[MinuteGal]

I saw this thread and started to think about relatives of mine, all dead now, who served their country in wartime. I realized there were more than I thought there were.

There was a cousin who died in the Battle of Pork Chop Hill in Korea, only just turned 18. An uncle was a WW2 Navy Officer, a doctor....out of Great Lakes naval base in Illinois.

Another uncle, stationed at an airfield in England, flew numerous, dangerous bombing missions over Germany.

Another uncle, the Army's Silver Skates champion, flew to military bases all over U.S. and overseas with his special unit conducting sports fitness programs for the fighting troops and giving skating exhibitions to entertain them right in the war zones.

My mom's Navy brother served in North Africa during the Rommel desert tank campaign. My second cousin was in the Italian campaign serving as an army translator as our troops fought their way up the Boot. He spoke English, Italian and German, later having a career in the U.S. Diplomatic service.

They're all gone now, but tonight I'm raising a toast to them and to all who served our country....and particularly to the relatives of countless Freepers who served in the various military branches in time of war and peace.

"Bless 'em all, bless 'em all
The long and the short and the tall
Bless all the sergeants and W. O. Ones
Bless all the corp'rals and their bleepin' sons
For we're saying "God bless" to them all
As back to their billets they crawl
You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean
So cheer up my lads
Bless 'em all!"

("Bless 'Em All" - written 1917)

Leni

[ConorMacNessa]

Thanks very much to you and your family for your sterling service to our Beloved Nation! God Bless them all indeed! God Bless them good!

America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

Eagles Up! Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[pax_et_bonum]

Nice, Leni.

Bless them all.

My grampa was in the Sea Bees, on an island somewhere in the Pacific.

Volunteered and lived to come home to his beautiful wife and two little girls.

Bless him, too.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

Thanks for posting Leni. Although gone, my father, a WWII POW in Japan, remains my ultimate hero!