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Have you served in the military?
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United States
I spent 17 years of my life living on military bases and subject to military discipline (including what clothes I could wear). That was enough for one lifetime.
And my parents, BOTH of whom were veterans of foreign wars, were adamantly opposed to our presence in Viet Nam, and therefore to either me or my brother enlisting. They knew that wars of empire were different than wars of defense.
US participation in the Vietnamese war was a bad mistake. But a 'war of empire'? No, I don't think so. No more than was the Korean war.
Yeah, Cabot and Standard Oil were just there by accident.
We got involved in the very first place to help protect France's empire--way back in 1953 or 1954--and once the oil companies, especially Standard Oil had invested a lot of money in exploration, there was no way we were just going home.
So, your parents served, but did you? Just living on a base doesn't count as military service.
When I was 18 military service was compulsory for guys in my country. I wasn't allowed in on medical grounds however, and I was very happy about that. Not about my medical problems but I am pretty sure I would not have fitted in very well.