Which war would you have rather fought in?

2017-06-12T11:36:06-04:00

Okay, let's get the obvious choice out of the way. We've all seen the horror of war and would like nothing more than to have never fought in one. But, that's not the question. Are you happy with the time in which you served, or is there another time when you feel your sacrifice would have better used/appreciated?

Interestingly, while serving in Vietnam, the Six Day War broke out in the Middle East and most people I talked to would have been far happier there. The military didn't do a very good job of inspiring us with our mission and Israel looked like the underdog in a desperate fight (and we all know how much Americans love the underdog, don't we?) Funny thing is that they're still the underdog but because they keep winning against incredible odds, Israel seems to have lost that cache. Maybe they should lose one just to get it back (but we all know that their enemies would never be as magnanimous in victory as the Israeli's have been, would they?)

But, I digress... I'm asking because it seems that your answer will better indicate how well you were inspired by your fearless leaders to fight the battle in which you found yourself.

Response by SGT Edward Wilcox made Jun 12 at 2017 11:39 AM

2017-06-12T11:39:52-04:00

I would have rather served in Afghanistan than Iraq. Not ashamed of my service, I just feel Afghanistan had more legitimacy to it than Iraq.

Response by MSgt Stephen Council made Jun 12 at 2017 11:46 AM

2017-06-12T11:46:22-04:00

DESERT SHIELD/STORM/CALM, ALLIED FORCE, NORHTERN WATCH, SOUTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM, FALLUJAH CAMPAIGN, GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jun 12 at 2017 11:49 AM

2017-06-12T11:49:04-04:00

As a career Cold Warrior I missed out on the opportunity to apply the knowledge, skills, and abilities I practiced for many years. My choice would have been World War II in the Army Air Corps. My aircraft of choice would be the venerable C-47 Skytrain in the China-Burma-India Theater flying the "Hump". Alternatively a B-26/A-26 pilot flying close air support and interdiction missions in the Pacific or Europe.

Response by SFC William Stephens made Jun 12 at 2017 11:50 AM

2017-06-12T11:50:01-04:00

I've been to numerous deployments and peace keep missions in my life and one hope never to see combat unless your just crazy, but when you sign the dotted line you are signing to defend your country just in case we go to war or we have to defend our nation in which we stand for. I would never want to live through what my father never talks about a 2 time back to back KOREAN WAR tour and never fighting in Vietnam WAR because the American people treated them soldiers like shit when they returned. Hell, We still have people who BOO our American fallen soldiers who have died in the Middle East and these people don't understand that why they are walking around free on the planet earth to a normal citizens as they can because of all these WARS from before and the future to come.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Jun 12 at 2017 11:52 AM

2017-06-12T11:52:59-04:00

Cola.

;-)

Actually, never mind, I am a veteran of that one.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Jun 12 at 2017 12:04 PM

2017-06-12T12:04:12-04:00

Good question, never thought about it before but since it's a slow day here goes...
I guess I'm pretty happy with the war I got to fight in, but it's more about being proud of the Soldiers in our unit than the fight itself. The Troops really wrote a positive war story with their accomplishments and performance.
-Lowest incidents of indiscipline in the brigades we were assigned to,
-longest operational pipeline ever built by the Army in combat,
-up to that time the least amount of reseeds to IED crater repairs,
-no non combat related loss time safety incidents.
-Two MUCs

That said I would have preferred WWII, I think the fact that you could ID the enemy by their being uniformed and engage them when you saw them would have been preferable to riding around and waiting to be blown up or shot at before you could start slinging shit at them.

War sucks but if you have to go it's nice to go with a good crew, and perhaps have an enemy that is easily identified and a ROE that lets you smoke 'em when you've got 'em.

Response by CSM Chuck Stafford made Jun 12 at 2017 12:13 PM

2017-06-12T12:13:02-04:00

I'm glad to have served in the time that I did. I was confident in my training, my equipment, my Soldiers and my leadership. Others served during their time -- this was my time.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2017 12:13 PM

2017-06-12T12:13:03-04:00

CPT Jack Durish I fought in Vietnam because I knew it was the right thing to support South Vietnam and it's people. There is no turning back from the choices that we make. With that said, I can picture myself as a Marine in WWII.

Response by PFC Jesse Kiepke made Jun 12 at 2017 12:26 PM

2017-06-12T12:26:56-04:00

I would rather have been Paratrooper jumping into Fortress Europe during WWII. Maybe even storming the beaches on D-Day

Response by SSG Pete Fleming made Jun 12 at 2017 12:36 PM

2017-06-12T12:36:42-04:00

hmmm... that is a tough one. I am proud to have served in Iraq. I love military history and have read and studied the realities vs the romance... But the American Civil War or WWI (of course I am fascinated with the latter half of the Victorian British empire as well)...

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2017 12:52 PM

2017-06-12T12:52:26-04:00

I didn't chose the time or place that I would fight, it came to me.
Having said that, I can proudly say that I was the right man, in the right place, making a difference in my Soldiers and in the fight.

Were I to choose an alternate war to fight, as a student of history I would choose Caesar's Gallic Wars, specifically the Battle of Alesia. How Caesar defeated a vastly superior force while maintaining a siege AND building a defensive works in a matter of days in order to combat an approaching relief force was so audacious (effectively fighting in a doughnut) that nobody ever tried it before or since. As an engineer, I'd love to be a witness and participate in that battle.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Jun 12 at 2017 2:07 PM

2017-06-12T14:07:50-04:00

"Which war would you have rather fought in?"
Only those who have not fought in a war would answer this in an affirmative way.. And by fought I imply the literal definition.. Not attended a war, not "participated", not was present at one, but fought as defined.

verb
1.
simple past tense and past participle of fight.
noun
1.
a battle or combat.

those that have fought in a war would likely have preferred to not fight in ANY war.

Response by SFC George Smith made Jun 12 at 2017 2:52 PM

2017-06-12T14:52:17-04:00

For my age it would have been RVN

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Jun 12 at 2017 3:04 PM

2017-06-12T15:04:42-04:00

I'd have to go with Rev War, specifically 1774-1776.

Response by Maj John Bell made Jun 12 at 2017 3:33 PM

2017-06-12T15:33:25-04:00

The Punic wars

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Jun 12 at 2017 4:39 PM

2017-06-12T16:39:01-04:00

Vietnam ---Would have liked to been allowed to finish it,instead of just quitting.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2017 5:39 PM

2017-06-12T17:39:20-04:00

World War I,
Mustard Gas, Infantry Assaults on fortified machine gun positions, Trench Warfare, and the all motivating no real purpose on the Western Front! What a great opportunity!

Response by MSgt Richard Randall made Jun 12 at 2017 5:50 PM

2017-06-12T17:50:50-04:00

The Whiskey Rebellion of 1791 - nobody got killed. If you're talking about an actual shooting conflict then I would have to take The Battle of San Jacinto in 1836.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Jun 12 at 2017 7:21 PM

2017-06-12T19:21:41-04:00

I am happy with the time I served. But there are other times I think I would have liked serving and it's not because I feel unappreciated or under-utilized, but rather for the honor of serving alongside some of our military legends.

But, if I was allowed to pick which war I served in, then I would probably say The Revolutionary War. In my 34 years, I think the Revolutionary War is the only war in our history where I haven't heard anyone badmouth it.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Jun 12 at 2017 8:28 PM

2017-06-12T20:28:21-04:00

For all it's controversy and division of the Nation at the time ,it would have to be the one I served in ,Vietnam I lived through a time with some of the best people God ever created,my Brothers,those ten months and fourteen days are burned in my memories,good or bad they shaped the rest of my life,on a historical pick it would have to be the Civil War have studied it for years

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2017 12:07 AM

2017-06-13T00:07:35-04:00

I haven't fought, serving during this one. Though unfortunately I joined after they stopped handing out the GWOTSM like candy lol.

I suppose if not this one... World War II, the Civil War, or the Revolution. Not exactly narrowing it down.

Response by MSgt Barry Swenson made Jun 13 at 2017 11:22 PM

2017-06-13T23:22:21-04:00

I deployed for DS/DS as an E-4 Buck Sgt. Engine Troop, but after 9/11 felt that I had matured and grown so much more that I could have contributed much more than I felt I did during DS/DS. I wanted to help pound those terrorist POS right back to the Stone Age from whence they came...I was able to help prep some F-117s for the Iraq campaign before they deployed, but I am proud that I was able to at least serve at least once during war time.

Response by Cpl Bruce Stokes made Jun 16 at 2017 8:26 PM

2017-06-16T20:26:26-04:00

nam was a place i was in sync with

Response by SPC Jeremy Gardner made Jun 17 at 2017 1:26 AM

2017-06-17T01:26:56-04:00

To be honest never really thought about it before. Serving in the Military you have the chance at any moment to be thrust into a conflict, but I got out right after 9/11 on a medical. If I had to choose, I would have to say Desert Shield. Not because it was famous, or even well liked, but I lost friends in that conflict and do I think my presence there would have made a difference, probably not, but they were my friends and in a way family. I would have liked a chance to help and try to make a difference on whether they made it home or not.

Beyond that, I think a fun one, real or not, embellished or not, the battle at Thermopile would be my second choice. There was a group that probably knew fear and kick it in the behind a few thousand times. I think about the oath I took when I joined the military and I would like to think that if I was tested, like those men, I would stand up and fight to the end as well for my country.

Response by SPC Robert Gary made Jun 17 at 2017 12:46 PM

2017-06-17T12:46:49-04:00

In what ever one I was needed in

Response by PO2 Dave Johnson made Jun 21 at 2017 5:53 PM

2017-06-21T17:53:31-04:00

WW ll birth of the sea bees

Response by SSG Howard Dennard made Jun 22 at 2017 1:15 AM

2017-06-22T01:15:09-04:00

WWll , The returning military were very much appreciated. I can remember my Uncle telling how the police would stop traffic for them to jaywalk. Strangers would buy them a cup of coffee or a beer.
It seemed even the military did not appreciate us returning 'Nam vets.

Response by PVT Mark Brown made Jun 22 at 2017 8:37 PM

2017-06-22T20:37:13-04:00

Vietnam. Korea. Only thing about the more recent and current conflicts is weaponry. Well, not only weaponry, but support of the American people.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Jun 22 at 2017 9:28 PM

2017-06-22T21:28:34-04:00

Since I hate to walk, anything pre-aviation is out. Since I flew helicopters in Vietnam, and understand modern helicopter operations have changed somewhat, I think I was just where I needed to be. Seeing the thanks, hope, and appreciation in the eyes of those Marines and soldiers we supported when we were sitting in a zone loading or unloading drove home how important we were to them. Having the WWII welcome home home would have been nice, but having the appreciation of the guys doing the dirty stuff was enough of a payback.