Vets Have An Obligation To Share Their Stories Because -----

[TheMastersNemesis]

the younger generations would not so easily be duped into the military and going to war.

My story is really a pretty insignificant one compared to combat troops who faced continual fighting in our various wars. Hiding and denying your experience hurts vets emotionally and it deprives others of the understanding about how terrible wars are. It hides the consequences of what it means to go to war.

I share my limited experiences so that others are informed about what it is like to live in a war zone. American has been spared such a catastrophe except for the Civil War. Our wars are portrayed like war games or something that happens in the movies. Real battles are nothing like any of that.

The saddest thing about the vet experience is to have guilt for what you did in war. The real truth is that there really are no rules in war. Things happen and every thing is chaos in the extreme. Even with training a soldier is in a reactive state. What you do in war is nothing to necessarily fell proud of, but many times guilt is misplaced.

[HereSince1628]

1. Yes, vets must tell their tales...sorry for a bit of an historic detour to this thread...

America spared except for civil war...sort of...but only if American territories are ignored

The Philippine islands were American territory during WWII they were invaded and occupied by the Japanese.
Several of the Aluetian islands, American territory during WWII, were invaded and occupied by the Japanese
Guam was an American territory during WWII and it was occupied by the Japanese
Hawaii was an American territory during WWII and obviously the site of the Dec 7 attacks by sea and air

But I think this really makes your point...if we don't remember the stories our families' vets who served in those places these things may be forgotten

[Marinedem]

2. I disagree.

I see what you are saying, but I do not believe a vet is in ANY way obligated to say anything more than he or she chooses to.

No amount of story telling or anything else for that matter will prevent war.

[Brickbat]

3. Many vets have their own reasons for not sharing their experiences. And "not talking about it"

does not necessary equal "hiding" or "denying."

[aquart]

4. Real vets don't talk.

Not without at least six beers. And then the stories that come out never leave.

But it's silly to think any war story will discourage war or enlistments. In all the history of Man, it never has.