Kim

Personally, I just can't THANK our past, present, and future Veterans enough for all their sacrifices they have and/or will endure. Every veteran places their life on the line daily to protect others in the name of Freedom. Many Veterans have lost their life to make this world a better place. They follow orders with Honor and a strong sense of self satisfaction. Whether you were in the Air Force, Navy, Army, Marines, or the Coast Guard, everyone of you deserve more than just a Thank You. Veterans do the jobs others are incapable of doing. Veterans should receive priority when in need. Because if it wasn't for the Veterans, this world would be very different.

I take my hat off, place my hand over my heart, and offer a 21 gun salute to all the Veterans who did and will do their duty with courage and honor.

But let us not forget the Policeman and Fireman who also place their life on the line daily so we can feel safe in our homes in pursuit of our freedom.

Just a little of my military history: I am a Vietnam era veteran. Active tour 1971 to 1977 stationed in Mississippi, Florida, Guam, and the Nevada Test Site. Reserve status 1977--. Every station of mine is a UFO hot spot. Do you believe?

Veterans seem to be a dying breed. Every day I find it harder and harder to come across one. In the last 10 years where I have worked, I have only met 3 other Veterans.

Thank you in advance for those of you who wish to pay tribute to our Veterans.

And I wish to Thank
CValentine-USAF, Tarpsprad-USAF, and Saltydad-Army, for their sacrafice.

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Catch ya on the rebondKim

Dalmatiansoap

1993-1996
does this count?

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sbl

I wholeheartly agree--I have a brother in the Navy--he was an officer, a grad of Annapolis, but his comission expired before he could go to Iraq--he wanted to go so bad he re-enlisted as a Master Sargent--he is in Iraq now.

Kim

YES; A Veteran nevertheless. Which campaign, war, or conflict.

That is dedication to the cause. Give your brother my Thanks and Best Wishes and my hopes he will safely return home some day soon.

Thanks for your respones' Dalmatiansoap and sbl.

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Catch ya on the rebondKim

Bob

Kim I'd like to respond but for a change don't see what i could add to what is said. As a kid I never understood why my father (now deceased ) had so much respect for the Japanese he was fighting against in WWII. I do now.
Thanks all.

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CValentine

Thank you Kim for your service & to all Veterans Thank You also!!

To the spouses, children & families of those who are currently serving, Bless you all & keep strong!

~Cheryl

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When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. - Jimi Hendrix

john_ny

When I was 17 years old, and just about to finish my first year in college, in the mid west, I got my parents' permission to join the Naval Reserve. I signed up in Fargo, ND, and went to boot camp, in Great Lakes, IL, on my way home for summer break.
After my second year, I decided (like many Kids do) that I didn't want to go to school anymore. I found an information sheet, at the reserce center, about a program where I could get a comission, with only two years of school. I said, "This is for me.", but I was told that they couldn't sign me up at the reserve center; that I would have to go to the recruiting station, downtown.
When I showed the sheet to the recruiter, he laughed, and said, "Where did you get this?" I said that I had gotten it from the reserve center, and he told me that the program had gone out in WW2. The sheets had been sitting for years. He then explained that the only way I could do it, at the time, with only 2 years of school, was if I would fly. At that time, my flying experience was about once or twice on a commercial airliner. I told him that I would have to think about that, and after I did, for about 10 seconds, I said OK.
So, in a couple of months, I was off to Pensacola, for flight training. After a couple of months I was told that the rules were changed and, since flight school took about a year and a half, and was very expensive, the Navy was not getting enough out of you, if you had signed for four years, (4 yrs. minus 1½ for training = 2½ working) so I would have to give them 4 yrs. active duty after training, making a total of 5½ yrs. However, they had not changed the rules for people with 4 years of school.
Now, being a little older, I started thinking a little more rationally, and figured I would get out in 5½ years. If I coulgo back and finish school (2 yrs.) and then give them 4 years, I would be finished in 6 years, only 6 months more, but I would have a degree. So, I told them I wanted out, to go back to school. Everyone told me I couldn't do that, except one man, in the personnel office, (who was civil service-not even Navy) who said that that applied to someone who walked into the program, off the street but, since I had prior time in the reserves, I could do it.
So I came home, finished school, and spent two summers going to OCS, in Newport, RI, and returned to Pensacola.
I spent a total of about 5 years active duty. My first squadron was an Airborne Early Warning (predecessor to AWACS) in Newfoundland, and Iceland.
Then I went to Norfolk,VA to a MATS squadron (Military Air Transport Service. The planes we flew, though we were in the Navy, had U.S.AIR FORCE painted on them. I think they call it Military Airlift Command, now.)
After that, I went back in the reserves, and retired after a total of 26 years. I was in the Navy, but in 26 yrs. spent about 2 days on a ship.

John Johnson, Cdr. USNR (ret)

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John

sbl

I had 2 more brothers that were in the Navy during Nam--my next oldest brother never set foot on a ship (with the exception of the ones they use for fire training at the Great Lakes boot camp). The other was on the Lex for his entire tour.

saltydad

SBL

Your brother has my total admiration. Please wish him my best and a safe tour.

Howard

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Men In Nursing- "A Few Good Men"

"Gardening is the purest of human pleasures." - Francis Bacon





"If by a liberal, they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind; someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions; someone who cares about the welfare of the people, their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, their civil liberties; someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicion that grips us; that is what they meant by a liberal, I am proud to be a liberal."
John F. Kennedy, September, 1960


http://flickr.com/photos/saltydad/ and
http://community.webshots.com/user/saltydad
http://s751.photobucket.com/albums/xx151/saltydad/

mckoinld

Good Job Kim!!!!!! Thanks for your statments. Agree with you 100%

Lonie

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GOOOO TIGERS

Kim

With great respect to your dedication, I salute you. And I just had to let you know, you and my grandfather have the same name. His middle initial is J. He never talked about any military career but I do know he helped move the troops during WWII and then retired from the Railroad.

Thank You John Johnson, Cdr. USNR (ret)

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Catch ya on the rebondKim

bencelest

I am a CPO USN, retired, . I was in the Navy at the start of the Vietnam conflict until the end. A black shoe sailor.

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Banana Nut

Dalmatiansoap

[quote=Kim;94976]YES; A Veteran nevertheless. Which campaign, war, or conflict. QUOTE]

Croatian Army. War in Croatia (mostly Dubrovnik war zone).

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sbl

Thanks--I will do that--I am sure he will appreciate the support!

rscotth

My father was chemical warfare/ infantry in WWII- Bronze Star & Purple Heart recipient. He just passed away this March.

I have a brother that was in Viet Nam- Marines

I was Navy from 1990-1997 in an Engineering type job working as a Gas Turbine Systems Technician. I currently do the equivalent in the civilian world working outages (planned and forced) on gas turbine power plants for a little company that was founded by Thomas Edison.

Thanks to all the other veterans out there- have a happy holiday!

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Bob

[quote=Dalmatiansoap;95051]Yeah, and I bet you get your butt kicked on a regular basis by a 3 year old girl

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Eric

About the greatest thing a man or woman can do is fight or lay down their life for their Country. I wanna thank Kim, CValentine, Saltydad, RScotth, well, all you guys for making this great thread. Nothing much else I could add except my deep admiration for relatives of mine who fought in various wars to keep our Freedom here. Just hope I can do as much, someday.
I'd also like to add that I'm also astonished at the treatment, I've been hearing about, of our Veterans. They should be treated with honor & the greatest respect for their service to our Nation.

Richard

I am personally indebted to 1/4th of the men in my H.S. graduation class -- they did not come home alive.

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Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

CValentine

Good of you to recognize & remember those who fought, sacrificed & died on the fields for freedom Richard...and all of you...Thank you for caring!

My grandfather served 27 years in the Army, from 1927 as a Private in the Dakota Horse Cavalry to retiring in 1954, W4 CWO.
He is listed on the 1930 census as a soldier in Ft. Meade, SD.
All what my GF did I may never know, my father will not allow me access to my GF's records.
I do know that while my GF served as MI, my GM, my Father & his younger sister & brother all lived in Free Austria during WW II.
Some of what my father shared: after victory over Germany, the Army moved their family to Brady, Texas & then sent my GF to the Pacific Theatre.
All the post cards & letters that were sent to my GrandMother & Father, I got the read a few.
Dad said there were 2 phone calls a year if they were lucky...GF was gone 2 years at a time sometimes.
The perserverance of the Proud American family back then, don't know how they did it.
Makes me glad for the communication systems we have now!

Sorry to babble on...just another Proud American Vet here.
Thank you everyone! ~Cheryl

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When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. - Jimi Hendrix

saltydad

I can only speak from personal experience, but the medical care I've received over the years from the V.A. has been excellent!

__________________
Men In Nursing- "A Few Good Men"

"Gardening is the purest of human pleasures." - Francis Bacon





"If by a liberal, they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind; someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions; someone who cares about the welfare of the people, their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, their civil liberties; someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicion that grips us; that is what they meant by a liberal, I am proud to be a liberal."
John F. Kennedy, September, 1960


http://flickr.com/photos/saltydad/ and
http://community.webshots.com/user/saltydad
http://s751.photobucket.com/albums/xx151/saltydad/