What Makes You Angry Today?

[Tankgod]

I'm glad I stumbled upon this forum. I wish I had discovered this sooner. I was reading another discussion about vets destroying their uniforms and/or other memorabilia and I broke down in tears. I thought I was a disgrace to the Marine Corps for that. I thought I was alone in that department. It was a rage moment and I lit my uniforms on fire. Also reading about other people's feelings and such, it's almost like I'm reading about myself.

 

[Jimmy1]

The only thing I have left are my medals, a few plaques, and my clasp knife. I kept the medals and plaques for my kids.

The only other thing I have are mates and memories.

Don't be ashamed mate. I regret destroying my stuff now.

 

[Ned]

I thought I was a disgrace to the Marine Corps for that. I thought I was alone in that department. It was a rage moment and I lit my uniforms on fire.

Join the club. Rubbished my parade and Mess dress. Somehow I couldn't stand the sight of it. Sorry I did, now I understand things a bit better.

 

[reddevil1111]

Even while destroying my dress blues I had a feeling. But I was so mad that I ignored it. Same with the ribbons and most of the awards. 2 survived due to being lost at the time. I have them now and its like the others say, regret fills my heart.

 

[Sarg]

Burned my blues, especially the "horse blanket". Kept my ribbons, I earned them, I wanted them. And as per my fathers instructions kept every damn scrap of paper they gave me. No problems claiming "boots on the ground" but thank all that is holy, don't have a single AO problem.

What hurt the most is I wrote some songs while in Nam, some of the guys said a few weren't too bad. Burned them with the Blues. Simple things lost are tolerable, art lost is an abomination.

It's a normal thing to destroy the symbols of your trauma. It's cathartic, healing and entirely understandable.

For those that don't know, we yanks can send away for a full replacement set of your medals. If anyone is interested, I can get the info for you.

Sarg

 

[Sludge]

I saved one set of Dress Blues and one dungaree shirt- the rest was converted to "stylish" scarecrows or waxing rags for the car....and a bitchin' halloween costume...

Good news is ribbons and medals are easily replaced if one so desires.

 

[Wagon]

I junked it all. And still have no desire to have any of it. Not exactly sure what I would do with it if I had it back......probably throw it away again.

 

[Sarg]

http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/public/awards-and-decorations.html in case anyone wants to look into it.

Medals to me were always a quirky thing. As a kid on a military base, I was in awe of the ribbons. "Man! Look at the ribbons that guys has", we kids would say, trying to imagine where that guys was and what he did for them. Then it came my turn. Messed up as I was, I held them up and said, "see what I did?". Nobody gave a shit. Or worse, they instantly hated you.

Now, I have two or three shadow boxes on my "war wall" along with my diplomas and such. Just a visual history of an old man. Nobody asks about them, probably don't give a shit.


Sarg

 

[JarHed]

Yeah, medals are what they are. In the military it's like you wear your history on your chest; where you've been, what you've done. Outside of that it really doesn't count for much, sad to say. Actually Sarg, the only people that might know what the medals and ribbons were for are military people, other then them no one really would know.

 

[Wagon]

What may I ask....Does a "Cold War Certificate" do for anybody? I mean...is this really helping something?

Both perplexed and angry.

 

[Sarg]

Hey, Wag. Air Force has got Sea Survival School! Interested?

Sarg

 

[vikingr12]

I do regret not keeping my correspondence (201 file) on my medal recommendations. But it's history that I would rather not go over again. I read that most of the PTSD for Vietnam guys comes from the atrocities they were part of or witnessed.

The whole thing was an atrocity.

I kept my beret and it still looks good, and my badge. And especially my Air Force survival knife with white scabbard. But I do like the newer plastic kind. They last longer.

Just looking at that knife reminds me of so many guys I cut clothes off of, to get at their wounds. I just cannot throw it away. Symbolic perhaps....

And Sarge, sea survival training is where I got my ears blown out. It was a lot of swimming and training under some good instructors.