“””I spent Christmases away from home so that others might be with their families. Now others do so that I can be with my family.”””
The easily forgotten. A thank-you ever enough?
My 87yr old dad, a Korean War vet who survived. Or did he?
The dynamics of the family affected by the horrors he saw for years.
And now after all these years, PTSD combined with Alzheimer’s. Not fun.
One day an episode of MASH has him laughing. The next day an episode will have him in tears. That war is not over for us.
He still knows the truth of war. The lies told by MSM is bewildering. To hear others speak of what they know not both maddening and disheartening. To reflect back on your life and experiences, then listen to Snowflakes disturbing.
Yet he won’t accept any of his VA benefits. Feels so blessed by his country he prefers other vets who need them get his.
Or maybe my favorite uncle. Career Army Miltary Police and Transport. Volunteered to learn Vietmenese and do two tours in SVN as an advisor.
The first tour he came back OK. The second tour he ran a rock crushing plant near the NVN border for the SVN with the next closest American 60 klicks away.
The look in his eye as he tried to describe what it was like trying to fall asleep in his hooch wondering if Charlie would rush in and kill him at any second. Night after night after night.
Or the day he was delayed for his usual rounds so he sent his VN best buddy to check something for him only to hear a booby trap bomb go off killing his friend. In pieces. A bomb meant for him.
Uncle Jack was never the same. Looking into his eyes while he told these stories. Who could forget the pain?
I can’t.
He finally retired, the transition to civilian life didn’t go well. My aunt divorced him, he moved back to his childhood home in Florida, and before too long, he passed. A tragic loss of a kind soul.
I thank you LonePalm, and the so many other other vets and their families for what you and they have endured.
It troubles me to see FREEDOM squandered after such a cost.
Though not a Vet, the war for me continues.
But I have a Great Hope in the gift of the Son. That one day soon it will all make sense. So now I can laugh, and laugh loudly.
Thanks for your posts,
Merry Christmas
A Sailor's Christmas by Jimmy Buffett
Sail on the horizon's gotta landfall rendezvous
The captain steers a well-known course, he steers straight & true
As he trims the sheets, he sings a song
He learned on Boats & Bars
A sailor spends his Christmas in a harbour 'neath the stars
He's traveled through the doldrums, typhoons and hurricanes
He's logged a million soggy miles with water on his brain
But Christmas is the season better suited for dry land
He'll tell some lies, meet some spies
And dance barefoot in the sand
The sailor spends his Christmas in a harbour on the hook
Cali, Calais, no work today, let's shelve the ol' log book
The waterfront is reveling, the season has begun
The sailor spends his Christmas in a harbour having fun.
There's a party down at Le Selecte, all music, rum and cheers
Faces in the shadows, God, I haven't seen for years
The mast & shrouds are filled with lights
'Neath the waning of the moon
They're an air of celebration in the realm of King Neptune.
The sailor spends his Christmas in a harbour on the hook
Cali, Calais, no work today, let's shelve the ol' log book
The waterfront is reveling, the season has begun
A sailor spends his Christmas in a harbour having fun.
Jesus was a fisherman who walked upon the sea
The North Pole is ocean's remote frozen balcony
The continents keep drifting but the children sing and play
'Cause nothing really matters, after all it's Christmas day
A sailor spends his Christmas in a harbour on the hook.
Cali, Calais, no work today, he read it in a book
The waterfront is reveling, the season has begun
A sailor spends his Christmas in a harbour having fun
A sailor spends his Christmas in a harbour having fun
Havin' fun... havin' fun...havin' fun.
WWG1WGA
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)