|
Posted on 11/11/2003 3:31:06 AM PST by snippy_about_it
|
|
 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
|
| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
|
|
 To our veterans - Thank You  Veterans Day A day set aside to honor our country's living veterans. At the Foxhole honoring veterans is a major part of our mission. Whereas we will not forget those who died or our POW/MIAs, and course those who are currently serving, today we specifically honor those men and women living among us who have served our country in times past, our living veterans. Especially here at the Foxhole we are blessed to have veterans as part of our Foxhole family both as readers and contributors.  We would like to welcome all our veterans to the Foxhole on this very special day as we attempt to honor you and thank you for your service to our country. Freedom is not free and our debt to you and those gone before you can never fully be paid. May God richly bless you all. Welcome home and we will never forget. It matters not where, when or how your served; here at home or in a foreign land, in the air, at sea or on land; in peacetime or in war, on the battefield or behind a desk; on supply lines; as an engineer, a mechanic, an infantrymen, a cook or medic. You chose to volunteer or fullfilled your duty by the draft and served America and we are forever grateful. Every job is important as they all support each other and the cause of freedom. Some sacrifices are greater, yes, and some service more dangerous than others, yet all service is sacrifice by the troop and their family and we highly respect that service. Some gave all, all gave some. Thank you all - from SAM and snippy  "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman." --Thomas Paine, Founding Father  "The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their Nation." --George Washington  "Let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain." --Dwight D. Eisenhower  "We must not forget the past. We must not forget those who sacrificed, but we must also remember the reason for their sacrifice. They died so tyranny would die. They died to create a better world for those of us who followed them. Their sacrifice was not in vain." --Secretary of State Colin Powell as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, observing the 50th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1991.  "America was founded on the principles of liberty, opportunity, and justice for all, and on Veterans Day we recognize the men and women of our Armed Forces who have valiantly defended these values throughout our Nation's history. These remarkable individuals have helped to make our Nation secure and to advance the cause of freedom worldwide. By answering the call of duty and risking their lives to protect their fellow countrymen, these patriots have inspired our Nation with their courage, compassion, and dedication. Our proud veterans have also helped to shape the American character. They have given us an extraordinary legacy of patriotism and honor, and their service represents the highest form of citizenship." --George W. Bush  Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL those who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served - not only those who died - have sacrificed and done their duty. --- Department of Veterans Affairs   who has given us freedom of religion. who has given us the right to keep and bear arms. who has given us freedom of the press. who has given us freedom of speech. who has given us freedom to assemble. who has given us the right to a fair trial. Who has given us the right to vote.   AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.         |
Thanks.
At Ft. Campbell Ky. in late July, it's the only way to wear one.
The story is that I was part of the reaction team. We had just been hit with a chem threat and were standing down and taking things off when the chem detectors went off again and OPFOR hit us.
I went charging to the sound of the guns barely able to see through fogged lenses. OPFOR had already retreated (I was on the opposite perimeter at the time they hit). Unable to see, I wandered past our perimeter and found myself on a slight ridge above the OPFORs rally-point.
A 100-round box of 7.62 later the referees declared their entire unit (15-20 guys) wiped out and their mission a failure. My unit S-3 snapped the pic as I wandered blind through the woods before I found the bad guys.
Of course, back then, I told everyone that I had stalked them.
An M-60 and a little luck can do great things. ;-]
Courage, respect and thank you are simple words that sum up what Veterans Day means to me. Each of these words when taken individually represents what every American should think of on Veterans Day.
Reflect for a moment about young men and women packing their duffel bags waiting to be sent to a foreign land far from home. What thoughts must run through their minds in time of war? Certainly one must contemplate will I kill another human being or will I be killed? Will I maim or be maimed? Will I become a POW; if so what horrors must be endured? Will I ever embrace my loved ones again?
Peace keeping missions also pose danger to our military forces. In this scenario we ask our soldiers to use diplomacy keeping opposing forces from killing each other, while leaders of nations hammer out agreements such as border disputes, the language to be placed on treaty agreements and the like.
Even in times of world peace our armed forces must be ever mindful that they can be called into action at any given moment. Surely this knowledge must give them pause to think about military service.
Thousands of men and women served our country in time of need regardless of popular opinion here at home. Call it what you will; police action, military conflict, or war, the fact remains that Americans, generation after generation gave life and limb in order for us to maintain our freedoms. These men and women who served our country so nobly certainly have made this nation the greatest on Earth.
Veterans Day is also a time to remember family members who sacrificed life and limb. In my family, my great uncle paid the ultimate price as a POW on Luzon Island in the Philippines during World War II. Another family member, my grandfather, suffered a leg injury when his ship was bombed, in addition he contracted malaria while serving in Africa also during World War II. Without the actions of brave men and women America would still be struggling to make her mark as a world superpower.
Veterans Day is not a time to remember just the brave men and women who fought in America's most recent 'disputes'. It is a time to remember the blood shed in early American History and how much courage it look for those men and women to stand up and fight for their beliefs. Without the actions of those men and women, America would not be the country she is today. We, as a nation, owe to all these men and women eternal gratitude.
As the flag is raised on this Veterans Day, the last of the millennium, we should not be afraid to stand tall, place our hands over our hearts, and recite in a loud, clear voice, the Pledge of Allegiance. This day holds a special importance in my heart. I am proud to say that I am an American. Finally, when you see a veteran standing or sitting outside a store collecting money we should always donate to their worthy cause and say thank you, for without these people we would not have the freedoms and liberties each of as enjoy today.
In a strange land I was sent, not knowing my fate;
In a pen I was put, and I sat by the gate.
I watched and I wondered, what do I do now;
Then I looked up and saw you, as you walked up with a smile.
We trained and we worked, and I showed you my best;
You rewarded me, and petted me, and I did the rest.
Through trails and paths and roads we did go;
And I was to smell, for traps that would blow.
Many times I stopped you, from ending your life;
From an enemy trip wire, that was set to end your life.
Never have I thought, that we would ever part;
Because of the love, that we had in our hearts.
Oh, I was so proud, to walk by your side;
With all of your friends, and being your guide.
Then one day you put me, back into my pen;
You smiled and you petted me, and said,"Goodbye my friend."
You looked back one more time, and I saw the tear in your eye;
And I knew it was the last, and was your way of saying goodbye.
My life it so changed, when you went back home;
And I stayed behind, to a fate unknown.
Its been over 30 years, since I've seen your face;
But I never forgot you, my friend and my mate.
For you see, my friend I still sit by the gate;
In a place called Heaven, still waiting for my mate.
So please don't worry, I'm waiting by Heaven's gate;
For my best friend, my brother, but mainly my mate.
Author Unknown
Here's my "me and my weapon" picture. This was taken right after we switched from the M-14 to the M-16.
I can hardly see through the tears.
My real weapon was a fuel truck with 5000 gallons of JP4 riding along. I also got to expiriment with liquid oxygen occasionally.
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.
