LOL at the veteran haters on the internet. You guys are the same and just as laughably pathetic as the KKK or any other hate group. You going to burn a pink triangle in my yard?

Both my granddads were active in WWII. The first an RAF Hurricaine pilot who was shot down over enemy territory and ended up in Stalag Luft III where he aided the Great Escapees (he wasn't important enough to be one of them, thank goodness) by distracting the guards and jumping over gymnastic horses.
That's about all I know about him unfortunately as he died when I was very young.

My other granddad - who turned 92 two days ago - was a tank driver with the desert rats (4th County of London Yeomanry - Sharpshooters) and spent the first two years in North Africa, before sailing on to Italy with US and Canadian troops to free Naples. After a visit back to Blighty for some rest and training he then took part in the D-Day landings (arriving very late in the evening). Their transporter boat was being heavily shelled and the driver, fearful of being sunk, ordered everyone off the boat over a mile out. My granddad and his buddy (the only 2 guys from their regiment on board) decided that to live they had to drop everything and just stripped down and made a swim for it. They washed up on Gold Beach in just their undies staring down the barrel of a rifle. Thankfully it was a friendly American rifle, who took them to get re-kitted out. As far as he's aware they were the only two survivors from that transporter.

My favourite story of his was during his desert days. They had an officer called Dick Dean who was just adored by all his men. He was 6'6" built like a brick shiathouse and utterly fearless. Often in the early mornings the Luftwaffe would come by on straffing runs (out of the rising sun to hide them til the last minute) and everyone would run and dive for cover. Dick on the other hand would be stood out in open ground in just his underwear and a face full of shaving foam taking pot shots at the aircraft with his pistol.
My granddad said that the men thought so highly of them they used to write along the sides of their tanks and trucks "We love Dick!"
I thought he was having me on, but he was deadly serious. I would have just loved to have seen the faces of the German translators off in the distance with their binoculars working that one out.

After surviving much of the war relatively unscathed, his regiment was decimated in a single ambush attack just after Normandy in Villers-Bocage. He reckoned at least half of the 700 strong regiment were killed in less than an hour. Just horrible.

Here's to all the brave souls that have fought in all wars.

Salute all those who have fallen and pray for the deployed to come home safe.

/soldier medic
//active army

My father, who I really don't get along with, served in Vietnam. I cannot take away from the courage and honor with which he served. He was a Navy medic, sent onshore with a platoon of Marines. While trying to take some hill at the Battle of Khe San, he was injured by a mortar round. As the medic, he patched himself up quickly and went back to work. When platoon leaders saw the extent of his injuries, he was told to evac. My dad refused. He had to be removed from the battlefield by force. He earned a commendation to go with his purple heart.

I tried to join the Navy after high school, but I couldn't pass the physical.

To every veteran, past, present, and future, I say thank you. God bless the veterans.

"The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war." -General Douglas MacArthur

Thank you to all who served.

You're welcome to all who didn't.

/A co. 16th. Ord. Batt. 61st. Ord. Brig.
//Go Ordnance!

Marcus Aurelius: If the US had not intervened in WWI at the behest of various corporate interests, Germany would have won, Hitler would never have come to power, there would be no widespread Middle East conflict, and we wouldn't be stuck in a quagmire in Iraq.


A couple more thoughts:

The U.S. might well have not gotten as involved in Southwest Asia - or maybe the U.S. would have. Remember that the U.S. was not directly involved in the post-war mapping out of that region anyway. With a weakened or defeated Britain and France in your alternative universe, the U.S. and/or American companies might well have had more opportunity there earlier.

Let's assume, arguendo, that Germany, Austria-Hungary, et al., kept the U.S. and U.S. businesses more or less out of there longer. In your alternative history, Britain and France would also have been weakened to to the point of impotence in East Asia, a region in which the U.S. had become an up-and-coming (if not nearly-major) player twenty years earlier. In the power vacuum formed by British and French departure there, and without the post-War calls by the American public for isolationism, the U.S. might well have expanded from the Philipines, Samoa Guam to French Indochina, Singapore, Malaysia. The multi-national occupation of Shanghai would have likely become a bi-lateral issue between the U.S. and Germany (possibly breaking down in conflict; possibly cooperating and expanding to the suburbs and hinterland).

What about the Soviet Union? Potential trading partners would have been closer, without the draconian post-war reparations imposed upon Germany by France and Britain. Alternatively, maybe Germany would have boycotted the Soviets and imposed sanctions for the same reasons that the U.S., France, Britain, et al. did. There is no way to know.

Again, let's assume the latter, such that things worked out more or less the same for the Soviets in the 20s and early 30s. With no German retalitory agression in the 1930s and 1940s, that leaves the Red Army available in Asia - just as for the Americans. Remember, WWII was not started in 1939 nor by Germany. G-d only knows how things would have been different in Asia and the Pacific. Remember also that the Soviets had far more - and better placed - sympathisers in the U.S. than the Nazis did, and certainly had have always had competing interests with the U.S. in Asia.

The moral of the story. Things could always have been worse and even if some bad things might have been avoided, there is no way to know what other, and easily much worse things could have been created.

Old_Chief_Scott: I think that the tradition of the poppies is one that has been slowly dying for some time now, and it is a sad thing to see. I'll be getting a couple over at MCAS Miramar later today. There are always a couple of guys from the VFW out on the sidewalk at the exchange and even though an entire generation has forgotten their significance, my kids know about the poppies.

On another note, I recently had a pleasant conversation with my buddy Drew (you know, the guy that runs this site) and he was after me again to become an admin. I had to refuse of course. I told him that I wouldn't be able to keep from deleting the accounts of the pathetic, self-important, greasy haired emos that trolled the Veterans Day threads.

Thank you. I appreciate you more each day.

Josu: An honest question: I understand the respect many of you have for US veterans. Do you have the same respect for those who choose to fight for other countries?

Not when they fight in civilian clothing and butcher innocent people intentionally... Not even the German Wermacht(SS and Gestapo were different branches) lowered themselves to that in WWII.

I have many family members who were/are veterans all the way back to the civil war. Many thanks to all those who, in some cases, give up everything for the rest of us.

Tribute to my Grandfather, Voorhees Griffin Cheatham, Jr.

He was an Officer on Patrol Craft 32, the USS SOUTHERN SEAS



Ship History:

At the outbreak of war between the United States and Japan in December 1941, the Army purchased Southern Seas and used her as a troop transport. While on an island-charting assignment for the Army, Southern Sea struck an uncharted reef near New Caledonia; and both of her engine rooms were flooded. The Navy salvaged the ship and towed her to New Zealand, where her hull was patched and her engines were repaired. Southern Seas was officially acquired by the Navy on 23 December 1942, and she was commissioned on that day, Lt. Comdr. Albert L. McMullen in command.

She remained at Auckland, New Zealand, serving as quarters ship for transient sailors, until 12 January 1943. She then sailed back to New Caledonia for duty as quarters ship. at Noumea until June,, when she headed via Funafuti to the Gilbert Islands. At Tarawa, she again became a floating hotel and provided accommodations to Officers and civilian officials. In February 1944, Southern Seas moved again-this time to Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands where she served as quarters ship for transient Officers. On 25 June 1944, the former yacht got underway from Kwajalein and arrived at Eniwetok Atoll two days later.

In early August, she sailed to the Marianas and provided quarters at Saipan for transient sailors and soldiers. On 1 January 1945, Southern Seas shifted south to Guam, where she reported to the Commander, Submarines, Pacific Fleet.

Hostilities in the Pacific ended on 15 August 1945 while Southern Seas was still at Guam. On 7 September, she was ordered to Okinawa to be stationed at the Naval Operating Base located there. She arrived at Okinawa on 15 September and was greeted by a typhoon. A little less than a month later, on 9 October 1945, another typhoon struck and sank Southern Seas with the loss of 13 members of her crew. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 24 October 1945.

Southern Seas earned one battle star during World War II.


Personal Family Story: My grandfather received his orders to return home two weeks before the typhoon. News that he was alive did not reach the States before every newspaper listed the ship as being sunk during the typhoon, with the loss of 13 men. Not only did he survive, but the remaining sailors had a once a year reunion up until about 1992. My grandfather passed away in April of 2005. I miss him very much. We were very close.

R.I.P.

I'm always a tad sceptical when old soldiers describe their heroic expoits. I mean they never say anything like "yeah, I hid in a ditch and crapped in my pants then when the coast was clear I ran away". And that stuff happened a lot in WWII in all armies, but most especially in the Allied armies who didn't have the brutal discipline of the German, Russian and Japanese armies to keep them in line.

I know little of my family heritage when it comes to service - I know both of my grandfathers went into WWII.
My father's father was in both WWI and WWII. But I don't know much about him. He died 20 years before I was even thought of.
The only story I know is of my uncle, his son, who is now a slobbering loud drunk. But a well meaning man in all his right.


My Uncle Buck (everyone has to have one) went to vietnam. He was young, and probably quite dumb. But that doesn't mean he wasn't hardworking.

He won't talk about it. He lost a nice chunk of his liver and took a hole in his stomach. He got to come home after that. But, my father told me a story one day. Finally he told me why my uncle is so damn hard of hearing.
He worked in tanks. While out and about one day, the tank was ambushed and all of the men inside killed by a blast. My uncle was the only one that survived. Apparently, even though this was an extremely shortened version of this story, he killed off the ambushees and took back all of the bodies of his fellow men.
Is that completely accurate, I don't know. He won't talk about it.
What I do know, though, is that he was nominated for the Medal of Honor.
And since then, he's lost a daughter and his parents in a gas leak, then shortly after that his first wife, then his second divorced him. Now he's late 60s, balding, loud, and mostly sloshed anytime I see him.
But that doesn't mean I'm not proud to have him as my uncle.

Hallby81: Not when they fight in civilian clothing and butcher innocent people intentionally... Not even the German Wermacht(SS and Gestapo were different branches) lowered themselves to that in WWII.

Agreed. Though I expect every country's military has members willing to lower themselves to that level, whether it's because of religious, nationalistic, or racial bias.

Happy war day everybody!

Let's kill someone!

Suede head: I'm always a tad sceptical when old soldiers describe their heroic expoits. I mean they never say anything like "yeah, I hid in a ditch and crapped in my pants then when the coast was clear I ran away". And that stuff happened a lot in WWII in all armies, but most especially in the Allied armies who didn't have the brutal discipline of the German, Russian and Japanese armies to keep them in line.

I don't know many soldiers that go around bragging about what a hero they were. It's usually others that saw their acts of heroism that do the story telling. Many of the men who won the Medal of Honor or Silver Stars were given to them posthumously and their actions were described by what others witness them do. So quit trolling dickhead.

Hope someone reads this, it's a true tale of my Grandpa's brother, Sipee ( no lie, we's southerners from Baton Rouge )

Sipee was a p-47 pilot. He was on an escort run over Germany and got shot down. He bailed out. Retrieved his 'chute. Got rid of it, dusted himeslef of, saw a road heading West. He figured that's the way to go.

He walked and walked and walked unti he came to a German embankment filled with Wehrmacht. He just kept walking. He waved. Stunned, the Germans waved back.

He walked right through their lines.

And they did nothing.

The sheer BALLS this man had is astonishing. He got to the Amrican lines and they just shook their heads, for the observers saw this. He walked through German lines and waved and they waved back. You don't believe me? Ask Uncle Sipee, he's still alive. His 2nd time getting shot down, not so much fun ( prison camp, beatings, SS hooligans, etc. ) so there.

I don't know if this has been said yet, but for everyone trying to drag politics into this, there is something very important you should realize. To the soldier, airman, sailoir, or marine, serving their country is very important, but when it comes right down to it, you keep in the fight because of your buddies.

I recently separated from my unit, and now they are in Afghanistan. I am not afraid to admit that I shed a tear everyday that I can not be there with them.

youvebeenrickrolled: I don't know if this has been said yet, but for everyone trying to drag politics into this, there is something very important you should realize. To the soldier, airman, sailoir, or marine, serving their country is very important, but when it comes right down to it, you keep in the fight because of your buddies.

I recently separated from my unit, and now they are in Afghanistan. I am not afraid to admit that I shed a tear everyday that I can not be there with them.

Salute my friend, big farking salute.

Got another one.

My Grandpa on my father's side, Sid ( yeah i know weirdass family ), he was in the Battle of Hurtgen Forrest. His entire paltoon was slaughtered except for him, because he ran like hell's demons were on his case, which, pretty much, they were. He got shot 5 times in the back. MG-34 bullets. Bleeding and nearly dead he crawled through enemy lines to American lines.

And took and Iron Cross off a German soldier in the process.

I have that Iron Cross. He died a few years ago. With Krupp steel still in his body.

Fark ya. When they say the greatest generation they mean it.

My dad's 82 this year. He served in the Navy in Hawaii as an Aviation Machinist's Mate from 1944-1946. Thanks, Dad. I love you.





Not him, but he put the sign on his buddy Hugh's plane:



/Believe it or not, he's on Facebook (but not a Farker).

TommyBahama: cynispasm: TommyBahama: cynispasm: I'll remember the sacrifices of the poor guys who got conscripted - everyone else is on their own.

because choosing to fight for you country is a bad thing?

politics aside, the guys with the balls to sit in the fox holes deserve some respect. god knows i would never man up to do that.

I'll admit to trolling a bit here, but don't you think that people who volunteer to fight are, well, more part of the problem than the solution? You can make an argument that Korea and Gulf War I were diplomatic obligations, but the rest of our country's military adventures since WWII have been very questionable.

a lot of these people joined up before those wars started.

and no i do not blame them, I blame the people who are in power. we will always need men in uniform to relay on, if we start giving them crap for joining up during a war we don't agree with the next time we need them for a good war they wont be there.

if we learned anything from vietnam it was that we should never treat men in uniform like that ever again.

luckily, it seems that at least most of use learned that lesson.

A pity the lesson wasn't "Let's not fark with other countries business. And let's not bomb the civilians because we can't tell them apart from the soldiers." That would have been a real leap forward.

I even have another one, my other Grandpa, Leeroy ( yeah wtf is up with my family )

He wanted to cook some beans so he put a can of beans on the fire. All's well and good but ... he forgot to put holes in the can.

BOOM

it was the pacific theatre and regular bombings from the Japanes was well regular. Everyone hit the foxholes, and were showered with beans. The CO was not very pleased by this. However, they all laughed it off as another idiotic stunt by Leeroy.

He always told me the funny stuff from ww2 he did, but later in life he's been telling me the darker more horrible things. He was in a b-29 as an observer because his CO was afraid to fly. What kind of crap is that? The CO of the 5th bomb group was afraid to fly? The bomb group that dropped the Bomb? Yup. But my grandpa took his position as observer.

He was goofing with a friend he could see in a window in a B-29 next to him, mooning eachother and doing silly crap when *flak* *BOOM*. See you hit a bigass plane with tons of bombs with flak due to flying to low, it asplodes. One minute my grandpa had a friend, next he had a memory. And the flak kept coming too.

He tells me now that he just sat in the bomb bay rocking back and forth crying.

Wouldn't you?

I figure this is as good a place to tell my Grandfathers stories. He never talked about them at all-he was in the Air Force in WWII, and thats all I knew till I was about 13 when my mom told me the following stories, which he later confirmed.

First: He was flying over the Mediterranean when his plane (one of the big B-25's) was shot down. As everyone was bailing out, he looked over at and saw that the pilot was still flying the plane. When my grandfather asked if he was gonna bail, the pilot said nope, he was gonna try to land it. So my Grandfather shucks off the parachute, sits down, and between the two of them, managed to ditch and safely make it home.

Story the second: All I knew for the longest time was that he "saved a guy from a burning plane." Apparently he and his superior officer were sitting around on base when a plane crashed near them and burst into flames. According to his account, my grandfather's CO looks over at my grandfather and goes "C'mon lets get that guy!" So they go over, and, according to Granddad's account: "He (the CO) jumped up there, and slid the guy down to me, and we got out of there right before it blew up." They offered him a medal, but he refused it-he didn't think he'd done anything heroic.

Hell of a guy-never talked about it, just went home and raised 13 kids.
//miss him.
///Here's to you, Dad (my nickname for him when I was a wee lad)

In 1944/1945 my grandfather had a nice Army job guarding German POWs somewhere in Texas. His baby brother was a desk jockey of some sort in England. Apparently, the army put out a request for infantry volunteers after the progress through France was so badly slowed by German resistance. My grandfather sent his bro a V-mail (just a little too early for email) telling him not to even think about volunteering to leave the safety of England. The vmail was returned to grandpa because it arrived too late: his brother had quickly volunteered, been shipped over and in no time been killed in the fighting in France. RIP Uncle Jack, my father proudly bears your name.

Funny sidenote: the cushy U.S.-based jobs my grandfather held through the war didn't last and in 1945 he was ordered overseas for the invasion of Japan. His ship left port right around the time Hiroshima became famous. The ship ended up being turned around in the middle of the pacific and headed back to the U.S. Grandpa was one of the first waves of boys returning from the Pacific Theater. They were greeted with raucous crowds, bands playing and thousands of well-wishers ready thank, kiss, fark, drink and celebrate. He sheepishly admits that no one really admitted at the time that not a sole on that ship had ever seen one lick of combat - yet they were treated as conquering heroes. . . . sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.

My father traveled around the world on a Destroyer during the Korean war. The only dangers he faced were drowning, and the 46 varieties of Syphilis he was exposed to.

God Bless all who served, and those that served before them.

I had relatives on both sides in WWII. My beloved grandpa, rest in peace, was a little guy (5'5", 111 lbs) when he joined the US army. He never spoke of the war until shortly before he died. On his first day in France, he was put into a truck with a bunch of other newly-minted recruits being driven to their assigned post. When they arrived, they were attacked before they could even get out of the truck. The sargeant whose job it was to get the newbies to where they needed to go was killed; my grandpa spent the night behind a tree waiting for the sun to come up so he could find someone who was still alive and could tell him what to do next.

My uncle, on the other hand, was in the commissary for Hitler's occupying army in Paris. He was stationed in a Rothschild mansion -- he spent WWII working his way through the most amazing wine cellar in Europe.

Oh, and my dad, 9 years old at the time, was sent out with all the other childern and elderly to dig tank trenches around Berlin after Hitler abandoned the city. And my dad's mom was raped by the Russians when they rolled into Berlin. Not veteran's stories, I know, but there isn't a Civilians Who Have Suffered Through a Horrifying War Day, so I thought I would throw that in here.

My mother's family has had at least one member serve in every major conflict in this country's history, through Vietnam.

At least three in the Revolution, only one came home, and he fought in the War of 1812 as an old man.

The Civil War was a biggie on both sides for my family. On my mother's side, four served in VA units for the confederacy (don't know much more than that about them), and one fought for the North. He was captured in 1863 and died in Andersonville.

On my father's side, at least one. He served in the 71st PA, part of the Philadelphia Brigade. He was wounded at Antietam, helped repel Pickett's Charge, and was wounded again at Spotsylvania, and discharged.

The only other vets I can remember off the top of my head (mom has the genealogy stuff) are my grandfathers.

My dad's dad served in the 27th Division in the Pacific (great story SchlingFocker!). He never talked to anyone about it, not even his wife. I never knew the man, he died when I was an infant.

My mom's dad spent WWII guarding the west coast with a wooden rifle, but went to Korea. His unit was relieved by the Gloucester battalion just hours before the Chinese attacked. He died less than a year before I was born.

To all of them, and to all the others, Thank You.

This is my Boobies ever, and I have a couple of different things to throw out.

First, I am in Air Force ROTC while I am going through college, to be commissioned at the completion of my degree. Today I served in the colorguard for the Veterans Day Parade in our city, and while we were marching, I saw a group of old men wearing WWII Airborne jackets. One of the men was in a wheelchair, and as we got closer, two of the other men picked him up out of his chair so that he could salute the flag as we marched past. Seeing the comradery that had endured the years, and importance that this symbol of freedom had on them almost got to me as we went past..

The second thing, I would like to honor all of my family that has served. Since our family came to America in 1799, we have served in every military conflict America has been in. Here's to you.

Finally, I would like to thank my father. He served in the Army during Vietnam, as a door gunner on a huey. He was shot down, and thrown clear when the chopper crashed. As one of two survivors, he carried the pilot on his back for two days, till he came across an American patrol. Never awarded a medal, and refused to accept a commission, because he didn't think himself a hero.
You might not think so, but I do. Cheers Dad.

cynispasm: Soldiers continue to be one of The Us' biggest sacred cows. Please watch "All Quiet on the Western Front" and "Johnny Got his Gun".

Soldiers are firewood for the engine of empire. As long as the ruling class thinks we'll put up with it, they'll keep shoveling young men into the furnace.

Let's blame the shovelers, not the young men.

Buddy Boy: And my dad's mom was raped by the Russians when they rolled into Berlin.

So your uncle is half Russian then?

I take that back, it's too heartless even for me.

I have a rendezvous with Death
At some disputed barricade,
When Spring comes back with rustling shade
apple-blossoms fill the air-
I have a rendezvous with Death
When Spring brings back blue days and fair.

It may be he shall take my hand
And lead me into his dark land
And close my eyes and quench my breath-
It may be I shall pass him still.
I have a rendezvous with Death
On some scarred slope of battered hill,
When Spring comes round again this year
And the first meadow-flowers appear.

God knows 'twere better to be deep
Pillowed in silk and scented down,
Where love throbs out in blissful sleep,
Pulse nigh to pulse, and breath to breath,
Where hushed awakenings are dear...
But I've a rendezvous with Death
At midnight in some flaming town,
When Spring trips north again this year,
And I to my pledged word am true,
I shall not fail that rendezvous.

- Alan Seeger, 1888-1916

cynispasm: My father traveled around the world on a Destroyer during the Korean war. The only dangers he faced were drowning, and the 46 varieties of Syphilis he was exposed to.

Sounds like he may have passed it on through to you. You know that latent syph can make you a crazy asshole.

RanDomino: Radioactive Ass
So wearing a uniform and not killing people is... what?

A uniform in a military is the same as a uniform at a restaurant or in business (a suit and tie). The purpose of a uniform is to put the wearer in a different mindset- Who wears a uniform on their own, of their own volition? No one; that's just clothes. The purpose of a uniform is to get the wearer to do what they're told unquestioningly (usually, in exchange for money), under the unvoiced logic that the employee's time and body belongs to the employer. If the task is something that the person already wants to do, then a uniform is not necessary; if a uniform is necessary, it's because the task is unpleasant, and the time is dead time. So there is no such thing as wearing a uniform and not killing, except that outside of a military you come back to life when you take the uniform off.

/tangent

but since Situationism is apparently forgotten, the answer to the question you thought you asked is more likely, "there is no such thing"

As someone who wears a uniform on their own volition, who does it not for money because he doesn't get paid to wear it, who does it not because anyone tells him to because it's not the uniform of any business "employer", who does it out of the pride that he has to be a part of the Brotherhood with which he stands beside, who does not wear it to kill but rather to save, I say that you have no farking clue of the shiat that you're spewing.

A big thank you to all veterans, despite this asshat!

/Dedicated, trained, and tested firefighter
//What have you done for anyone in your life?
///You Biatch.

Radioactive Ass: Buddy Boy: And my dad's mom was raped by the Russians when they rolled into Berlin.

So your uncle is half Russian then?

I take that back, it's too heartless even for me.

Hah! No...however, my dad's dad (my grandfather) had a wife, and they had two children together. The wife died, and my grandfather married her sister. So my dad has two-half sisters, who are also his cousins.

Another story about my grandpa in the US Army that he told me shortly before he died: as I mentioned, he was a little guy, so he was normally a runner (shuttling messages back and forth) since he wasn't strong enough to properly hold a rifle. One day, as a joke, he was ordered to be on guard duty for the evening. He was struggling under the weight of the rifle, but was doing his best to keep alert. Suddenly, he sees two heads bobbing up and down behind a wall. They are coming closer, so he sqeaks out "halt!" They don't stop and don't identify themselves, and he thinks "uh oh, do I really have to shoot these people?" He, with effort, aims the rifle more or less in their direction. The two heads get to the corner of the wall, and he sees a white hanky flutter around the corner. It was two German soldiers who were tired of fighting. So, my sweet grandpa was given credit for "capturing" two German soldiers. Which everyone thought was hilarious, especially my grandpa.

Radioactive Ass: specialk111: My dad served in the Navy on the George C. Marshall

It so happens that I did too only from 83-86. Did you ask him (or did he tell you) about the incident in the Med in 69? He must have heard about it. I did and it was 14 years later.

I don't recall him saying anything about it, but I'm sure he knows the story. I'll talk to him tonight and see what's what, I'm quite curious. :) Thanks, RA!

Thank you.

sepuku2: cynispasm: My father traveled around the world on a Destroyer during the Korean war. The only dangers he faced were drowning, and the 46 varieties of Syphilis he was exposed to.

Sounds like he may have passed it on through to you. You know that latent syph can make you a crazy asshole.

Ad-homina homina homina!

DrillSergeantPoopyPants: Billy Ligue: Thanks, Dad



95th Divsion, 378th Infantry, Co. D

Mr. Ligue,

Here's to your Dad, one of the Iron Men of Metz.

Whoa, cool. My Grandfather was one of the Iron Men of Metz as well. I had never heard anyone but my Grandmother mention that until today.

specialk111: I'll talk to him tonight and see what's what, I'm quite curious.

I don't recall him saying anything about it, but I'm sure he knows the story. I'll talk to him tonight and see what's what, I'm quite curious. :) Thanks, RA!

Do you know what he did? I was a TM2 when I left the boat to be a tour guide on the Nautilus (shore duty on a boat, go figure right?).

specialk111:

I just looked it up and it was 1967 not 1969 (hey I'm getting old, what can I say...). Also, tell your old man that the captains dolphins were still there when I left in '86. He'll know what I mean.

I don't mind people feeling grateful...I just get suspicious when it becomes the national religion. When a topic becomes unquestionable, it turns into some sort of mob activity. Then you get people using it to question each other's patriotism. Well, you know what? not everything is as simple as "respect the veterans."

If it didn't matter I wouldn't care. But in fact this sort of mentality leads to unconsidered military action and people die.

When a good Veteran leaves the 'job' and retires to a better life, many are jealous, some are pleased and others, who may have already retired, wonder if he knows what he is leaving behind, because we already know.

We know, for example, that after a lifetime of camaraderie that few experience, it will remain as a longing for those past times.

We know in the Military Life there is a fellowship which lasts long after the uniforms are hung up in the back of the closet. We know even if he throws them away, they will be on him with every step and breath that remains in his life. We also know how the very bearing of the man speaks of what he was and in his heart still is.

These are the burdens of the job. You will still look at people suspiciously, still see what others do not see or choose to ignore and always will look at the rest of the Military world with a respect for what they do; only grown in a lifetime of knowing.

Never think for one moment you are escaping from that life. You are only escaping a 'job' and merely being allowed to leave 'active' duty.

So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into retirement, in your heart you never forget for one moment that 'Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called children of God,' and you are still a member of the greatest fraternity the world has ever known.

A veteran - whether active duty, retired, or national guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

From one Veteran to another, it's an honor to be in your Company.

Thank you Veteran!

(shamelessly stolen)

RanDomino: The only difference between a hero and a moron is a uniform.

Fark veterans. There's nothing honorable about war.

Even if you do not agree with the idea of war, do not look down upon those who fought them. They have been through things you or I never will. They have watched brothers die, seen the horrors of war. They deserve respect and gratitude for their service, whether willing or drafted.

FarkinCubsFan: DrillSergeantPoopyPants: Billy Ligue: Thanks, Dad



95th Divsion, 378th Infantry, Co. D

Mr. Ligue,

Here's to your Dad, one of the Iron Men of Metz.

Whoa, cool. My Grandfather was one of the Iron Men of Metz as well. I had never heard anyone but my Grandmother mention that until today.

cool...
lemme set up a e-mail address for you to drop me a line.

I need to talk my two roommates into going to the VFW(I think thats the name) and getting cheap drinks!


Roommate 1, says all the Army taught him was to drink.

Roommate 2, says he went was regularly deployed to Columbia but he doesn't really want to talk about what went on.


/Roommate 1 is a Farker, I know he is keeping an eye on this thread. First round is on me tonight!

youvebeenrickrolled:
I recently separated from my unit, and now they are in Afghanistan. I am not afraid to admit that I shed a tear everyday that I can not be there with them.

I've been out for almost 10 years now, and still feel the same way.

Stay safe, Troopers.

Perseverance.