We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:36:16 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Yeah? Sez who? Vietnam vets give what they never got By Edward Colimore, Inquirer [Philadelphia] Staff Writer For the last year, they saw the Iraq war up close; some fought gun battles with the enemy, and all were far from home and the comforts of family. Then, after a marathon flight, the troops were back again yesterday, tired, excited, hungry, and still loaded down with their M-16s and military gear. They did not expect anyone to notice. But at the journey's end, Michael Engi and fellow Vietnam veterans were waiting. They are always there for the troops coming home from... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html Sun, 23 Sep 2007 00:21:13 -0600 Our sovereign is still stamped on our coins. I'm simply collecting on behalf of her Royal Royalness with the rolling handwave. We are a nation of.. well.. convicts after all :D http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64861 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64861 Mon, 24 Sep 2007 20:12:46 -0600 Like the Ozzies have any back taxes to collect. IIRC, we've been a sovereign nation longer'n *they* have! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64829 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64829 Mon, 24 Sep 2007 08:02:21 -0600 ...and collect back taxes too. The only tea I've drunk in the last fifty years was in Multan. If you're up for collecting on *that*, go past Karachi, take a right at the Indus River and head north until you see a tree. Careful, though -- it's full of giant mango-eating spiders... ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64821 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64821 Sun, 23 Sep 2007 22:18:24 -0600 Our lives wouldn't be near as rich without you in it! [checking wallet to see if anybody raided it] ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64820 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64820 Sun, 23 Sep 2007 22:09:55 -0600 The thanks are all from us to you, Sugar. Our lives wouldn't be near as rich without you in it! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64816 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64816 Sun, 23 Sep 2007 20:20:14 -0600 ha I spy a 'u' in studiously. We shall.. reeducate you in the Queen's English and civili*s*e you heathen upstarts once again.. and collect back taxes too. Good post tho, there are many ways of therapy but sometimes it's better to do something active like that. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64811 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64811 Sun, 23 Sep 2007 17:08:15 -0600 [studiously igno(u)ring acronyms from up No(u)rth] http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64807 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64807 Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:11:25 -0600 BRAT = Barely Recognisable Aged Trekker ??? IMP = Individual Meal Package, ??? Wizened Old Gnome = WOG ??! Cheers http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64803 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64803 Sun, 23 Sep 2007 13:42:53 -0600 Imp is more accurate, anyway. Beats "Wizened old gnome" to Helen Gaughan...]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64798 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64798 Sun, 23 Sep 2007 10:13:57 -0600 brat. It just doesn't fit. Imp is more accurate, anyway.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64796 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64796 Sun, 23 Sep 2007 09:09:59 -0600 Formal? No such thing intended, brat! It's just the way it came out... :P http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64795 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64795 Sun, 23 Sep 2007 08:29:08 -0600 Thanks, BillT. [Memo to self: Keep posts light. FuzzyBee goes all formal when she thinks yer PTSD is kicking in again]]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64794 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64794 Sun, 23 Sep 2007 08:21:13 -0600 Thanks, BillT. That story reminded me of one of the guys from MOPH leaders that went with us to the VA hospital in December 2005. Some twit that was with me asked if he was jealous of the reception and support this generation of warfighters were receiving. He was a bit taken-aback by the question, I think. But he soon broke into a huge grin and said that for most of them it had soothed their hearts to see the parades and the welcome home that the Gulf War(I) vets received, that they had been relieved to see that another generation would not suffer the same treatment the older warriors had, and that the welcome spilled over somewhat onto the Vietnam vets, which was very healing for many of them. In my activities with the wounded, it seems there are always Vietnam veterans involved. The fierce tenderness and protectiveness they have for this generation of veterans is always striking--I particularly remember the tone of voice and body language I saw in interactions with the the older guys and the wounded at Soldier Ride, but you can see it in everything from the Patriot Guard Riders to the veterans who join Soldiers' Angels and adopt a youngster. They are a living example of giving better than you get. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64792 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/09/you_cant_give_s.html#comment-64792 Sun, 23 Sep 2007 07:19:16 -0600