Salute to FReeper Veterans; Check in!, 1999
RightOnline, USAF, SAC, KC-135 aircraft commander, 1977-1984.
Semper Paratus!
US Army 1978 - 1985
1/506 Inf. 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles
1/11th ACR "FULDA GAP"
US Army 75-79
Army
11B3P
1987-2003
"We own the night"
Soc Trang
RVN 1969-70
"C" Co. 504th MP Bn. '64 -'66
Thanks.
May our Lord bless all the U.S. Veterans. We thank you and support you for serving your country honorably.
THANK YOU AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE IN OUR HEARTS ALWAYS.
To fallen soldiers let us sing,
Where no rockets fly nor bullets wing,
Our broken brothers let us bring
To the Mansions of the Lord
No more weeping,
No more fight,
No friends bleeding through the night,
Just Devine embrace,
Eternal light,
In the Mansions of the Lord
Where no mothers cry
And no children weep,
We shall stand and guard
Though the angels sleep,
Oh, through the ages let us keep
The Mansions of the Lord
I will soon retire from the navy.
"C" Co. 504th MP Bn. '64 -'66
Let's also mention my Dad, a tank vet of the Battle of the Bulge.
Just another Joe
01/80 - 04/87
US Navy active duty
Only served on one ship, CG-31, USS Sterett, homeported out of Subic Bay Naval Base, Philippines.
USAF Security Service, Fort Meade, MD (1962 -1966)
I'd also like to thank my dad in heaven for his service, Major-USAF 1958-1972, navigator, B-52, 28th Bomb Sqdn, 19th Bomb Wing, Sac, Robins AFB
Norwich University 1992, 8 years active duty US Army Aviation (Capatain), Bosnia, Macedonia 94 - 97. Currently Captain, Massachusetts National Guard,company commander, UH-60 Blackhawk pilot.
A tribute to my dear Father, (Clarence) who passed away 3/18/04. This ones for you Pop's
Battleship USS Mississippi (BB41) 1944 - 1945
o Supported the Marine Landings on Peleliu
o Supported the liberation of the Philippines and the landings of Macarthur's troops.
o Fought in the battle of Surigao Strait, destroying an approaching line of Japanese battleships who had plans on laying waste of our soldiers ashore. Naval historians would later call this "The greatest Naval Battle in History", but for the Army ashore who could see the ships burning in the night sky, they had no words to explain what they saw, for they knew their worst nightmare was stopped dead in it's tracks by Admiral Oldendorf's old battleships. The men ashore have eternal gratitude to those Sailors and to the 1,100 of them that died out there that night.
The Mississippi was hit by a kamikaze while supporting the landing forces in the Philippines.
o Okinawa - The Mississippi placed 56 direct hits on the "indestructible" Shuri Castle with her 14 inch guns, allowing the Marines to take that important enemy stronghold. Again, the Mississippi was hit by a kamikaze, but even though she received heavy damage and many casualties the Mississippi refused to leave. The soldiers ashore were grateful that Ole Miss stayed on post even with her heavy damage. Her steadfast presence saved many lives on Okinawa.
o After the announced surrender of Japan, the USS Mississippi anchored in Tokyo Bay while the surrender documents were being signed onboard the USS Missouri on September 2nd 1945.
The ship was sold for scrap in 1956, but the men to which she was so good haven't forgotten her. It is recalled by all five of my brothers and sisters, that the first word Dad taught us to spell was M-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i., and there is no doubt why.
HAPPY VETERANS DAY