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Randy Cassingham's BlogHistorical Details and Author's Notes from This is True®
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The Other Kind of Military Brat
Christopher, with the 21st Air Force in New Jersey: "I just wanted you to know that when I was serving with Operation Deep Freeze (the ongoing Air National Guard operation that supports the National Science Foundation) at McMurdo Station on Ross Island in Antarctica, 'This is True' was part of a weekly ritual. There are a number of people in 'Mac Town' that still read you through their Internet mail there. I guess that means you're popular on all 7 continents."
Weekly Weird News
I knew that I had readers at various Antarctica bases, but I haven't heard from anyone there in a while. Thanks for the update -- I love hearing about readers getting True in interesting spots.
I have very often mentioned military readers over the years, including more recently those aboard ships at sea, thanks to their satellite mail connections. So I was a tad surprised to get this from Stan in Texas:
Please, Sir, will you do a special issue for the men & women, my siblings, that are about to go to conventional war and those now serving in the war on terrorism? Many of them have 'net access, even while deployed. I feel that something especially for them would be especially appreciated. I know from personal experience that every little bit of encouragement helps after you kiss the spouse good-bye and get 'in country'. I'm sure that my wife (disabled Viet Nam era US Army veteran) and my Dad (WWII US Navy combat veteran) would agree.
I reminded Stan that I have often featured military units in the past, and "if I have any 'reason' to do so again (e.g., a letter from someone in the field), I'll do so" again. Sound good? Not to Stan it didn't. He replied:
Perhaps when the jack-booted hordes invade your personal space you will understand that you owe a debt to those that interpose their personal being between you and those who think that the expression of free thought is a bad thing. I understand that you have the typical civilian's appreciation for those that volunteer to protect your ungrateful buttocks. Had you a fiber of civility you would have responded appropriately. Good morrow to you. I shall not trouble your tiny mind further. It is my fervent desire that you rot in an hell appropriate to your lack of humane feelings.
To be sure, I don't consider Stan, who bragged that he was "TSgt, USAF (retired from active duty at 20 years and 13 days of service in the greatest Air Force in the world I am eligible for recall to active duty for the balance of 30 years service, until 1 March 2008. I don't want any more campaign medals.)", to be ANY way representative of our great military. Rather, he is one of those "bad apples" that spoil the image of our armed forces not only at home, but abroad. What a sad example he sets for our all-volunteer servicemen and -women. But I don't want to sit here and rag on him -- I'd rather active military readers respond to Stan. Please drop me a note, preferably from your .mil address. (There has been a tremendous response so far after publishing this in the Free edition on Friday. So much that I compiled them on a separate page, rather than take up huge amounts of space here.)
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6 Comments on This Entry
All comments in this blog are reviewed prior to being published. Spammers: don't waste your time. The posting criteria are simple: if a comment is worth visitors' time to read, it's approved. If not, it's not.
Posted by Mike from Dallas on May 15, 2007:
"I may not agree with what you say, but to the death I will defend your right to say it." ~Voltaire
In the Vietnam draft era, I enlisted. And though Stan pisses me off, I did serve to protect his right to say it. And it's my right to say that he is one incredible jackass.
Posted by Lynn from Morganton, GA on May 17, 2007:
I am not military, but my late husband was. He retired MSgt from USAF after 21 years 3 months and 28 days. He always said "but who's counting?" He would have been one of the first to jump on Stan's case for his attitude. He hated nothing more than someone who thought they had the right to tell everyone how to think and act after they got out of service. He has been gone for four years now, but I still get weepy. Guess it will take a long time for it to quit hurting.
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Yes, it will -- and that's OK. He sounds like a great guy. The kind of guy I want to be a career man, unlike Stan. -rc
Posted by Dana, Greeley, CO on May 20, 2007:
Stan, Stan, Stan... Where do I start?
I'll grant that you are senior to me in many ways: age, depth of military experience, ...narrow-mindedness.
This person whom you berate does his level best to be fair, and, while his decisions are not always the ones I would make, they DO cause me to think. Sometimes I change my mind, and sometimes I don't.
The one thing he does NOT do is trivialize the best part of the American Way: Freedom: of Speech, of Action, of Opportunity, of Choice. Nor does he trivialize the efforts and sacrifices that so many have made throughout the years. Well he understands the Jeffersonian concept that "The Tree of Liberty must from time to time be watered with the Blood of Patriots and Tyrants."
With that understanding comes the sense of fairness I spoke of: if he had been a small-minded person, he would not even have bothered posting your rant; he would have shied away from the criticism. Instead, he pointed out that you might have missed where he DOES support the men and women in uniform; and you replied with a childish rant.
Right now you might be asking me by what right do I have to address you in this fashion? I admit, not as a fellow who wears or once wore a uniform. Rather, I am a son of a WWII veteran who was wounded in action in France, the son-in-law of a retired 25-year-man SSgt. in the Air Force, brother-in-law to a husband and wife who have both served in the Colorado Air Guard, and the gentleman does have occasion to find himself in Iraq.
In short, I FULLY appreciate what has been done for my freedom, and I routinely thank those who wear the uniform for their service. I know they get enough grief from those who don't understand (as Jane and Arlo didn't) that it takes a person whose mind is solidly grounded in right and wrong to make sure they don't do terribly wrong things in the time of conflict.
I have never seen a column of Randy's that disagrees with the above. Pity you couldn't have had an open enough mind to review past editions to see that yourself.
With all that, Stan, I wish you 'Happy Trails', and hope that age will bring wisdom.
Posted by Andy, Mission Viejo, CA on May 29, 2007:
Yesterday (the celebrated Monday of Memorial Day) I had the privilege of touring the USS Midway, the retired post-WWII carrier on display in San Diego. I say privilege because that was how it felt as I relived some history and interacted with many retired servicemen.
While there my girlfriend, her mother, her son, and I all filled out post cards to Navy personnel serving overseas. I'm proud to say none of us even hesitated when presented with the opportunity by the on-ship people. And while I was still in that area of the ship I definitely noticed those people who were presented with the same opportunity and declined.
While my thoughts were not nearly as caustic as Stan's I did have some negative thoughts.
When I read Stan's remarks I classified him as either 1) someone who has not read True much and has a medical condition causing his knee to jerk, or 2) Just an unthinking jerk.
I have read True since it was This Just In and you have always had stories about the military in your publication.
Thanks! And keep up the great work!
And to our military: Please never doubt that you are thought of frequently and with great respect!
Posted by John, Flagstaff, AZ on July 31, 2007:
I am a Navy vet. I was on poseidon missile subs through the last years of the cold war (I left the Navy in 1982)... so, I figure I did my part to help keep us out of a nuclear conflict for about 8 years. After having said this though, I have little to add to the comments already posted above and those linked to from the original letter.
There have been very, very many occasions when I have agreed with Randy and very, very few when I've disagreed. I am proud of the fact that I get to support Randy in his exercise of his 1st amendment rights, and thereby exercising my own. Without having the freedom to read what we want, the freedom to say what we want has little power.
Back to Stan in Texas - I won't use the words that float into my mind as this is a "family" publication and web site. Suffice to say, in the words of Wowbagger the Infinitely Prolonged (a character from Douglas Addams' books) "you're a jerk Stan. A complete kneebiter." Thanks for being a petty, narrow-minded clod. At least you've given me something to laugh at today. Fortunately our Military tends to turn out better people than you most of the time.
<Sigh> ... I know that I came out of the Navy a much better person than I went in. Our Military tends to improve the majority of people who volunteer these days. Alas ... a few do slip through the cracks, but most of us are much better for having served. We have a much better appreciation of what our country is all about, and a very strong appreciation of the freedoms which we have helped to protect. Thanks to all who have served, and continue to fight for our freedom and the freedom of others.
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Amen. -rc
Posted by Sue in Bremerton WA on November 17, 2007:
Stan wants our hero to rot in hell. Too bad that will never happen because he has a GOOHF card already!