Veterans Day fast approaching

[424newbie]

Sorry bout your parade being cancelled due to outside factors. Personally I don't need a parade and the really small towns around here don't have the funds to put one on. Mostly towns of a few hundred people. But that's okay by me. I didn't put 20 in the Navy for a parade.

Today I got to watch my neice participate in a local grade school Veterans day program that was better than any parade.

The finale performed by the 1st and 2nd graders lined up in two lines with little flags in their hands singing and performing "I'm proud to be an American" in front of about 100 adults. Gotta tell ya it brought a tear to my eye watching and listening to those kids.

I heard a guy behind me say to his wife "There stands out future".

 

[etcallhome]

Thanks to all Veterans past and present,,, Dad ,2nd Ranger climbed the White Cliffs ,and all the way to the Arden Forrest.
I graduated 69-70 so never did get a draft notice, Dad didn't want my older brother and myself to be drafted so he suggested to join the Reserves or National Guard... Joined USAR spent almost 9yrs discharged E-6..

 

[peavey]

To all Veterans that have served to protect me and mine; Thank you. I met a elderly gentleman today in the dentist office waiting room, he appeared to be around 70 or so. I noticed he was wearing a baseball style hat that had the word Navy on it. I approached him and ask if he was a veteran? He replied yes, and began to tell me a brief story of his Naval career. This gentleman served three tours in the Korean war on naval aircraft carriers assisting the aircraft in take offs and landings. He informed me that most folks did not know how cold it was in the winter on the flight deck. He proceeded to tell me that it got minus 24 degrees many times. I gave this sailor my upmost attention and listened earnestly. I shook his hand for the second time and walked away realizing that with out his sacrifice and the sacrifice others like him I may have never been born into this great free country.
Now I ask all reading this post to do America a favor. Thank a vet, not just on veterans day, but when you encounter them throughout your life. As a Iraqi veteran myself, I am always humbled by shaking a vets hand and listening to their stories. It will make your life richer in more ways than one.

 

[Ken]

5 years ago in a church bible study a WWII veteran mentioned that on that day in Germany after living through the landing on Omaha Beach he was wounded Arden Forest area. Then another mentioned he also was on Omaha beach also wounded then 3rd man mentioned he also was on same beach. and even though lived in the same comunity did not know each others record of service. Sadly only one still alive.
Notice very few memtioned the Korean Police Action of Pres.Truman. The forgotten war.
I was headed for the area but had orders changed to Okinawa the 596th Engineers.
(We have done so much with so little for so long that now can do anything with nothing.)
Rebuilt repaired equipment shot up in Korea. then marked salvage by the army.
My first vote for Pres. was for Ike. Army '54-'57
Any person that went into the service I respect his Service Record .
Tens of thousand died so we can enjoy this freedom we have and so few seem to appreciate those who were willing to give up years of being in the military.and we reap the rewards.
Don't give one inch of Freedom it is being taken away to frequently by political groups.

 

[bilboy]

Having served in Nam (9th div.Mekong delta-69,70) I flew into oakland,outprocessed,and took a taxi round the bay for my flight home to Ohio. As I sat there waiting for my red-eye out, a group of hippie types came by and hasseled all of us sitting there in uniform. Babykillers, etc they called us - spitting on some of us.After they left we started talking about it. What the **** were we fightin for? So some sissyfied chickens--t pretending to have a cause can act up? Long story short - I make it my mission to make sure vets coming home get a handshake and a thank you!! If you know a vet dont think it hoky to walk up and do the same. TRULY, TO LOOK IN THEIR EYES WILL SAY ENOUGH.

 

[phiferpharm]

It is a special day for both those who served and those that understand the thanks they owe to our military from all eras. I spent almost 40 years, most of which was in the reserves, and my SIL is about to embark on his 3rd tour - this time as an Army officer to Afganistan after two tours with the Marines in Iraq.

I told him and my daughter at their wedding in October, to go to Washington and see the memorials, visit granddad in Arlington, and see the Marine Memorial - he has spent alot of time overseas, serving his country, but had never visited the capitol.

I just heard from them a few minutes ago and he said, "thank you for the suggestion, I can't explain my feelings, but this was important for me to do
". Tomorrow, their going to Fort McHenry in Baltimore. I think it will be another day of discovery for Josh.

I guess my point, if I can make sense of it, is that many of our "seasoned" veterans grew up living the evils of the world, and hearing it personally from our Dads, Granddads, etc. It was easier I think to see our enemies in a defined role, uniform, and fixed setting until Vietnam. Now the present day Soldier and newest vets face or faced a much less defined enemy in terms of who they are, how they look, and how they fight. What's the ingredient that bonds the old veteran and new military member together? The fact that they all put it on the line for what they believed in - the flag- the nation - and their freedom.

We all get to agree-disagree-or do nothing, thanks to those folks honored on that black wall, by those Soldiers on Patrol in Korea, those buried in Arlington known and unknown, and the ones that continue to say goodbye to their families multiple times in their careers to keep us safe.

 

[Zork]

Thank you all who are serving or have served. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your service and your sacrifices. To those who are injured or maimed in some way I thank you and God Bless you all. To those who have lost a loved one during their time of service I say thank you they are not forgotten. I know my gratefulness will not replace your loss, pain, or suffering but I stand behind every one of you in agreement and with full support for our military for I know it is the sacrifices of everyone involved which permits me and others like me to have the life we choose to live and that is respectfully within the United States of America.

 

[MarkF48]

Air Force here from 1968-1971. Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam 1968.

Short clip of a few scanned slides from 43 years ago...
Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam 1968 - YouTube

Kodachrome 64 holds up well after 43 years. Will you still have your digital image files 43 years from now?

 

[peavey]

Your right Bilboy, I had it made compared to the vets who fought in the wars prior to Iraq, but it was still no pic nic. When ever someone gives me a heart felt thank you for serving, i get kinda tore up, and the same thing happens when I thank a vet. **** goes thru your mind, sometimes you remeber the good things, and sometimes the crappy stuff. And you know that the vet before you most likely went thru more than you did. It just tics me off to see anyone disrespect another vet. If they crap on me I can handle it, but don't do it to another vet, especially one that went to war. My ole saying "don't start nothing, won't be nothing. I'm pretty sure I would be getting a trip to jail if I seen someone spit on a vet. Hey Buddy, Thanks for your service.

 

[peavey]

Hey phiferpharm, WHOOA!

 

[Short Game]

Starting at 7:00 PM on Turner Classic Movies is one of my favorite WWII movies. It was the movie James Garner said was his best, and I quite agree. Right now I'm watching Up Periscope, another Garner flick. Not sure but I think they made that one with the USS Redfish. Operation Petticoat used the Redfish. I worked on that boat when I was on the tender. I like to watch movies with diesel boats. I think Run Silent, Run Deep is still my favorite diesel boat flick, though I love Das Boot, as it really captures the feeling of what I experienced.

Anyway, the one that's about to start in fifteen minutes was the first movie to get banned on all US military bases. What better review could it get? I love that flick with James Garner and Julie Andrews: The Americanization of Emily. This is the movie they didn't want us, who were serving our country, to see!

Start the popcorn and enjoy.

 

[LandGuy]

I am a veteran in only a trivial way, but my dad . . . fought all the way from France to Berlin. Three battle stars, Combat Infantry, two Bronze Stars, and a French decoration. He is still alive, in a VA hospital nursing home, the rascal. He's suffered from severe PTSD all his life since the war. He was damaged in so many ways from the things he saw, the things he had to do. You are never the same after something like that, a kid from central Pennsylvania suddenly thrust into ******'s Europe. Happy Veteran's Day, Dad. Thank you for your sacrifice. I'm so proud of you.

 

[Zoomtopz]

I am an Aussie Vietnam Vet , thank you to All our Aussies in mid-east &
other areas . Thank you all our Allies .
To the "74" from USS Frank E Evans , who are not on 'the wall'.
We WILL Remember them , lest we forget .
Zoomtop

 

[adjusterr]

Thanks to all the Vets who kept this country free. Adjusterr, SSgt, US Army, 1961-1968.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Having ended up in Germany (2nd/75th FA 1970-72), I humbly thank those who had it rough and those who continue to have it rough.

FWIW, I won't dwell on my experiance wearing my class A's while traveling through NYC on my way home during a leave. I will however talk about waiting at a bus station for my sister to pick me up.

Having made my phone call, as I waited outside the station, I noticed two men across the street eyeballing me. They proceeded towards me, right hands extended and thanked me for wearing that uniform and for my service. They too had been in Europe though under vastly different circumstances.

Looking back, I wished I had been a little more aware during my time in Germany and had gone to see some of the great final resting places on the coast of Normandy.

 

[weatherman]

Having served in Nam (9th div.Mekong delta-69,70) I flew into oakland,outprocessed,and took a taxi round the bay for my flight home to Ohio. As I sat there waiting for my red-eye out, a group of hippie types came by and hasseled all of us sitting there in uniform. Babykillers, etc they called us - spitting on some of us.After they left we started talking about it. What the **** were we fightin for? So some sissyfied chickens--t pretending to have a cause can act up? Long story short - I make it my mission to make sure vets coming home get a handshake and a thank you!! If you know a vet dont think it hoky to walk up and do the same. TRULY, TO LOOK IN THEIR EYES WILL SAY ENOUGH.

I also served with the 9th in 1969, at Dong Tam from May-August. I was USAF Weather and was transferred to 101st Airborne in I-Corps when Nixon supposedly sent the 9th home. Sorry you had such a rude greeting on returning stateside. I stayed low key after landing at Norton in May, 1970, and getting ride from local USAF folks to LAX. Family met me on landing in Detroit, so did have a decent greeting from them, but cold shoulder from most other folks. Glad today's troops get proper welcome home, and I continue to get "Welcome Home" from folks today trying to make up for the rude treatment many received in the Vietnam era.

Welcome Home!

John

 

[weatherman]

Air Force here from 1968-1971. Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam 1968.

Short clip of a few scanned slides from 43 years ago...
Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam 1968 - YouTube

Kodachrome 64 holds up well after 43 years. Will you still have your digital image files 43 years from now?

Loved your slide show, especially the music - definitely my favorite song from that era!

I was USAF Weather and also landed at Tan Son Nhut, but in 1969. Welcome to Vietnam!
Though I was Air Force, I was attached to US Army aviation units since they didn't have their own aviation weather folks. I spent three months with 9th Infantry in the Delta and then the remaining nine months of my tour with 101st Airborne between Hue and Quang Tri (also included occasional "TDY" to fire bases overlooking the A Shau Valley).

Flew home (May, 1970) out of Da Nang AFB.

I've got to digitize my slides one of these days.

Welcome Home!

John

 

[om21braz]

Looks like the tradition of my cities Veterans Day Parade has been cancelled because of the Occupy Movement... how sad is that?

That is terrible. A heartfelt Thank You to all veterans out there. Now thinking about it, I guess I was the first to break the line as I have my father, grandfather and others going all the way back to the Revolutionary War that served. Many here speak of talking to the veterans. One of my most memorable times was that of attending a reunion (with my wife's uncle) of the 47th Bombardment Group (WWII). The miracles and atrocities that these men were witness to were beyond my comprehension. Mere 17-year olds flying planes half way around the world, leaving out not knowing for certain if they had enough fuel to make it. Having listened to their speakers, among them a Vietnam POW. My thoughts were, "These guys have seen and experienced the worst and the best things in this world, yet are the most humble people." Thanks again to all veterans!

 

[dlauffenburger]

I just recently retired from the Navy after 28 years. I want to Thank all of the Vets current and past.

I also want to Thank all of you that take the few seconds to say Thank You to our young men and women you see walking around town, throught the airport, or anywhere else. I can tell you that when i first joined the Navy you very rarely recieved any recognition from the civilian population, while it is not why most of us joined, it is amazing how much pride a simple Thank You can instill in our young service members.

Again, Thank You for your support.

Dave