Veterans' Day

[ghost of miles]

Here's to the vets. We here may furiously debate our nation's military policies both pro & con, but I'm grateful to all of those who have served. In my own family my grandfather fought in WWII, my uncle fought in Vietnam, and my step-aunt is currently serving in Iraq.

And a special salute to Jazzmoose and all others here on the board who have done time in the armed forces.

[wesbed]

My comment, to follow, means nothing negative in regard to Veteran's Day. My Dad spent twenty years in the Air Force. I grew-up surrounded by the military and by military people.

The company I work for wants us to 'appreciate' Veteran's Day and not forget it. We aren't 'closed' or anything like that. However, the management did place a torn 1-foot by 2-foot poster of a soldier by the back entrance so we see it when we walk in. I work for a 'major software corporation,' a company with name-recognition and with a budget to provide more than a torn poster, I'm sure. This seems dumb to me, and a little underwhelming.

Edited November 12, 2003 by wesbed

[chris olivarez]

Thanks to all the Veterans on this board and everywhere else.

[Jazzmoose]

Every year on this day I think the same thing: If the banks are closed, and we're not getting mail, how is it that I haven't had Veteran's Day off since I got out of the Navy?

[AfricaBrass]

Every year on this day I think the same thing: If the banks are closed, and we're not getting mail, how is it that I haven't had Veteran's Day off since I got out of the Navy?

That just doesn't seem right, Moose!

My thanks go out to you and all the other veterans. I could never thank you enough for your service and sacrifice.

[maren]

And a special salute to Jazzmoose and all others here on the board who have done time in the armed forces.

I second that emotion.

[connoisseur series500]

Here's to the vets. We here may furiously debate our nation's military policies both pro & con, but I'm grateful to all of those who have served. In my own family my grandfather fought in WWII, my uncle fought in Vietnam, and my step-aunt is currently serving in Iraq.

And a special salute to Jazzmoose and all others here on the board who have done time in the armed forces.

Well said, Ghostie.

Thanks to all of our veterans for their efforts and sacrifices. Mooser and all the rest.

[Joe Christmas]

It's a pleasure, more than you know. Sometimes you wonder whether or not to voice your opinion on the political and global matters. My stance is somewhat to the left, but I have the feeling that as a member of the military, my comments and thoughts have to go through some filter of bias or prejudice of the right. I know it shouldn't matter, but those preconceptions can distract what should otherwise be a natural flow of conversation. I've experienced it on these bulletin boards many times in the past. I know, I know: Fuck em.

I wonder if Alexander will show up in this thread.

[BruceH]

I echo all the above sentiments. To all veterans.

[jazzbo]

Let's remember all who serve, and who have served, and especially those that have lost their lives in service.

I hate war. To pieces.

Edited November 12, 2003 by jazzbo

[jacman]

i come from a long line of servicemen. i had a great uncle who fought with the Rough Riders (didn't make it up San Juan Hill-contracted Malaria). My mom's father was with the Flying Tigers pre-WW2 and knew Vinager Joe personaly. (mom has his flight jacket with the CBI patch on the back...very cool) During the war he served in the Pacific and stateside. My Dad's dad fought with the USMC in the Pacific during WW2, and as i've mentioned in another thread, my dad fought in the ETO in WW2, serving in North Africa, France, and Belgium. he also was with the occupational forces in Germany after the war. liberated a death camp too, tho i can't remember which one. my brother served with the USMC and i was in the USAF X4 years. my brother and i were the only ones that didn't serve during a conflict, however my unit was ready to mobilize to Turkey during the Iranian Hostage Crisis.

my thanks to all my brothers and sisters who served, and thanks to all who have supported us.

[Alexander]

My favorite part of Veteran's Day is reading the "Peanuts" strips where Snoopy (in uniform) goes over to Bill Maudlin's house to drink root beers. Bill Maudlin was a great cartoonist who drew wonderful strips for "Stars and Stripes" during WWII, and was a personal friend of Charles Schulz. The majority of "Peanuts" readers probably didn't get the reference, but Schulz did it year after year. I can't think of a more touching tribute.

Bet none of you saw that coming did you?

[Jazzmoose]

I wonder if Alexander will show up in this thread.

[Jazzmoose]

Damn you, Alexander; you did that on purpose!

[Alexander]

Damn you, Alexander; you did that on purpose!

[BERIGAN]

Many cheers to all the vets on this board, and outside of it!!!!

Both my Grandfathers were in WW1, both were too old for WW2 , and had kids, but they still tried to join up .....

[maren]

Adding to my above post with some family stories:

My Dad enlisted in the Army on his 17th birthday in May 1945. Served in the U.S. When he was 15 and 16 he was in a youth volunteer corps that monitored black-out compliance. That part I found out from a little box of papers after he died. Seems one night while investigating a light that shouldn't have been on, he found a man who had just hanged himself, extricated the guy and revived him with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. There were newspaper clippings about his heroism and grateful letters from the man's wife and mother -- my dad never spoke of this, but my mother told me it was a pivotal moment that led him to eventually become a doctor.

My mother (4 years older) enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps, which provided her training, and she worked stateside through WWII treating injured servicemen/women.

My nephew is joining the Marines when he graduates from high school this coming May. He's a beautiful kid (and it scares the hell out of me).

[minew]

Here's to my late maternal grandfather who was one of two survivors of a B-29 crash in New Guinea in WWII. My grandmother always said that, before that, he used to have a wonderful sense of humor. And to my patenal grandfather, who never got over the fact that he had to keep driving his troop transport right through the wreckage of the transport full of his buddies that had just been hit by a shell in the Phillipines. He loved to fish, but, after that sight, he couldn't bear to clean them for the rest of his 45 years. And to my dad, who says that his tour in Vietnam and the drug-addled years he spent getting over it were a waste of his youth.

And to my former student prowling as a scout around Khandahar, who emails me about the pitched battles being fought with resurgent Taliban and Al Qaeda forces. And to my former student in Mosul, who was recently finally able to convince his COs to change their rules of engagement back to pre-May 1 status so his guys could defend themselves. I wish them a speedy, safe, return and a quick recovery from the emotional wounds.