Did I miss my chance?

[cbiwv]

I also wanted to mention I have no regrets. Being a combat veteran of the United States is a very small brotherhood when you consider all the people who have lived here over the past 200 years. I am proud to be part of this fraternity and you can bet your ass I would do it all over again.

[Ranger Bill]

Yeah, war is terrible and like Patton said, compared to war all other forms of human endeavor pale in comparison. I can not imagine being a young man and not wanting to go.

[al_2ndWolfhounds]

Yeah, war is terrible and like Patton said, compared to war all other forms of human endeavor pale in comparison. I can not imagine being a young man and not wanting to go.

I agree; as long as we need to defend our way of life the service of our young will be necessary. I would serve again if possible and needed. Doesn't mean I can't pray for a better time.

[IEDmagnet]

Would I do it all again? You're damn right.

As above...I agree completely.

[Jim]

Would I do it all again? You're damn right.

As above...I agree completely.

concure.

[K.Ingraham]

I think the truth is that viscerally, we all want to have been.
The closer you get to going, the less attractive it is, but we all wish we'd been there.

[Lefty]

Can't recall who said it first, probably a Greek.

"Only the dead have seen the end of war"

[KW Driver]

and there's the cliche of during combat, you spend 90% in boredom, 10% terror.

that 90%, it sucks more than you can image or be described. it kills the soul, a little bit at a time. that 10%,it reminds you you're alive.

come back after your first tour and tell us how you feel about it then.

[Bravo57]

"Pray for war"

Something we said all the time.

What the others have said in this thread all all spot on thoughts from various era's of combat. I would only change one decision I made in the military, and that was getting out after 12 years.

[IEDmagnet]

Can't recall who said it first, probably a Greek.

"Only the dead have seen the end of war"

Plato is who you are quoting.

[Edge]

Can't recall who said it first, probably a Greek.

"Only the dead have seen the end of war"

It was Plato Ranger Lefty...this thread has a lot of words of wisdom for those of us aspiring to be warriors.

[rgrokelley]

Can't recall who said it first, probably a Greek.

"Only the dead have seen the end of war"

Plato. He saw his share of shit fighting with and against the Spartans.

[cbiwv]

and there's the cliche of during combat, you spend 90% in boredom, 10% terror.

that 90%, it sucks more than you can image or be described. it kills the soul, a little bit at a time. that 10%,it reminds you you're alive.

come back after your first tour and tell us how you feel about it then.

I could not have expressed that any better myself. You do not come back the same person. Every family member and friend wonders what happened to me. I enjoy spending time alone more than I ever did. I wanted to be isolated from the inhumanity that this world has to offer. I had trouble adjusting when I came back. I witnessed people making a big deal out of little things and this pissed me off. Things like their coffee not being hot enough and people walking by them not speaking to them at work. Those things still annoy me to be honest. I think of many of them as being self absorbed to the point that it has made them weak. Similar to . I served some of my best days in that combat zone. I enjoyed the "high" that came with the situation. Now that I am getting older some of my "old self" is returning but it took 19 years for that to happen.

[ShotUp]

I don't know if I can say I miss fighting but I atleast know I miss the rush.

Nice to see you're motivated!