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A couple thoughts on the recent veteran hatred on this platform: 1. Too many people base their opinions of war off of Hollywood movies. They think that if you weren’t a “recon ranger delta seal sapper sniper” you weren’t a real soldier. That’s not accurate. I was an 88M. I drove a HET. I transported Abrams and other heavy equipment between FOBs in northern Iraq. I spent many nights outside the wire dodging IED’s and several times facing indirect and direct fire. It was my job, and I did it. That war changed the trajectory of my life. I lost my fiance to Jody. I wasn’t allowed personal time off to attempt to salvage my relationship. It was my job, and I did it. Not everyone is a door kicker, and I’m grateful for the door kickers, but supporting roles still earned the title of Soldier. 2. That recruiters chair was open to everyone. The benefits received are contractual obligations, negotiated between the government and their future employees. If you don’t like that, change the contracts, but good luck maintaining an all volunteer force if you do. 3. Special perks, such as free meals once a year and a discount at Lowe’s is the populous correcting how they treated Vietnam veterans when they came home. 4. You never have to thank me for my service. It’s not an obligation. You are free to dislike veterans. I only ask that you vote in ways to not create new veterans. 20 years of war created a large number of veterans. It wouldn’t hurt us to go a generation or so without creating new veterans. The system will literally correct itself if there is peace. That’s just my 2 cents. 🤷‍♂️