A Salute to All The Veterans Here!

[donpearsall]

I am betting that most of the members of this group are veterans. I want to acknowledge you on this US Veteran's Day and Canadian Remembrance Day. In my job with the Veterans Administration I often visit with some amazing men and women who have sacrificed very much for their country(s).

I know the phase "Thank you for your service" has almost become meaningless and trite because it is said so much by those who never served and feel a bit guilty. Since 9/11 it has become trendy to say that to any veteran. A bit too late for some.

But I mean it when I say thank you for your service and for your sacrifices. Happy Veteran's Day.

I am also betting some have good stories to tell. Why don't you use this thread to state your time in service and a tidbit of information about that time?

Don Pearsall USAF 1970-1975 - Korea
Veterans Administration, Specially Adapted Housing Agent

[dw230]

Thanks Don

Joanie is off work today so we are taking advantage of one of many, many restaurant's who are offering a free lunch to veterans today.

Grab your DD214 and your significant other and enjoy lunch from a grateful nation.

DW

[redhotracing]

Thanks, Don and other fellow vets.

Luke Kohler
AT2(AW) United States Navy
2001-2006 (Medically Retired)

[Seldom Seen Slim]

No, I'm not a veteran of the military.  But - I do have some sense of propriety, and this morning remembered not just to put out the flag -- but to think for a few moments on what the flag means to me - and to the many that were or are members of the military in the US.  I have the flag out front of the house nearly every day (weather permitting, dang it), but often I don't take time to reflect.  Today I did.

Thanks.

[desotoman]

For the Veterans that survived the Wars, God Bless You.. For those that didn't, Rest In Peace. None of you, Will ever be forgotten......   

Tom G.

[Plmkrze]

USN 78-82 AMS3 A-7's (Airframes)
USN 86-96 AW2 (AW) S-3a and S-3b (Senso)
VARO Winston Salem 2002 to present.

[SPARKY]

Don,  Thanks for starting the thread---I did not serve but I did volunteer in '62

  I am the only male in my immediate family who did not serve:
 father  WW II   Navy    North Atlantic
younger brother   Marine   Viet Nam 67 & 68
 2 sons and a daughter in law 82 Airborne
youngest son Crew Chief Gulf l

Maybe I fell guilty about not serving but I assure you it is not meaningless to me when I say to a Armed Forces Member who has "Thank YOU for your service to our nation"

sorry for the semi-rant

[Stainless1]

USAF 72-81 B52s Blytheville AFB, AR; Guam; 108 total TDYs; McConnell AFB, Det 10 Boeing Wichita KS (E-6 quitter after 9 years)
Boeing B52 Tech Rep 81-2006... more civilian hours in the Buff than military.  Some B1 and F15 time mixed in there when work was slow...

[Plan B]

Strong Donald L.
US 55853699

Drafted September 1966
Ft. Carson Colorado
Viet Nam 1968
2/17 Artillery  LZ Schuller  Central highlands
Separated Sgt. E-5 w / two Purple Hearts

-------------------------------------------------------------------

In my VERY HUMBLE opinion, the true heros are the ones who left behind body parts, their sanity or their lives.


-------------------------------------------------------------------

Don P.
The V.A., especially the hospitals, had/have developed somewhat of a bad reputation over the years.
A shame because I couldn't ask for better care and treatment at the Cincinnati V.A. facility.
Thank You - for whatever it is you do.


DonS

 

[rouse]

Thanks Don, for the thread.

Army for me. Back in the dark ages 70-73

Camp Humphrey Korea 71-73 (colder than a WDAII in winter X2.) Turbine Engine repairman 68B20

Don was you at Osan Air Base if so that was 10 Miles for the Hump.

We do a lot of work with the VA and Military medical facilities now-a days also.

Rouse

[WOODY@DDLLC]

In a galaxy far, far away, a long, long time ago: US Army June 1963-66
Ft Knox, KY - last rotation to train with the M-1! And I own one now! 
Ft Rucker, AL - Single rotor turbine helicopter maintenance
Ft Carson , CO
Camp Irwin, CA
Fort Leonard, MO [Little Korea]
Pleiku, VN - Crewed a UH1-B Huey Feb 1965-66 with an M60 in my lap!
              WTF Sarge, I was trained for the mountains and desert!?!?
Ft Rucker, AL
Civilian! 

I wish none of our troops were in harm's way today! 

One of my brothers has gotten good treatment at Indy VA. Some issues at first but got them cleared up OK!

[USFRAMONTE]

I had and older brother killed in Vietnam in 1968. Died on Mothers Day, May 12th.  Still listed as MIA because his remains have never
been found.
However, back in 2006 the Army sent my mother (mom is now 93 yrs old) a letter stating they had been doing some searching in the
area where he went missing. They found one of his dog tags. They sent it to her, totally mangled but still legible.  Eight soilders in his unit went missing that night and when they did the excavation they found the remains of 5 of the 8 missing men. My brother and two others still missing.
My thanks to all who have served, military duty is not easy.

[manta22]

Enlisted: 18 Aug 1960- Fairmont, WV
Basic training: Ft. Knox, KY
Nuclear Weapons Ordnance Electronics School: Ft. Monmouth, NJ
Corporal Missile Ground Guidance Electronics: Redstone Arsenal, AL  MOS 245.9
157th Ordnance Direct Support- Section Chief SP-5, E-5, P2 (fire mission: defend the Fulda Gap against Soviet armor)
Volunteered for Warrant Officer Pilot Training: Ft. Rucker, AL (disallowed-- not 20/20 uncorrected vision)
Volunteered for Special Forces: (they wanted an open-ended 4 year re-enlistment with no assurance of Sp F. NO thanks-- I didn't just fall off the turnip truck)
Discharge: July 1963 Ft. Dix, NJ

Mainly Cold War Germany; got shot at only in training.

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

[tauruck]

To all you veterans out there, all the best.

I'm one too, in another part of the world but we're a band of brothers.
 
1 Parachute Batallion (South African Defense Force) 1975-1986. Cuito Cuanavale, Angola. I even saw some Cuban dudes!
Corporal.

It leaves it's mark but I met some of the best people I've ever known.
Truth is always the first caualty of war.

[Milwaukee Midget]

A note of thanks to my father, Frank Conrad.  Navy Reserve, based out of San Diego and attached to the Yorktown.

He was out to sea when Sputnik launched in October of '57.  That was a carrier full of very concerned sailors.

When he returned from duty, he went back to his job at Collins Radio, married my mom, and despite having a very poor student in his son, taught me to keep learning.

Hi, Dad!

Chris