To add a little levity (humor) to this:

I don't feel bad 1 bit :devil: for a bushel of steamed crabs or oysters v1 that's some Yum YUM :party:

Congrats to all of you for having a respectful, productive exchange....on most boards something like this would turn UGLY.

Destroyer, thanks for your service. We have a whole new generation of Vietnam Vets, but they served in Iraq and Afganistan.

I thank you and everyone in this post and elsewhere for the thank you's. I really wasn't looking for any. The only reason I even mentioned my service was so that people could understand my adversion to killing or causing pain. Before I went over there I used to hunt with some buddys.. We would shoot ducks, deer, etc. Thought it was great fun. Then I came back and found that I had a different outlook on life in general (to me all life is sacred) and that also just the sight of blood would bring back flashbacks of things I would just as soon forget. As time rolled forward that diminuished somewhat, but it's still an issue with me occasionally. I think that's why when I go fishing with friends I like to steer the boat more than actually fish.. I enjoy the hunt.. not so much the kill...and I carry a fishbilly with me so I can put the fish out of it's misery as quickly as possible.

The people that should really get everyones thanks are the ones that were just mentioned by Randleman... our present day vets. They all VOLUNTEERED for what they are doing. We, (The Vietnam vets) were for the most part drafted, and that's a huge difference in my eyes. These people are going willingly. They are putting themselves in harms way for us and they deserve every pat on the back, every thank you that they receive and more. They are risking their lives everyday for all of us and I, for one, am ever so greatfull to them. :clap:

Amen

My neighbor has been in Afghanistan since Spring...I've been cutting his grass as I did while he was on his 1st tour...my wife waters the plants for them and we bring in the mail daily...I think about him being over there a lot...away from family and home...doing his duty to his country...I can't thank him and every other soldier who has been boots on the ground in a foreign country, particularly in a combat role...I can't thank you enough...WE can't thank you enough.

Ever tell you guys I work for the fish & wildlife service?

No, but now that we know can we start hounding you to tell your bosses to get rid of some of the really. really. really STUIPID :cen: salt water rules? :bat: