Who Was Dan Bullock?

[EHG]

This is about YOUTH and WAR

Clio I think perhaps you and your classmates might be interested in this. I was going to post it in your terror thread but decided that Dan deserved a thread of his own.

      &nbs p;   R.I.P. DAN BULLOCK


After reading **'s response to **'s thread below - and after my initial response I decided to do further research (The thread I am referring to is from another message board).  I did gather more facts and admittedly being somewhat emotional over this issue ended up crying over Dan Bullock, and all those like him.  Probably no one has shed tears over Dan in some time.  If any of his family are still alive then he has not been forgotten for he resides in their heart.  If you want to know who Dan Bullock was click on his name.

[Still Shady]

That's sad man! 15 years old in a war died? that's just sad!

[clio]

I will look for his name on the memorial, when I go to DC in 3 weeks.

Memorial: Dan Bullock

[Neva]

I only hope that they really have fixed their problems in this area. My uncle enlisted in the Navy at 15, and served in World War II; he was extremely lucky to make it out again. It seems like such an extreme thing, but... well, I don't think the government has classically cared all that much. A European friend once told me that what he disliked so much about the U.S. was their refusal to sign on to some U.N. resolution about child soldiers... just in order to keep recruiting 17-year-olds, instead of waiting until they're 18.

But I don't know if I'll ever understand; I'm not keen on the military in general.

[clio]

Well some people want to serve their country. I myself am patriotic and willing to serve, except I am a woman and I have too many health problems. That is not to say I would serve in the Persian Gulf. But the United States has done some great deeds, and World War II is the best example.

Some people live off these war stories. For example, my good friend John comes from a family of Navy men. His grandfather served in WWII and his relatives are serving now. He intends to serve and become a Navy Officer after college.

These types of kids are willing to serve, some even at 15.

Congressman Joe Moakley of Boston lied about his age to serve in the military at 16 I believe in WW II. People praise him for his patriotism. He passed away a few years ago.

While I do not think kids at 15 should be out there killing and dying, I understand that these people have a deeper love for this country than I have seen elsewhere.

[EHG]

I truly understand what you are saying Julie, however the leaders who send our youth into harms way come with varying amounts of wisdom, some none at all.

Can you compare WWII and Vietnam. Do you truly believe that Pfc. Don Bullock died for HIS country and that any good was achieved from his death or his fellow 55,000 soldiers whose name is on that wall.

I'm a vet and on occassion I go to the Veterans Hospital here for medical care (one of the bennys (as they are referred to) to being a veteran of the Vietnam Era. I think you will find if you asked, that the vets you see there from Nam were justly proud of their service, but MOST feel they had no business there and that their country was out of line in sending them there.

Those leaders who are the worst hawks and are so anxious to send our troops off to war never shed a drop of blood for their country - as a matter of fact the worst of the lot the President, the Vice President and his closest advisers never EVEN SERVED!
They never wallowed in a stinking trench full of their buddies blood, or held a friend in the arms as he died, they never blew away a 12 year old enemy because if they didn't he would blow them away. They never saw the body parts and guts of men women and children who were blasted apart by our bombs - yeah they are real quick to come up with all the patriotic crap to motivate the population AS LONG AS THEY AND THEIRS MANAGE TO STAY SAFE -