Author Topic: Praying For And Supporting Our Troops Update (Read 1452 times)

BobbyR · « **on:** November 16, 2008, 06:05:34 PM »

I have witnessed this group harness it's collective energy to step up when a fellow member or their family is in distress. I am sure that members of this club have someone in their family, or a friend who is serving overseas, or will serve there. I am not talking just about Americans, there are troops from other nations over there also.
I would ask that we find something we can do both personally and as a group to make their time there easier. Prayers appear to help from what we have observed recently, but there must be something in addition we can do. Anyone know of something?

medic09 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 16, 2008, 06:19:06 PM »

Our congregation says a prayer for the troops at services every Sabbath.

There are local activities in many places that can use donations or hands on help. Blue Star Mothers are active here sending packages and goodies to keep up the morale.

There is also often a place for offering hospitality and spiritual support if you live near a base. I look for opportunities specifically with supporting Jewish troops through a website called Jews in Green. I bet there are other similar sites.

Since one of my best buddies (my former Chief Flight Nurse) is heading to the sandbox soon, we've been praying more. He's a Muslim, and I think spiritual support is especially slim for guys like him.

Demon67 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 17, 2008, 07:38:05 AM »

Well Bobby I don't know if you can swing it but I know Canadians can buy a coffee at Tim Horton's for our troops in Afghanistan, maybe there is something similar in the states.
Bill the demon.

BobbyR · « **Reply #3 on:** November 17, 2008, 05:05:15 PM »

That is a good start Medic and Demon. If this was an oil thread people would be all over it.

gerhed · « **Reply #4 on:** November 18, 2008, 08:21:45 AM »

BobR,

It is an appropriate time to show our support.
Following our recent election, I'm sure many of our troops are
feeling a little nonplused.
I remember being in Vietnam when Nixon came in, in Jan of '69,
and he said "we've got to get out of that quagmire".
He may have been right but I felt betrayed.

gregimotis · « **Reply #5 on:** November 18, 2008, 08:36:01 AM »

An e-friend of mine (military man) on another forum printed up some football jerseys in Army colors
On the front:

Team Infidel

On the back:
Name

They looked a lot cooler than they sound... I can't find a picture of them though.

Several of us bought jerseys and had them sent to random military in the Middle East (money donated to... something I can't recall). I'll try and find him.

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #6 on:** November 18, 2008, 08:45:34 AM »

These the ones?

http://infidelshirts.com/

gregimotis · « **Reply #7 on:** November 18, 2008, 09:25:05 AM »

Quote from: Bob Wessner on November 18, 2008, 08:45:34 AM

These the ones?

http://infidelshirts.com/

Interesting, but no. Ours were more light-hearted than that.

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #8 on:** November 18, 2008, 11:30:59 AM »

If I might suggest, in addition to a prayer, perhaps a small contribution to the USO. Found them helpful in Vietnam. Perhaps someday we will not need a USO, but I'm not holding my breath.

Caaveman82 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 18, 2008, 12:24:30 PM »

Local business are really good about giving stuff up. I have been, since I got out, been collecting things like every six months or so and sending big a$$ care packages to my old unit. I was over there. They don't need much or want much. It's the simple things that make them happy. I had a payless give me like $300 dollars in brand new boot socks, that was awesome. You can never have enough socks when your in the military.... never. lol.

medic09 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 18, 2008, 02:46:25 PM »

Funny, I still remember 25 years later how obsessed I could be with finding my favorite grey all-wool socks. A foot soldier's best friends...

BobbyR · « **Reply #11 on:** November 18, 2008, 04:08:17 PM »

Quote from: gerhed on November 18, 2008, 08:21:45 AM

BobR,

It is an appropriate time to show our support.
Following our recent election, I'm sure many of our troops are
feeling a little nonplused.
I remember being in Vietnam when Nixon came in, in Jan of '69,
and he said "we've got to get out of that quagmire".
He may have been right but I felt betrayed.

Yes, it was a tough time coming back. And your Glory Days thread had me thinking about it. I like the USO idea Bob. They gave you a break for awhile, it did not matter who it was it just mattered they were there. In 71' it looked like all the light in the World was gone. I will look into this USO thing and report back.

BobbyR · « **Reply #12 on:** November 18, 2008, 05:13:49 PM »

I found this offer from the USO. If you have $25.00 to spare please give it your consideration.

https://www.uso.org/donate/custom.aspx?id=565&

Caaveman82 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 21, 2008, 05:33:22 AM »

Not to get preachy or anything. Probably the best thing we can do is to continue to call our representatives for our respective states and tell them we want the troops to come home. I don't care how you feel about how well your government works. We run the show. Or we are supposed to. So if you care about the troops that is what you should be doing. Stuff is nice but it's our duty as citizens to let our government know what we want to happen...

Soos · « **Reply #14 on:** November 21, 2008, 06:09:55 AM »

Thnx for the USO link!

I wholeheartedly pray EVERYONE fighting will be able to go home to their families on their own two feet, and hug those they love with both arms.

I support the troops, but don't support the war, or any war for that fact.
If it weren't for those needing to bend others to their wills... wars would not be necessary.
Can you imagine how far along the world would be if we lived like we were all brothers and sisters for the past 1000+ years?

The information on farming that could be shared with the poorer parts of the world alone would save millions of lives.
Not to mention the collaboration of minds to overcome the current day problems that various societies/populaces endure.

War is a sad, sad thing.
There is no real winner, no matter the outcome.

l8r

BobbyR · « **Reply #15 on:** November 21, 2008, 02:13:50 PM »

Quote from: Caaveman82 on November 21, 2008, 05:33:22 AM

Not to get preachy or anything. Probably the best thing we can do is to continue to call our representatives for our respective states and tell them we want the troops to come home. I don't care how you feel about how well your government works. We run the show. Or we are supposed to. So if you care about the troops that is what you should be doing. Stuff is nice but it's our duty as citizens to let our government know what we want to happen...

I agree with you wholeheartedly. I was both ROTC and an anti war protester at the same time. In the Nam era some of the public did not separate the GI from the Govt. People would wait at the airport and spit at the guys returning and called them "baby killers". When I got back I started taking some film courses at NYU to get an MFA. I also worked for one of the Copter charter services and I wanted to get some footage of Manhattan we could use from our projects. I took one of my classmates up and in 20 minutes we had nice footage.
When the professor asked where we got the footage my classmate told him I flew us around. After a Q&A the Professor asked if "I got extra points for kids since they are harder to hit." Many of the other students would not work with me, It really hurt to say the least.
I finally changed majors and hung with guys going to the school on the GI bill. It hurt to say the least. Support the troops and write your Congressman monthly.

Caaveman82 · « **Reply #16 on:** November 22, 2008, 11:27:31 AM »

I am sorry to hear about that Bobby. It still happens today. Marines are easy to spot with their stupid ass high and tights lol. We would go out in town and people knew who we were. Some people avoided us like we had the plague. I have had the same problem in college. These ignorant asses think I am some agent of G.W. Bush or something. I signed the contract. I went to Iraq twice. I did my time. I got out. Does not mean I agree or liked it. I just did it. I am almost ashamed to say that I served, you never know if your going to get a thank you or a punch in the face.

Even when I was living in California, I lost a lot of job oppertunities because I put the Marine Corps on my resume. They said "We don't like to hire veterans because a lot of times they are unreliable. We live right next to Camp Pendleton. We know how you guys are." I was like what the hell... for real? Those words came out of a dudes mouth to me during an interview. I called the state on him... but after that it always lingered in the back of my mind.

Demon67 · « **Reply #17 on:** November 22, 2008, 12:20:02 PM »

Hey guys for us it was "oh you were in the forces, What to Lazy to Work , to Nervous to Steal ?" and when I got out, the training and the work I did on A/C was belittled and I was told it didn't count (Air Canada, Pacific Western, etc all the same response) and when I was in, I went on Leave one time and was waiting in a pub at the bus station, two citizens started hassling me about wearing my uniform and giving me the gears about being a wimp or #$%* because I was in the RCAF after a minute or so I started to stand up ( and yes I was scared, there were two of them and they were as big as I was) when a voice piped up and said Pigeon you going on leave or coming off? I said going on he said no sweat you take off and let a "Pongo" take care of it I coming off leave and I need a ride back to the base, he said go on take off, these two #$%*s are no sweat and dove on them so I split. It's funny but after I got out the only job I could get was driving a lumber truck and on a delivery an older gentleman came over looked at my summer shirt and said in broken english had I been in the army I said no, airforce we talked a little more as I was delivering the lumber turns out he was ex Werhmacht so we discussed differences, he claimed sergeants were the worst, I claimed warrant officers, any how I had more in common with him than 80% of the civvies around and mostly people who have served I can get along with better than most of the civilian population. Enough.
Bill the demon.

BobbyR · « **Reply #18 on:** November 22, 2008, 09:23:53 PM »

Well screw the rest of the world. You know what you did and never let anyone tell you who or what you are. I was able to get work and the time never hindered me much. What I did find uncomfortable was when Apocalypse Now came out, they had a morbid curiosity about the Helicopter attack. I would just say yeah, it was pretty real. Actually it was OK. The slicks in real life always stayed light on the skids and wiggled on dustoff to protect the tail rotor. The gunships always circled overhead laying down suppression fire in the bush.

Just move forward and go on with your life. It has been 30+ years in the past for me.
Let's keep supporting the troops while they are in country and when they come back home. Let them feel welcome when they return.

my78k · « **Reply #19 on:** December 10, 2008, 07:44:00 PM »

Bobby, I figured this could use a gentle bump...kinda timely for me too as I am sitting here watching a repeat of the UFC event from the other night. As big of a dick that Dana White is, his work trying to support the Intrepid Fallen Heroes fund is admirable. The whole TBI thing hits a little close to home as my mom had a TBI when she fell down a flight of stairs back in '88. I realize that in her case it obviously has nothing to do with the military but I saw what brain injuries can do!!

Also, I am learning alot watching the show as they have lots of featurettes thrown in.

If someone is looking for a worthy cause this definitely seems right up there...

Dennis

BobbyR · « **Reply #20 on:** December 10, 2008, 08:01:50 PM »

Thanks for the bump Dennis. Sorry to hear about your Mom. A lot of research and techniques treating combat injuries finds it's way into mainstream medicine. Pain and suffering no matter what the cause is tragic. I know times are tight, so even if you can only offer kind words to returning Vets, that also has value.
If there is a VA hospital near you folks, maybe you could donate a little time there. Thanks again Dennis. Oh yeah, Pray for Peace so we won't have more kids going through this crap.

News:

Author Topic: Praying For And Supporting Our Troops Update (Read 1452 times)