Posted on 11/11/2024 8:27:24 AM PST by blueunicorn6
Thank a Veteran here.
Thank you, Jim Robinson, for your service.
It’s not quite a thank you, but you might find this story interesting nonetheless.
I’ve posted this before. And it’s not something I copied from the internet. I was in the room.
Back when I was in my 20s I worked security for a major university. One of the campus cops - I’ll call him Bill - was older than most of us. He was also fat and slow.
Bill didn’t look anything like those slick cops you see on TV. Some of the younger campus cops made fun of him. Bill never said anything back. He just took it.
Well, one day Bill brought a briefcase to roll call. He didn’t say a word. He just opened up his briefcase in front of us. In that briefcase were citations and rows of medals. Bill was an Army Ranger who landed on D-Day.
Nobody made fun of Bill after that.
Thank you, all veterans!
And WELCOME HOME! to my Vietnam vet brothers!
May God bless each and every veteran. Your bravery is very greatly appreciated!!!!!
For Veterans Day, this morning my wife took me to breakfast at our local eatery. There was guy there that had on a red MAGA hat.
Don’t know whether or not he was a veteran, but we told the waitress to give us his bill on the QT. Great start to the day!
Already did — my Dad. Also thank you for your service, Mr. Robinson.
May God bless each and every veteran. Your bravery is very greatly appreciated!!!!!
Thank you to the Veterans who served and to those who still serve.
Thanks to all my fellow veterans amongst Freepers and a Belated Happy Birthday to all my fellow devil dogs here! OOORAH!
I served in Vietnam in combat and among many others, I was badly wounded but survived.
My best friend who grew up with me in my neighborhood in California, Jimmy, joined the Marines after he saw me in uniform after I got home from boot camp. He ended up in 3/4, in Vietnam while I was serving in 2/1 within a kilometer and a half of each other. He was assigned to a CAP unit and they were overrun in June 1967 and he was captured by the enemy. He was taken from village to village and badly beaten for a week until he was murdered by the enemy.
His mother has never come out of his house and his younger brother has stayed home all this time with her because of Jimmy's death, 57 years ago.
On this Veteran's Day celebrate our veterans' service and remember Jimmy and his family and the price of our freedom.
I used to be a fixture at the local elementary school on Veterans Day. Not this year due to work and closed schools. Hopefully, next year.
Couldn’t ADEQUATELY thank a Veteran, but may God bless them all (and their families) for sacrifices made.
That’s great. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks to all my fellow veterans. Hopefully well and being treated well. Rktman. My dad swore me in to the Navy in Aug ‘67.
Thank you Mr. Robinson
Chet - a friend of mine. He put together a book of his experience in the European Theatre of Operations, as a spotter for artillery. There is a famous picture of General Patton taking a leak, while on a bridge. Chet was in the house in the distance, top floor looking to the far, more distant trees . . . for German artillery.
Chet was a mathematical genius. And he had some kind of unique quality of eyesight, such that, he could spot artillery shells in flight and immediately calculate their likely point of origin. He had a jeep, a driver, and a radio (attached to the jeep), and he roamed around, wherever needed, locating German artillery.
His book was fantastic. His medals, too. His trunk that returned to the USA, loaded with souveniers.
- - -
Ray - another friend of mine. Ray was a B-24 bombardier, and navigator, and he was badly wounded during a mission over Europe. He recovered in a hospital in England. After recovery, he was assigned to a special ground team, among a number of teams, looking for German missile manufacturing equipment, and looking for German scientists.
In all that running around on the ground, his team did find things.
Ray also put together a book of his experience. Like Chet, several photos.
Chet gave me a copy of his book. Ray, one day, when I was visiting his home, had me sit down and read his book. All of that, amazing adventures.
Both men had wonderful sense of humor.
- - -
That reminds me of Herb. He was a teenager when “drafted” into the German Army / SS, just in time to spend a few months southwest of the German border with Denmark.
Herb was captured by British troops, spent time in a prison camp, and then was discovered by an American machine/tools company owner who was looking for skilled machinists - something Herb had been doing as a teen, before being “drafted.”
I met Herb in New York State, decades ago. He worked with a friend of mine, George (who, was a USAAF tech, who repaired and serviced P-38s and P-47s at an airstrip near Utah Beach, June 1944).
They both were “drafted” by the American machine/tools boss, and they were both incredibly excellent, talented machinists.
One day, I was visiting their facility, when I got side-tracked, interested in something that Herb was working on - developing a thing, based on a blueprint.
Herb cast some aluminum, and he machined some balsa wood, in order to make a physical prototype of a thing that a local company’s R&D guys had in mind.
Herb took a break and told me about: a) some of his wartime experience, and b) some troubles with his son (along the lines of “Why can’t they be like we were, perfect in every way!”).
Herb was hilarious. German accent, but otherwise soundling like any American dad grumbling about “the kid.”
Herb and George. I was fortunate to know them.
The thing that Herb was working on: The first CD case. It was made of aluminum and balsa wood, as a prototype to show around the office at ____.
- - -
There were many more friends of all ranks and all branches. Bless them, and please God, forgive them.
Although many of us are blessed there are many who are not. If you feel the need to say thanks, it is accepted graciously. But please devote that feeling to the many organizations who are helping those of us who are not blessed and in desperate need of donations, volunteers or other help you might provide.
Homelessness, suicides and other mental/physical challenges abound in our community. Please help.
That is a great compilation of anecdotes! Thank you for posting them...:)
Thanks. BTW, Ray married the nurse.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.