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Please take a moment to consider the content of the following rant…



ok?


Now, will it offend you? Make you throw up or become outraged? – If so, please do not read.

This is for open, intelligent debate/discussion.

And, as always, I am not aiming this at any one person or group of people…

That being said…

Gay marriage. Why is this even an issue? Homosexuality is as old as man, and older than any religion walking the earth these days. How can we, as humans, place restrictions on other human beings in this way? It is offensive and wrong to do so.

Arguments against it seem… well, poorly thought-out at best. Best example is: “Gay marriage is an abomination and an affront to the sanctity of marriage as put forth in the Bible (or Koran or Torah or Book of the Dead… the book’s name doesn’t matter)!” – well, correct me if I’m wrong but 99% of the weddings to which I have been in my life used the phrases “Until death do us part” or “What God has put together, let no man put asunder.” – so, how is it we have divorce? I mean, doesn’t that action destroy the “sanctity of marriage”? So… with this logic, I think that there should be a constitutional ban on straight divorce! – So we can protect the whole “sanctity” thing.

The next argument is “well, why not let them have civil unions!” – Well, that would be cool… except that civil unions don’t always translate to legal rights of a spouse, visitation at hospitals, pensions, taxes, children, etc… Not to mention that in many cases a “civil union” in State A is not valid in State B. So, the “fake marriage” would stop at state lines. Thus: FAIL.

You see… I think it is pretty awful that people can be so high and mighty as to try and force their idea of “family” on other people this way. Families come in many shapes, sizes, sexes, colors, races, genders, religions… It doesn’t have to be a mommy, daddy, and kids.

If people are so dead-set against gay marriage, I think we ought to end this country right now and start over… I mean, we should also ban free thought, open-mindedness, religions that aren’t state-approved, colored sweaters, blue socks, ties on Wednesdays and various other things that should have no affect on your life when another person does it.

Gay marriage only affects the 2 people in the marriage. Not me, not you, not the old couple down the street… They shouldn’t need anyone’s approval to do it. It should be their right to do so in our so-called “land of the free.”

So, this concludes my rant. And, as always, feel free to comment, but lets keep it civilized… failure to do so will result in removal.

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For what am I thankful?

Angie. My best friend, my wife and the source of unending happiness and laughter in my life.

My family. Mom, Dad, Jason, Andy, Jenni, Susan, Abey, Sam, TJ, Mary, Claire, Bruce, Joanne, Kim, Kathy, Justin, and Owen. – and my extended family of amazing aunts, uncles and cousins. They are truly the best family ever.

I am also thankful for…
All of my friends…
My old friends who are new again.
My new friends who feel like they’re old friends.
Living through Iraq.
Getting a college degree.
Traveling to many many countries.
Meeting many interesting and entertaining people throughout my life.
My job.
A place to live.
Food on the table.
Memories of a beautiful wedding and honeymoon.
Having friends with different points of view and still remaining friends with them.
Memories of laughter as well as ones of tears.
The incredible lack of nightmares as of late.
Getting together with my families tomorrow and having fun.
Fried turkey.
My co-workers.
Sailor Jerry.
My sense of humor.
My intelligence.
The intelligence of others.
Learning how to bake a pie.
People that like my pies.

I am thankful that this year is the first year in almost a decade that I’ve felt truly happy with my life… and it is the people I’ve met, places I’ve gone and things I’ve done that have led me here… and while I have my regrets, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
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Photos of our trip to Italy!!!!

cut for lots of photos... )
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HELLO ALL!!!

So, a little over a week ago I married my best friend, Angie. The wedding was awesome, the reception was awesome... everything was better than I basically could have ever imagined.

cut for length )
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So… here I am. The lowly, evil, godless atheist sitting in a room with about 30 other couples… All of which are catholic. And I keep asking myself “Why am I doing this?” – and I remember, it is because I love my wife-to-be. So, I suffer through.

Pre Cana is the class that all engaged Catholics must attend if they wish to marry in a Catholic church. It is, aside from being 4 hours of inane, mind-numbing propaganda, a class that tells you… well, shit you should already know.

Things such as:
Don’t beat your spouse
Communication is key to a good marriage
Sex or “the marital embrace” is only used for procreation (which I guess rules out oral)
How to raise your kids Catholic
How to tell if your wife is ovulating (because the BC pill will cause her uterus to fall out)

It was… in a word, insulting.

At one point, the lady telling us the oh-so-tried-and-true “Natural Family Planning” method said “If we can teach this to people in India, you guys should have no problem doing it.” – so people in India are stupid?

And let’s face it, nobody wants to hear the phrase “vaginal mucus” and “Mother Theresa” in the same sentence… it was just awkward.

We’ve discussed how we want to raise kids. We’ve discussed how and when we want to have kids… IF we can even have them… We’ve discussed how we’re going to pay bills and all the other crap. That’s kind of what getting married entails doesn’t it? Knowing all the weird, crazy crap about your partner so that you won’t wake up one day and say, “wow… uh… you’re kind of an evil bitch.”

If someone can point me to the passage in the Bible where it says “And Jesus said, ‘Go to class before marriage… or else it won’t be counted and you’ll be damned for all time’.” – THEN I could understand this whole shenanigans.

Point is this: I’ve been through a lot of religious hoops in the course of this engagement. And I cannot wait until Saturday night when it is all over and people will leave us the hell alone. We’re happy. We don’t fight. We know what does and does not make the other person happy. We are apparently WAY better of a match than 90% of the people in that room today according to the paperwork. Yes, I know we may have a disagreement in the future… but I also know that we don’t need some old, single, virgin telling me how a married man should act…

So… after Saturday, my only entry to a church will be for a wedding or a funeral. I’m done with all the dogma and rules and ridiculous ideology that accompanies it all.
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This is my Zombie drawing... From "World War Z" by Max Brooks... it is my take on "the Battle of Yonkers"


When Zombies Attack
by *TheDarkRabbit on deviantART
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Short, but I’m still laughing about it…

So, I’m returning to my hotel here in the forgotten land of the Texas/Louisiana border and my room key does not work. For some reason, they magically get erased in my pocket… damn magnetic thighs.

Anyway, in the lobby, awaiting my new key I have a brief conversation with a man from Houston… no big deal. Well, with new key in hand and a strong desire to eat leftover pizza in my room, I rush to the elevator… which was seemingly built in 1901. by the time it arrives, the Houstonian man in there with me… he is overly chatty.

Well, we finally enter the elevator and press our respective floor buttons. As the door closes I sniff the air and jokingly say “man, it smells like old hooker in here.” – The Houston man did not laugh. His loss.

When the door opened on the 2nd floor… there stood a woman. Dressed like… well… a call-girl. Although, can you call a septuagenarian a girl? I mean… Call-Grandma is more appropriate. Well, then I clearly catch a whiff of her perfume… it was definitely hers that I smelled…

Keep in mind, I am 100% sober when this happens... but I couldn't take it... I lost it. I mean I just started laughing. A lot. And she just looked at me while I almost cried… Through the coming tears and laughter, I just pressed the “close door” button as she watched from the hall.

I continued on the the 3rd floor with my laughter... Sometimes, life just makes me so happy.

Sure, I feel bad about it… but HOLY SHIT did it make me laugh…


Ah… that is all.
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So, this morning marks the beginning of the end... Our washer and dryer were delivered and installed. I'm now a grown-up I guess...

But... on the bright side... I'M DOING LAUNDRY IN MY OWN HOME!! WOO!!!!
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So, I have been debating my review of GI Joe “The Rise of Hollywood”.. I mean Cobra…

I am going to do something I’ve never done… a VERY short review…

GI Joe the Rise of Cobra was like taking my childhood… and forcefully sodomizing it while it ate ice cream.

Thus, while some parts were horrific and will cause years of psychiatric bills, you still had the comfort of the ice cream to get you through it.

SO… there. GI Joe is like sodomy and Ice Cream… focus on the ice cream.
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Look! A non-rant!

So, in about 48 hours Angie and I will be moving into our new townhouse! I'm super-excited! Why? I'm glad you asked...

So, no longer will I have to wait until Fridays to see her. I'll see her every night! We can cook, shop, eat, watch movies, sleep, etc. etc... and I love the idea of that!

I also love the idea we'll now have 2 floors, 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms an ACTUAL kitchen (with dish-washer), and a living room and a dining room! Needless to say, it's a BIG step-up from the sardine can in which I now live. So... that's awesome.

Anyway... that's all I really wanted to say. I don't update very much... sorry for that. I'll try to be better at it.

Take care!
-Benjamin
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I am sad tonight... Truly sad.

Forty years ago, today, Man stepped onto the surface of the Moon (and if you say “it’s a lie” go ahead and delete me as a friend, because you’re an idiot). I mean… wow. Three men sitting in a small, cramped tin can set atop a Saturn V rocket with millions of gallons of rocket fuel fired up from the ground, into the sky and then out of our atmosphere. It’s awe-inspiring just to think about the sheer scope of this event...

These men put aside everything and went for it. I know when I talk to my dad he has such reverence for these me. He has letters in a frame that he got from (someone at NASA) as a kid when he wrote letters to them. And it makes me think… nothing we have today even comes close to that. As a kid I wanted to BE an astronaut (and truly, what boy doesn’t?). I wanted to strap on a rocket and explore the universe!

So, what happened? Where has that awesomeness gone? Where is our adventure? Where are our heroes?

These men from 4 decades back worked tirelessly to see that we got to the Moon… and since then, we’ve never gone back. We’ve still not gathered up enough intestinal fortitude to start using our brains again and climb back on the Rocket Ship.

And that is what has made me sad.

I’ve spent a good portion of the evening watching the Apollo missions on TV. I know many people didn’t see it… because it interfered with The Bachelor or American Idol… or something equally as dumb. And in watching these old broadcasts I can’t help but envy the people who were there to watch it all happen live. To watch a man climb down a small ladder and step on a non-terrestrial surface… is just amazing. Oh how I envy those men. And, conversely, how I pity my generation… We have nothing so grand. We seem to have no aspirations for grandeur or greatness… not like they had. Today we seem more excited about pregnant celebrities and John and Kate… I’d smack them both for treating their kids like that… but that’s a different rant all together… I want people to wake up! To get off their asses and reach, once again, for the Moon! For the stars! For something out there!

Do we need another Cold War just to spurn on interest in the skies once again? I hope not. I’d love to see us turn all of our military research towards something useful… to reaching the stars once again.

Men have died in their goal to reach the Moon. Great men. Noble men. They could be the most unruly group of misogynistic assholes on the planet… but it would not matter to me. They had the drive and the reach to go beyond… to be great. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. For inspiring the world…

We have not been to the Moon since 1972… And I only hope I am fortunate to live long enough to not only see it happen again, but perhaps even Mars…

So… yeah, forty years later, I look at the Moon and I offer a toast to my past and to my future:

To the past: Thank you for being great. Thank you for giving us something to strive for in our dreams.

To the future: May you be as great as my past and continue to give us dreams of greatness… and may you never forget your past.


Goodnight, world.


******** “It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.”*********** - Neil Armstrong
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Offensive: adjective: 1. Causing anger, resentment, or moral outrage. 2. Causing physical repugnance.

(Repugnance: a very strong dislike or distaste.)


SO, this rant was scheduled to be – “Michael Bay: You Suck” but due to a recent Status Message war on my facebook wall, I’m going off on a DIFFERENT rant for your reading pleasure… and open debate/bitch-session allowed below.

Warning to sensitive readers: This may piss you off. Proceed with caution.

cut for size! )
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Well, as soon a I can get "awake" here, I'll be making for the border and then for home. 3.5 days of driving... awesome. (no)

My time here in Canada was nice. But I am ready to be home with my lovely fiancée.

Hope you all had a great 4th of July and nobody took a firework to the eye! (happened to my cousin when we were kids... not pleasant)

Anyway, that is all!

-Ben


PS. I just had the strangest dream, in which I Was arguing with Kara Thrace (aka Starbuck) from BSG. It was odd.

Current Location: Saskatoon, SK

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So, yesterday I decided to head to the store to buy some provisions. Because, let’s face it, $10 for a coke in the hotel is a bit much…. Anyway, I made my way to the doorman and asked for directions. In a very odd move, the only stores he could suggest were at other hotels! WTF eh? Anyway, I headed out and walked along the river. It was a nice afternoon, the sun was shining, some drunk kid was pissing on a statue in the park… all the good things of a summer holiday.

Well, I finally found my store and entered… behind the counter sat a woman in her early twenties or late teens sitting behind what appeared to be a 20” laptop. Immediately my eyes were drawn to two things.

1: She had an enormous rack (Well into the “D” range). But on top of that, it was a poorly covered rack. I believe some super-adhesive double-sided tape was keenly placed at two points to keep her street-legal. I mean, the shirt itself was unbuttoned to below her cleavage… I double-checked to make sure I had gone in the right door…

2: She had 9 lbs of eyeliner on EACH eye. I don’t mean it was just dark… I mean it incased her eyes in a circle of darkness reserved for people lacking sleep for 3 weeks and zombies... and, of course, raccoons.

My mind was in a veritable meltdown of things at which to stare. I couldn’t help but think I had found Ranger Rick’s long lost cousin: “Slutty The Raccoon.” Well, I went about my business in an awkward level of uneasiness and proceeded to the counter.

Looking up from the laptop, the whites of her eyes almost frightened me. And I said “And I need a pack of cigarettes.”

- and this is where Slutty The Raccoon proceeded to show me her lack of a brain. The conversation went as follows roughly… And keep in mind, as she spoke her head actually shifted back and forth on her shoulders like a bobble-head.

Me: “Camel Lights, please.”
Slutty: (not looking as she reaches for them.)
Me: “Not that one. Nope. Nope. Yes. That one.”
Slutty: “Looks like you got the last pack!”
Me: “I guess I’m special then.”
Slutty: “HAHAHA” (I’m not sure why she was laughing)
Me: “Uh…..? I don’t mean short-bus special.”
Slutty: “HAHA… I had an ex who used to call me ‘Short Bus’ I always thought it was a cute little nickname until I found out he was calling me a fucking retard.”
Me: “Wow.”
Slutty: “I know, right? I don’t know why I stayed with him. He was such an asshole.”
Me: “Well, you have a good day.”

And then I left the store laughing. Again checking for a sing that this was, in fact, a store and not some sort of secret semi-topless weirdo-shop.

Oh well. On my return trip, I ate my coffee crisp and took in the sights of a man’s dog trying to hump a tree, a three-hundred pound woman falling Uphill, and two, VERY white looking kids dressed to the 9s in gangster clothes pumping some hard core Rap out of their little car.

Sometimes, my little vacations are full of interesting little tidbits.

That’s all for now! Time to go see what today will bring!

Current Location: Saskatoon, SK
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: Jazz

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What up people? Sorry, I've been absent. My spare time as of late has been devoted to writing my short stories again. For some reason, spending countless hours alone in a truck makes my mind run rampant.

So, Today I am in Brandon, MB in Canada, about to head off to Saskatoon, SK... And it's Canada Day!

As such, I would like to submit the following rant...

Ode to Canadians. Eh?
(please read the following in a Canada accent. It makes it better)
Being my fourth trip to Canada or so, I must say, you fuckers are alright, eh! I have yet to meet a Canadian that I don't like. From the moment I leave the US and enter this vast, open country, I am greeted with happy little accents and people are just so damned friendly it almost hurts at first. But, in a good way. And it is true... 90% of the people I have met here use the "word" "EH" as an attachment to almost every sentence uttered and it is awesome. On top of that, they have Coffee Crisps and Mr. Big bars... And that ALONE is enough to make me want to apply for citizenship.

You see, when I do a job at home, the locals are all bitter from doing this job too long. But you Canadians have told me every good place to eat, offered to take me drinking in your backyard around a fire, given me free internet at the venue and food. TONS of food. It's like I am some long lost cousin and it is your job to make sure I am fed. You rock!

AND... as if this wasn't enough. You are kind enough to NOT censor movies on tv. Boobs and swear words on a station OTHER than HBO or Showtime!? Are you people crazy! Crazy-Awesome! THEN, it gets better, you use the METRIC SYSTEM! Thank you. You know how much easier it is to divide things by TEN and not random numbers like, oh, I don't know... twelve? 10=easy, 12=suck.

If some other country decides it doesn't like you guys, I will come here and offer my services in the fight, eh! Then we can all watch Hockey, drink some Tim Horton's and eat a Coffee Crisp!

But, alas, I must finish this rant and shower and make my way to Saskatoon. Nothing says Happy Canada Day like a 5 hour drive!

So,

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Current Location: Brandon, MB
Current Music: Oh, Canda

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SQUIRRELS!!!!!!!


So… today at Grant Park, I witnessed, what would be later described by the Nature Channel and a snuff film in the making, a horrific event. Only I had no camera and the incident was only seen by my naked eye. My naked, horrified eye…

So, I was standing there in the rain as I had been doing for the previous 2 hours. My shirt and skin were soaked through and my body was weak with fatigue. It was in this weakened state that my eyes were drawn to a sudden and violent movement in the distance… It will haunt me in the years to come.

I saw 2 squirrels… one was smaller than the other and clearly the one being violated. The larger, aggressive squirrel kept chasing her and forcing himself on her. Up the tree, down the tree, through the water… it didn’t matter. I kept waiting for him to smack her and call her Whitney. While the people around me talked about the day’s work ahead of us I was drawn to this horrific scene of nature… this unholy violation of a young squirrel in her prime being tackled repeatedly and forced to submit against her will… I felt dirty. I felt like I couldn’t wash the pain away regardless of the rain!

When it ended, I cried a little. The smaller squirrel climbed a tree and ran home to wash away the sin while the larger one stood there, bragging to his squirrel friends and going on with his nut gathering… asshole squirrel.

Anyway… I now go to attempt my sleep. But I feel the actions I witnessed today will not allow me a peaceful rest. Marty Stouffer and Wild America tell you that nature is beautiful and wonderful… they don’t tell you about the violent, Bobby Brown squirrels out there. They don’t tell you that nature is evil and violent and can turn a normal job into a backroom snuff show.

They just don’t tell you about the HORROR! THE HORROR!!!!!!!!


The end.
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So, I got a scratch on my hand the other day at work and it just wouldn't get better... this morning, I found a small sliver of metal in it... how crazy is that?
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SO... today I left work to come home and cash a check before the banks close... nothing too exciting. But when I enter the local Chase Bank the usual air of "hurry the fuck up, we're almost closed" was not there... instead, a small huddle of people surrounded what appeared to be some trapped and feral animal in the corner. In any event... it was something in pain.

Well, in being the busy-body that I am in these events, I of course walk over and use the tried and true "Excuse me, I have some medical training from the Army" (SOME... I didn't say a lot. I just wanted to see what was up)... Well, they sure trust a man in a past-tense uniform. BEHOLD THE ANIMAL!!! ....Turns out, it was not a wild animal, but a child. A small boy who had been playing with the clasps on the end of the "magic lane ropes" of the bank line... Well, I'm not sure how A led to B... but all I know is that there was a significant amount of blood on the floor and the child was screaming like he'd been given a swift beating by an ex-con.

The child extended his hand and removed the wad of paper-towels... And I draw back in abhorrent fear of the mangled piece of flesh that was once this boy's fingertip and quickly think [HOLY SHIT!] - but my mouth simply stated "Yeah, you're going to need to get him to the ER..." ['cause, well... I'm not fucking touching that shit.]

From here, our problem descends into madness when the feral boy is being scolded by his loving mother to STFU because she is afraid... the mom and the boy do not speak the best English. And my Hindi is not what it once was... well, Actually it IS what it once was, which is nothing. SO... We (me and the bank teller) draw them a map to St. Francis ER... but I think they would rather not go. So, she instead waits for her sister to arrive... and make a deposit... before they leave the bank. A family that banks together... bleeds together?

I then proceed to get my check cashed and turn to leave... noticing the bright, bold red droplets adorning the white, tile floor of the bank. "Y'all may want to invest in some bleach."

The end.
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How much do I hate the movie "Twilight"? -- and I use the term "movie" lightly.

The short answer is: a lot.

The long answer is: a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT

First off... it's a crappy movie. Not just in the aspect of plot, etc... but I mean, it's just been made in a really awful way. I know college freshmen who could do a better job at makeup and special effects. I mean, come on... you're a big Hollywood movie! Next... the acting? COME ON! I've seen better acting at the Kindergarten graduation extravaganza. These people suck. All the way across the board... But why do I hate it so much? Other than the afore-mentioned suck-factor? Hows about, I spent $4.00 on it and felt like they should pay ME after I had watched it. I can't believe they're even thinking about making a second... or, for the fear of killing myself, a third? AHHHHHHH!!! Why would you do this?!

I mean... correct me if I'm wrong... but what makes this a "good" story is the supposed love between the two main actors? I've seen divorced couples who hate each other that have more chemistry than these two.

Lets not forget the sparkly, kid-friendly, vampire revelation that allows our illustrious, bad-acting, lead to walk in the sunlight! Do you even understand the idea of Vampires? Do you?

Then there is Bella... what a shitty role-model. "I'm in a new place. I don't fit in. I fall a lot and I just want to let Edward have his way with me at the age of 16, even though every other boy in this film wants to do me." -- Seriously... the lady who wrote this drivel needs to have her writing license revoked... in a big way.

If I want fanfic, I can write my own. I want a professionally written story and movie... not this tripe... And I still want my $4.00 back.

See... I'm a vampire guy. I like Vampire movies... and this... this is not a vampire movie. This is crap. This is more than crap actually... Given $200 and a camera, I bet me and my friend, Dan, could come up with a better vampire movie than this.

This is the cinematic version of the Jonas Brothers.

If you want a good vampire movie, might I suggest the following as a better way to spend your time and money.

Blade
Underworld
Night Watch/Day Watch
The Lost Boys
The Monster Squad
Interview With a Vampire
My Best Friend Is a Vampire
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
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So, here is another rant.

This day is a great day. I mean... thanks to all the men and women who have given their lives in defense of this nation, I can go to any department store, clothing store, furniture, electronic, etc.... And get 50% off of damn near anything! Wow. Who knew that a good sale only required the deaths of so many US men and women?

Today, while driving, a sign caught my eye. Large, blue and red letters proclaimed "HONOR OUR VETERANS" ... the next line was "SALE LASTS UNTIL TUESDAY!" -- I mean really? Fuck you.

And... while I do appreciate, in all seriousness, the "thank yous" and whatnot... I am not dead. Veterans Day is in November. I'll be more than happy to hear those sentiments then. Right now, honor and remember the men and women who have fallen. Remember the people who stood up for this great nation.

This holiday goes back to the Civil War, if I'm not mistaken... brother fighting brother and dying to maintain this Union. Honor them. Honor the Men and women who who froze in their trenches to fight Fascism and Nazis. Honor the men who were so greatly dishonored by their country for fighting in Vietnam. Honor the men and women of this current war who have given their life...

We have so many holidays to honor and celebrate the living. But this day should be about the ones who are not living. The ones who no longer have a voice. This day is for them... and not some buy one get one sale at the shoe store, or half-off plasma tvs... fuck that.

So, there is my rant. Today, I honor those men and women in my own way. And I hope you do too.

-Benjamin



To put things in perspective:
Here is a listing of major wars of the United States. American Revolution (1775–1783) Total servicemembers 217,000 Battle deaths 4,435 Non mortal woundings 6,188 War of 1812 (1812–1815) Total servicemembers 286,730 Battle deaths 2,260 Nonmortal woundings 4,505 Indian Wars (approx. 1817–1898) Total servicemembers 106,0001 Battle deaths 1,0001 Mexican War (1846–1848) Total servicemembers 78,718 Battle deaths 1,733 Other deaths in service (nontheater) 11,550 Nonmortal woundings 4,152 Civil War (1861–1865) Total servicemembers (Union) 2,213,363 Battle deaths (Union) 140,414 Other deaths in service (nontheater) (Union) 224,097 Nonmortal woundings (Union) 281,881 Total servicemembers (Conf.) 1,050,000 Battle deaths (Conf.) 74,524 Other deaths in service (nontheater) (Conf.) 59,297 Nonmortal woundings (Conf.) unknown Spanish-American War (1898–1902) Total servicemembers 306,760 Battle deaths 385 Other deaths in service (nontheater) 2,061 Nonmortal woundings 1,662 World War I (1917–1918) Total servicemembers 4,734,991 Battle deaths 53,402 Other deaths in service (nontheater) 63,114 Nonmortal woundings 204,002 Living veterans fewer than 500 World War II (1940–1945) Total servicemembers 16,112,566 Battle deaths 291,557 Other deaths in service (nontheater) 113,842 Nonmortal woundings 671,846 Living veterans 4,762,000 Korean War (1950–1953) Total servicemembers 5,720,000 Serving in-theater 1,789,000 Battle deaths 33,741 Other deaths in service (theater) 2,827 Other deaths in service (nontheater) 17,730 Nonmortal woundings 103,284 Living veterans 3,734,000 Vietnam War (1964–1975) Total servicemembers 8,744,000 Serving in-theater 3,403,000 Battle deaths 47,410 Other deaths in service (theater) 10,789 Other deaths in service (nontheater) 32,000 Nonmortal woundings 153,303 Living veterans 8,295,000 Gulf War (1990–1991) Total servicemembers 2,225,000 Serving in-theater 665,476 Battle deaths 147 Other deaths in service (theater) 382 Other deaths in service (nontheater) 1,565 Nonmortal woundings 467 Living veterans 1,852,000 Operation Enduring Freedom (October, 2001- present) (Afghanistan/Pakistan) Battle Deaths--373 Wounded--1,096 Operation Iraqi Freedom (March 2003 - present) Total Deaths--3,391 KIA--2,761 Wounded--23,924 US civilian deaths-contractors--147 Non-hostile deaths--585
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