Question for my fellow vets

That’s a 10 minute stand and salute if you get caught in Okinawa colors. Nobody wants to stand through that Japanese anthem.

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I gave my Soldier a company grade art 15 when I was a commander for running into the hangar doing just that. His wife called me and told me I was being unfair. He couldn’t even handle his own business his wife had to.

ETA: this was the straw that broke the back not the sole reason for the art 15

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This is the wrong answer.

Did anyone else's father or grandfather really hate the Japs?

Yeah I’ve seen that crap pulled at ft. Stewart

It’s bullshite; I always made sure my radio was off when I was on post while driving so I can get out my car and stand outside at 1700

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While I was stationed at Camp Schwab in Oki, 97% of the guys there would always run inside a building so they didn’t get caught outside when colors came on, because they didn’t want to stand and salute.

It was like that on every other base I’ve been on in Japan as well as Camp Lejune in NC.

Was that just a Marine thing or did y’all see this in the other branches?

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1. This is ridiculously overplayed. In fact, I've seen this posted on other message boards and makes it appear like you weren't in the military at all, especially to choose Memorial Day as the opportunity to flame the military. Maybe some Joes ran a train on your old lady.

2. There is certainly a degree of laziness everywhere you go, but not even close to the percentage you imply here.

3. The #1 reason any servicemember ducks out of colors is because some a-hole uses it as an opportunity to accuse him of being a shitbird. Many times you can hear the cannon but you can't hear horn, or can't see the flag, or are so far away that you hear neither but then see a couple people saluting and everyone turns around and looks at the late-comers as if they did something wrong - and rest assured, some douche bag will come along and accuse that servicemember of being a shite bag for not standing long enough, not saluting soon enough, or not facing the correct direction, or some other nonsense, rather than giving a simple correction or using common sense. I've even seen guys carrying stuff, stop and stand at attention and get lit up because they didn't drop it all and salute and seen other times when guys carry stuff, they hear the cannon, place things on the ground and stand and salute, and they get lit up for not stopping immediately when they heard the cannon. With junior guys approached by an NCO it is often followed up with "Who's your First Sergeant?". When these are the consequences for rendering honors at colors, why wouldn't someone go inside?

But again, doesn't happen anywhere near as often as you imply. Maybe you're just a POG.

I put in 21 years, 8 months and 12 days of service. Nothing heroic. Didn't go chasing promotions. Don't give a shite about people "supporting the troops". Just did what I was paid to do. Never complained about where I was sent and I went to some pretty shitty places and left my family behind all the time.

Now think of how many times in those nearly 22 years I stood at attention for the national anthem. On the base, for base functions, for visiting DVs, for awards ceremonies, for off-base stuff like Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, July 4th, air shows, funerals, on and on and on.

So forgive me if I decide to double-time it here and there so I can go the frick on with my day. How patriotic do I need to be for you?

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Did anyone else's father or grandfather really hate the Japs?

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I have a neighbor that stopped talking to me because I bought a Nissan truck. He is almost 90 now.

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I feel the same way, particularly when someone my age says "thank you for your service" , my thought goes to "where the F@@@ were you in 1971?"

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My thoughts exactly! I volunteered for the Army just before Christmas of my senior year (1974) in high school and 2 weeks after graduation I was sweating out basic at Fort Polk. I was 17 years old and didn't make Vietnam but had the privilege of working with many who were coming out of 'Nam. Many horrific stories shared by America's heroes. I salute you, and all your brothers-in-arms!

I guess he doesn’t talk to a lot of people considering 3 of the top 4 car brands are Japanese.