I have a rant!!!!!

[XS1100 Newbie]

We lost a young Marine a few days ago, not a friend or an aquaintance, but he was the only child of a couple in Canby, Oregon. He was due to get married soon as well. What i need to know, and am going to find out, is since when do they let an only male child go into combat. It just pisses me off that this happens. I thought that was settled a long time ago. Bastards!!!
Sorry, just real sour on this one.

[crazy steve]

I think the military has (or had) a 'sole surviving child' rule, where if you had already lost their sibling(s), the remaining child was exempt. No rule for only children...

[Elevener]

This is america, you still have some free choice. He wasnt drafted. My nephew is an only son, he is in afghanistan. He volunteered for service.

[jetmechmarty]

31 sets of brothers are on the Wall.

There are three sets of fathers and sons on the Wall.

[skipt]

As stated above. We now have an all volunteer military.

[DGXSER]

I understand your thoughts and the fact it is hurting to think of parents losing their only child. However, as others have eluded to and or stated, that was a rulign during the time of the draft. As the military is 100% volunteer, there is no rule of the sort anymore. Still sucks for the parents, never easy to bury your child, especially if it is the only one.

[ddragon63]

There are some "rules" in affect to protect certain peoples from combat... but they are few and far between these days. The only child or only son rules left with the draft... If you are the only surviving Son you were not eligible to be drafted into a combat role, but You could still be drafted depending on skills and situations.

I attempted to enlist in the Army in 1997... I was not eligible for combat due to the fact that I'm the only son of a: highly decorated, combat disabled, Vietnam Vet.... these are about the only "rules" left in place to protect family lineage. I could have enlisted into a not combat eligible role... being 18 I wanted blow things up like my father did, it was not allowed, so my entry was denied. They never really explained it all to me very well... I think my Dad had more to do with it that He wanted to admit.

Never good to hear about parents burring children... Please pass on a thank you for his service and ultimate sacrifice for this great nation.

[DGXSER]

I was not eligible for combat due to the fact that I'm the only son of a: highly decorated, combat disabled, Vietnam Vet.... these are about the only "rules" left in place to protect family lineage. I could have enlisted into a not combat eligible role... being 18 I wanted blow things up like my father did, it was not allowed, so my entry was denied. They never really explained it all to me very well... I think my Dad had more to do with it that He wanted to admit.

I think your right. There was a guy in with me as an Infantry grunt. This guy had his foot ran over with a mower when he was 10 or 12, his one foot was a size 7 and missing half the instep. His other foot was 9-1/2. He wore out the outside of his boot on the small foot in basic training alone. However, he never dropped out of a run or march or anything. He refused to fail. He was sent to Germany. Unfortunately about 5 years later he had his 71 Cuda shipped over to Germany, and died on the autobon in it.

Anyway, point being, if your volunteering, they basically take whoever comes along. I do have a friend whose son was born with a heart defect, due to that they did refuse to take him.

[DiverRay]

The service, ALL BRANCHES, are volunteer ONLY now. The young man chose to go in the marines, and in defending the country he lost his life.
It ALWAYS sucks when a your man dies, but he was doing what he thought was right. Being a vet myself, and a former paratrooper, I can understand his position. Please try to honor him, and his memory for what he has given. His life and memory of it should be a positive thing, though that WILL take some time for his family and loved ones to be able to understand.
The corps, or any branch of service, has their own creed. My guess is he died trying to keep a buddy alive, or in a roadside bomb that he didn't know was there. Please honor him.....

[Schming]

May God Bless...

...All of The Young Women & Men of Our Military that gave up all of their tomorrows so we may enjoy ours.

Sincerely, Thank You

[cywelchjr]

Remember a Veteran is someone who signed a blank check that included everything up to and including his/her life. While I did serve myself, it was during peacetime and other than from accident I was never actually in danger of my life, but I both know others and come from a long line of Veterans (my father served as did my son).

[Cuda 69]

As I was a volunteer veteran,I know people sign on for many reasons,but the first and foremost reason for me and my friends was to serve and protect our great country. It's funny,I never realized how good we Americans have it,until I went to Germany,and that is one of the more civilized countries.God Bless our troops!! I'm not slamming Germany,it's a beautiful country,but when I was there in the late 70's,they were 20 yrs behind us.I'm sure that has changed now.

[XS1100 Newbie]

Thanks for all the replies guys. Although i understand all your feelings, the thought of possible ending a bloodline bothers me. Maybe there is another male of the fathers line, if not, that blood line is at a stop. I guess that is what bothers me most. Volunteer or not, there has to be some common sense when it comes to preserving a lineage.

[Elevener]

I think your confusing bloodline for namesake. And Im sure there is an extended family. BTW women have blood also.

[planedick]

Later

As I was a volunteer veteran,I know people sign on for many reasons,but the first and foremost reason for me and my friends was to serve and protect our great country. It's funny,I never realized how good we Americans have it,until I went to Germany,and that is one of the more civilized countries.God Bless our troops!! I'm not slamming Germany,it's a beautiful country,but when I was there in the late 70's,they were 20 yrs behind us.I'm sure that has changed now.

I was in Germany in the late '50's when it was real bad. Most of the cities had big holes in the ground where factories used to be and no men over 15 yrs old which was a good thing. There were 11 girls for every guy and that included the GI's there and all of them girls would do ANYTHING for a GI boyfriend. Coupled with a 2 liter picher of 10% beer for 11 cents and all the girls you could handle and you can figure what I did with my free time.