[Bikers4Bush]

Bump for later.

[2banana]

Make sure you have plenty of children. America will need them in the future! God Bless!

[kemathen7]

Great idea :-)

My Great Uncle George died in WW2. His brother (my grandfather, aka "Papa"), Walter, enlisted after his death. He was in the same unit as Bob Dole. Papa is now battling Alzheimers. God Bless him.

I dated a wonderful man, John, for close to 4 years. He was a graduate of the Air Force Academy and a veteran of the war on terror - he spent close to a year in the middle east. This past summer he graduated from Army Ranger school (the first AF officer in many years to do so). Very suddenly and tragically he died in a car accident over Labor Day weekend while visiting family. He was supposed to report to his post in Korea the following week.

My heart is forever grateful for the service of these strong and fabulous men. God Bless them all. I miss them terribly.

[SMARTY]

My father and all his brothers enlisted after Dec. 7, '41. The youngest lied about his age and went into the Merchant Marines. (7 Trips to Mermansk and lived to tell about it) Dad was Army Airforce and went to Europe -from Christchurch England airfields to Mannheim Germany, before it was over.

[Mustng959]

Nice post!
Though I haven't got around to tracing the family tree very far back, a few things I do know.
Ancestors served in the American Civil War, have only traced back through family records to about 1820 so not sure about the War for Independence.
Great uncle, Gordon, lies at rest aboard the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor. His brother Charles served with Patton. He later went on to land at Anzio Beachhead. Charles is still kicking!
Uncle Dwayne, deceased, USAF during Korean conflict. Was a master mechanic and was once sent on a mission along with a special crew to locate a downed bomber, fix it, and fly it out.
Uncle John, served as a flight instructor for the old Army Air Corps.
And to my great nephew Daniel, Marine KIA,Afghanistan 2004. I think of you each day. Thanks to you and your comrades, the dream of a democratic election became reality.
As Veterans Day approaches, I salute each of you.

[zlala]

My dad joined the Navy when he was 17 (1943). When the newly created (1941) Air Force was recruiting for pilots, he applied and was accepted to pilot training/officer training. In those days you didn't need a college degree or previous training as a pilot. He spent a total of 26 yrs. in the military, most of them in the Air Force. He is a Vet of WW2, Korea and Vietnam.

As a full-time AF officer and dad of 6 he went to college and eventually got his Masters Degree. I always felt it was an honor to be a child of a military person, esp. one like my Dad; He is a Patriot and would still be serving today if he could.

[newgeezer]

My uncle served in the South Pacific in WWII. We just buried him yesterday. He was 87. I thank God for him and all the veterans of WWII.

[MarcoPolo]

Great posts so far. Keep them coming!

[humblegunner]

This is my Dad, the Colonel.
He was the leading cause of death among chi-coms in Korea during the 50's.

He is still kicking today and mad as hell that I'm not in Iraq.

[Stonewall Jackson]

Bump for later.

[EuroFrog]

I cant list stats and names as you have, but, I know my grandfather served in WW2, have uncles that served I have no idea where, my father and brother served in Desert Storm, and my hubby served in Iraq most of last year.

One way I like to thank retirees -when I shop in our local commissary (base grocery store for those of you that dont know) I always request a vet for my bagger. As we walk out to my car I thank him from the bottom of my heart for his service to our country and the very freedom most of us enjoy. Then I hug them, give an outrageously high tip and tell them to have a fabulous day. I have seen more than one wipe his eyes as he walked away.

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO THANK A VET!!