Contest about Vets and the Military!

[smelvis]

Bump

[thebayratt]

My father did two tours in Vietnam and Korea....... If he wouldn't have made it out, I wouldn't have typed this at all PERIOD

[rudeJARHEAD]

Thank you for all the kind words concerning our Veterans. As a Active Duty Marine it is nice to read the kind words and appreciation of our grateful nation.

[smelvis]

Originally Posted by rudeJARHEAD

Thank you for all the kind words concerning our Veterans. As a Active Duty Marine it is nice to read the kind words and appreciation of our grateful nation.

Hi Rude
Well as you can guess the Thanks goes to you guy's. I do however feel good that you and others like Navy_Chief have seen this and know we care. You both have to forgive mentioning Marine and Navy in the same post. LOL

Come on guy's write some posts or not LoL I would like to add it would be great to get the vets and active duty guy's perspective on what it means to them and why they were or are in and it would be concidered an entrance!. Thanks!

[ericb13]

Smelvis, thanks for the great contest! I definitely appreciate reading the entries and it has made me reflect on my life and appreciation for veterans.

When I was in high school in the late 80’s and the flag burning thing was going around, I made a comment to my grandfather that there was nothing illegal about it, so they should be allowed to do it. My grandfather is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet…I’d never seen him mad until then. You see, he served during WW2 in the Pacific theater. He tells stories of crossing the Pacific ocean in a ship and puking his guts up while he slid from one end of a passageway to the other as the ship rolled and rocked. He also never fails to mention that God was looking out for him, because he never had to fire a gun and he never got shot at. Several times, he’d see a battle raging on another island, but the fighting never got to his island. Think of all the veterans and fallen heroes he has to thank for that! He spent 4 and 1/2 years in the Army, and made it to E-8! He spent a year before he got out as a drill sergeant. He’s 93 now, and I cherish every second I have with him. He is a hero to me not because of his service to us, but because of the great family that I now enjoy!

When my dad was in college studying to become an engineer, he dropped calculus one semester, which changed his status to that of part-time student. Well, you know what happened then…two weeks later, he got his draft notice. I believe God watched out for him as well, because he never saw violent action in Vietnam. He was actually stationed in Belgium during the war…writing paychecks to those in Vietnam. After he got back, he finished college with a degree in Finance. He is also a hero to me not because of his service to us, but because of the great family that I now enjoy!

My other grandfather passed away in 1991 when I was 18 years old. I never got the chance to ask him about his service, but I know that he was in the Navy during WW2. His son, my uncle, retired after 28 years in the Navy. Another uncle (my mom’s bro-in-law) saw heavy fighting in Vietnam. His brother was awarded a medal for holding off the VC from the top of a disabled tank while his comrades were being air lifted. He was the last one on the chopper, bullet hole and all.

Both my grandmothers worked at ammunition plants during the war. I can’t even imagine living in a time like that.

After college, I decided that I wanted to go into the Navy. I am always asked why I didn’t go in as an officer, because I already had a degree. It’s a long story, but I’ll shorten it a bit. I wanted to be a pilot, not a supply officer. My grades were good enough to be a supply officer, not a pilot. So, I went enlisted so that I could “enjoy” the “real” Navy. After training, I was offered orders to maintain P-3’s in Brunswick, Maine. Those members here that are/were in the Navy know that these are “cush” orders. I turned them down in favor of an F-14 squadron – the perceived “worst” orders at that time. Again, I wanted to “enjoy” the “real” Navy. I was stationed in Virginia Beach, but I deployed off the USS Constellation in San Diego. I’ve been all over Asia, Australia, and the Persian Gulf. I’ve done and seen things that most people can’t even comprehend or dream about. I’ve had jet exhaust almost cook my skin; I’ve been damn near blown off the side of the ship by prop wash; I’ve sent jets off the deck with a full load of bombs and seen them come back empty; I’ve seen an F-18 disappear under the water, the 23 year old rookie pilot still in the cockpit, never to be seen again; I’ve seen a helicopter go belly up in the water, all four crewmen came back to us safe and sound; I’ve crossed the Straights of Hormuz with Cobra gunships circling our boat, friendly land on one side, Iran on the other. I’ve been lucky though too: We never lost a jet, pilot, or sailor from our squadron; we never lost anyone overboard (except for the pilot mentioned above) during the 18 months or so I spent at sea – we did have a weather guy walk off the deck while he was checking the clouds, but we found him…I bet he never did that again! I came within an inch of going off the side several times, but I never suffered a serious injury. I enjoyed every moment I was on the deck – well, mostly (), and I served 5 years before moving on to the civilian world. After 9/11, I almost joined again – I would’ve gone as an officer this time (I enjoyed enlisted life, but I ain’t stupid!), but reason prevailed and I had just met my wife to be. (Some of the real heroes of the military are the wives that put up with these crazy schedules! I still don’t see how anyone stays married in the Navy!)

Now, I have a baby boy due in a few weeks. I have a great life, although I have to remind myself of that sometimes! I finished a Master’s degree just this August… three guesses who paid for it. The GI Bill was the best investment I ever made! Every thing I enjoy today, I owe to the military! Whether it’s the freedoms that my grandfathers fought for, or the experience that I gained during my Navy time, I would not be the same person if not for these sacrifices. You see, I was still a spoiled brat when I joined…but about 2 months later (after boot camp), I was a man!

I now understand that both me and my grandfather were right when we argued about the flag burning. I was right because people should have the right to protest and show their displeasure of our leadership; He was right because I’d sure like to wring those folks’ necks when I see any disrespect of our Flag, veterans, or our Country!

Eric

[rudeJARHEAD]

Originally Posted by smelvis

Hi Rude
Well as you can guess the Thanks goes to you guy's. I do however feel good that you and others like Navy_Chief have seen this and know we care. You both have to forgive mentioning Marine and Navy in the same post. LOL

Come on guy's write some posts or not LoL I would like to add it would be great to get the vets and active duty guy's perspective on what it means to them and why they were or are in and it would be concidered an entrance!. Thanks!

I can forgive ya for mentioning Marines and Navy in the same post, it stung me for a minute or to but I got over it. Seriously though, we may have some ribbing and rivalry between the services but when the feces hits the rotating wind generator we put all that behind us.

[ericb13]

Originally Posted by rudeJARHEAD

I can forgive ya for mentioning Marines and Navy in the same post, it stung me for a minute or to but I got over it. Seriously though, we may have some ribbing and rivalry between the services but when the feces hits the rotating wind generator we put all that behind us.

MARINE = My A$$ Rides In Navy Equipment


Seriously, though...those Cobras I mentioned in my post were from a Marine LHA that was trailing us through the Straits. I like the guys that aren't afraid to shoot! I, on the other hand, carried an M-16 converted to shoot .22 caliber during boot camp!

[rudeJARHEAD]

The Cobra's are a bad a$$ machine. I have been through the straits a few times on LHA/LHD's and and definately liked the fact that there were a few of them flying around us when we were there.

[gator_79]

First off I'd like to thank everyone for their kind words and I'd like to add my thanks as well, to the Vets, past, present, and those currently still serving. My next door neighbor growing up was in the Army and did a tour in Vitnam, He never really spoke of all the details but you could tell by his demeanor that it upset him greatly. I am currently serving in the Navy, going on 12 years. I am proud to be serving my county, and fighting for America and our Freedom. All this does come at a price when a friend of mine in the EOD unit out of Whidbey was killed in action. I have done two desert deployments, and made many great friends. Would I do it all over again...Hell Yes. It is a great sense of accomplishment in my life to be able to say that I served my county the best I could. God Bless the USA!!!

[fiddlegrin]

As a civilian, I continue to offer up my humble thanks to our Veterans and active Service People.

It isn't possible for me to express the depths of the topic. Or even properly outline some of the facets.... Courage, self sacrifice__, bravery... heart, tenacity, dedication---- I can't even start.... words are insufficient.

Memorials are insufficient. As are any and all gestures of our society...

Medals, home loans, medical care, education or any other kind of benefits. Ceremonies, tears, banquets, parades... Memorial Day__

It is impossible to properly express our thanks... So I stand in silence with my head bowed.



Life in these United States, is and always has been, made possible by the sacrifices of those who serve their Nation.





This isn't meant to be an entry, I just wanted to thank you all for sharing your stories and insights.

Respectfully, Dafiddla

[smelvis]

Howdy
I am impressed with you all Thanks very Much! Some Great Stories and thoughts.

Another idea if you choose would be for Vets active or Other to chime in just to say who you are, I would like to know myself just because. Please!!

Thanks

Dave

[gator_79]

I just read the post that mentions military spouses and I agree 100%. I have been with my wife for 6 years although we have only been married for 1 as of this past August. I am currently deployed and missed our first anniversary. She is very loving and understanding as the Navy is my way of life. (How many other people do you know that could get away with missing their first anniversary...And still be living) She has seen me go on many deployments but to miss our fist anniversary was hard on her. I should be back around the first week of Dec. I think I have a lot of makeing up to do. Thanks again for everyone's kind words.

[beezermcd]

What Veterans and the Military mean to me...

I owe my life, as I know it today, to the United States Marine Corps! I joined the Marines out of High School in 1996 as a boy and left in 2004 as a man. 8 years in the Corps shaped and molded me into the person I am today and did a better job instilling things in me like "honor, courage, and commitment" than did my own father. The Marine Corps taught me what it means to serve God & Country...what it means to make the ultimate sacrifice to preserve Life & Liberty...and what it means to put the needs of my fellow brothers and sisters before my own.

After being honorably discharged in 2004, I missed the military terribly...I missed the comraderie, the service, the men and women in uniform, and working towards something much greater than myself. For a while I contemplated reenlisting again for 4 more years....after much discussion over this with my family I decided I would instead do everything I could to support our military as a civilian instead. I have now been working as a civilian for the Department of the Army since 2005. Since 2005, I have been blessed with the opportunity to work alongside our nation's finest in Fallujah, Iraq 2007-2008, I currently work with the Army in Virginia, and next year (October) I am scheduled to deploy as a civilian to Afghanistan.

In short, I love the military and I am a very proud veteran. I often hear people reflect back on the past and wish they had made different choices or gone a different route in life....as for me, I wouldn't change a thing in the world! 1-2-3-4...I love the Marine Corps!

Veteran's Day is a very special day! I encourage everyone to pick out a nice cigar, sit back, and really take some time to honor the men and women who have donned the uniform....I know that is what I'll be doing!

Semper Fidelis

[Wolf4Fun]

Freedom.

Because of Veteran's we got it

Because of Veterans, we keep it.

[GunHand]

Well, I'm a former Navy man (Electronics Tech), and I spent six years serving the country. I don't regret getting out, but I also don't regret signing up...Anyway, the service definately helped me in my transition into being a man. I got to see alot of interesting places, esp Alaska and a warm little island in the Indian Ocean called Diego Garcia. Well, I'd better get to telling the important stuff, so here goes....

There were lots of times I felt abanonded by folks back home, and rather unappriciated by the public at large, but when I got out and joined the legion, I had a bit of a wake-up call. I'll give you a few examples...

An old friend of mine opened up to me one time about his experiences in WWII. He was around 18 at the time, and was in D-Day, and the Battle of the Bulge. To make a long story a little shorter, he told me that he never feared death after that. However, his wife ended up leaving him because he would regularly wake in the middle of the night from a nightmare, and commence beating the ever-loving dog crap out of her. My assumption was that he must have had post-tramatic stress syndrome. Well, alot of people looked upon my buddy as being some kind of a joke: poor, uneducated, and a alcoholic...but I know better!!! He just didn't have much support, and in those days men were supposed to just suck it up!

Another case: A man I know was in the Army in Nam, and we all know how those guys were treated...Yes, he was one of the many who were spit on! If I remember right, he just let it dry and crust over, maybe to send a message???

Anyway, I guess my point is this....for a long time our country didn't appreciate servicemen, and many people still don't. Most of us joined for (somewhat) patrotic reasons....alot were drafted back in the day, some joined because (the truth be told) they needed a job. People give alot of lip service about respecting vets and active duty personnell, but that is where is usually ends.

Well, about a year ago, I started dating a great little gal, and her pop is one of the guys I talked about before. He is a BOTL, but only has a very small humi that was gifted to him by a legion buddy. I know he likes quaility cigars, but he usually only smokes crappers, because of a limited income. Anyway, about six months ago I bought him a Bally II humi, and have slowly been filling it with Padron's, Rocky Vintage 90 & 92's, Punch, 5 Vegas, ect...I think that will make one hell of a Christmas gift for the old guy....

Why did I set about to do this??? Kiss up because I'm seeing his daughter, maybe thinking he will do something for me down the road...NO!!! I am doing it because I respect him very much, and because the 'hard times' I had in the service were a cake walk compared to what he went through!!!

So in closing, if you want to show appreciation to someone's service (past or present), try to give more than just lip service. It gets a little old.

PS: If you would like to know of someone who could really use and really be gratefull for some good smoke, my maybe future father-in-law would be a great canidate....And I know he would be VERY thankfull. Also, I hope I don't sound to bitter, but I get a little pissed thinking about this whole general topic.

Sincerely, Shannon