US Campaign Ribbons

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

It was supposed to be a joke.

I can accept that your comments were originally intended as a joke, and that as someone fairly new to the forum you would be unaware that matters relating to the military tend to be taken rather seriously by some of us.

But to be lectured by civilians as to the proper wear of my uniform that I have earned the right to wear, a combat vetern--active duty officer, is rather insulting.

If you were "lectured", that lecturing was down to you-- you were the one who made the case (falsely, as it turns out) that specific military regulations sanctioned the wearing of items of civilian clothes with your Coast Guard uniform. Writing as a former army officer-- now a civilian-- I might point out that there are many highly decorated combat veterans on this forum, and generally they do not beat their breast and crow about it. It's not "the done thing" as it tends to look a trifle self-serving.

One thing I have learned is nothing really bothers me too much, especially how to wear a kilt.

So you say...

If the man wears it proudly no one is going to question his attire, no matter how anal some people can be.

Since this offensive comment is obviously directed at me, for having had the temerity to disagree with you, I am going to have to ask you for an apology, or else mark you down as no sort of a gentleman.

I have seen way too much death in my short life to worry about something so simple.

Then why the insults and the rant?

As far as credibility, I have established that through diligent devotion to duty and my country.

Your credibility, at least a tiny bit of it, has been called into question through your own actions. No one has questioned your patriotism.

There are many men and women on this site who are serving, or have served, in the military. While intensely proud of their service, as they should most rightly be, they are also very self-effacing about that service. They do not use the fact of their service to justify their actions, and they never imply that because of their service they are above criticism-- either from the military or civilians.