Veterans, Thank You!

[Todd.Hanz]

Some great stories and fond memories, I'd like to thank my Dad, an Army CW04 Cobra Helicopter Pilot and gunner, three tours in Nam and several in the Korea, he's no longer with me.

Also a shout out to my grandfather, he was an orphan that lied about his age to join the Marines in WWII, re-upped and joined the Navy, the many stories he told gave me an appreciation of that generation.

I appreciate that this thread hasn't turned into a political rant, thanks for letting us remember.

Todd

 

[Kim Coxon]

I still find this surprising. A few years ago, I stsrted chating to someone in the train. After about an hour, he asked me what I did and was somewhat surprised when I told him and I asked him why. He said that it was because I seemed like every other human being! When I think of the friends I have lost and of my Grandfather who was decorated in WWI, they all were all "normal" hard working guys. Perhaps this is why it is so important to remember.

Kim

Totally impossible to reconcile that with the man I knew (quiet hard-working family guy).

 

[Trius]

My dad was a radio man with the artillery. At the Battle of the Bulge he stayed put when the forward line fell back. He was decorated for that, but never really speaks of it.

 

[Todd.Hanz]

When I watch the ceremonies on TV, especially the CDN D-Day ceremonies at Juno beach, I cry profusely.

Thanks.

I went to a parade and rally today for Veterans day here, I had to choke back a few aligator tears as several local soldiers were remembered for their valor and courage, but that's what it's all about right?

Todd

 

[colyn]

From one Vet to another, and to all! Thank You! I had the privelige to serve our great country back in 1980-81 on the USS LaSalle AGF3...Great White Ghost of the Arabian Coast... because the ship was painted white. This was also the Flag ship for the Com. Mid East Force homeported in Bahrain. We flew CH-53s during the Iran hostage crisis, finally bringing the ship home to Phila. Naval Shipyard for complete overhaul, going on record for the longest around the world cruise for any Naval vessel. Anyhow thanks again for your service to our country and letting an ol middle age Navy fart share just a few memories.​

We probably crossed paths during the Iran hostage crisis. I was aboard USS Midway CV-41. We were the first carrier on station and served 2 tours before the end of the crisis.
We were homeported in Japan.

As a Vietnam vet myself I would like to thanks all who served. Especially those who paid the ultimate sacrifice not just those who served in Vietnam but to all vets whatever war/conflict you served in..

 

[egpj]

All veterans past and present, we will not forget. Some of the finest men and women I have ever met in my life are veterans.

Also, I am proud to have served in the United States Navy and am a better man for it.

Glenn Paul
QM1 USN

 

[fishtek]

Thanks to all the military forces around the world...

Thanks to all the military forces around the world...

from on old sailor. While steaming back and forth between Quemoy and Matsu watching the batteries on either shore lob shells at the other, being bored to death while making only 6 knots for days on end, keeping combatants from invading each other, patrolling river mouths and intercepting sampans full of arms for the North Vietnamese, doing Plane Guard detail behind Carriers launching A4D's (and picking up pieces of pilots and planes on two occasions), I was always proud to be serving my country. Those in service now, whether pounding a keyboard in some supply depot, or rooting out Al Qaida nasties, I know feel the same.

I'm grateful for their contribution, and to that of their families.

Don Madson, RM2
USN

 

[reagan]

Dad served as Company Commander, Army Infantry in the Aleutians, the Marshalls and the Philippines coming back from Okinawa with mortar shrapnel which he carried the rest of his days. He told me that when he was on the ship coming back and first caught sight of the Golden Gate Bridge, he cried, because he knew he was home. Thanks Dad.

 

[RdEoSg]

I'm watching Tora Tora Tora on tv right now. My grandpa was in WW2 but he doesn't like to talk about it much so I don't know much of what he did. Slowly he is telling more though. My neighbor and surrogate Grandpa growing up was a P-38 fighter pilot in the Pacific. He was shot down and spent a week or so at see drifting in the Guadal Canal until he was rescued. I've listened to his stories my whole life. Sadly he is now in a care facility and I fear the end isn't too far off now for him.

On a side note with him. He spent most of his post war years trying to find that pilot that rescued him. He even went so far as to higher private investigators to search for him. One day he gave me all the info he had, his name and the last city he knew he lived in. By pure luck I found a listing on the internet and with in 15 minutes I was speaking to the man on the phone. He remembered like it was yesterday and had wondered what happened to my neighbor all these years as well. I'm extremely glad that I was able to put them in contact with each other.

My father was a corpsman stationed on a ship during Vietnam and there have been many other family members and friends that have served.

I am very proud of all of them and of the rest of you that I do not know.

 

[smiling gecko]

thank you, to all the men and women in uniform who serve and have served america. thank you to their families as well.

duty, honor, country.

the uniforms may change over the years, but not the values.

thank you, to the "great generation" as you have become known. like many, many others my father served in wwII out of the sense of "doing what needed to be done". growing up i never heard anything about what he did, he was not one to talk about it. he came back, went to work and started a family. became a merchant seaman and would later die at sea in a ship explosion.

thank you, to the men and women in uniform throughout the united kingdom and to the men and women in uniform from canada. i am trying to express this - giving equal imporatance to both - not one over the other. please excuse my grammatical ineptitude.

i see glimpses of that "great generation" sense of duty and personal responsibility in a lot of today's generation. some fulfil it with military service and some fulfill it with service to their country in other ways.

i wear a stainless steel bracelet for a young marine who died in iraq.
(similar to the the one i wore for a mia naval pilot in the vietnam war)
he was from where i live, although i never met him. i wear it to honor him and his family. i wear it to honor all our veterans of all times. as i drive through the usa, i drive an 18-wheeler, i take him with me. in a way he gets to "see" the country he will never see and i tell everyone who asks : "what's with the bracelet"?" - it' s for a young man that died serving his country and shouldn't be forgotten.

the bracelet reads:

SGT. BYRON W. NORWOOD TX USMC
IRAQI FREEDOM 13 N0V 04 KIA

please take a moment on tuesday, november 14 to remember him and his family in your thoughts or prayers. there is no adequate way to express my sorrow for all those who have died in iraq and afghanistan and places we (the public) don't even know about.

thank you, dad. i miss you. i'm more like you than i probably know.

thank you, uncle eddie, who was sniped the last day he was in-country (vietnam), survived and let me drive his then-new vw fastback when he would visit us. he was a kind, generous and outgoing man.

regardless of politics, please support our troops. if you want to experience surprise, confusion and appreciation - the next time you see someone in uniform - walk up and thank them for what they do.

i have thoroughly enjoyed reading through this thread. thank you all for sharing such positive and personal memories. i appreciate the
opportunity to share my thoughts and hope i haven't rambled/babbled on too long.

i was infantry in the us army from 1971-1976, learned lessons of life there that still carry me forward and worked around some of the finest people i have ever known.
__________________________________

kenneth lockerman

 

[Terao]

they all were all "normal" hard working guys. Perhaps this is why it is so important to remember.

Kim

That is the point, absolutely. Just average joes doing amazing things, because they had no choice. Same goes for the other side. I'd love to meet some of the guys who fought against my grandfather's regiment. Knowing how close tank crews work and live I know he wouldn't have given a second thought to what he did, he was just trying to save his mates (and succeeded I might add...)