Lionel & Military Veterans

The world has really changed since I returned from Vietnam and later the Middle East many, many years ago.  You were more likely to be spat upon back in the day.

I am usually embarrassed when someone says: "Thank you for your service."  It seems that it has become the politically correct thing to do.  I have heard it so many times that it is almost creepy.  I never know whether a person means it or is just saying what he or she thinks is socially acceptable or what their company has told them to say.  Does saying "thank you" make them feel better about not serving?

I do apply for discounts now and then but I don't go out of my way to get every possible one.  I served and I feel good about my contribution to the USA's security.  I feel that I made the country a safer place during my military service.  That is thanks enough for me.

Joe (USN Ret.)

Took me a long time to go to VA Hospital to apply for card, Just got my card on my 65th birthday last year. Best thing I did in a long time, easy ,painless, and they seemed to actually want me around. Never been treated better anywhere. And now Lowes  will honor my discount, before it had to be a VA photo ID. and Michigan drivers license with veteran designation wasn't good enough. I don't shop there much anymore.

Clem  

My buddy and I had to ride Grayhound to Oakland, CA to report for duty. We were spat on twice in the short walk from the bus station to the induction center. At least the verbal abuse in that short walk prepared us for Basic Training.

Boy, that wasn't my experience in the 60's at all, the Military was looked on much more favorably back then than it is now.

JRJ…... I'm glad to hear it went well for you. By 1971 when I got home things where much different.

Really John I cant believe you went there..

I don't Ever remember being called a baby killer, or spat at, or anything else that was done in the late sixties. Unlike the sixties where the progressives were successful on turning public opinion. Today the left are still trying but people are just not buying it and no matter how people fell about Iraq and Afghanistan they tend to blame the politicians and not us. Funny part is that some of the biggest critics of OIF/OEF are the biggest supporters of the troops and activities to support the military families.

I am not a vet but I don,t take kindly.To people to spit on vets or anybody else.These people put there lives on the line.The last thing they need is some %$#& coming up to them and spiting on them!!I have family who were in the army and navey during ww2.And ya know something they have earned my respect from ww2 to now.Good to see lionel do this for our vets.

I'm speaking of my direct experience, so I can't believe you can't believe I went there.  

I got out in March of 1966, and I never had any of those experiences.  Perhaps I was just fortunate in my travels, but I was always treated decently.  I know that by the late 60's things had gone downhill a bunch as far as treatment for military personnel, I just didn't experience it.  As far as the public at large, I was always treated pretty well when I was in Uniform.

I think in 66 you missed the negativity towards the military that seemed to prevail, especially in California by 68-69 and later.  When we returned from SEA and landed at Travis AFB in Nov 69, we were told to change to civ clothes to go to San Fran to catch flights, and do not go anywhere but the airport due to anti military feelings.  Said that the short hair could stand out & cause problems.   

My experience mirrors GRJ's. During the first half of the '60s the military was still a respected profession and most everyone I knew served in one capacity or another. It was in the  latter years of that decade that some opinion's were changed. 

Pete

I agree that later in the 60's that things got pretty ugly, and the 70's were a lost generation as far as being a military member was concerned.

To bring this back a bit to railroads when I was drafted in 1964 I took the LIRR to the city. We were shipped by train to Fort Jackson and accommodated in sleepers with the old style sections, I slept in an upper with the curtains. Unfortunately my interest in trains wasn't great at the time or I would have tried to remember which railroad. After basic training at Fort Gordon in GA it was a train again up to Aberdeen MD where I served out my time.

The antiwar movement was growing at that time but I never experienced any negative actions while I was in the army.

While I have been opposed to many of our countries military actions I would NEVER blame the members of the armed forces who are serving our country--it should be directed at the politicians who are really the ones responsible for what the military is called upon to do.

Scotie

(and after all these years my serial number still easily comes to mind while I am having trouble remembering things that happened last week!)

John this was the statement that caught my eye. the Military was looked on much more favorably back then than it is now.  Ok I am guilty.  Late sixties and 70s were rough if you were in the Military. 80s seamed to be a time of healing and respected for the military was finally restored after Desert Storm. Shouldn't of went there. I apologize.

 It was the late 1960s that saw the anti-war anti-military movement bloom. When I returned from Vietnam in 1971 the anti-war sentiment was so strong it was suggested we wear civilian cloths on public transportation.

 This sentiment carried over for at least the next ten years. The worst incident I had was when a HR(human resources) person told me they didn't hire vets because they were all drug addicted murders. From then on I just left my three years of military service of my resume. I was never questioned about this three year "gap in employment history" but if I had been I would have told the something other than I had been in uncle sugars army. 

 In the 1980s the stereotypical Vietnam vet was a homeless man begging beside the road at busy intersections. Times  have changed.

  When a discount is offered to me because of my service I take it. I knew Lionel offered free shipping to vets when I needed to return an engine for repairs so I used it. They did not require proof of service just my word. Because of this my next engine was a Lionel.

  Douglas

Gentlemen,
    For you people coming home from Viet Nam in 66 the world was still pretty  much working in the 50's era as far as respect for the military, those coming home in 69-72

were the military people that faced the biggest disrespect.  Got to admit, Carter bringing back the deserters from Canada, never sat well with me.  Those people should a have gone to prison, instead of being given jobs, when there were none available for the returning Veterans.  I do not look on the respect of our Veterans as political correctness in any way, our general public saw what happened to our returning Vets during the tail end of the Viet Nam war, and to my ever lasting thanks, they made a great effort to correct the injustice done to our military men.  IMO Jimmy Carter just helped fan the flames of disrespect, when he wrote an executive order allowing the deserters to come back to the USA, without punishment.  Companies like Lionel, Lowes and many others, are helping to heal the terrible wrong that was done to our service men.  Most people have no idea who I am or what I did in the military, every time I see a young service man or lady eating in the same place where I eat, I tell the owner to put their meals on my bill, and not to tell the military personnel, who took care of it.  On the other hand I am embarrassed to be thanked personally for my service, this country means that much to me & my family.  I am grateful for businesses like Lionel,

for recognizing our military veterans in the way that they do, it has little to due with the money involved.

PCRR/Dave 

Fortunately I was in before the hatred started.  March 62 thru June 66 in the submarine service.

Ken M

The "silent service", that's why you're so quiet.   Us guys on Aircraft Carriers liked to make noise!

I guess if I post again I won't be silent.  The old diesel boats were good duty.   SS406 Seapoacher.

Ken M

USS Shangri La, CVA38.  Nobody ever accused us of being quiet.

I am proud of my military service. Yet I am embarrassed when someone says,"Thank you! For your military service". My area of operation was the Pacific Theater. Even though I was stationed at, Clark AFB, Philippines I was only there 6 days a month. I enjoyed a constant state of "jet-lag" for eleven years. Yes, I got to see the world alright. From an altitude of, 48,000 plus ft. The loops I hated the most was taking 96 Army Rangers to Viet Nam. Then bringing a minimum of 24 containers (meat cans)of HR back to the states, complete with 24 folded flags. I often wondered how many of those were in the numbers we flew to Viet Nam in the first place?

When I went in Nov. 1974 end of Vietnam we were not really look highly of. to me the turning point was about 1980 I believe when 2 of our tomcats where being tailed and they locked on to them and our tomcats blew out of the sky. And even more when we came back from Beirut after loosing 241 Marines,navy, and Army personnel and then again when we came back from the first gulf war they said we were hero to us we did the job we signed up to do. 

Happy Pappy I understand where your coming from when I'm thanked for my service now to another service member I will say thanks for helping us do what we do best or something like that . 

Here you go Happy Pappy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70Ikj1hZDnw