troop greeters?

[Variable Wind]

Originally Posted by spirit_eyes

i have never heard of them, nor seen on the news, them greeting anyone who wasn't in cammies. and the navy just started issuing them.
varible, are you telling me the corpsman in germany who deal with crispy critters (guys who are so burned, it almost turns your stomach to look at them) or the folks who just lost limbs are a freaking picnic to deal with? didn't know it was a "party" to have to wipe a guys butt, because he lost both his arms, and can't do it for himself. THESE are the folks i'm yelling for, amongst others. deal with folks who are ripped from limb to limb, every day, and come home to watch a reservist who sat way in the back of iraq get a hero's welcome? it just ain't right.

I dont know where to begin here Spirit. First, I did not say that the men and women stationed in Germany were not doing a helluva job. I said that they had it easy. They get all the tax free perks and get to tour Europe and party a bit. Its a GOOD tour, they certainly arent emotionally tortured by the experience. They work hard and play hard, and for many of them that is EXACTLY what they wanted. Sorry, but my empathy lies more with the people they are taking care of.

And you watch your mouth about reservists. Im was a national guardsman, and I very well could have seen more action in my short time in then you did in your entire career. I did it with less training and more to lose back home. I make no gripes about the matter, because I wanted to do what I did. To say that all reservists just sit in the back is just plain stupid...we lose people more than you obviously know about. Did you think all reservists are in Admin, Pay or Supply? What was your job in the military? I would love to know what you did that was so heroic to warrant your constant need to be recognized by every citizen.

[Measure Man]

When I returned from Germany earlier this year and flew in BWI...there was a couple hundred people cheering and waving flags and they gave us little goody bags.

[CVal]

Soon after our son died, my husband was quite upset about the whole lack of understanding from people and how little notice he received from local media. Finally, I said to him, "We know, and our families know, he was a hero. And that's what counts."

[Battleshort]

Originally Posted by Measure Man

When I returned from Germany earlier this year and flew in BWI...there was a couple hundred people cheering and waving flags and they gave us little goody bags.

BIA, BWI, PWM.......different ports of entry and departure. There are groups all over the country who are meeting flights.

[spirit_eyes]

i am retired navy. i spent 20 years on active duty. i worked as a ams, with 4 1/2 years general duty at a naval hospital (btw, airdales, and navy corpsman don't mix. i survived, but the airdale who came after me, didn't last 2 months. they chewed her up)

variable, you made (i guess?) a flippant comment about how great germany is. yes, been there. very nice. but the topic is about how i don't think certain groups are getting any credit, and other groups are getting nothing but credit.
here in maine, since 911, i've seen reservists get nothing but showered in gifts. people at the airport. churches giving them money. just tons and tons of stuff.
then i get into a disagreement with a woman who tells me that her boyfriend just can't make it on reserve pay. it's too hard, and he needs help. she got mad when i told her that she was crying to the wrong person. i worked with people on active duty, who got food stamps to feed the kids. both parents are working, and doing the best they can. and this woman wants to yell at me about her boyfriend who can't survive on active duty pay? what about all the folks who aren't reservists, and do their best every freaking day.
here in maine, i see no one but reserve folks getting credit. and i also see them demanding it. i'm not joking, etc when i see these folks on the street acting like their poo doesn't stink.
and i remember back when i was in, and we dreaded the reservists coming. never could get a full, good day's work out of the most of them. always off some place, doing something that was more important. and nothing we could do or say about it. even had one guy yell at us that we were making too much noise, working on a aircraft part, for him to read out of the rating manual, to folks we were supposed to be working with us. working on the part was not as important, as what was in the rating manual.

i would recommend a book, or two. stolen valor, and fake warriors. both of them tell about just how many people it takes to support one solidor in the field.

[Variable Wind]

Again Spirit...the reservists are locals who in all likelihood grew up in Maine. They are members of the comminity and the churches, so of course they are going to get more attention. If your friend was overseas, would you send him nice care packages sooner than you would send one to a stranger?

Dont give me the sob story about stupid kids who cant make it financially, they exist on BOTH sides.

And as others who have been through Maine have said, they are not doing this just to the Reservists.

And if you want to read a real work of fiction, try "As You Were" its stories from people in my unit when we deployed. Its the biggest lie that I have ever beared witness too. I have never seen a collection of so many wannabes taking credit for things that they did not do.

So yes, I have been there and done that...and Im not on here upset about it.

[ringjamesa]

Ok, someone enlighten me. Why is it that the Airport that has people that ARE doing something is getting abuse whereas the other airports that don't do anything get a free pass? I am sure you are aware that not EVERYONE that deploys much less everyone overseas comes through Bangor correct?

[Variable Wind]

Originally Posted by ringjamesa

Ok, someone enlighten me. Why is it that the Airport that has people that ARE doing something is getting abuse whereas the other airports that don't do anything get a free pass? I am sure you are aware that not EVERYONE that deploys much less everyone overseas comes through Bangor correct?

Dont most people come through Atlanta? Thats where we came through..and McQuire...never Maine.

[ringjamesa]

My wife came back through Norfolk-I think. When I came back from Germany I flew into Baltimore... I've never even been to Maine...

[Okie]

Originally Posted by Variable Wind

I did it with...more to lose back home.

What exactly do you mean by that?

As far as the OP's point, I only want to see my friends and family when I come back (and my dog). This does not include the mayor, the wing commander, the group commander, the wives' club president, etc. I serve for my own reasons; that doesn't include a desire to be treated like a rock-star.