Respect the Military Like They Deserve

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Throughout American history our military has been an integral part in our well being and the well being of the entire world. Many people tend to think that we have put our nose where it does not belong, or that we have started wars with countries for no apparent reason. However many of the wars that we have been involved in has either protected someone that could not protect themselves, or protect the future well being of our country.

No matter how you feel about a particular war, or the reason that we are fighting in that war, you should always show respect to our military that is fighting there. I can remember quite a few times in our history where respect was not shown to our military. The men and women of the military that go to fight in the war do not have a choice about whether they want to fight or not. They are fighting so you and I do not have to. They signed up to risk their life so that our country can remain free and prosperous.

After the Vietnam War was over our soldiers came back to disdain and disgust from the American people. I know that the way the war was handled by our government was not done very well. I also know that many people protested the war, which was their right, but they should not disrespect the men and women who fought because they were just following orders. When the soldiers came back from the war we should have had parades and showed gratitude to them. However the soldiers from the Vietnam War received none of this.

The reason I am bringing this up is that we are in a very unpopular war now in Iraq, and I do not want us to allow our dislike of a war to cause us to forget about the people who are actually fighting in it. Remember when this war is over and our soldiers come back from the fight to tell them thank you and show the military the respect that they deserve.

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The Origins of Military Dog Tags

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Identification tags have been a part of the military for a very long time. The first unofficial (i.e. not issued by the government) identification tags were used in the Civil War. Many soldiers feared that if they were killed, they would be buried in an unknown soldier grave - a fate that happened to more than 40% of the Civil War casualties. These early identification tags were mostly paper and used to mark all a soldier's belongings. Some more skilled soldiers made tags out of wood and worn around the neck.

The value of these identification tags caught on like wildfire amongst the military rank and file but it wasn't until World War I that "dog tags" became an official part of a soldier's uniform.

The first dog tags were oval, of Monel metal, 1.25 inches wide and 1.5 inches long. Perforated at one end, a single tag was to be worn around the neck on Monel wire "encased in a cotton sleeve." One side of the tag bore an etched print of the right index finger. The other side was stamped "U.S.N." and etched with the individual's personal information. Officers' tags bore initials and surname; rank; and date of appointment, in numerals denoting month, day and year (e.g., 1.5.16). Enlisted tags bore initials and surname, with date of enlistment and date of birth, in numerals as on officers' tags.

After WWI, the requirement for dog tags fell out of favor and did not come back into mandatory use until the onset of World War II. The new tags continued to be made of Monel metal, 1.25 by 1.5 inches, but were now perforated at each end. The face of each tag was to bear the individual's name; officer rank or enlisted service number; blood type; if vaccinated for tetanus, the letter "T" with date in numerals (e.g., 8/40); and service (USN, USMC, USNR, USMCR). A right index fingerprint was etched on the reverse.

As World War II went on, the military prescribed the use of a second tag, individually suspended by a short length of chain so that one tag could be removed "on death or capture, leaving the other in place." Dimensions remained the same, but the tag was to be of "corrosion-resisting material" - 17 percent chromed steel, perforated at each end, and the etched fingerprint was omitted. Markings consisted of name; officer file number, or enlisted service number; blood type; date of tetanus inoculation; service; and religion, if desired by the service member: Catholic (C), Protestant (P), or "Hebrew" (H). When a service member was buried, ashore or at sea, one tag was to be left with the body and the other sent to BuPers "as soon as practicable under the circumstances."

Post-World War II tags were worn on a bead chain, with attached short loop for the second tag. They bore name (surname, followed by initials); service number; service; blood type; and religion, if desired by the individual.

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Independence Day, Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, and Flag Day: Patriotic Celebrations

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From patriotic magnetic flags or yellow ribbons on cars, mailboxes, tied to trees in our yards, and Old Glory flying high and proud, patriotism is on the rise, and has become ever more important to us in our day to day lives. Annual Independence Day celebrations on the 4th of July, Memorial Day celebrations, Flag Day celebrations, Veteran’s Day celebrations, and even Thanksgiving Day celebrations, are opportunities to let our patriotism show in the colors we wear, and the traditions and institutions we honor. Independence Day celebrates the birthday of our America, July 4th, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was signed. July 4th, 2006 was America’s 230th birthday.

Memorial Day, is a federal holiday observed on the last Monday in May, to honor men and women who have died in military service to their country. It began as a celebration to honor Union soldiers who died in the American Civil War, but after World War I, it was changed to include anyone who died in any military action.

In April of 1893 the first Flag Day was proposed and declared to be held in honor of the flag that represents America each year on June 14th.

Veteran’s Day began on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. Originally called Armistice Day, November 11 officially became a holiday in the United States in 1926, and a national holiday 12 years later. On June 1, 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all U.S. veterans.

Thanksgiving, a harvest celebration long held in Europe, was established as a National holiday by President Andrew Johnson in 1867, and is observed the last Thursday in November.

Though these holidays all differ, and have separate traditions and elements specific to each holiday, they all hold our American traditions and beliefs dear. With patriotism running high, the holidays in which we honor our country, and those who fought, and are still fighting, for freedom across the globe, are especially dear to us all. Celebrations, in which families and friends gather to honor our country, our country’s soldiers, veterans, and loved ones both near and far, have increased into celebrations of patriotism. Families gathered together for these celebrations still celebrate in the traditional ways, but there is a sense of pride, a sense of honor, a sense of the recognition that the things we hold dear like freedom, like democracy, like the pursuit of happiness, are not a given, and we just seem to hold those intangible things that define life in America a little more dear.

In the midst of Independence Day picnics and fireworks, Thanksgiving Dinners with family gathered around, Veteran’s Days, Memorial Day’s, and Flag Days, there are increasing moments of quiet reflection–time to give thanks for the bounty that is America. Consider adding to these elements, quietly orchestrated opportunities, to reflect on our good fortune to be able to live in this country where we are free, while the cost of freedom is, was, and continues to be high. You can watch movies like 4th of July, The Patriot, Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, Pearl Harbor, The North and The South, and other movies that illustrate so well the high cost of freedom, are good ways to provoke discussion and promote patriotism on these patriotic holidays.

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9MM Gun Vs .45 Colt

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Pretty much a simple little survey of sorts. We currently have the M9 (Beretta 92FS 9mm) as the standard issue side arm for most military MOS's. There's no substitute for the old Colt 45, but if you happen to find a 9mm Luger and the extractor and the ejector don't break, well there's just something about the Luger that is magnificent! I guess I'm just one of those people that think, if you're using a side arm, someone is too close and you need to knock them down. Ill takes stopping power over velocity any day.

You can hit target on the earlobe with a .45cal and knock it flat. If the police had .45s instead of 9mm in the Hollywood shootout, they would not have had to get rifles from a gun store. It might not have gone thru the armor but would have knocked them flat and let them close. Just ask the FBI about their tragic 1986 Miami shootout. On the linked chart note the weapons of agents Grogan and Dove, the two agents who lost their lives in the gun battle. The agents had to shoot the two suspects several times to bring them down--none of the FBI agents involved were armed with .45 caliber weapons.

As I understand it we converted to 9mm in order to conform to NATO. In my opinion it was a ridiculous compromise. The purpose of a side arm is to defend yourself in close quarters. A 9mm will injure an adversary, but leave him active enough to possibly still do you harm. 45cal. on the other hand will disable the individual most entirely. Made by Colt or whoever the 45. Is superior for flat out stopping power and NATO should have conformed to us. . 45 bring 'them back alive. Beretta is mucho regretted.

I've also heard that the model 92 Beretta has a problem with not chambering the final round in its magazine. Don't know if it's been worked out, but it could be a major problem. I have both 9mary ammo and a 45cal. prefer the 45 over the 9mary ammo. Have concealed weapon permit, I carry the 45cal. My 45 is over 33 years old and still shoot like it was brand new. I go through a box of ammo for each every month. .45 calibers. The premiere mans-stopping round, proven over and over as an excellent heavy pistol round since 1911.

I think the .40 cal was a compromise, going up to the 10mm, but the .45 was designed to drop a drug-crazed terrorist (also known as a Moro tribesman in the Muslim influenced areas of the Philippines'). I say bring them back. I have witnessed what the 9mm doesn't do. .45 any day. While the venerable 45 was, in fact, designed to knock down the original uppity Muslims and almost 100 years later is still relevant. On a personal note, I could never qualify above Sharpshooter with it. With the M9, I got Expert the first time out and every shoot afterwards.

The Beretta 92F was brought in because the US needed to maintain the bases in Italy. It was very simply a "Quid Pro Quo." No studies were done, no one's opinion was asked, the change was simply done. No military member I have asked would take a 9mm over a .45. Many people I talked to owe their lives to the .45.

I've also heard that .45s are like gold over in Iraq, as soldiers there are trying to get their hands on one because the 92F doesn't do the job. The only way a 9mm can stack up to the .45 in stopping power is if you're using Black Talon or Gold Dot hollow-point ammo. However I have heard these two brands of ammo are now restricted.

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6/8/09: White House Press Briefing

House, as it is to the critics? Mr. Gibbs: I think if you -- as we have said here many times, the overall theme of her comments were that her experiences matter, just as they did for and just as they have for, in the quotes of Judge Sandra Day O'Connor -- Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Justice Ginsburg, Justice Alito. I think Judge Sotomayor has said in her visits that the speech that you're referring to was a poor choice of words. But that -- The Press: He's actually referring to five or ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nER5JntnDTw&hl=en