or not. Most of the volunteers in today's military join straight out of high school or college and are often offered a cash bonus in addition to a well paying job during a tough economy. Let's also not forget the attrition rates were much higher during WW2 than our current conflicts.

Our current military is doing awesome things all over the world, and face many challenges that our forefathers did not. Just because someone is honoring those that came before us doesn't mean they are insulting us.

But youre right, except for those of us in my generation that have served, you are all disgusting.

I hope this was sarcasm.

[phroggunner]

I agree with chuckbooty, as hard as you think you are now, you, nor I will never hold a candle to the greatest men and women to walk the face of this earth, the veterans that came before us.

Though I agree with your other points, I don't accept this statement. We have the potential to be every bit as hard as those in past wars. Just because we haven't been faced with the challenge does not mean we don't have what it takes.

[slowjonn]

My Grandfather served in WWII, my Dad, Stepdad and Uncle in Vietnam, and I did the NG thing for a few years. Just a little background.

To compare the Greatest Generation (GG) to the Military from the Vietnam period forward (VPF) is really an apple to oranges comparison.

Not too many people would disagree that the GG accomplished so much during their lives in relation to the time period and technology available. But they also had some things the VPF did not. They had a country that was almost entirely affected, supportive of and involved in the war effort. They had an enemy that was predominently identifiable by the uniforms they wore. They had a much larger worldwide support in defeating the Axis. They also had ROE's and a command structure that encouraged winning by doing whatever it took and winning at all costs. There are probably some more examples but I'm writing this in a bit of a hurry.

The VPF did not and do not have an easily recognizable enemy. They do not have a country that is completely consumed by the war effort. The command structure from the president on down does not seem to have the desire or plan to win anything. The ROE's do not give our service members the edge to be superior and dominate on the field of battle. The new world order has greatly reduced the support of Allies (are they really allies?). The Vietnam guys were largely disrespected by their countrymen. Today, if it weren't for the occassional news story or updates from troops we know, you would never know there is a war going on. People today are not affected by the war effort like they were in the 40's.

So in my humble opinion, the GG was truely great. But the troops of the VPF were/ are great in a way the GG never was. I have so much respect and admiration for anyone who ever put on a uniform for this country. So to all service members past and present...I salute you!

ETA: While we know the names Murphy, Basilone, and a host of others, to say we don't have hard men up to the task today is just wrong. Think about Tillman, Roberts, Luttrell, Monsoor and a host of others. Yeah, our men of today are full of sack and hard as nails.

[phroggunner]

+1000, well said.

[ChuckBooty]

What a slap in the face to me and my generation who are currently fighting and dying for you in godless foreign countries.

It's not meant that way man. Number one, I was partaking in a little bit of liquid nostalgia, and number TWO I am merely pointing out that you (and me too, by the way) and our generation are standing on the backs of these giants. We strive to emulate these men. These men WERE these men. Does that make sense?

[ChuckBooty]

But youre right, except for those of us in my generation that have served, you are all disgusting.

That's a very "Generation X" thing for you to say. I dare say that NONE of the men who fought in WWII would have said something like that to their fellow countrymen.

[ChuckBooty]

I honestly can't believe that this became a quasi-controversial thread. It went from a soldier with a good solid "snoot full" giving a compliment to the men who wore the uniform before him to a inter-generational big dick competition.

What themailman has just demonstrated here is something that I often counsel my new soldiers on. The current crop of soldiers and marines (I don't see this as much with sailors or airmen) come from a generation where everything is about "me". When I was recruiting, we were given classes on how to recruit these youngsters. It's all about "what am I gonna get?", how big of a bonus will "I" get, "what type of college benefits do you have for me?". Now there's nothing wrong with the government giving benefits to our veterans (I actually think they should go further) but it's indicative of the mentality of the current crop.

Now you take that on top of the fact that everyone treats you like a celebrity when you go out in uniform and you have the mentality that themailman is demonstrating here.

Personally I don't go out to restaurants in uniform anymore (even during the duty day). I've served for twelve years, I've deployed, I've been separated from my family (I'm actually CURRENTLY separated), I've slept on the floor, in the snow, in the mud, all that. Yet I still feel guilty and pretty uncomfortable when people buy my lunch. Like I don't deserve it.

Maybe that's just me though. But when I see young E-1 and E-2 Marines walking around the mall in their Alphas trying to pick up girls and get free smoothies it makes me cringe.