Anyone else think it's weird when soldiers say they "dont think about their family."?

[bigbutnottoo]

I dunno. Dont read too much into what I am saying but I was just watching everyone's favorite ,Bill Oreilly, interview 2 Marines who were awarded Branze stars for service in Iraq.

They both had 2 young children and Bill asked each what they thought about their family or how it was weighing on their minds when they were in Iraq. they both look puzzled when he asked that. One basically said he was thinking more about his "Iraqi children" and the other basically said that he left his thoughts of his family back home and his concern was in iraq. To me this way of thinking is just very bizarre and perhaps pathological. Keep in mind, I am not putting down the military in any way. I just wonder if I am missing something here?

 

[REDZULU2003]

They just talk bullshit .... it makes them look hard.
If they said ''jeez I miss my mother, father, kids and wife'' it would seem weak in away .... so they dont do that, makes them look like it doesnt bother them ... deep down it will , its just talk.

 

[stillwantmore]

Thats not weird or pathalogical thinking. When youre in a warzone or constantly on the lookout watching your own ass....it's not unusual for other things to not be on your mind. If all you dwelled on was how much you missed your family...you couldnt do your job and you would be an emotional wreck. If your head's not in the game...focused on yourself and your troops and what's going on around you ...lives can be lost.

 

[fender646]

Thats is a little weird. I can see Still and Red point. War is crazy, so I don't blame anybody soldier for anything they do in War. But I do blame the people who sent them there for nefarious reasons.

 

[bigbutnottoo]

Red and Still, I know what you are saying and I know its important to look tough and all that. But what I saw was beyond that. If it was just acting tough thats one thing. But it reminded me of when I have seen the faces of people in cults and there is nothing in their eyes. And personally, I am a rational egoist individualist, so altruists will disagree with me. But I find the fact that society rewards men who would forsake their own families in the name of sacrifice..well, at least a tad weird. I also do wonder about soldiers who go into rages and kill their wives and all that shit ( not stereotyping here by any means, there have been some mini outbreaks of these things that seem must relate somehow to what happens to men's minds in service). Oh, well i dont think anyone would really understand what I'm trying to say unless you share some of the same philosophy. Im surprised anyone posted at all, because after I posted i thought this might be too particular to whats going on my mind for others to get. But thanks for the input.

 

[REDZULU2003]

well man.....if you post on a board ya bound to get a response.
Nah I dont agree with the hardman act some soldiers might do ..... at night some will cry no dougt cos the wars hard, I dont blame them ... war is evil and pathetic.

I dont care about those guys faces or fears ..... if they get too over-confident they will DIE, no un-limitless hardman act will save you from a MORE PREPARED Enemy, who takes his job more serious and leaves shiet in the back of his/her mind .... Who Knows what they were thinking??????? I aint a mind reader.