I went back to work today and found a message complaining about veterans who work in civil service, this is my response, its long but did I miss anything: How many..ONE...for 31 one years of service and three wars, four if you count the fact I was in when Saigon fell. At my age I will collect only one retirement and if it makes you feel any better, I only get paid for working 10 months, I pay out over 1.5 months of my own salary and 1 month of my retirement in fed income tax. Tax payers paid me to serve when the vast majority of them would not, taxpayers paid for me to spend years separated from my family because they would not make that sacrifice. Taxpayers paid me to go to war so they could go to college, protest, make babies and raises families without ever seeing the enemy. Until 9-11, when the taxpayers demanded revenge. For decades terrorist killed us routinely, but the taxpayer did not care until terrorist killed innocent taxpayers. Once again I left the home and community I had finally settled in, happily went back to active service and there I remained until I was no longer legally able to serve. That is when I retired. The taxpayers thirst for revenge having been satisfied, the taxpayers now complain because I have medical care, that I now cost too much, that as a fed employee I could (if younger) double dip. Now, when the private sector will no longer offer me the same level of compensation or a career, you resent what I have? I do not know your history but less than 10% of our population are veteran’s, and only about 1% of those stayed long enough to retire. I do not recall the 90% at home in their warm beds resenting me sitting in the cold on Guard duty overseas. So that I fully understand this...you resent the former combat Marine I work with who will double dip. Why....he does not resent the fact you can walk. Or maybe you resent a friend of mine who will double dip, he can walk but I am sure he is not resentful of your ability to taste and actual sleep through an entire night. Oh I know you resent the former Marine who is doubling dipping now, he who retired from civil service with Agent Orange related cancer. You resent them or just me or all of us in general? Get over it, I resent no man’s wealth or achievements. I made my choices and quite frankly I would not change the decision to serve my country. With all,your resentment, I have to believe my worst day in service must have been better than your best day.
Posted on: Mon, 07 Oct 2013 20:50:11 +0000