Tribute To Vietnam Veterans....Welcome Home.......March 5, 2002

Self and Various web sites for graphics and friends

[Snow Bunny]

Even though we all were in Vietnam at different times, at different places our hearts were united and our lives they were intertwined.
After Vietnam there were no parades, not many people wanted to hear our stories, and if they did listen, they didn't really understand. I know this is a small thank you for all each of you did , but I want to thank you for serving and for being the person you were then and now.
I appreciated what you were did ,and would do in the future to secure the freedom and liberty of this nation and other nations.

A man has not lived until he has almost died…….

For those who have fought life has a flavor……..

The protected will never know.

…….. author Unknown Vietnam Veteran

THE EYES OF A WARRIOR
(A tribute to the Vietnam Veterans, and the Veterans of our past)

In the eyes of a warrior we see strength, loyalty, honor ~ we see pain, horror, and loneliness. When you look into their eyes you see the stony strength of one who has the courage to take on the world so that we may choose. You see the will that stands between fear and a belief that freedom is the most valuable gift that one can give to another. And, you see the heart ~ with its granite-hard conviction that the soul cannot survive without honor. Personal honor cannot be lost or thrown away. It is embedded in the soul of the warrior beyond this earth ~ beyond eternity, and beyond his or her own ability to survive without it.

When you look into the eyes of a warrior, you also see the dead pool of pain. It surrounds and envelopes the inner soul ~ it is a natural by-product of the prize, freedom. One cannot win this prize unless they are willing to endure the pain ~ for this is the price. No one pays this price like the warrior. The horror that is endured....remembered....is the cause of the pain but is also the means by which the warrior wins for us, the freedom and the life that we enjoy. So oblivious are we to the price they pay. The tears they shed somewhere inside where we cannot see unless we look for the brothers they were forced to leave behind, and for the loss ~ the never ending loss of war. In their eyes one will see the deepest most internal ~ and most eternal loneliness we shall ever witness. It comes from the deepest part within them, that part which suffers still, the battle.

If you look deep into the eyes of a warrior, you will see the collage of the human spirit. If you cannot envy this ~ if you cannot love, respect and honor this, then you have no right to the freedom they so willingly won, and then simply gave to you.

Have we ever stopped to think what our world would be like if we had no warriors? How would we have the right to determine for ourselves what we will do on a lazy Sunday afternoon? How would we determine for ourselves what our children will learn and how they will be raised? And the most important question of all ~~ how dare we forget these things are true?

To All Veterans:

"With all my heart I embrace you....
with all my soul I wrap you in
the protective shroud of my pride
in you and my gratitude for what
you have given me".

[Snow Bunny]

Penance....giggle.OK..Let's see......a BIG hug to start with then the site that 1stbn27 is excellent and informative. He honors every branch as well.

Now a HUG...

(((((((((( hug )))))))))

that is your penance.

[Snow Bunny]

I donate to FR and I appreciate everyday for FR and JimRob. I am also on a monthly so they can get my donation every month.

I LOVE Free Republic.

[Snow Bunny]

smiling.......I will trade you TWO peaches , just give me one Lucky....sure wish it was Benson & Hedges. hahahaha

[Snow Bunny]

Thanks B4 !

.

Thanks so much.

[Snow Bunny]

I forgot, there might be just one dance with me too....giggle...just kidding.....tee hee

[Critter]

"I forgot, there might be just one dance with me too....giggle...just kidding.....tee hee "

I think I can oblige you ma'am. :)

[Critter]

Been to the site, AND ordered the CD. :)

Am I forgiven?

I read We Were Soldiers Once... and saw the flick..

My main complaint about the movie is that they do not emphasize the killing of American wounded by the vietnamese, like the book did. To me, that was one of the most important messages in the book. It showed the reader, clearly, what kind of animals our guys were dealing with, right from the get go. I think the movie portrayed the bad guys far too kindly.

Hollywood is still a commie town, so I guess it was to be expected.

[OldEagle]

I think you will find that killing enemy wounded happens more often than we realize. Often there is no way to care for them and they can be a problem if they are not dead. I have no sympathy for VC/NVA and unlike some others I have no desire to return to retrace my steps and bond with my former enemies. With that having been said, I do understand men, women and children being involved in a war. If Vietnam were to invade the USA, you would see resistance from men, women and children. That is normal. Fortunately or unfortunately war does not have the simple clear cut distinctions that some people wish it had.

[Snow Bunny]

Yes, they didn't put a lot of things from the book. Not sure why they did as you said.

Thanks my friend.

[Snow Bunny]

Yes, I agree. I can see women and children being involved in war too. I would fight too.I just get angry when they say baby killer and they are not thinking like your post. The enemy is fighting back,men, women, children and we would here too on our land. But that does not make those doing the killing baby killers.....no way.

Thanks for your post.

[1stbn27]

BENSON & HEDGES !! WHOA..I'll give ya a whole carton if you can talk "critter" into lettin me cut in on dat dance !! I would like for ya'll to take a look see at a great website that a bro that served with the 5th Marines in Nam and his wife have....it's called the POW Network Organization....they've been operating this site for over 12 years....Check it out: POW NETWORK ORGANIZATION Its Just a Nam Thing

[68 grunt]

Hey 1stbn27, why don't you tell me whatcha really think, without all the diplomatic wording you used! ;^)

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you so much for this link. I am going there right now .

[1stbn27]

HMMMMMMMM.....Let me see.......68Grunt....now if I transposed dem der letters and numbers to Grunt68, it would remind me o dis here Napalm snortin, night mud sniffin, sometimes enraged and deranged stand up Marine Vietnam Vet bro, dat I sure would trust watchin my sixer in da bush, dat might live out on da Big Left Coast....Yepper, I bet it's da one and only BB !!! Ain't dat right bro?? Now you know that my words in dat post wuz about as strong as I am allowed here at this here FREEPER HOOCH....Ya don't think they would let me get by with my CorpsGrunt Vocabulary here do ya??.....Let me know if I should give it a try, or maybe yet I should invite ole Two Tone "Ding Dong" himself in here to give these fine folks a lecture !!! Sure am glad ya hooked me up wid Snow Bunny !!!!

[68 grunt]

Tommy'd like to come here, I'm sure, but the times he tried he was offended by some that frequent this place.

Please, save our vocab for our place, this place wouldn't really understand, and cripes, you'd get cut, just like MrPeabody did.

Used to be I really enjoyed this place, used to be that being a member made me feel powerful, like I was on the cutting edge of something. But Bro, you gotta know, and lots of you stupid ones out there gotta realize, is that there are members here whose only goal is to irritate, chide, deride and divide. It's like our enemies have recognized the potential here and they try their best to keep each other at our collective throats. Refuse to play their game! Keep as positive as you can here. You wanna rage, rage on at our place.

I'm sure pleased to have some pals here!

I hain't left you a message at your site for awhile, but you know I think its tops. You're a standup Marine, and a standup American, my friend!

Semper Fi

[68 grunt]

Oh yeah, 'bout Snow Bunny ... you're right! Whatta gal, whatta friend, whattan American!

[1stbn27]

Thanks fer the comeback bro, and thanks fer lettin me know that there are not only FREEPER'S here but I guess everynow and then a "CREEPER" trys to get thru da wire....hmmmm...sounds like a job fer a few well placed "claymores" and we can let Snow Bunny handle da clacker !!! OK...OK...I"ll save my enraged Marine Corps trash talk fer our Place and not throw anyone here into a tizzy !!! Thanks fer da advice Grunt and great catchin ya over here !!! WELCOME HOME BRO AND SEMPER FIDELIS..... Its Just a Nam Thing

[1stbn27]

By the way....Sgt Dolly shot this photo o me last night with her special night lens Camera !!!! I weren't in a good mood !!!! Its Just a Nam Thing

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Welcome Home Brothers!
I've been to your site before and go back from time to time.
We all share the same passion for our POW/MIA's.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

I was just reading your dialouge about the CREEPERS who come to Free Republic to disrupte.
Check the warning I have under the flags on my FR Profile page.
Just ping me when the CREEPERS show up, ESPECIALLY the anti-military and anti-vet ones.
Snow Bunny will tell you that the CREEPERS just hate it when I show up.