Strange ballcap in a surplus store

[NRAJOE]

I'm a vet also (76-79) Combat Engineers Germany

There is nothing wrong with a VET wearing a Purple Heart cap...a 'Nam vet cap...Korean vet cap...WWII cap...especially a POW cap... etc.

See 'em all the time at my AMVETS post...I'm proud to sit next to them...buy them a drink or them buying me a drink.

[troy2000]

Originally Posted by Dale

Being a veteran puts a person into a unique brotherhood.

Much like a fraternity or the brotherhood of LEOs and fire fighters.

And one of the side perks of that brotherhood is knowing that you experienced a period of time in sacrafice and provided a civic and patriotic service so that others would not have to.

If a person wants to tell society that he/she served by wearing an article of clothing then it's his/her right to do so.

In fact they have far more right to show their service than for others to condemn them for it.

Troy, I guess you'd think less of those drivers here in Arizona that have the Purple Heart license plate on their vehicle.

I salute every one that I see. For I know what traumatic thoughts they carry each day for us to be free.

I'm having a hard time finding the line you have drawn, Troy.

Does your post..and others..suggest that members, such as myself, of the VFW, the American Legion, DAV, etc. are insecure and they join just for the sake of bragging rights?


I'm not trying to start anything but I am trying to thoroughly understand what the difference is between wearing what one wishes and what one puts one their car, etc.

I see many vehicles with Marine Corp stickers, US Army stickers, etc. and that says to me the same...they served. And I often see past US Navy men wearing caps that broadcasts the ship they served on in the Persian Gulf and elsewhere.

I've see emblems where men and women say they are Korean or WW II veterans. I've seem the same emblems for Viet Nam vets.

I think it's great to see them and I thank them for their service.

In short, I might also think that it's gaudy wearing a notation that they were injured but, like I said, that person earned the right to wear that cap and I'll be danged if I will openly chastise him or her for wearing it.

The Veteran and Retired caps don't bother me. Nor does a purple heart worn with the rest of one's decorations when in uniform. The purple heart cap does, but I'd never say that to anyone who was wearing one.

I don't mind being a (mildly) disabled veteran, but it would embarrass me to advertise it. It would make me feel like I was asking for sympathy from strangers, like I was putting on a limp when I walk down the street instead of trying to hide one.

For some reason, a purple heart on a license plate doesn't bother me like one on a ballcap; I'm not sure why. But I personally wouldn't do it, unless it got me free parking somewhere.

I don't belong to any veteran's organisation. When I was younger they were dominated by WWII veterans, many of whom actively discouraged Korea and Vietnam veterans. Some local posts actually tried to ban them on the grounds that since those weren't official wars, and since the United States "lost" them, those veterans didn't deserve to be included. I've only wandered into a couple in the last few years. They seemed to be mostly a social club with a discount bar, and I do most of my drinking at home. It keeps me out of trouble.

I've never seen a purple heart cap before, and I thought it was a novelty. If they're actually common I shouldn't have said anything. There's no percentage, or honor, in insulting large groups of strangers whose stories I'm not personally familiar with.

[Apollyon67]

I can see it being a conversation starter with other vets or perhaps someone wanting to be able to talk to someone that was there. Troy. I know several vets (including my grandfather, who was a Marine at Guadalcanal) that prefer not to discuss what happened during their service. I respect that. I also know some that are willing to tell you what happened in the unglorified sense so you don't get a false idea of what happened. I must admit I like hearing history from people that have been there, and from both sides. just my .02

[whirlwind]

the only ball cap i ever saw my dad wear was his "chosin few" hat and he wore the ribbon for his two purple hearts that he got in korea.now if some may not know,the chosin few is the group of survivors of the chosin res. in korea. my dad was a 1st lieutenant there and i really dont think theres a man walking this planet thats bad enough or brave enough to have told him not to wear it. he wore the hat to remember all those that didnt make it back and the ribbon to remind himself how close he came to not comming home too.and he wore it to the recruiting station,the sgt's there were his friends and when they would get some kid in there theyd have dad come in and talk to them about what protecting freedom was really all about. im a vet but never saw combat (thank god) but to tell ya the truth i wouldnt gripe if a combat vet wore a pink tu tu with purple panty hose,they more than earned the right to wear,do or say anything their heart desires...just my opinion

[OneInchGroup]

Originally Posted by whirlwind

the only ball cap i ever saw my dad wear was his "chosin few" hat and he wore the ribbon for his two purple hearts that he got in korea.now if some may not know,the chosin few is the group of survivors of the chosin res. in korea. my dad was a 1st lieutenant there and i really dont think theres a man walking this planet thats bad enough or brave enough to have told him not to wear it. he wore the hat to remember all those that didnt make it back and the ribbon to remind himself how close he came to not comming home too.and he wore it to the recruiting station,the sgt's there were his friends and when they would get some kid in there theyd have dad come in and talk to them about what protecting freedom was really all about. im a vet but never saw combat (thank god) but to tell ya the truth i wouldnt gripe if a combat vet wore a pink tu tu with purple panty hose,they more than earned the right to wear,do or say anything their heart desires...just my opinion

:right: :right: Going with you on this one Whirlwind! For the ones who have gone and done it and have managed to come home afterward, they can do what they want back here in the world and more power to them. Civilians and non-combatants just need to say "Thanks!" and then step aside for them.
Personally I'm not likely to be wearing the hats, or whatever, but for the guys that want to make some kind of statement, or just let other folks know they belong to a special "club", good for them. We certainly owe them at least that much tolerance, and everyone knows that some vets from some of our "wars" certainly never got much else from their country once they made it back.

[Lonegun1894]

i have absolutely no problem with anyone wearing something they earned. What gets me ticked is when i see someone who obviously did NOT earn the right to wear it, wearing it. I have seen plenty of stickers, hats, t shirts, and so on around here that the people dispalying them obviously did not earn. Like the truck at school that has a big sticker on the back window that says, "USMC Retired". The kid driving it probably isnt 20 yet, and asked him if it was his parents, said no, just liked the sticker. i have a feeling that sticker may be missing one day when he gets out of class. Or the kid in a class of mine that showed up wearing a "Iraq Veteran" hat to class. Well, two of us in that class were there, and asked him about it. He wore it to "impress girls". That thing got torn off his head. Have several others running around that i've seen that are either driving Daddy's or Mommy's car, or need to learn a few things. Please tell me i am the only one seeing this stuff. Cause at least on my end, it is just something i get the urge to correct every time i see it.

[OneInchGroup]

Originally Posted by Lonegun1894

i have absolutely no problem with anyone wearing something they earned. What gets me ticked is when i see someone who obviously did NOT earn the right to wear it, wearing it. I have seen plenty of stickers, hats, t shirts, and so on around here that the people dispalying them obviously did not earn. Like the truck at school that has a big sticker on the back window that says, "USMC Retired". The kid driving it probably isnt 20 yet, and asked him if it was his parents, said no, just liked the sticker. i have a feeling that sticker may be missing one day when he gets out of class. Or the kid in a class of mine that showed up wearing a "Iraq Veteran" hat to class. Well, two of us in that class were there, and asked him about it. He wore it to "impress girls". That thing got torn off his head. Have several others running around that i've seen that are either driving Daddy's or Mommy's car, or need to learn a few things. Please tell me i am the only one seeing this stuff. Cause at least on my end, it is just something i get the urge to correct every time i see it.

Right there with you on the "Correction" train of thought. (See my post back at #16) As long as the hat/sticker/flag/decal, etc. was earned, then displaying it without any complaints from anybody would be the least these folks are entitled to do. Like you , though, I've got a bit of a problem with the imitation heroes out there playing to the crowd on the basis of ....nothing at all!
My action seems to be way historical by now, being the 70's vintage war games when all of us who made it back had to put up with years of being ostracized by our own countrymen whose anti-war stance played out as job discrimination, social isolation, etc. etc. toward any vet who couldn't prove he was NOT some kind of war-criminal-baby-killer-monster. (Thank you for that John Kerry, you mealy mouthed SOB) God forbid you should ever show any overseas combat ribbons or let on that you actually ever fired a weapon at some poor innocent inoffensive VC type person......
Charming response, that.
Now to heap more onto that steaming pile, we've got LOTS of REMFs (If you don't know the acronym, PM and I'll explain) from that era suddenly coming up with all this Rambo style phony war hero nonsense, when most of the loudest of them actually spent that time hiding out at some community college and weren't even in the military at all.
My view is if you are the genuine article, more power to you and show your colors anytime, anywhere. Anybody complains, plenty of us will be happy to explain it to them for you. If you are part of that other wierdo group trying to be what you never were, then sit down, shut up, and get off the glory road while you can still hump your sorry butt to the curb.

No offense, of course, nothin' but love for ya, of course......:full:

[Lonegun1894]

OneInchGroup,
I agree with you. Same time, I think what was done to many of you is one of the lowest things anyone could do. I dont care what time frame a vet served in, or which conflict they were or werent a part of. What counts for me is that they DID serve, unlike the hippies of that era. None of us vets had any say in which war to fight, or usually even if we were going or not. We all signed up cause we knew someone had to stand up and be there for our country, and we WANTED to do it. I've got several friends who served during Vietnam, and have heard stories about what many of you went through when you got back. All i can say is anyone who would stand against you, has an enemy in me and you both. I've had people get in my face about Iraq, and it was hard to walk away. I can only imagine what the Vietnam vets went through when they had a lot more of it to deal with when they came home. So no matter the era or conflict, to any vet out there, THANK YOU. As for the posers, well, some people are alive cause it's against the law to kill them.

[Jay]

Here's another point of view......from a father, and grampa.....

Some twenty years ago, my son (in shop class) made me a display case for some dangly things. Got an "A" on the project. He gave it to me for Christmas, after he and my wife had dug out the things they thought should be displayed. So I promptly hung it in a "proper place" on the wall..... where it will stay, because of who gave it to me.

My 10 year old grandson and his mom recently moved to Hawaii. May be some time before we see him again. A few months ago, he gave me a hat with a Purple Heart on it. He recognized the medal from the wall. I wouldn't have bought the hat for myself, but I'll wear it when I'm with him, and think of him when I see it..... because of who gave it to me.

What is it they say about a book and its cover ?????

[troy2000]

Originally Posted by Jay

Here's another point of view......from a father, and grampa.....

Some twenty years ago, my son (in shop class) made me a display case for some dangly things. Got an "A" on the project. He gave it to me for Christmas, after he and my wife had dug out the things they thought should be displayed. So I promptly hung it in a "proper place" on the wall..... where it will stay, because of who gave it to me.

My 10 year old grandson and his mom recently moved to Hawaii. May be some time before we see him again. A few months ago, he gave me a hat with a Purple Heart on it. He recognized the medal from the wall. I wouldn't have bought the hat for myself, but I'll wear it when I'm with him, and think of him when I see it..... because of who gave it to me.

What is it they say about a book and its cover ?????

And at the time I made the original post, it hadn't even occurred to me that, obviously, people would buy ph hats as gifts. After thinking about it for a few days and reading these posts, I've pretty much backed off my original reaction to seeing them in the store, anyway. It's not my place to project my personal style onto what other people do or don't do.