[ExSoldier]

Thanks, 'Zilla. There is a GREAT thread for all of us to visit this Veterans Day:

THANK A VET

[JustPiper]

Horace Dahms was 16 years old when he walked out of his father's house in Armonk, lied about his age and joined the Navy. His older brothers had already gone off to war.

Four aerial bombs ripped apart the vessel's bridge, bow and hull below the waterline. In a matter of minutes, the ship sank in the watery graveyard aptly named the "Iron Bottom Sound."

Of a crew of 299, 167 men were lost, according to one history. Ten of the 14 officers were killed and three of the four who survived were wounded. But Dahms was lucky. An explosion tossed him into the sea like a bath toy.

Vet's story told

Thank you to ALL of you here who served to keep us Free!