Didn’t Want to be Rude But I Don't Do Questions about My Service

[CallMeKate]

That night when I got home, I kept thinking about what he said. I was 4 months away from having my 5 years in, so I decided to keep a low profile and at the end of the 4 months, I was out of there. I wasn’t looking for a career when I signed on there, but I didn’t want to be filled with so much information that they wouldn’t let me go. I think I did the right thing.

For what it's worth, it sure sounds like the right thing to me. My dearest friend (military doc at Walter Reed) always hated having to go to the Pentagon for... well actually I don't know why he went there. He was on his way there for a 10:00 appointment on the morning of Sept. 11 and the city was in chaos so he didn't get there as early as he wanted to. The plane hit at 9:37. Thank goodness by 10:30 he had let me know that he hadn't arrived at 9:30 as was the plan.

 

[Been There]

Had I taken a life I would not speak of it, ever. But I dealt with classified information because I was a radio operator in a message center. I handled cryptographic keying materials on a daily basis including items that only officers were to handle. Well they don't set up the crypto equipment, I do, and when it stops decoding properly they ask me what to do. There are messages that state 'officers eyes only' , okay so well there is the routing table and the typewriter, you route the message then. Most of us had top secret clearance, some of us had a little higher and of course it was all based on a 'need to know' and didnt matter wether you had the necessary clearance or not.
I do like to converse with other service people, where they served, what their job was, what was the country like, how were the people, there are a lot of interesting subjects.

I think you may be misconstruing what I was leading to. There wasn’t any secret information that I was involved in and that’s not why I prefer not to discuss my job. My job would be unfavorable to many, including me. When I took the job that I did, I wasn’t mentally prepared for the aftermath. To this day, just like squatting dog, there’s a reason why it’s not a good idea to bring it up. That has always been a strong trigger for me.

 

[Been There]

For what it's worth, it sure sounds like the right thing to me. My dearest friend (military doc at Walter Reed) always hated having to go to the Pentagon for... well actually I don't know why he went there. He was on his way there for a 10:00 appointment on the morning of Sept. 11 and the city was in chaos so he didn't get there as early as he wanted to. The plane hit at 9:37. Thank goodness by 10:30 he had let me know that he hadn't arrived at 9:30 as was the plan.

Like everyone else in the U.S., I remember where I was that day. No where near Washington. I was in San Diego. Your friend had good timing on that day. I saw the Pentagon 8 days after the plane hit it. They had already started to bulldoze that part of the building. It brought tears to my eyes as it would have anyone’s. I just couldn’t imagine being on that plane.

I’m sure that I would have done something almost immediately. I always carried my Buck knife. You think first, then react. It only takes one person to start the action, then others will help.

 

[DonnyO]

Then u should stay away from Veterans groups. Done and done. I can't believe this thread went on for 3 pages.

 

[CallMeKate]

Then u should stay away from Veterans groups. Done and done. I can't believe this thread went on for 3 pages.

So did you stick around to read all three pages? People who enjoy each others' company can talk about anything at all just as long as they want to. Gotta say I have a big problem with being told what I can talk about and when I should stop talking about it.

 

[DonnyO]

Then you agree with me. " CallMeKate".

 

[DonnyO]

So did you stick around to read all three pages? People who enjoy each others' company can talk about anything at all just as long as they want to. Gotta say I have a big problem with being told what I can talk about and when I should stop talking about it.

I can imagine.

 

[911]

I go to 2 of those type of breakfasts each month. The one breakfast is a class breakfast held on the third Monday of the month and a Veterans breakfast held on the fourth Wednesday of the month. I don’t think anyone tells war stories, except now and then someone might come up with a funny type story.

One of the guys told a story about waking up one morning and looking straight into the eyes of a cobra. He said he was laying flat on his back when he opened his eyes and there was a cobra about 6 inches from his face looking straight into his eyes. He said he was frozen until someone finally realized what was going on and they threw a blanket or something over the snake and got it off of him. He said you could tell the guy was scared. He looked like all the blood left his face.

 

[Skyking]

Just my opinion, but from one 05 to another (and remember, you asked), I think you were being rude. Whenever anyone shows me respect, and many do, I give it back in kind. Should any enlisted soldier current or former salute me, I'd never reply as you did unless I had a big smile on my face and bought him a beer. I don't mean to get in your face, but you were and are an officer and you need to hear it straight up. So yeah, stay away.

Even though you ask if we agree or not, not one single person on this forum knows what you know and can make that decision with any credibility. Why does others' approval or disapproval even matter? If anyone judges you to be rude, then that just exposes their lack of understanding and would make me suspicious of any stories they tell, especially ones of horror or tragedy.

Whether you should stay away or join them again and explain why you don't want to answer questions is solely your decision and not for anyone else to even comment about. For us to comment with our opinions is like being on a jury where the opening statements are also the closing statements and no evidence is presented. The jury is asked to make a decision without knowing the facts on either side.

We cannot put ourselves in your position without knowing what is the basis and facts of your position.

 

[Skyking]

Even though you ask if we agree or not, not one single person on this forum knows what you know and can make that decision with any credibility. Why does others' approval or disapproval even matter? If anyone judges you to be rude, then that just exposes their lack of understanding and would make me suspicious of any stories they tell, especially ones of horror or tragedy.

Whether you should stay away or join them again and explain why you don't want to answer questions is solely your decision and not for anyone else to even comment about. For us to comment with our opinions is like being on a jury where the opening statements are also the closing statements and no evidence is presented. The jury is asked to make a decision without knowing the facts on either side.

We cannot put ourselves in your position without knowing what is the basis and facts of your position.

Ms. Fox, my problem concerns the perceived disrespect, shown to the other vets, whether intended or not, after the group showed friendship, respect, and military tradition. If you served, as I did for 23 years ( 27 if you count my time in college), you'd know when any enlisted soldier or fellow officer salutes, you give it back or have a good reason why not. It's simply a matter of respect. Yes, I know he's retired but they all were and IMO he rejected their welcome. Also (and I'm not saying he did) one should not sit with groups that clearly see the benefit in talking about things and tell them what they can and can't talk or ask about. Better to stay completely out of it. So, as a retired officer, I would have handled it differently. Finally, when someone asks for an opinion as he did, sometimes an opinion is given that one doesn't like but that needs to be heard. He's a Marine, he can handle it.

 

[deaver]

walking from my car to my job on naval air station I met and passed two officers. one male Lt and one female Ens. As per naval regs I saluted the senior officer and offered the usual greeting. as I passed the female officer called out to me and asked if I thought she looked like a man? I responded, no sir, and said I was not addressing her but the senior officer and then asked the Lt if he always allowed junior officers to speak for him. He simply looked at her with no comment and she continued with the questioning to which I again stated per naval regs that one address the uniform not the person wearing it. To which she replied that in the future I was to address her as maam. I stated that in the future were I to meet only her walking I would do so.

 

[Been There]

walking from my car to my job on naval air station I met and passed two officers. one male Lt and one female Ens. As per naval regs I saluted the senior officer and offered the usual greeting. as I passed the female officer called out to me and asked if I thought she looked like a man? I responded, no sir, and said I was not addressing her but the senior officer and then asked the Lt if he always allowed junior officers to speak for him. He simply looked at her with no comment and she continued with the questioning to which I again stated per naval regs that one address the uniform not the person wearing it. To which she replied that in the future I was to address her as maam. I stated that in the future were I to meet only her walking I would do so.

In the Corps, female Officers are addressed by—-“Yes, Ma’am,” or, “Yes, Lieutenant,” or whatever rank she holds. They can also use Rank and Last Name. As—“Yes, Lieutenant Smith.” (While saluting, of course.)