President Trump’s decision to ban transgenders from serving in the U.S. military has created a firestorm across the country. J.R. Salzman, an amputee Iraq War veteran, took to Twitter to defend the decision and the thread is going viral.
“I served in Iraq in 2006. For the first five months I was on a 12 man firebase out in the middle of nowhere in the desert.”
I served in Iraq in 2006. For the first five months I was on a 12 man firebase out in the middle of nowhere in the desert.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) July 26, 2017
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“Everyday was Groundhog Day. Wake up and do the same patrols, the same shifts, every single day. It was so damn hot. 150° in the gun trucks.”
Everyday was Groundhog Day. Wake up and do the same patrols, the same shifts, every single day. It was so damn hot. 150° in the gun trucks.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) July 26, 2017
“Tracer fire would go overhead occasionally at night. IED’s on the road were a daily threat. We got resupplied food every 8 days.”
Tracer fire would go overhead occasionally at night. IED's on the road were a daily threat. We got resupplied food every 8 days.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) July 26, 2017
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“QRF was an hour away. After they made the minimum three gun truck rule after the guys got kidnapped, life got harder.”
QRF was an hour away. After they made the minimum three gun truck rule after the guys got kidnapped, life got harder.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) July 26, 2017
“The stress of being out there and doing the same job every single day eats away at you. The younger guys had problems with that overtime.”
The stress of being out there and doing the same job every single day eats away at you. The younger guys had problems with that overtime.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) July 26, 2017
“Any tiny little personal issue they had suddenly became a mountain. And that shit came out on that fire base. And they snapped mentally.”
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Any tiny little personal issue they had suddenly became a mountain. And that shit came out on that fire base. And they snapped mentally.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) July 26, 2017
“After stepping on each other’s nuts living in the same can for five months, guys were at each other’s throats. The stress made it worse.”
After stepping on each other's nuts living in the same can for five months, guys were at each other's throats. The stress made it worse.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) July 26, 2017
“Guys would literally snap over a dear John letter. Their personal issues came out and they were instantly combat ineffective.”
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Guys would literally snap over a dear John letter. Their personal issues came out and they were instantly combat ineffective.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) July 26, 2017
“Now take someone confused about whether they are a man/woman. Take those psychological and emotional issues and put them in that environment”
Now take someone confused about whether they are a man/woman. Take those psychological and emotional issues and put them in that environment
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) July 26, 2017
“Take someone who is right off the bat not uniform or part of the same team. Give them special treatment because of their identity.”
Take someone who is right off the bat not uniform or part of the same team. Give them special treatment because of their identity.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) July 26, 2017
“You have to be incredibly tough mentally, physically and emotionally. War is not a f*cking video game. It tests every ounce of your being.”
You have to be incredibly tough mentally, physically and emotionally. War is not a fucking video game. It tests every ounce of your being.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) July 26, 2017
“You can’t teach someone to be a fearless warrior in a f*cking PowerPoint. You either have it or you don’t. You can hack it or you can’t.”
You can't teach someone to be a fearless warrior in a fucking PowerPoint. You either have it or you don't. You can hack it or you can't.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) July 26, 2017
“We had guys who couldn’t. When faced with combat situations they crumbled. They had mental and emotional issues. They were a liability.”
We had guys who couldn't. When faced with combat situations they crumbled. They had mental and emotional issues. They were a liability.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) July 26, 2017
“To be successful at war, you have to become a warrior mentally, physically, and emotionally. You can’t fake it and go through the motions.”
To be successful at war, you have to become a warrior mentally, physically, and emotionally. You can't fake it and go through the motions.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) July 26, 2017
“In war if it comes down to kill or be killed, and you hesitate, you’re dead. It’s a simple as that. It’s not a f*cking video game.”
In war if it comes down to kill or be killed, and you hesitate, you're dead. It's a simple as that. It's not a fucking video game.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) July 26, 2017
“War is no place for people who are mentally, emotionally, or physically confused or in turmoil. You have your shit together, or you don’t.”
War is no place for people who are mentally, emotionally, or physically confused or in turmoil. You have your shit together, or you don't.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) July 26, 2017
“And if you don’t, you’ll just get people needlessly killed. Political correctness has absolutely no place in the military.”
And if you don't, you'll just get people needlessly killed. Political correctness has absolutely no place in the military.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) July 26, 2017
“Enough for now. This one armed veteran has a business to run. Unlike Iran, the country that took my arm, Obama didn’t pay me millions.”
Enough for now. This one armed veteran has a business to run. Unlike Iran, the country that took my arm, Obama didn't pay me millions.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) July 26, 2017
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