[illstillbe]

I tried to post this in "miscellaneous" but was not allowed ... *sigh* ... flames away ....

[illstillbe]

Well ... I did it ... heaven help me. POLs!!!!

[illstillbe]

A Navy Vet .... to you sir.

redrock ... I have been thinking of you ....

[jtill]

ISB, read the tidbit on ATRW and am so very glad you posted this. It tells a story that has long been forgotten of patriotism, integrity, self-sacrifice, endurance and undying love. If only all of these could be recaptured for the long and tedious road ahead. These letters are a part of history that can never be lost. Thank you for reminding all of us that there is so much more to life than that which we, ourselves, experience.

[Miss Marple]

Thank you for posting this, illstillbe. It is helpful to remember our heritage. My father was gone for FIVE YEARS. He had enlisted before Pearl Harbor, and didn't make it home until 1946. FIVE YEARS.

Now, let us all remember that we are, indeed, citizen soldiers, and persevere!

[Adrastus]

How short are our memories. A great and timely post. Thank you.

[JRandomFreeper]

You made me cry. Again. My heart is touched. Great BIG ((((((HUGS!!!!!))))))

Note to Trill: I need more kleenex back here.

/john

[Brad’s Gramma]

BTTT!!!! Thanks so very much. I wonder how very very many stories such as yours are tucked away in drawers and closet shelves back home. The things we could learn if we'd just talk to the WWII generation, eh?

[Never Surrender]

Very touching. Thanks for the post.

[kayak]

Beautiful story of the sacrifices made by others that we might have the freedoms we enjoy. Now it is another generation's time. As President Bush said in his inaugural address "Now we must choose if the example of our fathers and mothers will inspire us or condemn us."

Obviously you have been inspired, illstillbe. I only hope that millions more are also.

[calypgin]

The war should be over by now?!

Only according to the media, with their "Vietnam quagmire" similes.

Our sights are short?

Only the media is short-sighted, not the American people.

We've no patience ... as the remains of the World Trade Center still smoulder....

Again, the media is telling us this, but it is not true.

Thanks for posting this.

This gif doesn't show up on "preview", I'll be interested to see if it shows up on the forum. I've printed this and "posted" it on my car back windows, in an effort to contradict the insidious media.

[Snowtrill]

Wonderful post!

Thank you

Trill

[calypgin]

*sigh*... It didn't show up. The text, superimposed over the American flag, is:

We have Patience.
We have Time.
America Will Prevail.
NEVER FORGET 9/11

[Rheo]

This is a great post, thank you.

[redrock]

Beautiful!!!!!!!!!

redrock

[Species8472]

As always, a treasure!

[Neets]

Bravo bellisima!!!!!!! Bravo!!!!!!

Hope you will be able to share more at a later date.

[lysie]

Beautiful, ISB. So glad you started a new thread. Thank you.

[Mr. Mulliner]

What a great post, ISB. I was very touched.

In a few short weeks, we will be back on home ground with my parents celebrating Christmas and then my dad's 80th birthday. We will NOT let this opportunity go by without drawing out all we can from their war experiences so that we can take strength from their story.

[MozartLover]

My uncle Ken landed at Omaha Beach the day after D-Day. He fought all the way to The Battle Of The Bulge and fought there too. While in France, he met up with his brother Lloyd, an army chaplain, for a brief visit.

Meanwhile, back home, my Dad received an honorable discharge from the army because of injuries received during training. He & Mom got married October 5th, 1944. Grandma wore black to the wedding because they had the audacity to get married while her two brothers were overseas; the memory of that pains Mom to this day.

Ken suffered from shell-shock for years (that was before we had fancy-schmancy terms like "post-traumatic stress syndrome.") He NEVER talked of his experiences until a couple of years ago when my niece was writing a report on WWII & asked to interview him. He decided it was finally time to tell his story......

I, too, have no patience with the "why is this taking so long" crowd. If we're going to do this thing, it must be done well. It must be done right. It can't be rushed.

Thanks for the post Sweetie.:)

[Kanell]

Thanks illstillbe for posting this.

I read it with tears in my eyes.

Oh, where did I put that box of tissue...