11/11/15 To All Veterans: Happy Veterans Day!

[Fred W]

I was merely a young Navy widget (ET) on a target (surface fleet), but I spent 6 good years, and they were not the worst years of my life.

I do not have a throaty cheer to give (hoo-rah!) or a brotherhood of men to fall back on, or any such incredibly dramatic stuff.

In true fact, I have never been in touch with a single one of my past shipmates, even after all these 33 years. My fault, not theirs. But I know that my mates are still out there, and that we did what we could when we could, at that time. None of us were forced to serve. We did it just for our own reasons. And that is all that I would ever ask of anyone.

Enjoy your Freedom tomorrow, veterans, and also all of you who have benefited.

USN ETN1 1996 - 1982 USS Canisteo AO99 -

Our ship's motto (which is imprinted on my prized zippo lighter) was: "If Freedom were easy, we wouldn't be here."

 

[Niehart]

Funny how when people are trying to kill you, you become life time brothers.

 

[Mossyrocks13k]

Hope everyone takes advantage of all the good deals coming our way, I mean isn't that why we served?

ET1(SS)

USS Will Rogers, SSBN 659, 80-86

USS George Washington Carver, SSBN 656 90-93

USS Alabama, SSBN 731 (93-96) (now a fricken SSGN)

Retired 2000

 

[majicmaker]

Victor Figueroa, Jr. AMSC USN

Aircraft Structural Repair Hammer Slammer

VA93 Light Attack Bomber Squadron USS Midway Yokosuka, Japan '76-'80

A.I.M.D. Component Repair Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico '80-'84

Had the time of my life transporting US Marines to where they needed to go.

Cause, You know... They can't swim.

 

[juniorfjr]

Franklin, Fred S. SGT, USAR

12b, Combat Engineer

First in, Last out

74 - 78.

All gave some, Some gave all.

 

[dcarver]

To all Vets -

Healthy and Adapted,

to

Sick and Distressed

Let's remember to take care of ALL.

and to say THANK YOU for your service.

(remembering Jordan, who gave all)

(and Tim's brother Chris, still fighting the good fight)

I did not serve and have mixed feelings about that. I did not run, just wasn't about to volunteer.

Sometimes, I wonder about that decision.

For those who stand tall, who represented,

THANK YOU.

 

[Frushlorton]

To all my veteran brother/sisters past, present and future, thank you for your service. As we are offered savings by so many during the holiday dedicated to thanks for service, please remember to reach out in what ever way you can to those in need.

They may be on a sidewalk holding a sign or in a hospital/nursing home without visitors. We have no idea what that "donation" of money, time or conversation means to them.

During visits to VA treatment centers in Richmond and Pittsburgh. I had several conversations with residents at the hospital and shared a few laughs and tears with them. Reach out to someone...you just might save them.

SMSgt Steve Myers

USAF 1988-2013

Security Forces

USAF Honor Guard

Defense Courier Service

Communications

Defense Attache' SVC

 

[SacramentoMike]

I started talking to a couple of Alabama good ol' boys about--what else?--motorcycles in the parking lot of the Yellowstone Inn a few years back, asked them where they'd been on their ride and where they were headed. I mentioned Yosemite, said they should see it. Dude's face got a little redder and he got real serious. He'd sworn he'd never set foot in Cali again after getting off the plane from Nam at Hamilton AFB near SF and getting spit on and called "baby killer" and other choice names by some locals. Never did, either. Can't much blame him.

It's damn high time that changed. That was the same trip for me when a park ranger in Zion asked a couple of us if we were veterans--it was Memorial Day. I told her I was and she thanked me for my service. It was the first time I'd ever heard the question asked. It only took about 45 years.

 

[El Toro Joe]

Thanks to all of our veterans, today and every day.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Thank you to all veterans.

 

[beemerdons]

Thank you to all veterans.

 

[rbentnail]

I started talking to a couple of Alabama good ol' boys about--what else?--motorcycles in the parking lot of the Yellowstone Inn a few years back, asked them where they'd been on their ride and where they were headed. I mentioned Yosemite, said they should see it. Dude's face got a little redder and he got real serious. He'd sworn he'd never set foot in Cali again after getting off the plane from Nam at Hamilton AFB near SF and getting spit on and called "baby killer" and other choice names by some locals. Never did, either. Can't much blame him.
It's damn high time that changed. That was the same trip for me when a park ranger in Zion asked a couple of us if we were veterans--it was Memorial Day. I told her I was and she thanked me for my service. It was the first time I'd ever heard the question asked. It only took about 45 years.

Yeah. I imagine most, if not all, of us older guys have our stories. It wasn't until nearly a decade after I got out that anyone other than old guys in bars actually gave a crap. Ken the HD Guy I've mentioned riding with in several different posts is a Nam vet. His return home wasn't pleasant either.

Dunno about the rest of yoose but honestly I'm more than a little hesitant to raise my hand in a room when someone asks if anyone is a vet. It's not something I go out of my way to inform people of nor do I expect anything from anyone in return. Nobody owes me nothin' and frankly I find it embarrassing when someone offers me something for simply doing a job I volunteered to do. My wife finds it extremely frustrating that I'm not all rah-rah about it and if I do mention it it's like pulling teeth to get info. She knows very little of that part of my life. Let's face it- it's not like they could possibly understand how expendable you are when you punch holes in the Big Pond on a submarine for 60 or 65 days at a stretch whist strolling thru a forest of 16 nuclear warhead ICBMs two, three, sometimes four times per day. Anyone know what it's like to sit at a missile control center and wait, wait, wait until the appropriate light blinks on 16 times and you pull the trigger 16 times simulating the release of 16 ICBMs into the world? I do. Knowing how to enthusiastically destroy of the world, even just simulating it, is not an action I'm particularly proud of.

 

[jmgrif]

Lest we forget!

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae

As a visitor to the Gettysburg war memorial park on my North American tour in 2010 I was asked by the lady selling tickets if I was a veteran? I am but it was in the Canadian Navy! She replied it doesn't matter you served, no charge for admission. Thank-you very much. As it turned out while viewing the theatre which depicts the battle in the round I was standing next to another fellow who I recognized as another motorcyclist I met on the ferry coming from Digby Nova Scotia to St John N.B.. Turns out he was an historian of the Civil War and asked myself and my riding bud to join him and a few friends on their bikes and he gave us a tour of the Memorial like most people don't get! What good fortune we had the mutual appreciation of two wheel riding.

 

[Niehart]

As we approach another "official" Veteran's Day, we celebrate all who have served. We have a tendency to get confused between Veteran's Day and Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a time to honor and thank those who have died in defense of our country. Veteran's Day is a time to recognize all who have served whether it be in war or in peace. The sacrifices made are little things to some but life changing for others.

 

[beemerdons]

jes' sayin' and nuff said!

 

[bigjohnsd]

I'm glad to have served my country for 20 years. Not looking for discounts or handouts for my service, I have self satisfaction and that is all I need.

My best to all of my fellow Vets