What's this "warrior" stuff? [View all]

[AverageOldGuy]

Trump has nominated Pete Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense.

Every third word out of Hegseth's mouth is "warrior."

Hegseth has announced he will form a panel of "warriors" to review the records of current generals and admirals to determine which are "warriors" and, as such, should remain on active duty while the non-warriors can retire (or maybe be stripped of their rank and shot, who knows).

I served 28 years active duty --1967-1995, including a tour in the bush in Vietnam. I've been to war. I've been in gunfights that lasted for what seemed like a month. I still attend an occasional gathering of Vietnam vets, just about all of them are combat vets. You know what we talk about when we get together? Surely we must tell war stories -- you know -- there I was surrounded by VC, almost out of ammo, clenching my Kabar in my teeth, bullshit, bullshit, bullshit.

NO. THIS IS WHAT WE TALK ABOUT:
1. Our grandchildren
2. Our enlarged prostrates.
3. And the guys who did not come back alive.

I met a guy 15 years ago and count him as a friend. Two years after I met him, after we had seen each other a few times each month, I learned he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Look him up. Nicest, most pleasant, unassuming, helpful, quiet guy you will ever meet. You know what he talks about? His grandchildren, his sailboat, and Marines who died. Does he strut around with his MOH, even though he's authorized to wear it damn near full-time? Absolutely not. He's a warrior. He doesn't have to play the part.

Old soldiers do not tell war stories. We do not thump our chests and proclaim that we are warriors.

That piece of shit Hegseth served 20 years in the National Guard, including one year as a platoon leader (43 people) in Iraq and the rest of his 20 years going to monthly drills. Saw very little combat. I know some Guard guys from Vietnam, I know some Guard guys who died in Vietnam. Hegseth is not qualified to polish their boots. This asshole thinks he's qualified to manage 3,000,000 people and a trillion dollar a year budget. Spit.

Watch closely the next time this asshole speaks -- count the "warriors", he has all the requisite tats all over both arms plus a swastika on his chest -- which makes him a warrior? Kiss this old soldier's ass.

I read the police report quoting the woman he raped. She said, when he was on top of her, his dog tags were dangling in her face!! DOG TAGS?!?!?!?! This muthahfukah wears his dog tags all the time? Mine are laid away in a drawer with some other stuff. I don't know anyone who wears his/her dog tags. We must not be "warriors."

In mid-December I will be at a dinner for one of the Senators from my state (a Democrat) who is on the Senate Armed Services Committee. I intend to tell him he damn well better vote against Hegseth.

I live in the DC area; my daughter lives on Capitol Hill. When we visit her, I go for walks around the Hill. If I ever encounter Hegseth, I'll tell him face-to-face to kiss this old soldier's ass.