On this Veterans Day, Thank You for your service

[JohnR]

At 1100 on the 11th day of the 11th month, the guns finally fell silent, but not before 10 million young men fell, never to rise again, with another 20 million maimed, and nearly 8 million missing, forever. The world got its first look at modern, industrial warfare on a massive scale and turned away revolted. Promised those left behind that this would be it, the war to end all wars.

Someday, perhaps.

[piemma]

Thanks from this old vet John. It wasn't that long ago that no one paid any attention to us and many scorned us for our service.
It is refreshing to see the guys being appreciated.

[fishbones]

Thanks to all of you veterans who have served and are currently serving! Your service is very much appreciated!

[eelskimmer]

Just finished novel about Vietnam by Karl
Marlantes called Matterhorn. A must read for
anyone who did not serve in Vietnam. It is
realistic and calls up empathy for all those
guys who came back injured mentally and
physically. War stinks and I will be supporting
Wounded Warriors now more than ever.
God bless our boys.
An Old Navy Man.

[GregW]

Originally Posted by eelskimmer

Just finished novel about Vietnam by Karl
Marlantes called Matterhorn. A must read for
anyone who did not serve in Vietnam. It is
realistic and calls up empathy for all those
guys who came back injured mentally and
physically. War stinks and I will be supporting
Wounded Warriors now more than ever.
God bless our boys.
An Old Navy Man.

Two of Tim Obrien's books: The things they carried and If I die in a combat zone are must reads in my opinion.

[SeaMule]

All of our freedoms we take for granted, we can thank are veterans for! I personally never had the opportunity to serve, however I truly respect what are servicemen and women have done for us.

I salute you all!

[JohnnySaxatilis]

happy vets day. thanks to all who served in the past (especially dad) and those who still serve today. we owe you

[spence]

Thanks for your service past, present and future.

-spence

[new jack]

Thank you veterans. Thank you for fighting for the freedom of my friends and family.
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[MikeToole]

If you ever want to get a feel for what the battle to retake Hue was like read the book "Run Between the Raindrops" by Dye. Nothing I have ever read bring across the experience at the grunt level as this one does.

[bart]

Thanks to all who have served this great country

[jimmy z]

Thank you all who served. Past and present! God bless you all!

[justplugit]

Veteran's Day- between striper talk and scuppers 2 threads 110 views
and 11 responses. Sad, for those not remembered for giving up life
and limb so we can live the way we do.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by justplugit

Veteran's Day- between striper talk and scuppers 2 threads 110 views
and 11 responses. Sad, for those not remembered for giving up life
and limb so we can live the way we do.

Some of us prefer to email those we know personally and not put it all on the boards....

[justplugit]

Nothing wrong with that RRH, but when you have 24 resposes and 323 views
on Weekend Plans and 11 responses and 110 views on Veterans Day ya wonder
where the priorities are.
Just my observation.

[Slipknot]

Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the

luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned

seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm

glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will

get a short nap,' I thought.



Just before take-off,

a line of soldiers came down the aisle and

filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding

me. I decided to start a conversation.



'Where are you

headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to

me. 'Petawawa. We'll be there for two

weeks for special training, and then we're being

deployed to Afghanistan



After flying for about an hour, an announcement was

made that sack lunches were available for five

dollars. It would be several hours before we

reached the east, and I quickly

decided a lunch

would help pass the time...



As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if

he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems

like a lot of money for just a sack lunch.

Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks.

I'll wait till we get to base.'



His friend agreed.



I looked around at the

other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked

to the back of the plane and handed the flight

attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a

lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my

arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with

tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in

Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for

him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the

soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and

asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or



chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied,

wondering why she asked. She turned and went to

the front of plane, returning a minute later

with a dinner plate from first class.



'This is your thanks.'



After we finished

eating, I went again to the back of the plane,

heading for the rest room.

A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to

be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me

twenty-five dollars.



Soon after I returned

to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down

the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he

walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but

noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my

side of the plane. When he got to my row he

stopped, smiled, held out his hand and said, 'I

want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my

seatbelt I stood and took the

Captain's hand.

With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier

and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought

me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never

forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was

heard from all of the passengers.



Later I walked to the

front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A

man who was seated about six rows in front of me

reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He

left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.



When we landed I

gathered my belongings and started to deplane.

Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man

who stopped me, put something in my shirt

pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a

word. Another twenty-five dollars!



Upon entering the

terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their

trip to the base.
I walked over

to

them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It

will take you some time to reach the base.

It will be about time for a sandwich.
God Bless You.'

Ten young

men left that flight feeling the love and

respect of their fellow travelers.



As I walked briskly to

my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe

return. These soldiers were giving their all for

our country. I could only give them a couple of

meals. It seemed so little...



A veteran is someone

who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank

check made payable to 'The United States of

America ' for an amount of 'up to and

including my life.'



That is Honor, and

there are way too many people in this country

who no longer understand it.'

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God bless our troops

[piemma]

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

Some of us prefer to email those we know personally and not put it all on the boards....

Thanks man you have always been one of my best friends
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