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| 1945 verses Today |
| 1945: | Rifles were made of wood and steel, shot a .30 caliber bullet and killed the enemy in one shot. |
| Today: | Rifles are made of plastic and aluminum, shoot a .22 caliber bullet, and wound the enemy, if you can hit them. |
| 1945: | The winning side used a U.S. made .45 Caliber pistol, The losers used a European 9mm. |
| Today: | We use a European 9mm pistol. Nobody uses the .45, and we have been out of ammunition for years. |
| 1945: | If you smoked, you had an ashtray on your desk. |
| Today: | If you smoke, you are sent outside and are treated like a leper. |
| 1945: | If you said "damn", people knew you were annoyed and avoided you. |
| Today: | If you say "damn" you better be talking about a hydroelectric plant. |
| 1945: | NCO's had a typewriter on their desks for doing daily reports. |
| Today: | Everyone has an internet computer, and they wonder why no work is getting done. |
| 1945: | We painted pictures of pretty girls on airplanes to remind us of home. |
| Today: | We put the real thing in the cockpit – and don’t even think about painting anything on your aircraft and those rocks better look pretty. |
| 1945: | Your girlfriend was at home, praying you would return alive. |
| Today: | She is in the same foxhole, praying your condom worked. |
| 1945: | If you got drunk off duty, your buddies would take you back to the barracks to sleep it off. |
| Today: | If you get drunk any time they slap you in rehab and ruin your whole career. |
| 1945: | You were taught to aim at your enemy and shoot him. |
| Today: | You spray 500 bullets into the brush, don't hit anything, and retreat because you are out of ammo. |
| 1945: | Canteens were made out of steel. You could heat coffee or hot chocolate in them. |
| Today: | Canteens are made of plastic. You can't heat anything in them and they always taste like plastic. |
| 1945: | Officers were professional soldiers first. They commanded respect. |
| Today: | Officers are politicians first. They beg not to be given a wedgie. |
| 1945: | They collected enemy intelligence and analyzed it. |
| Today: | They collect our pee and analyze it – 5 times a month. |
| 1945: | If you don't act right, the commander might put you in the Stockade ‘till you straighten up. |
| Today: | If you don't act right, they start a paper trail that follows you forever. |
| 1945: | Medals were awarded to heroes who saved lives at the risk of their own. |
| Today: | Medals are awarded to people who show up for work most of the time – even the guys we kick out. |
| 1945: | You slept in a 50 man open bay barracks with one latrine so clean you could eat off the floor - Like a Soldier! |
| Today: | You sleep in a dormitory, like a college kid – tear up a brand new building and wonder why the place looks like hell. |
| 1945: | You ate in a Mess Hall. It was free and you could have all the food you wanted and nobody was fat. |
| Today: | You eat in a dining facility. Every slice of bread or pat of butter costs, you can only have one - and they let over weight civilians enlist. |
| 1945: | We defeated powerful countries like Germany and Japan, and once in awhile somebody got a medal. |
| Today: | We can’t even beat Iraq or Yugoslavia, but everyone comes home a Hero with a chest full of fruit salad. |
| 1945: | If you wanted to relax, you went to the Rec Center, played pool, smoked and drank beer. |
| Today: | You go to the Community Center and can still play pool, if you pay first. |
| 1945: | If you wanted a beer and conversation you could go to the NCO or Officers Club. |
| Today: | Today you can go to the "All Ranks Club", the beer will cost you $3.75 plus tax, membership is forced, someone is watching how much you drink, and the MP’s will give you a ticket the second you walk out the door. |
| 1945: | You could buy quartermaster gas tax free because it was on a military reservation. |
| Today: | AAFES charges you the tax but pockets the money themselves because it is on a military reservation. |
| 1945: | The BX/PX had bargains for GI's who didn't make much money. |
| Today: | You can get better merchandise cheaper at Wal-Mart. |
| 1945: | We could recognize the enemy by their Nazi helmets. |
| Today: | We are wearing the Nazi helmets. |
| 1945: | We called the enemy things like "Krauts" and "Japs" because we didn't like them. |
| Today: | We call the enemy things like "opposing forces" and "aggressors" so we don't offend them. |
| 1945: | Victory was declared when the enemy was dead and all his things were broken, and you could go home. |
| Today: | Victory is declared when the enemy says he is sorry, and you stay to police the area for years to come. |
| 1945: | If you killed an enemy soldier, you could bring home his rifle as a trophy. |
| Today: | If you bring home anything at all as a trophy you get a court martial. |
| 1945: | A commander would put his butt on the line to protect his people. |
| Today: | A commander will put his people on the line to protect his butt. |
| 1945: | After the war, you could buy your own rifle off the government, dirt cheap. |
| Today: | You can't be trusted with your own rifle, and you'll be jailed if you ever get one. |
| 1945: | Wars were planned and run by real Generals with lots of important victories. |
| Today: | Wars are planned and run by politicians with lots of important panty raids. |
| 1945: | We knew we were fighting for freedom. The country was committed to winning. |
| Today: | We don't know what we are fighting for. The government is committed to Socialism. |
| 1945: | All you could think about was getting out and becoming a civilian again. |
| Today: | All you can think about is getting out and becoming a civilian again. |
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