By 
Sgt. 1st Class Mark A. Rosser, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 6-52 Air and Missile Defense Battalion. “I feel honored to serve in these times. During my 22 years of service, I have observed and experienced a great deal of transitions. However, although uniforms have changed, leaders and fellow members have changed, and even the way we do a PT test has changed, the one thing that hasn’t changed are veterans. Veterans Day is very dear to me and close to my heart as it reminds me of the selfless service that my brothers and sisters in arms share with me every day, as we have for countless number of years.”
Via IMCOM-Korea.
9:47 am on November 9th, 2009 1
I appreciate his sincerity, but it's not a countless number of years. I've got roughly 234 years, maybe plus/minus a few.
10:03 am on November 9th, 2009 2
????????????????????
10:30 am on November 9th, 2009 3
Countless?????
Product of the Public School System?
Maby you have an idea as to why I retired as soon as possible.
I seem to remember the year 1776 — for some reason.
12:22 pm on November 9th, 2009 4
I live in an area in Florida that has many retired people. The one thing most are proud of in their lives more than anything else, is their time they served in the military. It always seems to be the highlight of their lives. These people are well respected in the community, and honored as such.
Its so ironic that those who didn't serve seem ashamed when asked. Uh, well, I was in college at the time. Uh, I had a bad knee. "you were in?, uh, I had a great job at the time, I just couldn't go".
For me its especially meaningful as I went in during the Vietnam era, voluntarily, while the biggest talk around town was how to get out of serving. "My Dad got me into the teachers college so I won't have to go, I got into the reserve, I will wait it out and hope my draft number won't come up. F**k this I'm leaving." For me, its time for my just due, and revenge is a plate best served cold.
2:23 pm on November 9th, 2009 5
The grammar/dictionary police here need to give the good SFC Rosser a break.
….
"Countless" is often used in common language to denote a large number. As in "countless" commenters berated Hamilton for not using the new TPS format outlined in the memo. It actually wasn't countless, it was nine people and two of them twice. I'm not counting the lady I preemtively flipped off with memo in hand.
….
Next on you might be a grammar Richard, we will cover "always" and "endlessly" which most often are not.
….
And on the new show "Historical Fact Richard": the commonly accepted formation date of the US Army was done by an act of the Continental Congress on 14 June 1775, not 1776. Some may argue that forces fighting the British in 1774 were the true origins of the US Army and I might accept that result as well. See, everyone makes mistakes but it isn't that big of a deal.
2:46 pm on November 9th, 2009 6
[DELETED BY ADMIN - Welcome to the spam que]
10:06 pm on November 9th, 2009 7
Didn't say the army was formed in 1776. Read again.
Still, the founding of america is a good indicator that to call the service of the american military in years as "countless", makes me wonder about his education.
What else is he telling the Troops? If you can use the word "countless" when refering to the american military, what else can he not Count?
By the way, I didn't have to look up when america was founded. I knew and so should all military personel. It wasn't that long ago!
"Countless is often used in common language to denote a large number".
No. The word "countless" is used when you have no idea.
I was not trying to be accurate with the date of the army founding. I was attempting to show that the founding of america might — just MIGHT — give one an idea. But "countless"? Really? "Countless"?
I am far from a history major. Very far! Yes, it IS a "big Deal". He is supposed to be a leader of soldiers. He speaks to them. If they see him as less then educated, how can they follow him? It IS a big deal!
How many states are there in the union? 50? or 57? When was america founded?
Koreans know more about America than Americans do! And you say that "it isn't a big deal"?
Maby not to you. But during my time in the army we had a saying, "if you don't know, you better ask sombody"
If the koreans know more about your country than the Senior Soldiers serving in it, you just might have a problem.
It's not a big deal? At one of my promotin boards, I needed to know when the korean war started (june 1950) if I remember right. I needed to know when it ended (it hasn't but the ceasefire was july 1953).
If I had answered any of those questions with, "I don't know but I will find out and report back." I'm good! BUT to say in answer that "I don't know and it isn't a big deal"? I would have been out on my assss and rightly so.
Grammar/dictionary police? Try instead, Retired Non-Commissioned Officer of the United States Army. Yes, I AM proud of it. But that is difficult when the new guys don't know how long their own country has been around!
So it IS a big deal, and I will give the good SFC Rosser the same break that HE would give one of his Soldiers when said soldier gave that kind of an answer to a question that he should AT LEAST have an idea about. SFC Rosser would not give any breaks in said situation nor will I.
You Hamilton, should demand more from your military than that they know how to kill. You should want them to understand and know the "who, what, when, where and why, of the situation. But baring that, at least when their F ing country was formed.
"countless" OMG His Soldiers are laughing at him behind his back.
At least those that have a better idea than "countless". His Officers are hanging their heads.
Or maby none of that is happening. Maby they are like you Hamilton, and they just don't give a damn if our senior non-coms who are leading their (your) soldiers know anything about the country they might die for.
The small stuff matters, no matter what uniform your wearing.
10:35 pm on November 9th, 2009 8
"Maby they are like you Hamilton," Or Maybe (definitely not Maby, OMG) they know that people make spelling mistakes or accidently choose the wrong diction when put on the spot.
—-
The good SFC Rosser was honoring your service please don't look for a quibble to denigrate his.
11:07 pm on November 9th, 2009 9
Heidelberg Private… What's up trailer trash! No doubt. No doubt. Who would be proud of being a private anyway?
11:54 pm on November 9th, 2009 10
You want to find spelling mistakes with me, I can assure you Hamilton, that will be an easy task. So if that is the best you can do, to avoid answering to the points I made, I can assume you agree with my points.
"The good SFC Rosser was honoring your service" Not when he says "countless" concerning years for the american military. They are very countable. He is not honoring MY service when he presents himself, an (NCO) as less than knowledgeable on such subjects as the founding of the country and the military we both served. If you don't know, then you don't know. That's ok! But don't try to fake it. He doesn't honor my service in that manner.
I did not denigrate his service. I pointed out a fact. You seem intelligent Hamilton. You should know the difference.
Finally an n closin, how many mistakes did I make? At least I'm not trying to fake it. I am terrible at spelling.
Why are you trying to denigrate MY service Hamilton? Why do you guibble about my spelling? But not address the points I made? You only look for falt. But not the truth of what I said.
Not that it matters any to me. But I find it interesting that you defend him to the point of denigrating me, while refusing to except the points I made or even argue that they are wrong.
You attack me — not what I said. Interesting. It seems that we are in agreement and you dislike that I pointed out the short coming in the Good Sergeant.
Someone should have pointed it out before it went to press.
Don't forget to point out all my spelling mistakes when you reply.
Maby you could even address some of the "content" while your at it.
You have already denigrated my service because I pointed out a fact that others before me had noticed so thanks for letting me know how you really feel about this veteran.
Considering your defence of him, I find it likely that you do not expect much intelligence from any of us.
12:53 am on November 10th, 2009 11
You might want to lay off whatever it is that is making you so angry because it is not me.
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I never denigrated your service, I thought you might understand the folly of your argument. zero defect environments lead to very deficient ones. Ahh, but there go I…better than all before me.
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If you make a spelling error (and I do often) or a grammar error(again guilty), I don't have any issue with it. This should have been clear to you. I pointed out that nitpicking the good SFC for a time when you or I might have been quoted saying "Uhh…. since 1774 or 76" which some genius would have criticised regardless of the rationale by virtue of delay wording, use of "uh", or lack of precision.
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I don't care if you speak the Queen's English, because someone will always find you deficient. I care if the timing and spacing on your 50 is straight and if you can use it. Do you do your mission and honorably.
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I will defer to your service and respect what you have sacrificed and assume you have good cause but from my foxhole you are picking a fight with the wrong guy. Which in my opinion is a product of a zero defect environment.
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That you have yet to do the same for others is concerting since unlike BB PVT you seem to be an actual vet.
1:34 am on November 10th, 2009 12
"How many states are there in the union? 50? or 57? "
Neither. There are 45.
…and I have consumed metric tonnes of free beer and made enough cash to probably barfine a couple of payday juicies over the years with that knowledge.
I now pass it on to you. Drink well and have fun.
I have even more devious ones…
1:45 am on November 10th, 2009 13
You made good points.
I have never believed in zero defect environments, for the record.
"picking a fight with the wrong guy".
Perhaps, but you were the only one fighting.
Mistakes can only be corrected if they are known.
That was too obvious a mistake and should have been cought before press.
It didn't make anyone look good. Nor the NCO Corps.
Therefore, it was not small. All can read it.
So many other things he could have said, or even less would have been fine.
I got thinks to do. Later
Yea, the Special K is tough sometimes.
The anger, can't really say.
1:54 am on November 10th, 2009 14
You guys are a tough crowd.
Give the good sergeant a break.