Think, really think, about what it must have been like to literally bet your life and the lives of those you love on what was, at the time, treason.
Sure, everyone says they’ll pick up a rifle and ‘fight for their freedom’ but these guys actually did it.
While we may not know if we’re made of similar stuff until called upon, we can at least try to be ready. So…head to the range and put some metal in the air.
People were made of more stern stuff back then. After the British slaughtered some of the town folk, hundreds of regular folks showed up to do battle with one of the largest most powerful military’s at the time.
No cell phones, email or social media, all done by word of mouth.
We’d never win WWII with the population we have today… Not a chance…
Regards
I read an article recently about how the new hot fashion trend for millennial men is a scrunchie for their long hair. I shared the article with my wife, and she made the exact same comment you did. If we get into another world war, it would be a real wake up for our society in general.
I’m fortunate that pretty much everyone I hold close is either serving or former / retired military with commensurate views… Even the GF was an Army warrant. Those metro, gender neutral, gender confused, sensitive girlymen I see running around Tuscaloosa are a world away from my daily life… Thank God…
Regards
I’m not so sure you’re right. The men of America aren’t what they used to be, but the rest of the world (at least the people in Europe) are just as bad, if not worse…
I’m kinda lumping all western societies together here… Spent many years in Europe. My family sent 8 men and 1 woman (my Aunt Betty) to WWII. 6 came back. We lost one more in the Korean War. My Dad and his cousins were the toughest, most admirable men I ever met. My aunt was pretty damn tough as well. The folks I see on a daily basis couldn’t hold the pot that generation pissed in… JMHO…
Regards
Simpler times. I think they lived in a society that placed a high value on issues most don’t care anything about today.
This.
My grandparents generation were the ones that supported Roosevelt’s new deal. A lot of those people had very different ideas, but they were terrible ideas. We live in a great time.
I don’t know about that guys. We have some pretty good people in outfits like the Seals, Delta, Force Recon, etc. These guys are made of the right stuff.
I know they are a cut way above your average person, but when people are sufficiently motivated they can accomplish great things and propel themselves to heroic deeds. The problem is the threat matrix is very gradual so it sneaks up on you until it’s possibly to late. The old frog in the kettle syndrome.
I agree. We also have some pretty good people in “regular” units in all the branches of our armed forces. An example: I was mobilized and deployed after 9/11 to an air base in the middle east. I and my fellow reservists, average age probably about 40 years, arrived at a base set up and operated primarily by “kids” in their late teens and early twenties. Yes, they had senior NCOs and officers to lead them, but the youngsters did the heavy lifting. At the time I was 40 years old. I couldn’t be any prouder than I was then to work with those young and motivated airmen.
We also had marine units rotate back through our base after time in Afghanistan. Although I didn’t work directly with them, my feelings towards them were the same. We asked a lot of our youth and they delivered. Many still do.
H airman
In no way was I trying to look past the rest of our kick ass armed forces, which I am grateful to hear you were part of, thanks for that. I believe that when a person joins up to serve in any service arm, they are probably one cut above the parents basement game playing millennials who whine about MAGA hats and complain/whine about various trivial life trials.
Bwhntr64
You are right…
Real good guys, but nowhere near enough of them.
Plus there are too many sc*mbags trying to ensure America can’t get more!
Perhaps you should collect THOSE and use them as a two-legged (for a while) mine clearance system…
It might reduce the heat on the kettle!
Ceejay
With comments like that you may scare them into safe rooms. The horror, the horror!
Remember, there are more ways to effect change than lining up, shouldering a flintlock and firing a volley.
Irish Democracy…
“One need not have an actual conspiracy to achieve the practical effects of a conspiracy. More regimes have been brought, piecemeal, to their knees by what was once called ‘Irish Democracy,’ the silent, dogged resistance, withdrawal, and truculence of millions of ordinary people, than by revolutionary vanguards or rioting mobs.”
— James Scott. Page 14 Two Cheers for Anarchism
It was great to learn that I’m a descendent of one of these 3%. Found out that my great-great-great grandfather and his brother were captured in a battle and sent to a British Prisoner of war ship in New York Harbor where my uncle died. After the war my grand father moved to the shores of Lake Erie in western PA. There is a newspaper article about him that stated that during the War of 1812 when British ships were seen on Lake Erie near his home he would take his rifle down to the lake and take shots at the British ships.
balls of steel, and a wheelbarrow to carry them around. but put it perspective. indian raids were still a thing. foreign powers still lusted after your lands. you/your father had not long ago carved a country out of wilderness with little to no help from the very people that now for all intents try to enslave you. death was around every corner, and few expected to live to 40 years of age. those that had the balls to get on the boats for the new world brought with then the dna recipe for raw courage. hopefully it hasn’t been diluted too much for the coming trials.
RR
Well said! Our forefathers were made of very stern stuff. And they forged this country in the crucible of trial and peril.
Yeah. Never a bad time and a great reminder to go out and train hard…. I’m curios commander what do you do train and who do you follow to learn from when it comes to shooting pistol and primary rifle. I love your gear advice but also love to learn how to use it more effectively just in case we have to break it out which could be soon. Great site. Thanks man. I love your ruger stuff too