wrote
The
Army found that out during the Battle of the Bulge...where every
soldier, regardless of MOS, were suddenly IN "battle." Ever
since the U.S. Army has made it a point to continue basic battle
training long after soldiers have finished basic training.

And your point is?

All sorts of people in all sorts of jobs face danger every day, Len.

The electric wires don't put themselves up, and when a storm knocks
out the power, the crews don't get to wait for a sunny day to fix them.


Jim,

Lens point is that every serviceman and servicewoman in uniform serves with the
understanding that their very life is pledged, at the very real risk of armed
conflict, to serve their fellow man, commonly for material rewards less than
that enjoyed by an Assistant Shift Manager at your local Burger King.

In the past (and probably in the future) Len and I have found all sorts of
reasons to disagree, but on this issue I come down four-square on his side.
Comparing that pledge which Len, Brian, and several other here took, to the
risks "suffered" by an electric company linemen or a construction worker is mean
spirited and unbecoming. I don't much care whether you served in uniform or not
(the majority of todays adults chose not to), but I will not quietly tolerate
your insulting characterization of military service as somehow on the same order
of risk and "nobleness" as a worker who sets up replacement power poles. And
please don't add to the insult with your chant about "served in other ways".

Just apologize to all of us, including Len, who served at risk of our very lives
so you could enjoy the freedom to imply that our service was on the same order
as a bridge painter.

de Hans, K0HB