Livin’ Veterans…Known as the 7%…I’m Damn Proud (USAF 71 – 75) to be in that number.
“The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is (was) interested in a similar question — and to answer it, they use their own data as well as numbers from the Department of Defense, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration. As of 2014, the VA estimates there were 22 million military veterans in the U.S. population. If you add their figures on veterans to the active personnel numbers mentioned above, 7.3 percent of all living Americans have served in the military at some point in their lives”…(Mona Chalabi is data editor at the Guardian US, and a columnist at New York Magazine).
I think every generation has felt, at one time or another, “We’re living in trying times”, “These are The End Days”, “In the last days perilous times shall come (KJV; 2 Timothy 3:1-5)”.
Generations have a tendency to relate “The Times” to music. Music speaks to ALL. We all interpret it into our own lives.There is a song that really rocked My Generation (I was born in 1951). “Eve Of Destruction”! I remember I attended a Student Assembly/Entertainment Competition. It was either my Freshman or Sophomore Year of High School (my how time fly’s). There was a Student, Bobby (I’ll skip his last name), that performed the song “Eve Of Destruction” on stage. Now days you’d call it Karaoke! As I remember (the rumors) he was Threatened With SUSPENSION if left in the Cuss/Curse/Profane Words in the song. He was, Supposedly, Directed to Clean-Up/Substitute the Disapproved Language (of the day)! Bobby was introduced, at his assigned time. The Student Body got quite. The lights slowly lit up brighter. Well Bobby didn’t Clean it up! The whole Student Body Roared In Approval! And I must say “Bobby did a Damn Good Job”! Barry McGuire would have been PROUD!
Now “Eve of Destruction” is a protest song written by P. F. Sloan in mid-1964. Several artists have recorded it, but the best-known recordin’ was by Barry McGuire. This recordin’ was made between July 12 and July 15, 1965, and released by Dunhill Records. In case you’re one of the few that have never heard this song I recommend that you do. Go to “You Tube”. Listen to it/the words carefully. Then listen to a second time but {{{{{ CRANK IT UP ! }}}}}…Feel it deep down.
These were tryin’ times. In 1971 My Selective Service Draft Lottery Number was #41. I had a decision to make! I spoke with my Mother & Step-Father (a WWII U.S. Army Veteran, disabled). My brother, 2yrs older than I, tried to chime in. I asked him to stay out of this discussion or leave. He left. I decided my options were; #1.) I could wait it out & be Drafted into The U.S. Army. #2.) I could Enlist in a Branch of The Military to have some say in my Military options. #3.) I could chose to be a Draft Dodger & Run North To CANADA (like many Cowards of the day did) because CANADA would offer Political Asylum. The down side of that was you could/would be Arrested & Prosecuted if you tried to return home! There were even reports of “guy’s intentionally losing Trigger Fingers or A Toe” in hopes of Makin’ Themselves Unfit for Military Duty (4-F). As for Me I was 1-A! A lot of guys had “Deferments” like for School/College (1-S), Married/Married w/Family (3-A), works for Government Contractors (2-A), Sole Survivin’ Son (4-G), etc. Many have tried to Serve but for various reasons were classified “Unfit”. As for Me & My Future I chose Option #2 so I could have some say in my Military Service future. In my Family Military Service was Respected. When your Country Called you were expected to answer!
The U.S. Military Selective Service Draft Ended on Jan. 27, 1973.“The Vietnam War” (a Military Policing Action as Congress refused to Declare War!) officially ended on April 30, 1973. On January 21, 1977 U.S. President Jimmy Carter granted an unconditional pardon to hundreds of thousands of (Cowards) men who evaded the draft during the Vietnam War. In total, some 100,000 young Americans went abroad in the late 1960s and early 70s to avoid servin’ in “The War”.
Today our Military, ALL BRANCHES, is made of an ALL VOLUNTEER FORCE! Think about that! These are people, Men & Women, Willin’ to Protect & Serve our Nation and it’s Interests around the World. When ever & where ever needed! To those of YOU I say {{{{{ SALUTE ! }}}}}. There are too many that are willin’ to wait/rely on others to do what Needs/Has to be done to preserve Our Nation/Republic/Way of life. Too many Expect/Want/Demand It to be done by Someone Else! Others seem to have chosen/given into Socialism. They aren’t willin’ to Fight/Work for what They want. They expect someone else to. They want it for FREE!
I fear for My/Our Nation’s/Republic’s future. Too many of My Generation, My children’s generation & those younger, seem to care less each year. And I fear even more for my Grandchildren. What will our Nation be like in 20 years & more. I question what our Educational Systems/Government Schools are teachin’.
To YOU The 7% Before, My Age group, & others to current day I say “{{{{{ SALUTE ! }}}}}”. To those of YOU currently Serving Our Nation/Republic, who will one day be members of The 7%, I say “{{{{{ SALUTE ! }}}}}. God Bless YOU all & May God Bless America”!…”Hold’em Hook”!…..BG>
Hold Em Hook 