The Most Haunting Thoughts of War

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Vigilance Elite/Shawn Ryan Links:

[jarodchronister]

I am a Marine. Served 8 years and never saw a day of combat. I count it as a blessing.

[rickc.]

“I’ve thought about this often. That man and I might’ve been good friends, we might’ve had a lot in common. He might’ve liked to fish, he might’ve liked to hunt. You never know, you know. Of course, they were doing what they were supposed to do and I was trying to do what I was supposed to do. But, under different circumstances, we might’ve been good friends.”
Darrell ‘Shifty’ Powers

[jimigunz]

Very well articulated. I served as a USMC grunt from 06-10 with 2 deployments to Iraq. Service members like us have the sole purpose to fight and kill, and when that doesn't happen we can often feel like a waste and a failure. The culture we're emersed in centers on this. In some ways I was disappointed I never had the chance to rise to the occasion, and other times I felt guilt that I didn't do more. These days I try to take comfort in knowing had I been found in the situation I would have done my duty. I was always ready for a fight that just never happened.

[SGDolorBelli]

I remember Shawn when he was a kid in school. He is a good man from a good family. His words on this subject are accurate. Three deployments for me in my 26+ years in uniform. Some memories are great. Some will be difficult until God takes me home. It is simple and complicated at the same time. When we went outside the wire, we usually reacted to contact or were doing cordon and searches. Those Special Operations guys...they went looking for the worst of the worst situations and they were/are so above the level which we operated at. Thank God for them.

[geraldpfeiffer]

That was really deep, bro. My father was in Vietnam 68, 69, and 70. I seen what killing does to a person. The trauma he endure afterwards. I dont think all who think like that would handle it. Love your show. Be safe brother

[sortahungry]

It’s sad because I’ve felt that way for years after my service and I’ve always envied my friends who have. In that culture you do feel like a failure when you haven’t gotten a kill but years removed I’ve started to realize it was probably for the best.

[robertfrosty]

One of the earlier members of the FBI was a man named Tom White (source: Killers of the Flower Moon, excellent read). He grew up in the prison in which his father was a warden, and when he went into law enforcement himself, he prided himself on never having killed anyone. Said he saw how easily men alongside him could become thirsty for blood and strove to be disciplined and self-controlled.

[Mounty]

As a 30-year retired cop, 25 of those on SWAT, I’m glad I never had to take someone’s life. However, I do feel regret over never having tested myself in that situation. The closest thing I have to look at is how I responded on a hostage rescue where I entered a room to save a child after a partner initiated shots on the suspect and the suspect had fired several rounds through the door prior to mine and two other partners entering. He was already down from the initial shots, but I didn’t know that when I entered. A long way to say I just wanted to know I would act properly and not nut up and cower when stuff got real.

[moiphy.]

great stuff Shawn... thanks for making this distinction. never heard it put quite this clear & concise.. but it's 100% accurate and I can tell you've thought about this a lot. cheers.

[lt.petemaverickmitchell]

Your deep thought and philosophical approach to this subject is admired and appreciated Ryan.

[jwm]

I felt that when I joined the Marines and they made me a mechanic. Then after college when the Air Force denied my applications to pilot training.

After I got out, I looked at my brothers both of whom had tours in the desert as grunts, and the toll it took on them, and I became aware of how grateful I am to God for never having had to go through that. Thank God that wasn't my path.

[Cuefrost]

Great observation Shawn ...
it really is a heart issue ❤...

[SteveWaldron-wsvb]

Perspective is WAY more important than many people seem to understand.

[charliesschroedinger]

Blessed to have served from '93-'96
Calm period. 13F. Tons of training at Ft. Hood. Never got the "drawn saber" alert.
Grateful to have served. Grateful to have never had to go out on an actual call for fire mission.
♥️🇺🇸💯

[DadBodgino]

My dad is a Marine, combat vet that fought in Vietnam. That’s one question neither I or my 4 brothers and 1 sister never asked him.

[WeldmanJones-gjdl]

Love this clip. This needed to be said.

[donaldlutziii]

Spitting facts as usual, great man and a great show!

[reader]

I’m so glad I didn’t have to unalive someone while I was in the military. I’m messed up enough from what I saw while serving.

[kakdad]

I recall being in the desert during operation northern watch and one of my fighter pilots came back from a sortie mission and said to me " no one had to die today on his watch." I was new as a born again Christian as I meditated on that for weeks on end . Later after we returned back to the States and this same fighter pilot were practicing bombing runs over our normal test field where he was invertited and apparently had vertigo and pull the stck upward or backward which flew his aircraft into the ground and died . This hit us all pretty hard . I recalled what he said to me in the desert amd thought how great and mysterious how God works and thankful every day for the life he has given me

[TiffanyMartschink]

I appreciate something you said regarding killing in the military. I served for 24 years in a support role on Active Duty and in the Reserves. Never have I deploy on a combat mission. During my time, I was set to deploy but had a severe allergic reaction to the smallpox vaccine. [Side note: I was born in 1975. Smallpox vaccine stopped being a required vaccine for infants in 1972, I believe so I had no idea I’d have such a reaction.] All that to say, I didn’t see a combat zone while serving. Since retiring in May 2019, I’ve struggled with Impostor Syndrome. I have felt my career didn’t have much validity because “I didn’t get to deploy and be part of defending our nation.
The way I have explained it to people is it’s like being on a sports team. I never made it to the Super Bowl. I team did, but I didn’t get to play so I didn’t get the Super Bowl ring. Why? Because I never actually played in the game. I showed up to practice/training. Played in scrimmages/ Op-4. But no super-bowl ring. All I did was scrimmage.