Day 126

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THE PAY IS PATHETIC

Memorial Day Shame: Our Troops Deserve More Than Lip Service and Pennies

Tomorrow is Memorial Day, a day meant to honor the brave men and women who gave their lives for our freedom. But let’s be honest: for too many Americans, it’s just a long weekend, a chance to fire up the grill, crack open beers, and forget the real cost of their holiday. Worse, our media will likely spend the day obsessing over political mudslinging—probably bashing Trump—while barely mentioning the sacrifices of our fallen heroes. This shallow, disrespectful treatment of our military is a national disgrace.

The numbers tell a damning story. Today, a junior enlisted soldier (E-1) earns a measly $2,319 a month, about $27,828 a year, according to 2025 military pay charts. An E-6 with over a decade of service pulls in $4,585 monthly, roughly $55,022 annually. Officers do better—an O-1 starts at $3,998 a month ($47,981 yearly), and an O-4 with 10 years earns $9,075 monthly ($108,900 yearly)—but it’s still a pittance compared to the risks they face. Combat troops get a paltry $225 monthly hostile fire pay and some tax breaks, but that’s chump change for dodging bullets in war zones. Meanwhile, a civilian software engineer rakes in $120,000 a year, safe behind a desk. Our senators and representatives? They pocket $174,000 annually, plus cushy benefits, for work that often prioritizes power over principle. The contrast is infuriating.

It wasn’t much better in the past. During Vietnam in 1968, an E-1 earned $134.40 a month ($1,612.80 yearly), about $12,000 in 2025 dollars. An E-5 sergeant, risking life in the jungle, made around $560 monthly with combat pay, roughly $41,000 today. Hostile fire pay was a laughable $65 a month. In World War II, a private in 1942 earned $50 monthly, about $1,000 in 2025 dollars, while officers averaged $203.50, or $4,000 today. Combat infantry got an extra $10 for storming beaches like Omaha. Back then, civilian factory workers often outearned soldiers, pulling $3,600 a year ($70,000 today). From WWII to now, military pay has crept up, but it’s never matched the weight of their sacrifice.

And then there’s the waste. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has exposed billions in fraud and corruption—money flushed down the drain on bloated programs and insider deals. That cash could fund better pay, mental health support, or benefits for veterans and their families. Instead, it’s siphoned off while our troops scrape by, and their families mourn on days like tomorrow. It makes me want to scream. Our service members endure long deployments, PTSD, and shattered lives. Those who die leave behind grieving families, often struggling financially. Yet we shortchange them while glorifying their heroism with empty words.

Memorial Day should be a time of reflection, gratitude, and action. We need to demand better—higher pay, real support, and an end to the waste that robs our military of what they’re owed. Our fallen deserve more than a day of hot dogs and political noise. They deserve a nation that honors their sacrifice with deeds, not just flags. Let’s make it right.

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Thank you to all the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Happy Memorial Day.

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