Salute to FReeper Veterans; Check in!: THREAD #4

self | 11/10/11 | Righ

[RightOnline]

[Note to all: I've finally resurrected what was a tradition here for several years on FR....the "Veterans' Check-In". Much has happened since I started this...twelve years ago. Three of my five sons are now veterans, including a Bronze Star-winning Stryker platoon leader in Iraq back during the 'surge' days (FReeper "Future Snake Eater"), a combat videographer who jumped in so young I had to sign papers to allow him to serve, and a 'grunt' from Ft. Polk who just got back from Afghanistan). God bless them, God bless you all. I've included the original text from all those years ago here.]

While splashing some coffee into my eyes in a feeble attempt to wake up (early plane to catch this AM), I still wanted to take a moment and express my...and I'm sure "our"...appreciation to all of you veterans. We salute you on this Veterans Day for your sense of duty, commitment, honor, and sacrifice. Whether you served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq, or any number of other "hot spots" around the globe, may we offer our thanks and deepest respect for what you've given and helped to protect.

May God in His Heaven bless all of you, and just know that many, many of us remember. You will never be forgotten.

Take a moment and "check in" here, all you vets. It's your day. Those of us who served during "peacetime" especially salute the combat veterans; those who survived the bullets and incoming and left so many close friends behind. A special prayer to all of you today.

[RightOnline]

Yeah, now it’s our sons who kick ass and take names. Bless ‘em.

[RightOnline]

MSgt...married to a 1Lt; a true mixed marriage. :) As a young second lieutenant in the AF (during pilot training), I married a slightly younger air traffic controller (enlisted). Back then, the AF didn’t care....but that sure changed later.

[RightOnline]

...and it’s my pleasure to meet you! Thank you for your service.

[The Mayor]

LOL!! No, she brags that she married an Army cook...
She was one of the first female twins ever to enter the Corp...

[NYFreeper]

Thank you too for your service. Was at Minot and Griffiss and had plenty of those KC-135’s there.

[smoothsailing]

Hello BIGLOOK, Welcome Home Brother! :)

[Artcore]

That is awesome! I can tell you, this accomplishment by your Dad was no easy task. I believe the “normal” time in grade is about 17 years. At least this was the case when I served.

Your Dad proves that hard work and dedication to something can elevate them far above their humble beginnings.

I'll bet your Dad would give these OWS snot nose punks an earful :-D God Bless your Father's service, and his unique distinction within the Air Force. An accomplishment to be proud of!

[xrmusn]

RM2 USN
1956-64

NDM
AFEM w/bs
VSM w/bs
GCM

RTC NTC San Diego CA
CTR SCO Imperial Beach CA
USS Henrico (APA-45)
USS Terrell County (LST-1157)
SUBSCO New London Ct
NAVCOMMSTA Washington DC - Cheltenham MD

[Artcore]

Really nice to see all of the military Veterans out there!

A shout out to all of the military families who eagerly wait for their loved ones to return home. We appreciate your sacrifice!

[sarasmom]

USAF 77-84 SAC-USAFE-NATO-TAC-SAC
Cold war veteran.
Thanks for the thread RightOnline. I'm bandaged and drugged up from recent non-service related surgery.But I'm still here, and thanking many fellow FReepers for their prayers !

[21twelve]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c084s55Bcfc

Unknown, By David Harsh

Here’s my favorite song remembering the fallen veterans. A Christian singer that came across a small WWI cemetery in France. With numerous crosses marked “unknown”.

“Isn’t there a father somewhere,
mother brother sister somewhere
wishing they would soon come home.
Someone knew their hopes and dreams,
to someone they meant everything,
so why do they remain unknown.”

God bless our troops, past, present and future.

[HiJinx]

Old Cold Warrior, here.
I even have a certificate signed by Donald Rumsfeld that says so!

[anchorclankor]

Retired Navy 1960-1984 Lots of work,lots of fun, danger a time or two.

[brothers4thID]

The brother to whom my handle refers is a retired LTC now: US Army 1989-2009. Dad retired from the Army with his 20 years in 1993. His dad is still with us, thanks be to God, and he earned a purple heart at Leyte Gulf in 1944.

Sadly, my younger brother died in 2007. He only completed basic before having to take a medical discharge, but that man loved the Army something fierce. I know he’s not a true veteran in the sense that so many of you are, but I like to remember his love for the service, and the country, today.

[floralamiss]

My prayers for you and your wife, 2ndDivisionVet. God bless and keep you. And thank you for your service to our country.

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

AF Reservist from 1975-1981.
DH served active AF from 1971-1975, then AF reserves 1976-1980. Transferred to ANG 1980-2009.
Our son ANG 2006, he is currently active ANG.

Our youngest son is now considering following in our footsteps.

[floralamiss]

Grandfather, U.S. Navy WWI and WWII; Father, U.S. Army Air Corps WWII and USAF Korea; Boyfriend, U.S Army 1991-2001.

Thank you ALL for your brave and honorable service to our country.

[Diver Dave]

Falling in for Muster.

US Navy 1963-1967

USS PIEDMONT AD-17

Homeport: San Diego

SFP2(DV)

3 WESTPAC Tours

[B-Cause]

Take a moment and "check in" here, all you vets. It's your day. Those of us who served during "peacetime" especially salute the combat veterans; those who survived the bullets and incoming and left so many close friends behind. A special prayer to all of you today.

---

Army 1958-1961 FPS-36 Radar Mechanic stationed at Hanford, WA and Austin, TX. Two sons graduated from West Point - Greg in '83 and Doug in '85. This coming Friday, son Doug will be the MC for our local Veteran's Day tribute. Most of these tributes read the poem, "In Flanders Field".

Doug feels that "In Flanders Field" is not appropriate because American men and women did not fight and die at that location, and the poem was written by a Canadian.

Doug has modified a United States Army Infantry poem to give recognition to all American Veterans and will present and read it this Friday at the local Veteran's Day ceremony.

Below is Doug's tribute:

---

For over two centuries we have kept our nation safe. Purchasing freedom with our blood. To tyrants, we are the day of reckoning; to the oppressed, the hope for the future. Where we were needed, we were there…We are Veterans!

Whether we were Eagles guarding the Heavens … grunts being King of our Hill or Sea wolves stalking our prey under the waves … we all were and are Veterans …. Sworn defenders of our Constitution. We built our Fortress of Liberty …. We guarded the Gates of Freedom … We signed the Blank Check … payable in blood.

We had not yet even begun to fight but we were there from the beginning, meeting the enemy face to face, will to will. Hardship…And glory we have known. Our bleeding feet stained the snow at Valley Forge; our frozen hands pulled Washington across the Delaware. At Yorktown, while the sunlight glinted from the sword we, begrimed…and saw our Nation born.

At New Orleans, we fought beyond the hostile hour, showed the fury of our long rifle…and came of age.

We were with Scott at Vera Cruz…hunted the guerilla in the mountain passes…and scaled the high plateau. The fighting was done when we ended our march many miles from the old Alamo.

From Bull Run to Appomattox, we fought and bled. Both Blue and Gray were our colors then. Two masters we served and united them strong…proved that this nation could right a wrong…and long endure.

We led the charge up San Juan Hill …scaled the walls of old Tientsin…and stalked the Moro in the steaming jungle …still always the vanguard.

At Chateau-Thierry, first over the top, then we stood like a rock on the Marne. We cracked the Hindenburg Line…We broke the Kaiser's spine…and didn't come back home 'till it was "over, over there."

A generation older we briefly bowed at Pearl Harbor and Bataan, but then vowed to return. We fought and won the greatest naval battles in history, from Midway to Guadalcanal to Okinawa. Our foe fought to the death and we set the Rising Sun.

We assaulted the African shore…learned our lessons the hard way in the desert sands…we pressed our buttons into the beach at Anzio…and bounced into Rome with determination and resolve.

We cleared the skies over Europe with wild Mustangs, Lightnings and Thunderbolts.

We crossed the English channel … Breached Hitler’s Atlantic Wall …We broke out at St. Lo … Unbent the Bulge…Vaulted the Rhine…and swarmed the Heartland. Hitler's dream and the Third Reich died. We won the greatest war in history.

At birth our Air Force won it’s first victory … by feeding freedom from the jaws of an evil dictator and proved that all freemen are Berliners.

In Korea, we gathered our strength around Pusan…swept across the frozen Han…outflanked the Reds at Inchon…and marched to the Yalu, and kept a nation free.

At the brink of World War … We caused our enemy to blink.

In Vietnam, while others turned aside, we fought the long fight, from the Central Highlands to the South China Sea. We patrolled the jungle, the paddies, the rivers and owned the skies in the bitter test that belongs to the betrayed. While WE never lost a battle, we came home to be spit on.

Around the world, we stand…ever forward. At Berlin's gates, we scorned the Wall of Shame. We spanned the Caribbean in freedom's cause, answering humanity's cry. In Santo Domingo we patrolled the streets to protect the innocent. In Grenada, we jumped at Salinas and rescued our fellow citizens and proclaimed freedom for all. Our arms set a Panamanian dictator to flight and once more raised freedom’s flag. In the Persian Gulf, we drew the line in the desert and won the Mother of all Battles.

When cowards attacked women and children on 9-11, we planted the seeds of freedom in the cradle of civilization. We will not submit … we will not convert … the cowards can run … but they will only die tired.

Where brave men fight…there I fought and stood. In freedom's cause…I live and I kill. From Concord Bridge to Heartbreak Ridge, from the Arctic to the Mekong, from the Caribbean to Kabul…Always ready…then, now, and forevermore.

My bayonet…on the wings of power… keeps freedom worldwide. And despots, falsely garbed in freedom's mantle, falter…hide…. And die.

I Follow…I Teach… I Aid… I Lead …I am a Veteran! FOLLOW ME!

Portions from the poem,” I am the Infantry”

[floralamiss]

In my humble opinion, your brother was a veteran right through to his soul. God bless your family for their service to our country.