We're doing a BBQ for Veteran's Day tomorrow for local vets and the vets in retirement community where I am a sous chef at. It's fun to sit down and swap war stories with them while playing a game of checkers. Old Sarge was on the beach when MacArthur waded ashore to announce his return to the Philippines and did a stint during Korea as well. Another gal was in a support unit for the WindTalkers. Still getting to know the others as I've only been there a few months since getting out of the Army this year. My being a Combat Vet seems to be a source of pride with them as I'm always getting introduced to family visitors as the new chef who just came back from Afghanistan.
My Granddad was in the RAAF but did not see active service as he was a policeman. goofing off. My Great Grandpop served in WW1 he was in the 8th machine gun battalion then the 5th. Thankfully he returned and was discharged with the rank of Lieutenant. My Nan gave me his dog tag 7 years ago This pic sums up the home front for me "Lest we Forget" and Thank you to all who serve!
My Dad was a staff sgt. in the 93rd armored field artillery during WWII. He was twice decorated, Silver and Bronze stars. He doesn't talk about it much, only the part where he met my mother in Germany during the war. He will always be my biggest hero. He will be 91 in January, my brother and I took him to dinner tonight....it was all good. Thanks to all who have served.!!!
My Grandfather was in the US Army and served in WWI. My Dad was in the 82nd Airborne in WWII, jumped into Holland(the Market Garden disaster) and into France. Made a career of it until retiring in the 70s. His oldest brother was in the USAAF, B-24 and B-29 crewmember, retired in the 60s. His next oldest brother was in the Navy, an enlisted flyer Master Chief Aviation Pilot, retired as the last of the rate, has an exihibit in the Pensacola Naval Air Museum. I was in the US Coast Guard from 1967-71 discharged as a BM2. My younger brother was in the USMC and served in Viet Nam, then became an Alabama State Trooper. My next younger brother was in the US Army in the 70s. Military service has been a tradition in our family and we are proud to have served and proud and thankful to have been born into this free nation where citizen soldiers are still the backbone of our defense. Thanks to all who have served and especially those who gave the last full measure in their service to the rest of us.
My grandfather was in Tobruk and El-Alamein, then ended up on operations behind enemy lines. Details on that part of his service are still cl***ified according to the Australian Defence Forces. I'm still trying (he never, ever talked about it, and never marched in the annual Anzac Day parade.) I don't know why he went to war, as he was in his thirties at the time. My two great-uncles, Rex and Basil, were 19 and 20 and serving in the same battalion in New Guinea. The battalion was captured by the Japanese, and all beheaded there on the beach, Rex and Basil with them. There's two things I deeply despise in this life, war revisionists and those ****ing inhuman Japanese. Please excuse the emotional post, but thank you Ryan for posting, and my best thoughts to all service personnel of the past and present. Matt
Some tool playingt at soldier. To all who served, both in conflict and in peace, you have my deepest admiration. Doc.
I watched an A10 come in and lay a "few" rounds on some taliban hiding in a g**** hut yesterday......only thing cooler would be watching a P51 or a F4u Corsair do it!! Its funny, Veterans day came and went here in Afghanistan like every other day does...it's just another day that we've gotta get through to get back home. We had burgers and hot dogs for lunch and ribeyes for dinner, with some "special" birthday cake, but that was about it. These men and women here are doing a great job and your support for them means all the world, no matter what your feelings are toward this war, and trust me, we have our own!! So this is my thanks to all of those who have served before me and my brethren....we salute you!!
My wife's dad served in both WWII and Korea. He transferred off the USS Arizona on December 6th, 1941. (Coincidentally, my wife's birthday is Dec 7th.) My mom remembers as a little girl the bombings of London, their fencing being s****ped for the metal drive. The sirens and sounds of V2 rockets coming in and the deadly silence before they hit. My brother who just retired after 20 years in the Navy. He served on the Willamette and the Nimitz. I'm very grateful for all who served either in or alongside the American forces in all our conflicts.
The Jalopy Journal
