United States of America

**grandma** · 12-29-2006, 02:55 AM

Originally Posted by SkyPilot

This seems to be a fairly comprehensive recap of who serves and why...

A recent article with his point of view on who ends up serving during a draft -
http://tinyurl.com/yf7qyz

..still I can't keep from believing there are many whose lot would improve if they did serve, who would not unless forced to.

**grandma** · 02-21-2007, 05:07 PM

USS New York

It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center

It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions that
include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors
and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and
assault craft.

Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite
, LA to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on
Sept. 9, 2003 , "those big rough steelworkers treated it with total
reverence," recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. "It was a spiritual
moment for everybody there."

Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center
steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the "hair on my neck
stood up." "It had a big meaning to it for all of us," he said. "They knocked
us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be back."

The ship's motto? "Never Forget"

**ChemEng** · 02-21-2007, 05:26 PM

Great story. Thanks for sharing!

**ayla** · 02-23-2007, 06:21 PM

Grandma,
You gotta go back in history.
We developed a very good armed forces in the 70's. However, Congress and the executive branch cut all the meat off the bone and went to the concept of an "All Volunteer Army". A lot of the experienced soldiers were canned, the angels stayed. Now the angels are calling up reserves and guard because their concept was bunk. They don't know what it takes, but we some how listen to them!

Originally Posted by grandma

Lots in the news about small towns bearing the brunt of war losses.

**grandma** · 02-23-2007, 07:13 PM

Thank you, Ayla, for this article. Among other things, I think our greatest shame is the poor financial support for the troopers & their families. Their pay, and their benefits, should each increase every year by the same percentage the Congress increases theirs. And, in case of death, should cover ALL expenses - after all, they most likely would not have died had they not left US soil. I base that statement on the fact I have seen no information out that indicates the death rate in America has decreased by comparable numbers in these past five years.