I graduated high school in 1975 and immediately enlisted in the Army as a paratrooper, airborne infantry. A few years later, I switched over to the Air Force to work communications systems. I got out in 1982. Following a 3 year break in service to finish a college degree and teach school for a year, I came back into the Air Force as an officer working on space and satellite systems. By the time I got caught in the 1992 drawdown, I'd served almost 13 years on active duty and 2 more in the Guard.

I'm now too old to go back into the military. My oldest son enlisted in the Army in 1989 and spent 3 years in the infantry, including a little excursion to Panama. My youngest son has been in the Navy for almost 11 years as a Corpsman and Surgical Tech. He could be deployed with the Marines as a field medic, one of the more dangerous jobs on any battlefield. While I'm too old for service, there is the little matter of my son. The attack on 9/11 was the only time in my life that I regretted my age. Had I not been too old, I would've gladly gone back in the military in whatever capacity they could've used me.

My experience in the military more than gives me the right to express my opinion. If you don't like it, you sorry lying sack of shit, that's too damned bad. I have just as much a right to express my opinion as you do, so fuck off, asshole.