I know that there has to be at least one soldier on here. I have something I want to say, and I want to see how many replies this gets. I want to see how supportive DarkSide is of our troops. If you know someone who served, is serving, or will be serving, tell us. Give a shout out to our soldiers!

I know three soldiers...
My grandfather, who was a sniper for the US army.
My other grandfather, who was a soldier Korea.
My uncle, who is currently serving the 82nd Airborne.


All gave some... Some gave all... To all those who have served, are serving and who will serve... Thank you for your courage, commitment and sacrifice!!!

Thank you!!!



Lauren <3

Canada is there helpin out to dude. And thanks for makin this topic

Both grandfathers fought in WW2, one Navy, one air force
cousin currently in afganistan

Don't forget dynamite - it's not an American war - to date 292 British soldiers have lost their lives as well - this is a global war and you're posting on a global site..

My father was based in Durban and fought the Japanese in WW2

and I did my bit in Northern Ireland...

It only matters when everyone realises it was worth it...

Wow. I'm prayin for you cousin, TerraPunks. And thanks for replying!

<3



I know, GaZa, that it isn't just America. I don't have much worldly exoerience, but it just seems to me that America has a hard time accepting the fact that freedom isn't free. So many people protest, and yes, they have the right. But I don't think it is right for soldiers to die and risk everything for us citizens to be able to have free speech, and then we go out and call Vietnam vets baby-killers and spit in their faces, we go to funerals for vets and those who have fallen serving our country(ies) and yell and scream how unjust and wrong war is, it may be wrong, it maybe unjust, but those very wars gave us freedom. People say end the war. What they don't get is that if this war ends, it's only a matter of time before freedom does.

My Grandfather: a 20 year vet in the U.S. Army. Served as a distinguished Rifleman, Engineer, Quartermaster, and Staff Sergeant at Fort Eustis Virginia. He did a tour in WW2, and Korea where he was shot and saved by his dog tags. Was the best Shooter the Army ever had at the time, and was finally retired . . . Died late last year.

I pray every day that we just decide to swallow some of our pride and let the boys come home cause believe it or not some of the men that looked up to me were deployed to Iraq and there is nothing worse for a superior officer to have to do than look a family member straight in the eyes and tell them why their son isn't coming home.

I'm not a very good debater - I only state what I know to be fact... I have never been able to confront an argument if I don't know the answer...

All I can say about your point of view is from experience and a fondness of current affairs..

I feel the angst among the people who want their kindred home - but - there are more young people wanting to serve the forces than ever before...

Now I don't know if it's for their own patriotic reasons or if it's because they think that 'it won't be me' and it's a job...

I believe we need to be there until that f****d up country can get their own grip on it..

When was the last time you heard about the tyranny of Iraq? It's been a while...

The soldiers will come home - it's when they get home they need to know they are totally appreciated and don't forget that if the Allies didn't win in the last big war we'd all be talking German...

This is a little bit like crash and his dogtags. When my grandfather was flying he was shot by a bullet right in the chest and when the shrapnel was removed i got it cleaned and i keep it beside my bed so i always have somthin to remember him by. That didn't kill him, but smoking did

I support our troops when its for a good cause. WWII is a good example. It actually meant something. Now all I see is political wars... Like the occupation in Iraq *cough cough*

as an ex squaddie myself i find it hard not to support the allied troops,those guys are just following orders from the top,look up that hill and you will eventually see who started the ball rolling down.some shiney arsed civvy with an agenda.the boys on the front line get it in the neck when they are on tour, then again when they get home by the press and activists,i talk from experience. so yes,i support the troops for the sacrifice they make, and give my sympathies to the famalies of the heroes, who gave their lives in another country.

GOD BLESS THEM ALL.

I'm not a soldier but all of them whatever their nationality deserve our support, if it is just a political war then that isn't their fault so everyone should get behind the troops

Im not on anyones side here nor am i starting an argument but i kinda take offense in that last line...im german.

on the topics note, TBH its the fault of every country thats sent troops to iraq. They should all just come home, even germany has some troops there to my knowledge. But still we should honour they're service either way.

One of the many things Obama said he would do, yet he doesn't...

I support the troops fully. I have plenty of friends over there now, or who have been, army, navy and RAF. I just don't support the reason they are there. Not the troops fault, they just get told where to go, and so deserve our love and support. The politicians can go do one of a cliff though for all I care

I agree Dav13s. I support our troops, I just don't support the reason they are there.

I know many Slovakian soldiers - and all I can tell about them - they are drunks, thieves & neonazis.
I used to work as medical help in Slovak army & part of my job was to prepear them for the missions.

It looks like some members have struck a chord, with some of you. I'm not sure if this was intended, or whether a few indiscretions slipped out in this post. I'm glad this was brought up, but feel my views would do little to make this post any better, or more vital.

There will Always be protesters dynamitesgurl. You can't end that, but we give them that right. Though there are some it leaves a lasting impression on. To be shamed by your own country doesn't seem right, but it happens and it affects a person a lot. I myself am a Vietnam Veteran, and for a lot of years never acknowledged it. Then after Desert-Storm my wife and I were at a military base that was honoring the Desert-Storm Veterans. They spoke of them as War Heroes. I turned and looked at my wife and said "I'm a War Hero too." From that day on I've Worn the term Vietnam Veteran with pride.

I SUPPORT OUR TROOPS. Not the politicians or the political BS.

PM sent

I think we should support our troops (by we I mean everybody in every country on every continent)
they all are very brave and putting their lives on the line for there countrymen and in alot of cases the betterment of the entire world.


for the soldiers of the world. Even if we disagree with what they are fighting for. The ones we may see as the"bad guys" probably feel the same way about those they are fighting.

So far, luckily, all the ones brought home so far have had a heroes welcome at Wooton Basset, mostly from friends and relatives, but also from the townspeople themselves who seem to see it as a duty to be present when the fallen are brought home.

No doubt there are those in this country, as well as all the others that disagree with the action, but it's not the soldiers fault they are there. They go where they are told, and do their best. They deserve our thanks, our best wishes and our prayers.

To those out there, of all nations, stay safe while on post, and come home to your families.

I definitely agree with the last two posts and not because I am married to one of them.(Hi babe)

This is intended for nobody in particular, and is just my personal opinion. So please do not respond to this as a personal attack, folks.
Fighting for what you believe in, is a good thing, provided the cause you are fighting for is right. Harming innocent children, or civillians of any age, just to get your cause noticed. Well, that's just plain bad. If you need to produce terror, to get your point across..........and if you can't see the wrong in this, then we are all in serious trouble. The use of terror as a weapon, is a very powerful tool in war. But remember....Bullies in the playground, do just the same thing, and we all know how to deal with them. The same applies to those that use bullying tactics, to get their point across, only on a much larger scale.

Thanks to all the freedom fighters!

I was a soldier once. Nineteen and in harms way. I know it what it would have meant to me to know that the people at home REALLY appreciated the value of what I had thrown in the pot. I know what I think.
One thing that bothers me though. All these people who do not like the cause and call for our soldiers to return home.... Do they think our enemies, and they were our enemies before we became theirs, will pack up and go home because we have had enough of trying to eradicate them? My father wasn't good for much, but what he did tell me that is worth remembering is "Never start a fight unless you have to, but make sure it's you that finishes it."

I say "Honour our soldiers. Give them what they need to get their job done. THEN bring them home to the welcome they deserve!"

Depends on the war.
WWII was justified,Iraq was not.
They join the army,they know the risks.

My thoughts exactly thank you for having a brain lol

Yes they join, they know the risk. They also have to follow orders, so regardless if the war is justified or not you still support your troops, but you don't have to support your politicians or the people who put them there.

Even if they do follow order and get tried as war criminals or with crime against humanity, they can't use that excuse as was seen during the Nuremberg Trials. But, then again, any war trail or tribunal is a drumhead anyhow, so you're screwed.

i personally don't at all support the troops and my g-pa was involved in the korean war even though he was just an airplane mechanic and never actually left the us.

It's a well known fact that the 'I was only following orders' defence is a load of cobblers, dreamed up by some of the most evil and depraved soldiers in history, but if you join up, you can't decide where you go and fight, it's not your decision. I don't think the 'war' in Iraq/Afganistan is justified, but I don't blame the troops for going.

I just want them home safe and well to look after their families.

The TA was started to defend these shores, not be drafted in to bolster the numbers of the regulars, but cuts, stupidity and ineptitude has meant that the forces that defend this country, both at home and abroad are at breaking point.

There would be a damn sight less war if the politicians had to go into battle. It's about time Tony B-liar and Bush were held to account, but it's also time that the people hiding Bin-Liner gave him up and helped the situation.

There's good and bad on both sides, but to castigate the troops for doing their job is just plain wrong.

Look after yourselves lads, keep your heads down and come home safe.

On what grounds was WW2 justified None of the countries fought because of the Holocaust which had been going on for a long time before the Allies intervened. U.S. entered because of Pearl Harbor, The British because France was invaded and Russia because it was betrayed and invaded by Germany. None of the countries had a justifiable reason to enter as the U.S. was warned by British intelligence that Pearl Harbor was next and they ignored it.As to Iraq it's pretty clear it was not justifiable. The phrase "weapons of mass destruction" is pointless because it means nuclear weapons which many countries possess. If the U.S. really were true to this phrase then why not invade North Korea which arguably has a larger reason than Iraq to attack the U.S. and has far more nuclear weapons. The reason is quite logical and that is because North Korea is not an exporter of oil whereas Iraq is.

Have you thanked a Veteran for your Freedom lately.

I never really expected this many posts. And for those of you who Support Our Troops, thank you.

The things that really rub me the wrong way are things like this:






At a Funeral of a dead US Marine!!!

If you think we should end the war, remember 9/11.


Have You Forgotten
By Darryl Worley

I hear people saying we don't need this war
But, I say there's some things worth fighting for
What about our freedom and this piece of ground
We didn't get to keep 'em by backing down
They say we don't realize the mess we're getting in
Before you start your preaching let me ask you this my friend

Have you forgotten how it felt that day?
To see your homeland under fire
And her people blown away
Have you forgotten when those towers fell?
We had neighbors still inside going thru a living hell
And you say we shouldn't worry 'bout bin Laden
Have you forgotten?

They took all the footage off my T.V.
Said it's too disturbing for you and me
It'll just breed anger that's what the experts say
If it was up to me I'd show it everyday
Some say this country's just out looking for a fight
Well, after 9/11 man I'd have to say that's right

Have you forgotten how it felt that day?
To see your homeland under fire
And her people blown away
Have you forgotten when those towers fell?
We had neighbors still inside going thru a living hell
And we vowed to get the one’s behind bin Laden
Have you forgotten?

I've been there with the soldiers
Who've gone away to war
And you can bet that they remember
Just what they're fighting for

Have you forgotten all the people killed?
Yeah, some went down like heroes in that Pennsylvania field
Have you forgotten about our Pentagon?
All the loved ones that we lost and those left to carry on
Don't you tell me not to worry about bin Laden
Have you forgotten?

Have you forgotten?
Have you forgotten?

That sounds to me to be no different to "Jihad" by any other word.

The alleged actions and ideology of Osama bin Laden do not, in my mind, justify the invasion and prolonged occupation of an intire country.

I feel intensely sorry for the young men and women who are willing to give up their lives on the orders of politicians

That poem reminds me of In Flanders Fields written by John McCrae in 1915, and how many wars have their been since then? Six? More?

Hate begets hate.
Revenge begets revenge.
Violence begets violence.

They say we should learn our history so we don't keep making the same mistakes, but I have seen at least six mistakes they have continued to make since that poem was written in World War I. Wait, I'm going to count:

United States occupation of Veracruz
United States occupation of Haiti
Kaocen Revolt
Easter Rising
1916 United States occupation of the Dominican Republic
National Protection War
Arab Revolt
1917 Russian February Revolution
1917 Russian October Revolution
Russian Civil War
Soviet-Turkish War (1917-1918)
Ukrainian War of Independence
Finnish Civil War
Georgian–Armenian War 1918
German Revolution
Greater Poland Uprising (1918–1919)
Polish–Ukrainian War
Georgian–Ossetian conflict (1918–1920)
Armenian–Azerbaijani War
Estonian War of Independence
Latvian War of Independence
Lithuanian–Soviet War
Lithuanian War of Independence (War against the Bermontians)
Polish–Czechoslovak War
Hungarian–Romanian War of 1919
Turkish War of Independence
Third Anglo-Afghan War
Portuguese Monarchist Civil War
Italo-Yugoslav War
Polish–Soviet War
First Silesian Uprising
First Silesian Uprising
Franco-Syrian War
Irish War of Independence
Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922)
Franco-Turkish War
Vlora War
Third Rif War
Polish–Lithuanian War
Second Silesian Uprising
Turkish–Armenian War
Zhili–Anhui War
Guangdong–Guangxi War
Red Army invasion of Georgia
Third Silesian Uprising
East Karelian Uprising
Irish Civil War
August Uprising
Second Saud–Sharif War
Second Zhili–Fengtian War
Incident at Petrich
Northern Expedition
Cristero War
Nicaraguan Civil War
Chinese Civil War
Afghan Civil War
Sino-Soviet conflict (1929)
Igbo Women's War
Yen Bai mutiny
Central Plains War
Sino-Tibetan War
Japanese invasion of Manchuria
Kumul Rebellion
Ecuadorian Civil War
Shanghai War of 1932
Chaco War
Colombia-Peru War
Soviet Invasion of Xinjiang
Austrian Civil War
Saudi-Yemeni War
Second Italo-Abyssinian War
Great Arab Revolt in Palestine
Spanish Civil War
Xinjiang War (1937)
Second Sino-Japanese War
Battle of Lake Khasan
Hungarian Invasion of the Carpatho-Ukraine
Slovak–Hungarian War
Italian invasion of Albania
Battle of Khalkhin Gol
World War II
Winter War
Franco-Thai War
Ecuadorian–Peruvian War
Anglo-Iraqi War
Continuation War
Lapland War
Guerilla War in the Baltic states
Ili Rebellion
War in Vietnam (1945–1946)
Indonesian National Revolution
First Indochina War
Greek Civil War
Paraguayan Civil War
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
1947–1948 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine
1948 Arab–Israeli War
Costa Rican Civil War
Internal conflict in Burma
Malayan Emergency
Operation Polo
Korean War
Invasion of Tibet (1950–1951)
Retribution operations
Tunisian War of Independence
Mau Mau Uprising
Cuban Revolution
Laotian Civil War
Algerian War
First Sudanese Civil War
Vietnam War
Hungarian Revolution of 1956
Suez Crisis
Ifni War
North Vietnamese invasion of Laos
Congo Crisis
Guatemalan Civil War
Bay of Pigs Invasion
Bizerte crisis
Eritrean War of Independence
Tuareg Rebellion (1961–1964)
Invasion of Goa
Angolan War of Independence
North Yemen Civil War
Sino-Indian War
Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
Dhofar Rebellion
Shifta War
Sand War
Guinea-Bissau War of Independence
Rhodesian Bush War
Colombian armed conflict (1964–present)
Mozambican War of Independence
The War over Water
Insurgency in Northeast India
Dominican Civil War
1965 United States occupation of the Dominican Republic
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Civil war in Chad (1965–1979)
South African Border War
Namibian War of Independence
Six-Day War
Cambodian Civil War
Nigerian Civil War
Chola incident
War of Attrition
Naxalite-Maoist insurgency
Battle of Karameh
Communist Insurgency War
The Troubles
Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia
Insurgency in the Philippines
Football War
Sino-Soviet border conflict
Black September in Jordan
Bangladesh Liberation War
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
First Eritrean Civil War
Operation Wrath of God
Yom Kippur War
Turkish invasion of Cyprus
Ethiopian Civil War
Angolan Civil War
Western Sahara War
Lebanese Civil War
Cambodian–Vietnamese War
Insurgency in Laos
Indonesian invasion of East Timor
Dirty War
Operation Entebbe
Insurgency in Aceh
Mozambican Civil War
Libyan–Egyptian War
Ogaden War
Shaba I
Shaba II
1978 South Lebanon conflict
Uganda–Tanzania War
Chadian–Libyan conflict
Turkey – Kurdistan Workers' Party conflict
Sino-Vietnamese War
Sino-Vietnamese conflicts 1979-1990
Civil war in Chad (1979-1982)
Soviet war in Afghanistan
Salvadoran Civil War
Internal conflict in Peru
Iran–Iraq War
Second Eritrean Civil War
Paquisha War
Ugandan Bush War
Falklands War
1982 Lebanon War
South Lebanon conflict (1982–2000)
1982 Ethiopian–Somali Border War
Invasion of Grenada
Sri Lankan Civil War
Second Sudanese Civil War
Siachen conflict
Agacher Strip War
1987 Sino-Indian skirmish
First Intifada
Thai–Laotian Border War
Lord's Resistance Army insurgency
Nagorno-Karabakh War
Mauritania–Senegal Border War
United States invasion of Panama
Civil war in Afghanistan (1989–1992)
Romanian Revolution of 1989
First Liberian Civil War
Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir
Invasion of Kuwait
Gulf War
Rwandan Civil War
Tuareg Rebellion (1990–1995)
Casamance Conflict
Ten-Day War
1991–1992 South Ossetia War
Djiboutian Civil War
Croatian War of Independence
Sierra Leone Civil War
Algerian Civil War
Somali Civil War
Georgian Civil War
1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt
East Prigorodny conflict
Civil war in Afghanistan (1992–1996)
War of Transnistria
War in Abkhazia (1992–1993)
Bosnian War
Croat–Bosniak War
Civil war in Tajikistan
1993 Russian constitutional crisis
1993 Lebanon war
Burundi Civil War
Ethnic conflict in Nagaland
Iraqi Kurdish Civil War
Chiapas conflict
1994 civil war in Yemen
First Chechen War
Caprivi conflict
Cenepa War
Hanish Islands conflict
Insurgency in Ogaden
1996 Lebanon war
Nepalese Civil War
Civil war in Afghanistan (1996–2001)
First Congo War
1997 rebellion in Albania
Republic of the Congo Civil War
1997 clashes in Cambodia
War in Abkhazia (1998)
Civil war in Chad (1998–2002)
Kosovo War
Eritrean–Ethiopian War
Second Congo War
Bombing of Iraq (December 1998)
Guinea-Bissau Civil War
Kargil War
1999 East Timorese crisis
Insurgency in the Preševo Valley
Second Liberian Civil War
Ituri conflict
Invasion of Dagestan (1999)
Second Chechen War
2000–2006 Shebaa Farms conflict
Second Intifada
2001 Indian–Bangladeshi border conflict
Insurgency in the Republic of Macedonia
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines
Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa
Operation Defensive Shield
Ivorian Civil War
Insurgency in the Maghreb (2002–present)
War in Darfur
2003 invasion of Iraq
Iraq War
Balochistan conflict
War in North-West Pakistan
Iran–Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan conflict
2004 Haitian rebellion
Central African Republic Bush War
Operation Rainbow
Sa'dah insurgency
Conflict in the Niger Delta
South Thailand insurgency
Operation Days of Penitence
2004 French–Ivorian clashes
Kivu conflict
Civil war in Chad (2005–present)
Mount Elgon insurgency
Mexican Drug War
Operation Summer Rains
2006 Lebanon War
Operation Astute
War in Somalia (2006–2009)
Fatah–Hamas conflict
Operation Enduring Freedom – Trans Sahara
Tuareg Rebellion (2007–2009)
2007 Lebanon conflict
Civil war in Ingushetia
2007–2008 Kenyan crisis
Operation Hot Winter
2008 Mardakert skirmishes
2008 invasion of Anjouan
2008 conflict in Lebanon
Cambodian–Thai border stand-off
Djiboutian–Eritrean border conflict
2008 South Ossetia war
Gaza War
Sudanese nomadic conflicts
Insurgency in the North Caucasus
War in Somalia (2009–)
2009 Nigerian sectarian violence
South Yemen insurgency (2009–present)
Yemeni al-Qaeda crackdown
2010 Eritrea–Ethiopia border skirmish
2010 South Darfur clash
2010 South Kyrgyzstan riots
2010 Kingston conflict
2010 Mardakert skirmish
2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash

I got to three hundred twenty-two (322), but I might have missed a few. We, as a species, haven't managed to get the point yet, have we? War begets war. And for those of you who will defend with "they were wars of freedom," let me counter with this: the Bolshevik Revolution was a "war of freedom" from the Tsar, but to most in the Western world will say that just replaced one form of despotism with another. "Democracy" as we know it is not really freedom, but the illusion of freedom. We might be more free than someone in China, but we can't do whatever we want.

I had a grandfather who was gassed in WWI and was a military test subject for cancer drugs and an uncle who was in the air force and now sits in a mental institution. This is not freedom, and they did not fight for it. They were just pawns in a game to switch one form of governance to another. We might have more freedom in one form than in another, but it seems those, too, are being quietly whittled away.

Honor those who are the pawns on the chess board because the king is usually the last to die.

I will Drink to That LauTzu....We need to understand that we are all Human beings and politicians throughout the world are indeed using us as mere "Pawns in their Game of life" I think we should send in the Leaders of nations and let them settle fights Man/Woman to Man/Woman (Bare knuckle) and see what happens then, I think a non violant solution would be achieved.
There is always the option of Refusing to go to war on the grounds that you feel it is unjustified.(Conscientious objection to military service).Wiki



As for honoring the troops that sign up and offer their services to their country. As an Ex-soldier I think its right to give them respect and,to honor those unfortunate souls that don`t come home, I suppose we can say " they did their best" but I really believe they should not be where they are today and fighting ,killing and dying for an unjustified cause..Just My opinion...

Ditto.....

My Uncle and I both served, I was discharge but 4 months ago, Thx for the consideration.

i support soldiers fighting for there country. not for money. ww1&2 i respect.. hats off to them. vietnam? meh i could care less who won or lost. as for the war right now? i think our soldiers are pretty ****** stupid for being convinced they are fighting for there freedom.

Mod edit. Please keep language family and work friendly.

As the wife of an RAF pilot and mother of an ex army son, I will always support our troops and allies.
I would imagine that a great number of the men in the forces joined so that they could protect their family, friends and country as my husband and son did and not for the money.

Remember that you owe your freedom to the military.

As for honoring the troops that sign up and offer their services to their country. As an Ex-soldier I think its right to give them respect and,to honor those unfortunate souls that don`t come home, I suppose we can say " they did their best" but I really believe they should not be where they are today and fighting ,killing and dying for an unjustified cause..Just My opinion...
[knightron]


The same opinion with you!

Just here to honor the soldiers and crash for now, do what you gotta do to get back home, I know youll be happy to get back and start folding again thanks