What do you see?

Hello everyone,

My question is direct at those who haven't served their country. What do you see when you look upon a person within the military? Active duty or not. It matters little.

I only ask because over the last few months I have been asked too many times "Did you kill anyone?" This being the dumbest question you can ask and not deserving of an answer.

As I hit 35 years of age, I was looking over an old photo album and saw my younger self. I sat back and wondered to myself. Was I nothing more than a trained killer to civilian eyes? Did my service lack meaning to anyone other than to know I would fight when called?

So I post this question in the vain hopes that maybe, just maybe, someone will see past what I did and more of what I stood for.

Lavadog: You completely missed the question. I am not 'offended' when someone asks me "If I ever killed anyone." I just think it's a dumb question to ask.

My husband is a Viet Nam Vet, who made Sargeant in the Bush in Infantry the whole year. My daughter is in the Army and currently in Iraq. We had never considered ourselves a "military family" although it would seem it. I was married and waited for my husband while he was gone, and I hated the war and the Army, but I always was amazed by the guys and gals that would put their lives on the line. I do believe you are all heroes whether you have seen real combat or not. All of you are doing something the rest of us would not or only fleetingly think about.
When people complain about not wanting to go into the service or thinking some young people are crazy or wondering how a parent can let their child enlist...I remind them especially if they are New Yorkers, which I am, that when 911 happened they were very happy and comforted to see those F16's flying over and the troops on the Verrazano bridge or in Penn Station. They were ALL someone's children! And we were comforted! So ...Bravo to you, and thanks for having served on our behalf!!!
And yes, forget about the ridiculous and insensitive questions civilians ask....for they know not what they do.

you fought for me. for my rights and everything this country stands for. you are a hero. to volunteer yourself to do the work rarely any american would be willing to do. you lead the way for future soldiers. but you are an american soldier. you should take pride in that as yourself

Gondien, whoever asks that question isn't wired right, regardless how many. It sounds like something a child would ask. At 35, you certainly must know thousands more than these know what you stood for. It may be you have developed a low tolerance for obnoxiousness beyond the low tolerance the rest of have, in which case I think you should work on your perspective resulting from your service.

When I look upon a person of military stature I see someone who believes in our country...someone who stands up for what