2008 Army Signal Ball Manhattan Kansas

[macwilkin]

In your opinion!



In my opinion - I think it is wrong for anyone to wear awards or medals or ribbons or rank insignia, other than the person who earned the same awards or medals or ribbons or rank insignia.

Just because another location has a tradition does not mean that others should follow it. We should learn from mistakes made! -And I think wearing something (for what-ever reason) that you have not earned, is a mistake.



We will have to agree to disagree on this one. But we can do so and still remain civil.

So you would tell that young man he was wrong? To his face? Is that how a warrior behaves? Do you realise those medals were his dads or grandads medals? I'd like to see you do that at an ANZAC Day parade, mate -- I doubt you'd like the response from this young man's marching comrades.

I see kids everyday who do not care about the sacrifices made in wartime. Would to God that they acted like this young man, showing pride in his country and his family. How can you even begin to say that is wrong? How is it a mistake for a young man to show pride in what his grandad did in WWII, or his dad in Vietnam?

I'm sorry you can't see the value in the tradition. One would think you, of all people, would be glad that future generations were remembering the sacrifice of those who gave their tomorrow for our today.

T.

[James MacMillan]

So you would tell that young man he was wrong? To his face? Is that how a warrior behaves? Do you realise those medals were his dads or grandads medals? I'd like to see you do that at an ANZAC Day parade, mate -- I doubt you'd like the response from this young man's marching comrades.

I see kids everyday who do not care about the sacrifices made in wartime. Would to God that they acted like this young man, showing pride in his country and his family. How can you even begin to say that is wrong? How is it a mistake for a young man to show pride in what his grandad did in WWII, or his dad in Vietnam?

I'm sorry you can't see the value in the tradition. One would think you, of all people, would be glad that future generations were remembering the sacrifice of those who gave their tomorrow for our today.

T.

No, I wouldn't say it to his face. That does not mean that I don't think that it is wrong. I am not in that part of the world, and I would not try to change their traditions. I do understand the reasons, I don't agree with them. I would much rather see him carry the awards on a plaque, or carry a framed picture of his relative. In my opinion, this young man has not earned the right to wear them, I think it is wrong.

There are many ways to remember the past.

[Mike1]

James, I have tremendous respect for those that have made the sacrifice of serving in this country's armed forces.

But one thing that absolutely sickens me to death is to watch those that have served walking around beating their own breasts about it.

My father served in Korea. One of his best friends survived a suicide-bomber attack on his destroyer in the Pacific, during WWII. All my life, I've watched these men live very common and ordinary lives. They are both Past-Commanders in a couple of service organizations. I've earned wages, conducting funerals in miserable freezing weather, standing under a tent while my father was getting soaked to the skin as he waited to fire another salute to honor a fallen veteran, free of charge. My father's uniform? It hangs at the back of his closet, where it has always hung.

You served this country and I have no doubt you served to the very best of your ability. Thank you for what you have done. And I am willing to say this to all of our nation's veterans.

But let's remember the stripes you may have worn on your sleeve, or the bits of metal you may have worn on your collar give you absolutely no position of authority in our society. Perhaps there was a time you could bark an order and have large groups of men obey your every word, I don't know. Bark at me and you're likely to have me barking back, right before I laugh in your face. Show me respect and I'll be more than willing to reciprocate.

Once a Marine, always a Marine? Sorry, but from where I'm sitting, that was then and this is now. It is what you are doing today that is defining who you are, not what you once did. Welcome back to the world.

[macwilkin]

No, I wouldn't say it to his face. That does not mean that I don't think that it is wrong. I am not in that part of the world, and I would not try to change their traditions. I do understand the reasons, I don't agree with them. I would much rather see him carry the awards on a plaque, or carry a framed picture of his relative. In my opinion, this young man has not earned the right to wear them, I think it is wrong.

There are many ways to remember the past.

All I'll say is this: this young man doesn't need to earn those medals. His dad/grandad/brother/uncle already did, for him and for Australia. They earned them at Milne Bay, Tobruk, The Hook, Long Tan, Borneo, East Timor and the Gulf. They earned them on the Western Front and at Gallipoli.

I respect your right to your opinion and your service, but I still stand with the Aussies.

T.

[James MacMillan]

James, I have tremendous respect for those that have made the sacrifice of serving in this country's armed forces.

But one thing that absolutely sickens me to death is to watch those that have served walking around beating their own breasts about it.

My father served in Korea. One of his best friends survived a suicide-bomber attack on his destroyer in the Pacific, during WWII. All my life, I've watched these men live very common and ordinary lives. They are both Past-Commanders in a couple of service organizations. I've earned wages, conducting funerals in miserable freezing weather, standing under a tent while my father was getting soaked to the skin as he waited to fire another salute to honor a fallen veteran, free of charge. My father's uniform? It hangs at the back of his closet, where it has always hung.

You served this country and I have no doubt you served to the very best of your ability. Thank you for what you have done. And I am willing to say this to all of our nation's veterans.

But let's remember the stripes you may have worn on your sleeve, or the bits of metal you may have worn on your collar give you absolutely no position of authority in our society. Perhaps there was a time you could bark an order and have large groups of men obey your every word, I don't know. Bark at me and you're likely to have me barking back, right before I laugh in your face. Show me respect and I'll be more than willing to reciprocate.

Once a Marine, always a Marine? Sorry, but from where I'm sitting, that was then and this is now. It is what you are doing today that is defining who you are, not what you once did. Welcome back to the world.

This may surprize you, but I agree with everything, and I mean everything that you just said. But I'm not sure I see how it relates to my opinion of wearing things that were not earned.

By the way, I have my awards mounted and hanging on the wall. I don't think you ever read a statement by me that said "once a Marine, always a Marine" I am a retired Marine.

[Mike1]

By the way, I have my awards mounted and hanging on the wall. I don't think you ever read a statement by me that said "once a Marine, always a Marine" I am a retired Marine.

I didn't suggest you've posted those words on this forum. Please re-read my post. But you are familiar with the concept, are you not?

I'm simply explaining to you that whilst having the utmost respect for a man's service to his country, I also observe military service means nothing on this forum.

We're all entitled to our opinions. We're all entitled to disagree with another's opinions. We're watching the process unfold in this thread.

[davedove]

I understand your opinion James, and for the most part agree with it. People who would wear medals they never earned, AS IF THEY WERE THEIR OWN, are beyond contempt. (Isn't it interesting how these posers were always war heros in their tales, and always seemed to be SEALS, or Special Forces, and never a clerk or cook).

The tradition in Australia, however, is to wear the medals of family members on the right side, to differentiate from the actual vets. I also believe that family members only wear the medals if the actual veteran is deceased (I could be wrong on this). I have no problem with this sort of tradition, as long as this differentiation is made.

[Rampant Lion]

Well, I think the outfit that Rogerson785 has decided to wear will look great!

[James MacMillan]

I understand your opinion James, and for the most part agree with it. People who would wear medals they never earned, AS IF THEY WERE THEIR OWN, are beyond contempt. (Isn't it interesting how these posers were always war heros in their tales, and always seemed to be SEALS, or Special Forces, and never a clerk or cook).

The tradition in Australia, however, is to wear the medals of family members on the right side, to differentiate from the actual vets. I also believe that family members only wear the medals if the actual veteran is deceased (I could be wrong on this). I have no problem with this sort of tradition, as long as this differentiation is made.

That's my problem also, and yes the posers always seem to be Rambo. However, they are always very easy to expose, and they don't seem to hang out at the VFW or Legion.

The Marine Corps already has regulations for wearing things on both sides of the chest. In full dress uniform, when all ribbons and medals are mandated, the medals are worn on the left and the ribbons on the right. When the medals are not called for, then the ribbon versions of all awards are mounted together in normal order of seniority and worn on the left. When miniture medals are worn, they are worn on the left. Each country has different regulations. For instance, we wear a device on the ribbon to represent a second or more award that is the same. Some counties, wear duplicate awards, side by each.

[mbhandy]

Well, I think the outfit that Rogerson785 has decided to wear will look great!

Hear hear!

Back on board.

MrBill