[Howlin]

Military VANITY ping!

These always turn out to be the BEST threads on FR, IMO.

Happy anniversary and thank you for your service.

[firewalk]

Happy Anniversary (:

ah yes the footprints...
I laughed when my son showed me.
(only a little...quietly)

(thanks for the ping Howlin)

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Military VANITY ping!

Ain't NOTHIN' vain about honorable Military service! ;^)

ErnBatavia--THANK YOU for your service! Thank you, ALL honorable U.S. Vets!

I regret that Jack Murtha and John Kerry could not approve this message.

[DCPatriot]

Thanks Howlin.

[M Kehoe]

It was 0200 hrs on 23 Oct. '75. (I went delay entry just to make sure I was ready). I was asleep when we arrived at Ft. Knox. Before we got off the bus, this huge guy in a "smokie the bear" hat and a uniform with creases that could cut you, gets on the bus yelling, "[Explicative deleted] get off my [Explicative deleted] bus you maggots!" I said to myself right then and there (as probably every recruit has), self you have REALLY [Explicative deleted] up this time.

Among other names, the DI's called us "girls" from then till we graduated BCT.

5.56mm

[A CA Guy]

I always want God to Bless our Military who are serving and who have already served.
It is their sacrifice that has given us the opportunity to be a free nation.

God Bless them all and America.

PS: My mom had me on July 27th as well. LOL :)

[Rte66]

Thanks for the ping. Happy Aniversary to ErnBatavia and thank you, thank you to all our FReepers here who have served our glorious country.

I had a brief note I wanted to add today but wasn't sure where to put it, so this looks like a good thread for it.

~~~~
Family loses second son to terror war
Source: AP

LUBBOCK, Texas -- A Texas family that had already paid a hefty price in the war on terror is in mourning again. Two years after a son was killed in Iraq, their only other son has died in Afghanistan.

Cpl. Jose Velez was killed in 2004 when his unit came under fire in Fallujah. At that point, his brother, Army Spc. Andrew Velez, was given the option of not having to return to combat.

But his father said he wanted to.

This week the family learned Andrew was killed. Their father said that while he feels like his heart has been "pulled out," he adds that he can't be angry.

Andrew Velez leaves a wife and three children, ages 2, 3 and 5.
~~~~