Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn, but they certainly take their toll!

[Legbreaker]

I'm laying in hospital after work reconstructing my ankle after a motorcycle accident four years ago, and got to thinking about how our bodies in normal, everyday life tend to wear out.
Soldiers, especially infantry and to a lesser extent armour crew, artillery and the other direct combat troops, pick up injuries on an almost weekly basis. In my old units, if you were still injury free (as in nothing lasting) at 30, you were either extremely lucky, or hadn't been working hard enough.

Old soldiers often suffer pretty badly after they discharge too as many of us here know personally. I myself picked up a pair of dodgy knees and (fortunately temporary) deep depression which almost led to suicide. There are many worse off them me though with permanent mental illnesses, lost limbs, spinal injuries, etc.

The more you think about it, the more you realise your own mortality...

Anyway, with Anzac day here in Australia only about a month away, I thought I'd like to share my thoughts, and pay a little homage to those who fought, died and suffered before us.

[dragoon500ly]

Speaking for the treadheads, we had our fair share of cuts, sprains and bruises; "tanker candy" was a constant friend.

And as the various memorial days came by, and I walk down the long lines of white headstones and see so many men and women, most of whom never lived to see their 25th birthday.

Dear God we have lost so many of our best and brightest, who paid the highest price.

May we who survive, never forget.

[95th Rifleman]

If only politicians would learn the lessons taught to us by those who died for us.

[Targan]

Originally Posted by 95th Rifleman

If only politicians would learn the lessons taught to us by those who died for us.

If only we would learn the lessons taught and have politicians die for us.

[95th Rifleman]

Originally Posted by Targan

If only we would learn the lessons taught and have politicians die for us.

I'll drink to that!

[HorseSoldier]

Yeah, that would be a nice bit of advancement.

[mikeo80]

Originally Posted by 95th Rifleman

If only politicians would learn the lessons taught to us by those who died for us.

Unfortunately, most American Politicians have NOT served in the US Muilitary. They have no clue what they ask of our brave men and women.

If you listen to some of these politicians, a military person is some kind of uniformed troll.

But this attitude is not unique. Read Rudyard Kipling.

[95th Rifleman]

Originally Posted by mikeo80

Unfortunately, most American Politicians have NOT served in the US Muilitary. They have no clue what they ask of our brave men and women.

If you listen to some of these politicians, a military person is some kind of uniformed troll.

But this attitude is not unique. Read Rudyard Kipling.

No kidding.

British forces are currently engaged in another conflict and in the middle of a bloody defense cut!

We don't even have a carrier anymore and not likely to see one for nearly a decade. The only CAS aircraft we had, the Harrier, has been scrapped and the army is being shaved down to the bone. But never mind that, start a war!

As much as a dislike autocratic regimes, sometimes I really wonder if we got the better deal with a democracy.

[dragoon500ly]

Isn't that the way of a democracy?

Billions wasted on everything from studing the sex life of a turtle, to getting a six-lane highway built in the middle of nowhere...but hay! Your elected representative sure did bring home some of the bacon for the people who voted the idiot into office!

But when it comes time for someone to step forward and put their life on the line to stop some tinpot jackass from killing his own people.

Then its Tommy this and Tommy that and Tommy is such a hero!

With a tip o'beret to Mr. Kipling.