Veterans

[Bill Murphy]

I was teary eyed when our President spoke on Memorial Day, 2010. He said, "I am here to honor all of our fallen heroes. I see many of you are here today." I wonder if he made a speech about our Veterans from his location in China or wherever the hell he is today? I'm sure it will also bring tears to my eyes today again. Yup, that was me, 11-1-67 to 10-31-69. Thanks to the rest of you today.

[Robert Delk]

If people really want to honor our veterans they will conduct themselves ethically and with dignity in the tradition that made this country great.We are not black,white,brown,democrat,republican,white collar ,blue collar or anything else before we are Americans,first,foremost and always with pride and a sense of responsibility to ourselves and our fellow man.

[Big D]

Bill - I enlisted two days after you - Friday the 13th of January, '67. I got lucky - OCS, then a brief stateside tour, and then to Korea to command an ammunition company and depot

[George Lander]

I went to my daughter's school today. She teaches third grade at a rural school here in South Carolina. For several years she has been in charge of putting together a program to honor our veterans on veteran's day. There was a color gaurd from the high school ROTC, music: Or Nation Anthem, The Marine Corps Hymn, The Caissons Go Rolling Along, Anchors Aweigh and Off We Go Into The Wild Blue Yonder. As each was played the vets from that service were asked to stand for applause. The closing song was America. The students had each written a short essay on "MY HERO" The program lasted for about a hour and a half. Several students spoke about a particular serviceman or woman in their family.

I'm not sure if all schools do this but they should. we need things like this to counter the liberal hogwash that in intrenched in the media and in Washington. After our whole family paid a visit to Arlington National Cemetary three years ago my daughter, (her name is Lisha Lander Hylton), wrote a poem entitled "HALLOWED GROUND" which is now on the Arlington National Cemetary web site. Pull it up and if you don't get a lump in your throat you're a tougher guy or gal than I.

My oldest son's Birth Father , (our two boys are adopted, my daughter is "home made") was with a U.S. Army outfit called the MANCHUS. He was "in-country" three months before he was killed. Billy was able to find and trace his name on THE WALL. We all owe a great debt of gratitude to ALL VETERANS, both those that are here and those that have GONE ON.

Best Regards, George RD-2 USN

[Bill Murphy]

John Dallas, thanks for your comments. I should not try to use military dating after being gone so long. I corrected my dates of service using civilian dating and it came out correct this time.

[Big D]

Bill - Were you lucky enough (?) to spend your basic training at beautiful Fort Dix?

[Bill Murphy]

Fort Bragg, N.C.

[Side X Side]

Each generation of our military hope and pray that the next will not have to fight. Where I work, I see our men and women returning home, some with great fanfare, and those with great pain and suffering. Many have adjusted and are trying to help others that have suffered as they did, and some are fresh out of the hospital and have a long journey to get to that point in their lives.

I am proud of those who served when I did, for they have pledged that those returning today will not have too experience what we did on our return.

Retired MSgt. USAF

[Old and Reliable]

Originally Posted by Jack Cronkhite

Yes, THANKS to the Veterans who secured the freedoms we all enjoy. Thinking out loud here but maybe taking the freedoms somewhat for granted is in a way a great compliment. The fact we don't have to look over our shoulder in fear and can go about our daily lives content that tomorrow will come and our children can pursue their own happiness in whatever manner is a testament to what our Veteran's sacrifices have secured for us. We do remember on special days and give pause to think about the cost of freedom and some will remember every day but the vast majority will continue to live day to day without much thought about why they can. In the old forum I posted a Never Off Topic thanks to our Vets because of a small folded newspaper clipping I almost missed but found in an old suitcase of memories that had been ravaged by a flood. Most of the contents I have now managed to salvage. Here are two more that go together well. My mother-in-law was a recent bride when she found herself buried in the rubble of what had been a block of ten homes, thanks to the random nature of a V1 rocket attack. She did survive by getting under a "Morrison" table when she heard the "doodle bug" engine cut out. She was claustrophic her entire life. I have no idea who wrote the poem. I have had it researched by the Imperial War Museum in London but with no success. (A.R.P. refers to Air Raid Precautions - a part of civil defence.) This poem remains anonymous but poignant. (If it is not easy to see, click on it for a larger version and if still not large enough to read, hold down the Ctrl key and then tap the + key a few times. A good trick for old eyes ) The newspaper clipping is a salute to the Vets who made the supreme sacrifice.

Jack

Jack- this poem may have been written by English novelist Eric Blair- you may know him better by his pen name- George Orwell and his best known work- "Animal Farm"-- Blair studied Kipling's works at Oxford College- the poem resonates with some of Kipling's phrasing- I am still researching however- Anon writings are often a great mystery, solving them is a worthy challenge indeed!

[Robert Delk]

In March of 1966 on a hillside west of Danang Vietnam in heavy jungle a patrol from the 3rd Reconnaissance battalion sat and rested for a few minutes.Thomas Conner turned and smiled at me and then he was gone. I was the last person he saw before he died and I have never forgotten that smile from that 18 year old kid.He had only been on a few patrols and seemed so young,even though he was only a couple of years younger than me.I am sure there are many who remember someone the same way I remember Conners.