MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Not sure if this started as a chain email but it seems to have gathered momentum and I think it's nice in the light of recent media events.
Story behind it all.....
"Last week I was in West London attending a conference. While I was in the airport, returning home, I heard several people behind me beginning to clap and cheer. I immediately turned around and witnessed one of the greatest acts of patriotism I have ever seen.
Moving through the terminal was a group of soldiers in their uniforms, as they began heading to their gate everyone (well almost everyone) was abruptly to their feet with their hands waving and cheering.
When I saw the soldiers, probably 30-40 of them, being applauded and cheered for, it hit me. I'm not alone. I'm not the only red blooded Briton who still loves this country and supports our troops and their families. Of course I immediately stopped and began clapping for these young unsung heroes who are putting their lives on the line everyday for us so we can go to school, work, and enjoy our home without fear or reprisal.
Just when I thought I could not be more proud of my country or of our service men and women a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old, ran up to one of the male soldiers. He knelt down and said 'hi,' the little girl then asked him if he would give something to her daddy for her.
The young soldier didn't look any older than maybe 22 himself, said he would try and what did she want to give to her daddy. Suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck of this soldier, gave him the biggest hug she could muster and then kissed him on the cheek.
The mother of the little girl, who said her daughters name was Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a Corporal and had been in Afghanistan for 5 months now. As the mum was explaining how much her daughter, Courtney, missed her father, the young soldier began to tear up.
When this temporarily single mum was done explaining her situation, all of the soldiers huddled together for a brief second. Then one of the other servicemen pulled out a military looking walkie-talkie.
They started playing with the device and talking back and forth on it. After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, 'I spoke to your daddy and he told me to give this to you.'
He then hugged this little girl that he had just met and gave her a Kiss on the cheek. He finished by saying 'Your daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and he is coming home very soon.'
The mum at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as the young soldier stood to his feet he saluted Courtney and her mum. I was standing no more than 6 feet away as this entire event unfolded.
As the soldiers began to leave, heading towards their gate, people resumed their applause. As I stood there applauding and looked around, there were very few dry eyes, including my own. That young soldier in one last act of moment turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear rolling down his cheek.
We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their families and thank God for them and their sacrifices."
What a crock, sorry.
The last line is on the money (well, apart from the god bit), but the rest of it is vomit inducing. Straight from the good ol' US of A if you ask me.
A touching bit of email chain-letter fiction that. 🙄
Classic bit of yankee propaganda.
I feel quite queasy now, thanks a lot.
Ignore that, and go here;
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/
and here;
http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/
and here;
www.rafbf.org
instead.
Bit sickly for my liking. Got anything more savoury?
http://www.snopes.com/glurge/daughter.asp
What a co-incidence that this event is unfolding in many different places around the world. Amazing!
Only the names have changed from the american version. It may have started as a touching story but it has been media manipulated into something sordid.
I've already stated that it was started as a chain email, my point is if you get past that it would be nice if this country was united in supporting our troups, who cares if it has come from the USA! At least they show support for their soldiers!
Sorry - Just threw up in my mouth a little bit...
Agree with CaptainFlashheart plus also
http://www.armybenfund.org/index2.html
I think you will find that in the UK we show support for our soldiers too.
don't they have a logistics squadron to support them?
Sorry wharfedale - IMO, almost everyone in the UK is behind our service people, we just don't feel the need to have the TV drama style, soft focus moment, saccharin sweet outpourings of our transatlantic friends.
ernie_lynch:
Skilz.
almost everyone in the UK is behind our service people, we just don't feel the need to have the TV drama style, soft focus moment, saccharin sweet outpourings of our transatlantic friends.
+1
I'd just as soon our soldiers didn't sacrifice themselves or the people they kill 🙁
I'd just as soon our soldiers didn't sacrifice themselves or the people they kill
They don't get a choice though - they signed up to fight when they are told to. Most of them sign up so they can get a gun and be a hero.
what is it people mean by 'supporting' or 'being behind' our soldiers? is it just warm thoughts?
what is it people mean by 'supporting' or 'being behind' our soldiers?
If you cannot behind our troops, then feel free to get in front of them.
....or something
Most of them sign up so they can get a gun and be a hero.
For me it was the pictures of Frank windsurfing and skydiving that made me join up.
You can imagine my disappointment when I actually got to Catterick - in November!
I think the Scorpion Disco in Catterick was the most dangerous place I ever served, and that includes Iraq 😀
mastiles_fanylion - MemberMost of them sign up so they can get a gun and be a hero.
Either you are being very ironic, or a c***weasel. I do hope it is the former.
why do people sign up then?
im assuming the hero with a gun thing factors into it
That actually made me feel sick.
Do remember they are all volunteers. They know or should know exactly what they are going to do.
why do people sign up then?
many, many different reasons
they sign up to protect us normal citizens from insurgents and global threats
Bring them home alive. Please. I visited Tyne Cot last summer and what struck me more was being in a graveyard full of young men.
I am patriotic and I do think Afghanistan is unwinable in our lifetime.
they sign up to protect us normal citizens from insurgents and global threats
I wonder if that's at all true. For an insurgent to threaten us they'd have to be here and dealt with by the police. A global threat is an abstract which cannot be tackled by physical means
......doing the rounds for over 3 years, with various places/conflicts
That poor little girl can't ever get to see her father 🙁
sfb - i was joking
began clapping for these young unsung heroes who are putting their lives on the line everyday for us so we can go to school, work, and enjoy our home without fear or reprisal
like ****. as if we wouldn't go to school or work....
fear of reprisals....??!!! i'm sure you'd all agree that the UK is safer now that several thousand soilders are fighting/blowing people up/reconstruting in foreign lands.
i'm not sure i 'support our troops'. each one of those who joined up knew what the dangers would/could involve if they were ever called up for tour. and if any of those who joined had any sense they'd know that they are the potential cannon fodder of those in power who do not care about a few thousand lives in order to achieve what they/the people pulling the strings in the background want.
i certainly wouldn't want to be in the position many of them are in, but then that is why i never contemplated joining the forces.
why do people sign up then?
For the proper sharp end soldiers, they (mostly) absolutely love soldiering, it can be a [u]very[/u] exciting job. Unfortunately there's an unfortunate aura of selfless martyrdom being thrust on the troops by the media and the sentimental Great British public which is a fair way wide of the mark.
However, if you've joined the Logistics Corps and expected to be running a RE warehouse it can probably be a bit of a shock being mortared.
the best way to support them is surely to have them safely* back in the UK peeling spuds, polishing boots and whatever else they usually do ?
*apart from when they shoot each other
I was in Shannon Airport (just outside Limerick, west of Ireland) which is a refuelling point for planes carrying American soldiers home from the Gulf/Afghanistan, but also has a lot of American tourists waiting to go home from their "Quiet Man" coach tour of Ireland. We were in departures having a beer when all of a sudden this clapping started. WTF said I. Looked around, and there were all the yanks clapping their soldiers as they came through.
Cue lots of Irish and Europeans cringing. TBH, the soldiers looked a bit embarrassed. Bizarre incident.
They sign up to learn how to kill people don't they? Isn't that what a gun is for?
There are, as usual, the 'its what they joined for' posters here in stw-land.
There are tens of thousands in the Armed Forces. I can't tell you why they all joined because they all have different reasons. If you decide you don't want to do that sort of thing, then thats fine as you have your own reasons. Please don't assume that everyone joined up for the reasons YOU think they joined up for. They probably didn't. I can't explain what part of a person drives them to 'serve' in whatever role, but it is there in quite a few people. You may not believe there is honour in that, but many do. At least they believe in whatever they believe in enough to actually do something about it.
At least they believe in whatever they believe in enough to actually do something about it.
though in fact what they do may have the opposite consequences 🙁
Sorry, maybe they feel strongly about one day competing for GB in shooting so it's an easy way to get paid coaching.
There are, as usual, the 'its what they joined for' posters here in stw-land.
There are tens of thousands in the Armed Forces. I can't tell you why they all joined because they all have different reasons. If you decide you don't want to do that sort of thing, then thats fine as you have your own reasons. Please don't assume that everyone joined up for the reasons YOU think they joined up for. They probably didn't. I can't explain what part of a person drives them to 'serve' in whatever role, but it is there in quite a few people. You may not believe there is honour in that, but many do. At least they believe in whatever they believe in enough to actually do something about it.
i'm not sure i 'support our troops'. each one of those who joined up knew what the dangers would/could involve if they were ever called up for tour. and if any of those who joined had any sense they'd know that they are the potential cannon fodder of those in power who do not care about a few thousand lives in order to achieve what they/the people pulling the strings in the background want.
I knew all this when I joined up and still went ahead and did it.
I joined because I enjoyed soldiering, wherever that took me. I was well aware, as were my colleagues, that we could end up 'up the sharp end' as it were. None of us had a problem with that.
In fact, a lot of us were first in line to volunteer for tours 'up the sharp end' or for certain duties/postings which guaranteed a bit of action and a break from endless training.
I ended up spending almost all of my 13 years in operational units and thoroughly enjoyed it all - even the bits that possibly didn't look so enjoyable to people from outside the forces.
Most soldiers aren't looking to be heroes and, I'd guess, that if you asked most of them what they were fighting for in Afghanistan the reply would be "my mates" rather than some political reason.
Rather than having people back home brand them heroes, I'm sure most of our troops in Afghanistan would prefer:
1. More troops, so they could actually dominate the ground properly.
2. Better kit, see above
3. Better welfare facilities for their families back home.
4. More cutting edge weaponry - but maybe that's just me 😀
I don't think I'd stand up and applaud our troops at an airport, but only because I'd have been embarrassed if people had done it to me in the past.
Regarding the "Red Friday" concept at the end of the link on the first post above, I can confirm that wearing something red on a Friday is a popular gesture in Canada.
I returned from Canada 12 months ago and certainly in Alberta you would see a lot of red polo tops and shirts on a Friday. I suppose it also helped that the color of the Calgary Flames is Red. Most cars over there also had a "Support our Troops" sticker on the back.
Also, much in the same way as our repatriated soldiers pass through Wootton Bassett, the Canadian fallen (of which there have been almost as many as British) all travel along the same stretch of road. The Canadian govt has renamed this road the Highway of Heroes.
12 months ago the Canadian population was split almost 50/50 on the govt's decision to send its Armed Forces to Afghanistan however the support for the troops themselves was significantly higher.
agree beamers, the amount of support i saw for the canadians was impressive to say the least. they seem to place a lot of emphasis on it (including the bizarre french radio station at kandahar!)
The Canadian govt has renamed this road the Highway of Heroes.
better than "Highway of Dead Returning Service Men and Women Sent to Die In Foreign Lands - Where Their Presence Was Not Wanted or Specifically Called For - In Order to Appease and Facillitate a Secure Supply Of Oil For Our Southern Neighbours"
yes, especially that massive oil field under afghanistan...
So..by that logic, it it exactly the same when police officers, paramedics and firemen die doing their job (oh well they knew the risks when they joined). How about dying in a car accident, or maountain biking? we know these to be a dangerous activities?
FFS does being military devalue your life?
There a lot of armchair warrior types on here who just plain don't have the spine to join/do anything meaningful and like to slate those who do, probably through feelings of inadequacy.
Alpin, has a squaddie shagged you wife bychance? mum? girlfriend? or a sailor shagged your boyfriend? kicked sand in your face?
"Highway of Dead Returning Service Men and Women Sent to Die In Foreign Lands - Where Their Presence Was Not Wanted or Specifically Called For - In Order to Appease [s]and Facillitate a Secure Supply Of Oil For[/s] Our Southern Neighbours"
better?
sorry. the first one was a rough draft for the new name of the stretch of road in Wotton Basset. although change 'Highway' to 'Avenue' as it's a little quainter...
maountain biking
you're right. that sounds dangerous.
no, my cousin is in the navy. although i think he's being discharged after finding out he's unable to do his job on a ship in a cabin several metres under water. he flipped out after going on his first proper sailing jaunt. he couldn't stay below deck without breaking into a sweat/scratching at the walls. even above deck he could hardly hold it together. he saw the ship's doctor who described him as being claustrophobic. he got evacuated off the ship and is now holed up at his mum's on full navy pay. this was two months ago. he thinks they've forgotten about him.
did know one squaddie - i think he joined as he liked the idea of being given a gun - but have lost contact over the years. he never shagged my mum, sister or girlfriend. in fact i'd be surprised if he's made love to anything other than his gun.
Highway of Dead Returning Service Men and Women Sent to Die In Foreign Lands - Where Their Presence Was Not Wanted or Specifically Called For - In Order to Appease and Facillitate a Secure Supply Of Oil For Our Southern Neighbours"better?
sorry. the first one was a rough draft for the new name of the stretch of road in Wotton Basset. although change 'Highway' to 'Avenue' as it's a little quainter...
Not the soldiers fault though is it?
Did you vote for labour in the last few elections?
Oh, and congrats for highlighting my typo, very clever.
Ha "army style walkie talkie"
Please dont get me started!
no worries..... 😉
no, never voted labour.
agree, it's not the soilders fault that they are fighting in wars that may be futile and/or illegal. it is their fault that they signed up. as said before, they knew what they'd be letting themselves in for when the proverbial shit hits the fan.
I don't disagree, it's called [i]courage[/i]
Some have it, some don't.
that's a beer, isn't it.
can't get it round here, though.
alpin - at least show them some respect in death, just because you don't agree with them joining the forces. When told to go they go and serve our goverment, that is enough to earn respect from us all what ever the rights and wrongs of our countries recent wars. It's certain memebers of the goverment that we should chat with about Iraq and Afghanistan.
can't get it round here, though.
Didn't think so.
Why should we have unquestioning respect for all soldiers? Are there NO bad soldiers at all? Lots of them joined up to learn how to kill others, an element of "soldiering" as we seem to be euphemistically calling it. Frankly, not [i]my[/i] type of people.
You have a very twisted view of soldiers, and I believe that says more about you than them.
Sierra Leone, Bosnia/Kosovo, ****stan, they go where others can't and won't to do rough jobs. Not all of the tours are out and out warfighting, many more are aimed at helping people (see above).
I've been involved with mines awareness training in schools, providing security to threatened villages from marauding lunatics (seriously) and providing alternative routes to communities. My old unit also went to ****stan to provide earthquake relief. And no, I'm pretty certain that I'm not [i]your[/i] type of person.
i didnt join the army to "kill people" i joined up to learn a trade and mainly enjoy my life!
i have a great life. im off to germany in a few weeks, then i get posted to the falklands (yes i know im a bit late).
i have some of the best mates in the army and i can say that none of them joined up to "kill" people.
Backhander, agreed, you're probably not. And that's why, as a soldier, you don't get my unquestioning respect. There are good 'uns amongst you, and there are bad 'uns. Same with coppers, firefighters or anyone else in the line of fire.
So how do you and 1111 feel about killing people? Is it just part of the job? Do you say "whoa there sarge, I didn't sign up for this!!"?
There a lot of armchair warrior types on here who just plain don't have the spine to join/do anything meaningful and like to slate those who do, probably through feelings of inadequacy.
IMO it's better to pontificate in an armchair than go out and shoot up a lot of darkies for no particular reason
if i had to shot a terrorist who was going to shot my mates i wouldnt even bat an eye lid. luckly i have never had to do this.
let me ask you if a gun man had a loved one in his sights would you kill him if it was the only option?
I'm out now, but some people have the stomach for a fight and some don't.
At the end of the day, we'd all be wearing grey and speaking german if all of us were pacifists/cowards. I'm not overly enamoured by the taliban, nor was I by the serbs or the west side boys. It's not like they're being asked to kill children (as the taliban do). the ROE are strict and soldiers can only use lethal force in certain circumstances (unlike the taliban). Also, I think you'll find that most collateral damage is done by pilots not soldiers.
As I remember, you accept that you could be killed you just buy more PAX , get on with it and hope your skills are up to it.
IMO it's better to pontificate in an armchair than go out and shoot up a lot of darkies for no particular reason
Blame labour for that mate, not the mob.
you accept that you could be killed you just buy more PAX
i like that line!! ill be using that at depot
Why should we have unquestioning respect for all soldiers? Are there NO bad soldiers at all? Lots of them joined up to learn how to kill others, an element of "soldiering" as we seem to be euphemistically calling it. Frankly, not my type of people.
Sure, there are bad soldiers, just as there are bad people in other walks of life.
The word "soldiering" covers a wide range of activities/tasks you might have to carry out if you are in the forces, such as Military Aid to the Civil Power (firefighting, disaster relief etc), not just killing people. Having said that, the rule used to be [i]'soldier first, tradesman second'[/i] when I was in the forces, so everyone learns how to 'kill' as part of their training, although some are better at it than others.
Why would you automatically assume that everyone in the military is [i]"not my type of people"[/i]? Do you know them all? Do you know their reasoning behind joining the armed forces? Does your generalisation extend to the medical staff in the military, a lot of whom are there because the forces paid their way through medical school?
Or is your opinion influenced by some history with the military which has caused you to tar them all with the same brush as a result?
As for the killing people, well, as you say, it's part of the job. It has to be done, so it gets done.
However, justifying the killing is maybe not so easy for some of those that have to do it, as the increasing number of serving and retired service personnel with mental health issues illustrate.
It's up to you if you respect the soldiers or not, but I don't think most of them will care either way if I'm honest.
Like Backhander, I doubt I'm your sort of person either, but that's okay as it would be a boring world if we were all the same.
[b]1111[/b] - enjoy your tour of the Falklands. It was a hardship posting the first time I went, but a proper watersports paradise the last time I was shipped south!
Round of applause to 1111, wheelz & Backhander (+ any other armed forces personnel on the forum) You guys have done your duty and served queen and country. Without brave soldiers willing to risk their own lives we wouldn't be sat here now!
No I don't agree with some of the conflicts we have entered into but that's all about the w***ers that were voted in! Not the men and women that signed up.
It seems some on this forum would rather eat their tofu and think evil can be stopped with flower power than open their eyes and admit we need people willing to do bad things to stop very bad people.
did know one squaddie
Your arrogance to therefore condemn everyone in uniform is truly staggering and only one step below the glib pontification of sfb.
"i didnt join the army to "kill people" i joined up to learn a trade and mainly enjoy my life!"So how do you and 1111 feel about killing people? Is it just part of the job?
I can confirm that what 1111 has said, is completely true - he didn't join the army to kill anyone. He joined the army to learn a trade and because he lived in area with pisspoor/non-existent employment opportunities for young men.
I hope he sticks with it and continues to make a career out of it, despite iirc, some hints a while back about wanting to leave. I also hope that he doesn't lose his life because of a ****wit decision made by some self-serving politician from the safety of his or her nice secure Westminster office.
As far as "shooting people" is concerned, I understood 1111 to say that it is only something which he would feel OK about if it was in self-defence.
Good luck in Germany 1111, and take care mate. And sort yourself out a bike to leave at home ffs ! 😉
and only one step below the glib pontification of sfb.
I don't mind glibly not killing people
TooTall - Member[i]did know one squaddie [/i]
Your arrogance to therefore condemn everyone in uniform is truly staggering and only one step below the glib pontification of sfb.
well, i did know him. i don't know what you're saying. how have i condemed him or them?
oh, my aunt had her medical studies paid for by the navy, spent several years out in Gibraltar and now works, fairly high up, for the NHS. she'd say that her time in the forces was a pleasent one.
At the end of the day, we'd all be wearing grey and speaking german if all of us were pacifists/cowards.
that is a slightly different question/situation. i'm sure if the country really was under threat, 99% of able bodied STW dwellers would sign up to defend [i]their[/i] families, homes and way of life - as happened in the 40's. since we aren't under threat from foreign despots then i see no need to sign up and serve [i]'queen and country'[/i].
oh, i kann schon deutsch. heiss das, das ich für die gestapo arbeiten würde? JA!
the military is a tool used by governments to get what they* want.
* make your own mind up as to who [i]they[/i] are.
Soldiers do nothing in my name, they fight for our government.
And Im sure the majority signed up because they fancied it and thought it would be fun/exciting, not because they had some burning desire to serve 'queen and country'.
I'm happy for them, its nothing to do with me what others choose to do, but why does doing what your told unquestionably, especially when its often killing people for political gain, deserve such respect from strangers?
As stated above, its the public and government bleating on about respecting our soldiers who die so we can have a nice comfortable life, Im sure they themselves are just getting on with what they chose to do.
Although somejoin up because of family tradition, or because they are unemployed, I suspect most join because they want a more adventurous, meaningful life than they'll have doing some dull as dishwater job at home. The sense of duty and service and loyalty is something that comes to them as part of the military experience, particularly the regiment structure. And that can only be a good thing really.
Not all soldiers are perfect by any means, but on the whole they are a grand lot, and when you see some of the lowlife on the streets today it does make you wonder if getting rid of National Service was the right thing to do.
i think that our troops should be given respect, ok they sign up and know what they are letting themselves in for, but the bottom line is that where ever they are in the world the end result is mainly to protect you , and your family ,or people that need help, the actual guys on the ground do a great job, its the politicians that worry me.
Why would you automatically assume that everyone in the military is "not my type of people"? Do you know them all? Do you know their reasoning behind joining the armed forces? Does your generalisation extend to the medical staff in the military, a lot of whom are there because the forces paid their way through medical school?
I didn't say that did I?
I've met plenty of people in the army, navy, air force - I've ridden with some of them, I've had a few beers with them. Some of them have seemed fine and some of them have seemed like right nobs - about similar percentages to any given cross section of people that one comes across. I would hate to compromise myself that much to have my training paid for. If you join the army to learn a trade, then fine, but somewhere along the line, you have to square that desire with someone else ordering you to kill another human being - and not always in self-defense. That's a big old compromise.
Or is your opinion influenced by some history with the military which has caused you to tar them all with the same brush as a result?
Yeah, I was gangbanged by a bunch of sailors last weekend in Bristol...no, funnily enough, I can draw my own conclusions quite securely.
As for the killing people, well, as you say, it's part of the job. It has to be done, so it gets done.
This is the compromise I find hard to accept and it's why I would never "join up". It's a brutal attitude that I don't "respect".
It's up to you if you respect the soldiers or not, but I don't think most of them will care either way if I'm honest.Like Backhander, I doubt I'm your sort of person either, but that's okay as it would be a boring world if we were all the same.
Well, we're all dandy then. I can freely disrespect soldiers who aren't my type of people because it's unlikely that a peace lovin' pacifist like me is their type of person.
that is a slightly different question/situation. i'm sure if the country really was under threat, 99% of able bodied STW dwellers would sign up to defend their families, homes and way of life - as happened in the 40's. since we aren't under threat from foreign despots then i see no need to sign up and serve 'queen and country'.
No it's not. Soldiers get told by politicians to go and fight, they don't get to decide if it's just (that would be a [i]shit[/i] army).
I never expected/wanted respect for being a soldier, but we should feel grateful to them and their families when they die doing our elected governments bidding. SFB, you live in lala land mate. It must be nice there.
probably better fun there than Basra or Kabul.....
Fair comment
but we should feel grateful to them and their families when they die doing our elected governments bidding. SFB, you live in lala land mate. It must be nice there.
no, I feel sorry for them for being conned into wasting their lives as political pawns 🙁
i joined up and served 16 yrs, learnt a trade. travelled most of the world and served in the falklands conflict, adriatic war, gulf and a few other things unknown to the public. It was a buz, adrenalin pumping sometimes. i did it for me, no one asked me to do it. i dont need clapping or a pat on the back. we can all have an opinion and can voice it on a forum or a soap box without fear of reprisal. ITS A FREE COUNTRY.
no, I feel sorry for them for being conned into wasting their lives as political pawns
Don't feel sorry for them. I doubt there are very many British soldiers out there fighting who see themselves as political pawns to be pitied by people back home.
A lot of them will simply relish the opportunity to pit their training and skills against those of the enemy whilst fighting alongside their mates. It's the ultimate test, if you want to look at it that way.
Job wise, this might not appeal to a lot of people, but it certainly appeals to some - including me in my younger days. Don't just assume that they wouldn't want to be there as, for a lot of soldiers, that's simply not true.
They'll still whinge about the food though!