|
I am a Vet and proud of it. I served in the US Army from July 1985 till May 1991. My MOS was 11B (infantry), I attended numerous schools including US Army Airborne school, Ranger course (class 4-86), Air assault school, PLDC, AMTU Sniper course, SERE course, and JWTC course just to name a few. I served with A Co. 3/75th Rangers during Operation Just Cause and with BCo. 2/325th Inf. ABN during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, earning Combat Infantrymans badges from both campaigns. I come from a background where all men in my family have served in the Military. MY grandfather on my mothers side served with the German Wermacht during WWII, fighting on the Eastern front, France, and finally in Germany surrendering to American troops during the battle for ther Hurtgen Forest. He later immigrtaed to the USA and served in the US Army during the Korean War. My Father came to USA from Lithuania in August 1950, and by January 1951 was serving in the US Army in Korea, where he was awarded 1 Broze and 1 Silver Star for actions against Chinese forces, finally returning to USA in May of 1952 after suffering permanent damage to his legs from sharpnel. MY Uncle Victor was killed at Con Thien Vietnam in 1968. He was a Navy corpsman, and while attending to several US Marines wouded in heavy fighting, he himself was shot several times but continued to give aid to the wounded Marines. He was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously. I wish I could have met him. When I decided to join the Army, my father wanted to break my legs lol, but after a few days he calmed down and explained to me what it meant to be a soldier, the sacrifices I would have to make, what it was like to see your friends die in front of your eyes, etc. I told him that I felt it was my obligation to my country, it was the least I could do to try to repay all the families who lost husbands, fathers, brothers, who died to give us security and freedom. This Veterans Day, I am making a trip with my American Legion post to Washington DC, to pay honor to all vets, both living and dead who gave all they had for this country. Thank you to all my fellow brothers in arms for doing what you did.
|