161st Back to Ft. Bliss

[unicorn]

Hey Dodge City,
Let's show the guys of the 161st Field Artillery unit that we are behind them. They will be departing for Ft. Bliss from the National Guard Armory at 6am on the morning of January 2, 2008. Many of you donated generously to bring these soldiers home for the holidays. As the mother of a soldier that just returned from Iraq, I know how much these few days have meant to these soldiers and their families. Keep all of the 161st in your prayers during their deployment to Iraq.

[Detector]

161st you make us proud. Stay safe and remember we are behind you all the way.

X-82nd Airborne

[Bubba]

I'm glad the soldiers got to spend time with their families during the holidays. But, my problem is where were all the donations when I was in the service to send me home during the holidays? During the 4 years that I was in the Army, it was common knowledge that if a soldier wanted to go home during the holidays, or any other time, they took leave and paid their own way home and back to their duty station.

Is this the entitlement mentality that is so prevalent in the U.S. today hard at work? With people thinking they are owed things like this. Instead of working hard and saving your money and paying your own way.....If I am owed and didn't know it at the time I will gladly take my money for the round trip airline ticket from Frankfurt, Germany to Wichita, Kansas that I paid for myself when I was stationed in Germany.

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by Bubba

I'm glad the soldiers got to spend time with their families during the holidays. But, my problem is where were all the donations when I was in the service to send me home during the holidays? During the 4 years that I was in the Army, it was common knowledge that if a soldier wanted to go home during the holidays, or any other time, they took leave and paid their own way home and back to their duty station.

Is this the entitlement mentality that is so prevalent in the U.S. today hard at work? With people thinking they are owed things like this. Instead of working hard and saving your money and paying your own way.....If I am owed and didn't know it at the time I will gladly take my money for the round trip airline ticket from Frankfurt, Germany to Wichita, Kansas that I paid for myself when I was stationed in Germany.

Yup me too. Kind of what I was thinking. If you are deployed overseas (Iraq or whatever) I believe the Army flies you stateside to the nearest port then you buy your ticket from there if you go home. SGT T can validate that. Nowadays maybe they fly you all the way home but it didn't used to be that way. These guys are "deployed" but not over seas yet. They were just staged in Fort Hood, only a few hours from home. Not sure what the disconnect was that they couldn't grab a 100.00 bus ticket...especially the NCO's that make more money. Either way it ended up being a good story that they got to come home and spend time with their families and best of luck to them on their deployment...being NG they will need it...lol

[Bubba]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

....If you are deployed overseas (Iraq or whatever) I believe the Army flies you stateside to the nearest port then you buy your ticket from there if you go home....

I think, if I remember right, that I could have hitched a ride on a military plane. If they had room. I think my feeling was at the time, that I wanted the peace of mind of knowing that I would depart on a certain day, and return on a certain day. I didn't want to take chances with a military plane and get stuck spending several days waiting for a plane that had room in it for me, so I paid for a civilian flight.

[jeezeweeze]

When hubby was in Nam .....he would have loved an R&R in Hawaii but when you have no money. Too bad so sad.

Sorry guys I know that was then and this is now...........

[ksgrainman]

GOOD GOD !!!! What are you trying to do to Unicorns thread here? Turn it into a whining and bitch session? If some people wanted to help these soldiers come home for a few days before they are sent to a WAR, whats wrong with that? There was no Gov't money involved, no one begged any of us for the funds it took, no money was taken from Boothill or WND coffers, people did it because they wanted to help American Soldiers!!!! Isn't that what we need more in this Country, people helping people, instead of Bubba's so called 'entitlement mentality' thats been going on WAY too long? I THANK all Veterans and active Military for the freedoms I have. And if some people want to help others I think it is AWESOME.

[K C Muffin]

I also think it was awesome that folks ponied up cash to bring the boys home. It's so easy to try and draw a connection to Nam and the boys that weren't afforded the same good wishes. These boys are no more in harm's way than the boys we sent to Nam. But the political climate has changed and folks are more caring now. That was then and this is now, but it's sure easy to draw the connection.

[Bubba]

Well, while you are in the giving mood, you (or anybody) can give me some money to retroactively pay me for my trip home while I was in the military. If I remember right, my round trip ticket from Frankfurt to Wichita cost in the neighborhood of $900-1200. I could always use a little help. Any donations would be greatly appreciated.

[K C Muffin]

Originally Posted by Bubba

Well, while you are in the giving mood, you (or anybody) can give me some money to retroactively pay me for my trip home while I was in the military. If I remember right, my round trip ticket from Frankfurt to Wichita cost in the neighborhood of $900-1200. I could always use a little help. Any donations would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry, Bubba - I heard stories from hubby about his trip home from Guatemala one year for Christmas. He had to pay for his, his wife's (who was also in the Army) and their baby's fare. Set them back quite a bit. There was no money given from this household. These kids knew the score when they signed up. To expect anything different seems a bit uninformed. I understand these were National Guard units and that most of them never expected to be sent to a war zone. That's a little like taking the Army's money for tuition, then claiming to be a consciencous objector when your number came up in the Viet Nam conflict. You can't have your cake and eat it too (before I get slammed, I'm not comparing "cake" to the military life).

I just don't understand what they thought they were signing up for.