Lest we forget ... Armistice/Veteran's Day 2009

[winchester73]

... the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month

For my buddy mitch, the Phantom Phixer, who kept the F4s flying. Hit my smoke, mate. We remember, always.


"If you are able, save for them a place inside of you and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go. Be not ashamed to say you loved them, though you may or may not have always. Take what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own. And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind."

Major Michael Davis O'Donnell
1 January 1970
Dak To, Vietnam

Listed as KIA February 7, 1978

[Niecarrah]

We shall Not forget,
The awfulness they met.
The lives that were given,
The war crimes forgiven.
The lives that were spared,
The stories they shared.
The humble job of a soldier,
The combat was bloodier,
The family separation was cruel,
For a decent meal they would drool.
Rah, Rah for the Veteran,
For the wars they did win.
And those they did not,
You will Not be Forgot!


To ANY and All Veterans:  Thank You, Thank You Very Much!

[R-C]

Veterans Memorial Walk, O'Fallon, Missouri.


My sincere gratitude to all who serve and have served who do so to protect our freedom.

They Keep Us Free
   
In time of need their will is sure
American, their freedom pure

Protect our life and liberty
Unselfishly, they keep us free

Each soldier knows what is at stake
The risk is grave, there's no mistake

With pride they serve our country strong
They face each foe to come along

Remember them while in your home
Or where you choose to freely roam

Don't take for granted what you see
Some left this life, so it could be

To God I urge you all to pray
For soldier's brave, to face each day

We should be thankful, one and all
For those who march to meet each call

By Roger J. Robicheau
Former SP5 US Army

[Corrine]

Republished:  Lest We Forget

[mitch]

it is the soldier,not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press

it is the soldier,not the poet,
Which has given us the freedom of speech

it is the soldier, not the camus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate

It is the soldier who salutes the flag
Who serves beneath the flag, and
Whos coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protesters to burn the flag


I still remember one tired gi trying to get home and with no reservations around xmass time could not get home after working my way to L.A
got a buss and it broke down 100 miles from home so started hitchhiking  and a family stopped and picked up me and a navy guy, they were going to the next town (Modesto) but after 15 min they decided to "visit Sacramento"
that family i remember for all they did for two military men just trying to get home

i went down to the buss depot the next day to get my duffel bag. while waiting for it a girl next to me was telling her dad about what fun they are having at UC Berzerkly protesting, she saw me and then
spit in my face and called me a baby killer

i was trembling so bad as i knew if i did anything i would kill her
her father, then slapped her and told her to wait outside and handed me a hanky

i will always remember4 him

the girl, yes i8will always remember her and wonder if her4 mother thinks of her each night in her kennel

yes i do think the American People let down all of the vets from nam!
i was payed 13 cents/hour while i was a gi, now they start off at $1500/month while in training
so some things have changed and a bit more respect for the military ( or did they realize ho9wthey treated us?

next time someone spits in my face i don't know what i will do , but when gulf war 1 started and there was going to be a anti-war protest complete with flag burning i did what was right
went there, found several other4 vets and we talked to the punk with the flag and told him if it catches fire that will be the last thing he remembers
and yes my flag is flying at home since sunrise and will be lowered at sunset
as i got older i did mellow out a bit, but still have deep feelings for the girl at the buss depot

so as you go to school, work 9 to 5, just think about all that worked 12 on and 12 off and got one deay a week off ( unless we were needed)

well this might be my last time here

sgt mitch
366 tfw

hi corine and the gun ;-D

[Corrine]

{{{HUGS}}} My long-time friend.  :rose:

[winchester73]

Good to see one of the "Gunfighters" appear ... Da Nang, Cam Ranh Bay, Phan Rang, keeping the F-4C Phantom II's in the air.



We miss you mate.   :Hammys pint:

[GR@PH;<'S]

GR@PH;<'S   :Hammys pint:

[Temmu]

thank you veterans.
our liberty is because of them.

america treated its viet nam vets horribly.  i was too young by 1 year to go, when i got out of high school, it was over.
cnn was full of women crying, '(president) bush killed my baby (in iraq)'
now that we are in afghanistan, where are the cnn women crying, 'president obamah killed my baby?'
o. can't talk about that.