Posted on 05/26/2005 12:56:03 PM PDT by EnigmaticAnomaly
Let's start a list of FReepers who serve/have served in the military and deserve our respect and appreciation...
I haven't wandered over there but I suspect that there list looks someting like this:
Released several doves for peace
Chained myself to a redwood
Marched in D.C, beaten by a paton.
Sat in a tree-stand for several days.
That's about all they remember in their drug induced haze.
Underwater Mess Kit Repairman 1969-83
SGT E-5
US Army
Nov 1996 to Nov 2000
Intelligence Analyst
742D Military Intelligence Battalion - 704th MI Brigade
Fort Meade, Maryland
Honorable discharge at ETS date.
Joined in 1996 as an E1 Private at the age of 33.
Reenlisted in the IRR September, 2004 for 4 more years in case of call-up.
USAR Nov 1982 thru Dec 1997
My son just got back from Afghanistan and is back at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
Carlton Brown, USMC; My Uncle, Celebrated his 17th (!) birthday on Guadalcanal. Didn't talk much about it. I've done some reading. Can't blame him a bit.
Richard Nigh, Sn 1/c USN; My Dad. Sub chasers and PCs on the Eastern seaboard, WWII. Volunteered to be a coxswain for operation Coronet. Recently I was able to thank Gen Tibbits for saving my father's life.
Conrad Shannon, AE1 USN; My Father in law. Any number of birdfarms and high value targets, (Shangra-La, and Kitty Hawk are the only ones I know for sure). Vietnam Vet, Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club.
Mary Ellen (Shannon) Nigh, ICFN USN; USS LY Spear. Indian Ocean / Diego Garcia 1980. I'm not sure how many rules and regs we violated in DG, but if we missed any it wasn't through lack of trying. 25 years later we still try to break a few.
Richard Nigh III (potentially) USMC. The Next Generation. He leaves for Parris Island Aug 28th. His Grandmother, (Sister of the aforementioned Marine,) is thrilled beyond words. The rest of us Squids are wondering where we went wrong!
These are the folks I can be personally proud of. For those whose service is also posted in this thread, all I can say is "Thank You." The Freedom of so many rests on your sacrifices.
Yah,I had it real easy compared to many of my era,but.......
If you're proud of your father, (it sounds like you are.) and support his service to our country. (it sound like you do.) Then you're as qualified as anyone to post on this thread.
U.S. Army 1964 - 1967. Viet Nam 1965-1966, Headquarters Company 2d Infantry Brigade First Infantry Division, Bien Hoa, honorable discharge Ft. Lewis, Wa. 1/13/67
This thread worries me...
I thought that we are all equal regardless of military service.
There seems to be a "better then you" attitude at the heart of this thread and I wonder if that is a path we really want to go down.
If I might interject a thought here...while we're certainly
indebted to all Vets for their service and personal sacrifice, I'm a bit concerned that this thread serves to further muddy the intent of Memorial Day, to honor our Fallen.
Perhaps this topic should be tabled till Veterans Day?
You better not look at the DUmmie thread then. They seem to want us to live in some Starship Troopers world where only veterans(lefty veterans to be precise) control foreign policy.
Me and Sgt Steve Koenig (he's in civvies) and one of the motors we used to work on.
Lt. Opie re-enlisting me. My dad was originally supposed to do it, but he couldn't make it out. Our commander, Major Long, wanted to take dad's place - but I asked the LT to do it instead.
Our orders for today:
[...] We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose, among other things, "of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion." What can aid more to assure this result than by cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foe? Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race in chains, and their death a tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the Nation can add to their adornment and security is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and found mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten, as a people, the cost of free and undivided republic.GMG2 Umbagi, reporting as ordered...If other eyes grow dull and other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain in us.
Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation's gratitude,--the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan. [...] [General Order No. 11, May 5, 1868]
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