U.S. Military - Special Forces

[jcharliem]

I have tremendous respect for all those in our military...yesterday and today. While I've never served in the military, I've had the privilege of meeting many former and current military folks and have become friends with quite a few.

Over the years, I've met several who were former Army Ranger and Marine Recon. Yet, on the other hand, I have never knowingly met a Green Beret, SEAL or Delta.

Why is that? Have I simply not met them, or is there a code of conduct that former black ops personnel just don't announce to the world who they are? I suspect it may be the latter.

Any thoughts on this? Maybe from some of you who've served or are serving today.

[JOES66FURY]

Lots of spcops guys here on base, para-rescue/combat controllers, SEER and TACP's (the forgotten specops) these guys are hard core and can fight with the best of them...most will never tell you what they do unless asked directly. Just like any specop personnel, some are good and some are douches...but one thing seems to be consistant...they dont talk about it much.

as for a code, I dont know. It would seem to me that there is something humbling about what all these folks do and the status it gives them in the public eye. I nkow if I would have made TACP or Para-Rescue I wouldnt talk about it much (physically not able to do it, just to qual is beyond what most can endure...humble folks for sure.

[Deaf Bob]

General rule of thumb I have... The guy blabbing (yes blabbing) about his "service" or " combat" usually are full of it..
Know a guy who was in Nam.. We all did.. But as a rule even when rip roaring drunk.. He did NOT talk about it..
After his death, his daughter came to mine and the girls came to me.. Reading some of the declassified reports, and his diary.. Turns out he was a tunnel rat.. Something to brag about? .. Doubtful.. Brave and big balls.. Without a doubt..
Another real close buddy drove the APV with the 50 cal above his head.. Took alot to bring him out of an "episode" of PTSD.. he also had declassified reports of his 2 tours.. Turns out he was the guy responsible for counting bodies and wounded after firefights..
Coincidence they had declassified reports.. No as the close buddy got them for me for the other guy.. I told the other guy I did not read them when I handed them to him.. He looked relieved.. Reading them later.. Whew! Is all I can say

So.. Unwritten code.. Possibly.. For what they go thru.. Can see why they do not repeat..

At a derby one driver changed his sweaty shirt before going home.. He was a Marine in the first Gulf war.. Nasty scar on his side..
Teased him and his wife about marriage fights.. He just shrugged, said "Gulf war, the first". Never mentioned it again.

[Barry Donovan]

Lots of spcops guys here on base, para-rescue/combat controllers, SEER and TACP's (the forgotten specops) these guys are hard core and can fight with the best of them...most will never tell you what they do unless asked directly. Just like any specop personnel, some are good and some are douches...but one thing seems to be consistant...they dont talk about it much.

as for a code, I dont know. It would seem to me that there is something humbling about what all these folks do and the status it gives them in the public eye. I nkow if I would have made TACP or Para-Rescue I wouldnt talk about it much (physically not able to do it, just to qual is beyond what most can endure...humble folks for sure.

I learned it that way as well. Becoming focus for being the real tough guy movies are made over is not something to step and talk about. Just mentioning mlitary veteran has its weirdness.

[TC]

I met a Green Beret on my way back from Germany about 20 years ago, him and I got pretty liquored up on the plane, enough that we got cut off, when we got to Atlanta, we had to go through customs and he turn to me and said just fallow me, the door opened and there were people standing in lines to both sides of us at counters where they were searching people's luggage, he just walked right between the lines down the middle of the room with me fallowing him and no one said a word........ From then on I realized that being in the military has it's perks........

[Monk]

Went TAD to build an armed forces radio and tv station out in the boonies
at Rosey Roads, PR.

There was a barracks of Seals near by......I think they used the area for training.
Met a couple at the EM club.......non assuming, low key.......good guys and no bull shit talking.

Remember the kid back in the day that talked about all p-tang he was gettin?
And all he was getting was his right hand.

[Thumpin455]

Nearly all the guys who have been a little too close or doing things they dont want to remember, wont talk about it. I have been working on talking about some of my past, but not to brag. The memories have what you could call a 'power' over me, because I dont like to think about those times of my life.

While talking to my VSO (Nam veteran) back home in Nebraska, he told me about a guy who was at Iwo, lost almost everyone he knew there. He hadnt talked about it in 60 years, was afraid of thinking about it, and didnt want to remember it and feel all that again, so he avoided things that reminded him of it. He was asked to talk to some school kids about the war, and telling his stories it was like a weight was lifted from him, and the nightmares and other stuff subsided. He never gave gritty details, just talked about what it was like, and allowed himself to remember.

It helps us to do that, but we still wont tell many stories about what happened, if we trust you then its different, or if you are another veteran then we can talk. We just dont tell many people about our experiences, mainly because we dont feel comfortable talking to just anyone about it, but also because we would rather not think about it. I realize it helps me to talk about certain things, and that is why I am writing this. I dont feel close enough to anyone on here to write out my stories, but maybe in person at some point. Its good therapy not to run from your past, but no need to think about it if we dont have to.

Lots of weird that most people just cant understand, but its normal to us. If a guy is talking about something and you dont see what looks like a hollow expression, or an uneasy sort of dark humor, then they are full of shit. Trying to laugh about shit is a coping mechanism, if you laugh about it it doesnt hurt as much, but it doesnt come out as funny. Talk to my brother about flying Blackhawks in Afghanistan and you will see what I mean by the dark uneasy humor.

[Deaf Bob]

I will never pretend to understand... I never will.. I was/am not one of you.
What gets me are those who think they do and blab about it!
I will listen, but will I understand? Probably not.. I miss large chunks of converstations as is..
I do know the toll on a very good buddy , a good friend, both now deceased.. And a little of some other vet's stories..
I would never want to go thru it, and hope to hell I do not shame myself and others if I had to..

[jcharliem]

I will never pretend to understand... I never will.. I was/am not one of you...

I feel the same way. As I originally posted, I never served.

I've asked my father - who was an artillery field officer in Korea - the same question of "have I just not met any of these guys?" Granted, during the Korean war, Special Forces weren't what they are today. However, I think his simple response was likely spot on. He responded saying "I don't think you'd ever know, unless you became very close and personal friends."

[Deaf Bob]

I feel the same way. As I originally posted, I never served.

I've asked my father - who was an artillery field officer in Korea - the same question of "have I just not met any of these guys?" Granted, during the Korean war, Special Forces weren't what they are today. However, I think his simple response was likely spot on. He responded saying "I don't think you'd ever know, unless you became very close and personal friends."

That is what I have figured out..

[tedly]

Know a guy who was in Nam.. We all did.. But as a rule even when rip roaring drunk.. He did NOT talk about it..
After his death, his daughter came to mine and the girls came to me.. Reading some of the declassified reports, and his diary.. Turns out he was a tunnel rat.. Something to brag about? .. Doubtful.. Brave and big balls.. Without a doubt..

Met a friend of a friend back home, dude was a real quiet guy, didn't talk much, not very personable. Not rude, just kept to himself. Found out later he was a tunnel rat in Nam and on one occasion he was the only one in his crew (sorry, don't know the proper terminology here) to make it back. I had no idea what a tunnel rat was, but after finding out I gained a tremendous amount of respect for that man.

To everyone in the armed forces, active or retired, I give a very humble thank you to you.

[Monk]

Met a friend of a friend back home, dude was a real quiet guy, didn't talk much, not very personable. Not rude, just kept to himself. Found out later he was a tunnel rat in Nam and on one occasion he was the only one in his crew (sorry, don't know the proper terminology here) to make it back. I had no idea what a tunnel rat was, but after finding out I gained a tremendous amount of respect for that man.

To everyone in the armed forces, active or retired, I give a very humble thank you to you.

There's a book called The Tunnels of Chu Chi........gives one an idea of what these guys did.
Not much embellishment and, at times, will have you sweating.

Interestingly, they used a S&W 9MM with a silencer........called the Hush Puppy.
Also, as I understand it, there were only a handful of small squads that performed these duties.

[tedly]

There's a book called The Tunnels of Chu Chi........gives one an idea of what these guys did.
Not much embellishment and, at times, will have you sweating.

Interestingly, they used a S&W 9MM with a silencer........called the Hush Puppy.
Also, as I understand it, there were only a handful of small squads that performed these duties.

I know it wasn't a common thing because I had never heard of it before and only a few times since, but I have no idea what the actual numbers were. I'll see if I can dig up a copy of that book next time I go to the bookstore, I'd like to learn more.

[Orange65]

I have a friend who was in special operations in Panama and the first gulf war. He has told me a few things- mostly training stuff that was funny, but not much. I don't really think it was traumatizing, it was just life to him. I guess to him talking about it would be like me talking about my normal day.

He has made the comment that he will never be part of the veterans day festivities ever. That just isn't him.

Another friends dad was a tailgunner during WW2. My friend said his dad never talked about it but when my friend asked, his dad just said it was something he did. No biggie.

I guess there are doers and talkers, but very few that are both.

[JOES66FURY]

even the normal service men wont run the yaps unless asked. I love to tell stories, but it is to other military members. I rarely talk about stuff unless its basic mechanical things becasue most of the civillian population just doesnt understand the nature of what we do. One of the things I like about this site is the many service members we have past and present...

When I go to parties or social events with the wife folks ask what I do, I tell them I am in the USAF, they ask what I do there and I tell them I am a propulsion specialist and a project mamager...that brings it into terms a civillian will be able to relate to. I just dont get too in depth unless they really are interested and ask lots of questions...and I have not seen war...just day to day normal ops...