A Veteran's Odyssey After Hanging Up the Uniform in an America He Doesn't Recognize

[Gunny]

https://www.military.com/daily-news/opinions/2021/10/13/veterans-odyssey-after-hanging-uniform-america-he-doesnt-recognize.html

For those who have been there, relatable.

For those who have not, a good story with a lot of cold, hard fact and reality.

I found it relatable and a good read. At certain points I was thinking, "Yep, I remember when that shit happened to me."

[Kathianne]

https://www.military.com/daily-news/opinions/2021/10/13/veterans-odyssey-after-hanging-uniform-america-he-doesnt-recognize.html

For those who have been there, relatable.

For those who have not, a good story with a lot of cold, hard fact and reality.

I found it relatable and a good read. At certain points I was thinking, "Yep, I remember when that shit happened to me."

Having obviously never been in that position, I do think my Dad and other WWII vets felt some of the separateness, though not the employment problems, they were all fortunate to either grab new jobs or return to yo former companies. Still the differences in the country from before and after were jarring, they didn't talk about it, other than when together and a bit under the influence.

That was a war we "won," the last win.

[Gunny]

Having obviously never been in that position, I do think my Dad and other WWII vets felt some of the separateness, though not the employment problems, they were all fortunate to either grab new jobs or return to yo former companies. Still the differences in the country from before and after were jarring, they didn't talk about it, other than when together and a bit under the influence.

That was a war we "won," the last win.Minor correction: We won in Desert Storm/The First Gulf War.

I look at the article more in terms of after being part of military society for 41 years, I got a bucket of ice water in the face when I was dropped off on the corner in the civilian World. I have never fully adjusted to it.

We used to call the US "the World". Meaning we were leaving or getting back to "the World". The reality is, the US isn't "the World". Not even close. We just think we are. I realized something was amiss with me anyway when upon returning to "the World", once my leave was over, I would have been more than happy to go back overseas. Not the ME, Japan/Okinawa. I liked it better there. I liked Crete better than here too.