Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
What about all these contractors we have working in hot spots all over the world? Are they just mercenaries? Or did at least some serve in a way they could? My father was 16 when Pearl Harbor was attacked. The military would not take him at 16 and he wasn't going to wait, so he ran away from home, lied about his age, and joined the Merchant Marines. How many contractors have similar stories? Too old, out of shape, whatever, but they can drive a fuel truck in a hot zone.
Are there civilian contractors today that deserve the same recognition as military personnel? If so, I hope we don't overlook them as long as the Merchant Marines were overlooked.
Lars
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Look at the reporters who were on the front lines observing and getting the information back home for the newspapers. While many were killed, I don't know if they got any recognition, did they?
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Of course they did!
Many journalists who lost their lives in hot zones have been officially recognized.
How can you say they didn't get any recognition?
You could say the press doesn't get ENOUGH recognition for going into harms way to report the truth back to us, and you would get no argument from me.
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I didn't say they received no recognition. I said that I wasn't sure. I would have been surprised if they did not.
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There are many people who are not considered armed forces who end up in harms way while in the service of our country.
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couple of different, but related, topics
Merchant Marines (MM) are federal auxilliary service. their officers are service members: https://www.usmma.edu/about. I believe that to be true for other ranks, but can't confirm.
They should, like the USCG, receive recognition. That they are unarmed, generally, doesn't remove them from combat situations, as chaplains and COs all understand.
as to contractors from Black Water, KBR, and others; these are independents. Those with guns are often American-born; those who wash pans are often from elsewhere. I don't mean to be pejorative, and if it sounds that way, I apologize.
to add a third dimension, I find the privatization of the military as awful as the other federal departments, for tons of reasons, not least being the pay disparity, the cost to the US treasury, and the multiple sets of rules and RoEs.
David
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" I find the privatization of the military as awful"
Agreed 100 percent.
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My father served in the Merchant Marines in WWII. He was not considered a veteran for many years, but thankfully, before he died, Merchant Marines were recognized as veterans.
What about all these contractors we have working in hot spots all over the world? Are they just mercenaries? Or did at least some serve in a way they could? My father was 16 when Pearl Harbor was attacked. The military would not take him at 16 and he wasn't going to wait, so he ran away from home, lied about his age, and joined the Merchant Marines. How many contractors have similar stories? Too old, out of shape, whatever, but they can drive a fuel truck in a hot zone.
Are there civilian contractors today that deserve the same recognition as military personnel? If so, I hope we don't overlook them as long as the Merchant Marines were overlooked.
Lars
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re: Memorial Day question
Look at the reporters who were on the front lines observing and getting the information back home for the newspapers. While many were killed, I don't know if they got any recognition, did they?
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this post
re: Memorial Day question
Of course they did!
Many journalists who lost their lives in hot zones have been officially recognized.
How can you say they didn't get any recognition?
You could say the press doesn't get ENOUGH recognition for going into harms way to report the truth back to us, and you would get no argument from me.
Login to Like
this post
re: Memorial Day question
I didn't say they received no recognition. I said that I wasn't sure. I would have been surprised if they did not.
Login to Like
this post
re: Memorial Day question
There are many people who are not considered armed forces who end up in harms way while in the service of our country.
Login to Like
this post
Auctions
re: Memorial Day question
couple of different, but related, topics
Merchant Marines (MM) are federal auxilliary service. their officers are service members: https://www.usmma.edu/about. I believe that to be true for other ranks, but can't confirm.
They should, like the USCG, receive recognition. That they are unarmed, generally, doesn't remove them from combat situations, as chaplains and COs all understand.
as to contractors from Black Water, KBR, and others; these are independents. Those with guns are often American-born; those who wash pans are often from elsewhere. I don't mean to be pejorative, and if it sounds that way, I apologize.
to add a third dimension, I find the privatization of the military as awful as the other federal departments, for tons of reasons, not least being the pay disparity, the cost to the US treasury, and the multiple sets of rules and RoEs.
David
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re: Memorial Day question
" I find the privatization of the military as awful"
Agreed 100 percent.
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Login to Like.