The Military today and in 1945
1945- NCO's had a typewriter on their desks for doing daily reports.
2005- Everyone has a laptop for Internet access computer, a cellphone and they wonder why no work is getting done.
1945- They painted pictures of girls on airplanes to remind us of home.
2005- They put the real thing in the cockpit.
1945 - If you got drunk off duty your buddies would take you back to the barracks to sleep it off.
2005 - If you get drunk they slap you in rehab and ruin your career.
1945- You were taught to aim at your enemy and shoot him.
2005- You spray 500 bullets into the brush, don't hit anything, and retreat because you're out of ammo. Then attend a tramatic related session so you can cope with what you did.
1945- Canteens were made of steel, and you could heat coffee or hot chocolate in them.
2005- Canteens are made of plastic, you can't heat anything in them, and the water always tastes like plastic.
1945- Officers were professional soldiers first and they commanded respect.
2005- Officers are politicians first and beg not to be given a wedgie by an irate underling.
1945- They collected intelligence on the enemy and analyzed it.
2005- They collect your pee and analyze it.
1945- If you didn't act right, the Sergeant Major put you in the brig until you straightened up.
2005- If you don't act right, they start a paper trail that follows you forever.
1945- medals were awarded to heroes for heroic deeds that saved lives at the risk of their own.
2005- medals are awarded to people who work at headquarters and make their bosses look good.
1945- You slept in barracks like a soldier.
2005- You sleep in a dormitory like a college kid.
1945- You ate in a mess hall, which was free, and you could have all the food you wanted.
2005- You eat in a dining facility, every slice of bread or pad of butter costs, and you better not take too much.
1945 - If you wanted to relax, you went to the rec. center, played pool, smoked, and drank beer.
2005- You go to the community center and you can play pool.
1945- If you wanted beer and conversation you went to the NCO or Officers' Club.
2005- There is no NCO club.
1945- The Exchange had bargains for soldiers who didn't make much money.
2005- You can get better merchandise for less at Walmart.
1945- We could recognize the enemy by their Nazi helmets.
2005- We are wearing helmets that look just like theirs, unless they're terrorists.
1945- We called the enemy names like "Krauts" and "Japs" because we didn't like them.
2005- We call the enemy the "opposing force" or "aggressor" because we don't want to offend them.
1945- Victory was declared when the enemy was defeated and all his things were broken.
2005- Victory is declared when the enemy says he is sorry.
1945- A commander would put his butt on the line to protect his people.
2005- A commander will put his people on the line to protect his butt.
1945- Wars were planned and run by generals with lots of important victories.
2005- Wars are planned by politicians with lots of equivocating.
1945- We were fighting for freedom, and the country was committed to winning.
2005- We don't know what we're fighting for, and the government is committed to social programs (used to be called 'socialism').
1945- All you could think about was getting out and becoming a civilian again.
2005- All you can think about is getting out (to use the college fund) and becoming a civilian again. (Unless you joined the social experiment called the new politically correct military.)
Submitted by Dick, Williamsport, MD.