Clausewitz
Luxor Member
Veni. Vidi. Vici. Mori.
Posts: 1,437
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Post by Clausewitz on Aug 25, 2007 1:35:31 GMT
Not trying to be sappy, but something is bothering me tonight.
SFC "Jimmy" Kettle and SSG Clowers.
2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
Both passed this week in Afghanistan, servicing with the joint mission there.
SSG Clowers is survived by his young wife, and soon-to-be-born child.
They were both great guys. Clowers in particular was an exceptional NCO, and one of the most likable folks you could ever meet.
While we play these games and have our fun, I can't help but feel immense guilt for not being over there with them right now. There's guys over there right now in the midst of some serious Merda!, and whatever your politics are on the matter, their labors, hardships, and sacrifices deserve our deepest respects.
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Post by ashimar on Aug 25, 2007 2:53:52 GMT
My condoleances Ryan.
It occurred to me that a comparison of unfairness can be made between soldiers being sent to war and those guys hammering bricks into the pavement/roads (don't know what you would call that in English, in Dutch it would be "stratenmakers" (plural). The thing is that by nature of their line of work they will not get very old, they will burn up quicker and usually die much younger and live wth more ailments while alive than the bankemployee or beautician. Was it their free choice or was it because they had no choice ? Is it fair that one earns less (perhaps) and dies young, possibly without any glory at all or is that just life, possible the result of bad moves, wrong friends, lacking discipline, failing braindevelopment, unstimulating parent, only one parent, no parent at all, who could tell, who could tell.
It's a bit the same with soldiers, with the exception that they have a chance at glory (but what does one buy for that, does one even want to strive for that, does it really matter and to whom ?) and a chance at living long and happily ever after. Or not. This then begs the question (again) why one would choose this line of work, knowing as one should it can and will kill you - if you are unlucky. Unless, one didn't have that choice to make and it's just a job one does.
This then leads me to two quotes:
1. "Nor dread nor hope attend a dying animal. A man awaits his end, dreading and hoping all. Many times he died, many times rose again. A great man in his pride, confronting murderous men. Casts derision upon, supersession of breath. He knows of death to the bone - man has created death..." (-W. B. Yeats)
2. "Justice and fairness are the dreams of man, they do not concern the birds,. nor the eternal God." (-don't know)
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digital
Luxor Admin
Winter is Coming
Posts: 1,727
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Post by digital on Aug 25, 2007 8:21:17 GMT
"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." 1 Corinthians 15, v26
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inyati
Morkin Admin
Aqua profunda est quieta
Posts: 4,310
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Post by inyati on Aug 25, 2007 10:52:20 GMT
I'm sorry to hear that Claus. But unlike 'normal' jobs, we all know that in a war theatre the chances of dying are higher. Its always unfortunate though that most are young men that leave behind a young family. As for feeling bad, I think we all have our place, and our merit in our line of work, or at least can acheive it if we dedicate ourselves to excel in our field, in our daily war. It reminds me of an old cowboy movie where near to the end we hear this from one of the magnificient seven:
There is worth in all areas. We need eachother, we need Sol the Farmer, Clause the Warrior, The Dutch (and Portuguese) road paver, etc. Fool is he who doesnt see merit in the simplest task.
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Natmus
Morkin Admin
Fight the power!
Posts: 4,518
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Post by Natmus on Aug 25, 2007 19:29:10 GMT
I would be a good baker, I think. Fortunatly I drew a number at my military session that exempted me from the draft. I was beginning to get into trouble already in front of the draft board when I began arguing that one of the intelligence tests had a faulty example. (It was a word assocataion test, sounding something like this: "The sun relates to the day as the moon relates to _______", followed by some words from where you could choose one. This example wanted the examinants to choose "the night" as the correct answer. Obviously, we can all see why this is the wrong answer, but try telling that to a draft board ) Good thing that I drew that high number, because at that time I don't know if I would have become a consiencious objector or gone for being a naval officer.
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kae
Luxor Member
Posts: 638
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Post by kae on Aug 25, 2007 21:53:04 GMT
"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." 1 Corinthians 15, v26 Footer stealer! Death is always a shame, even moreso when the soldier has a whole life ahead of them.
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Warliter
Morkin Admin
Baniter from M/MU
Posts: 814
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Post by Warliter on Aug 25, 2007 22:28:10 GMT
It is the greatest example of bravery that a man puts his life on the line for his ideals. It is our duty as those that stay at home to support those men in that situation as they represent the hope we all have to live in a better world. Even if we don't agree with this particular cause at a political/moral/etc level, it will only be a matter of time before they represent a cause we do.
If we don't believe in this then we don't deserve to be the superior race we claim we are.
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Post by DrieZ/Cesium on Aug 26, 2007 9:45:27 GMT
"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." 1 Corinthians 15, v26 Footer stealer! Death is always a shame, even moreso when the soldier has a whole life ahead of them. Never forget what Dumbledore says: "There are worse things than death"
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digital
Luxor Admin
Winter is Coming
Posts: 1,727
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Post by digital on Aug 26, 2007 15:08:29 GMT
"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." 1 Corinthians 15, v26 Footer stealer! Death is always a shame, even moreso when the soldier has a whole life ahead of them. Sorry, didn't notice it there. I got it from my Grandpa's funeral a couple of weeks back.
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