What is a Veteran?

Rooster

Morally Compromised
Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Posts
3,098
He or She is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel.

He is the bar room loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.

She (or he) is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.

He or She is the POW who went away one person and came back another -or didn't come back AT ALL.

He or She is the Parris Island drill instructor who has never seen combat - but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other's backs.

He or She is the parade-riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.

He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.

He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield
or in the ocean's sunless deep.

He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket - palsied now and aggravatingly slow - who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.

He or She is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being - a person who offered some of his or her life's most vital years in the service of their country, and who sacrificed their ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.

He or she is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.

So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say Thank You. That's all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.


Two little words that mean a lot, "THANK YOU."
And Remember.......

It's the soldier, not the reporter, who gave us our freedom of the press.

It's the soldier, not the poet, who gave us our freedom of speech.

It's the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gave us our freedom to demonstrate.

It's the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves others with respect for the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.


Join me in the following:
Prayer for our Servicemen ---

Lord, hold our troops in Your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen.
 
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Um, that moved me. Not what I expect when I roll out of bed late on a Saturday morning.

Thank you Rooster.
 
The Rooster said:
He or She is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel.

He is the bar room loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.

She (or he) is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.

He or She is the POW who went away one person and came back another -or didn't come back AT ALL.

He or She is the Parris Island drill instructor who has never seen combat - but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other's backs.

He or She is the parade-riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.

He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.

He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield
or in the ocean's sunless deep.

He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket - palsied now and aggravatingly slow - who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.

He or She is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being - a person who offered some of his or her life's most vital years in the service of their country, and who sacrificed their ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.

He or she is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.

So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say Thank You. That's all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.


Two little words that mean a lot, "THANK YOU."
And Remember.......

It's the soldier, not the reporter, who gave us our freedom of the press.

It's the soldier, not the poet, who gave us our freedom of speech.

It's the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gave us our freedom to demonstrate.

It's the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves others with respect for the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.


Join me in the following:
Prayer for our Servicemen ---

Lord, hold our troops in Your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen.

Thank you for the support and respect!
 
My definition of a Veteran is the same as that of a Hero.


He is a man that will fast rope down to a crash site to rescue a dying and wounded crew. He is a man who gives his life for the slim chance that crew will survive. He is a man who knew the odds of surviving but went anyways.

He is Gary Gordon

He is Randy Shuttgart


And they were my friends.
 
Veterans are the men and women who work day in and day out, 24/7 and holidays, they sit there holding the keys to unleash hell on earth and have the entire world on their shoulders. Now THAT takes a hell of a person.
 
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Always remember those that have served, throughout the year.

Very Touching

:kiss:
 
Glad I was able to post this .... it was sent to me via email from a friend .. author unknown
 
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May I

Someone else posted a letter to the troops saying thank you...I will be reading hers and yours to my troops...I do this for them...so they understand that they are still thought of and cared about. Sometimes they don't see that....even from civilian DoD workers.

Thanks again Rooster...it has touched me.

Kate:rose:
 
A Veteran...My Dad..

Left a professional baseball career and joined up the week after December 7th, 1941. He left the farm in early 1942, and shipped out to the Pacific Theatre of Operations until 1945. He lived through the major battles in the fight to Japan, and they lived through him in nightmares so intense, my mom can't sleep with him. In his advanced years, his dreams are more peaceful, maybe because he knows he'll be joining his buddies soon. He's just my childhood and personal hero.

*We are losing 1600 WW2 vets a day in the US, if you know someone from that time, give 'em a hug or handshake, and say, "Thankyou!"

*Thankyou Dad! :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose:
 
Lost I do and I will

My father served in the army during WWII. He had graduated H.S. a year early and tried to join the marines. Due to being 17 and color blind they didn't accept him. When his 18th birthday arrived he signed up to the army.

Realize that he and his brother were sons of immigrants and both went off to serve. His parents who migrated to the USA in their youth encouraged their children to love this country. They saw all the possibilities it lays before us. Hence how my father has raised his children. It is funny how so many others do not see it anymore. We the people have the right to change things. The basic foundation is there. True there are injustices but we have that power and so many freedoms that service people even to this day are fighting for the civilian to maintain.

Again thank you to all of the veterans. I want to send a special one out to those that fought in Vietnam for some where along the line they were shafted for their bravery over a political movement.


Peace,
Tulip
 
What's a veteran?

My grandfather, who joined the Army and spent two years hauling supplies to the front during WWI.

My father, who at 16 lied about his age to get into the Army during WWII. He served as a cook, truck driver, Infantrymen and MP in Germany, then spent several months hauling relief supplies into Nagasaki after the bomb.

My brother, who served 8 months in Desert Storm and a total of 24 years in the Army.

My best friend in high school, who spent 15 months in 'nam; 7 as a door gunner and 8 more as a crew chief.

Generations of men who sacrificed for this country. I love and honor them, each and every one.

Comshaw
 
These types of stories are awesome.

Tom Hanks hit the nail on the head when he said WW II veterans "saved the world."

I think it's important for us to honor their memories by telling our children and grandchildren about their relatives who sacrificed so much.

My father was a gunner in the Army Air Corps, and flew in A-20 and B-26 light attack bombers over Europe. Like most war veterans he never talked about his experiences in combat. After he died my mom told me he had what we now call PTSD for a short time after the war ended, which must have been very common. A few years ago I tracked down his military records listing the different campaigns and battles, and eventually requested and received his decorations. His records included the Bomb Group and Squadron he was assigned to which led me to an Internet website for his unit. It was fascinating. His name was listed on the roster. I recognized him in the squadron's group picture. The only photograph I own of him in uniform is standing in front of his plane, with Oklahoma Belle painted on the nose. When I saw several photos on the website of the same plane, I felt pretty damn proud of him.

If anyone is interested in recovering a deceased relative's military records, PM me and I'll direct you to where I found the info on the Internet.


409-015_small.jpg
 
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My grandfather - first wave on Omaha beach

My father - Vietnam 1969 - 1971, 21 more years career, Explosives Ordinance Disposal

My brother - eight years Army, Lightwheel Mechanic

Myself - four years Air Force, explosives technician


and while we're not blood, we are family,

My husband's cousin - Marines, training to be a pilot
 
Thank you, that was very touching. I know that my father, a 20 year Marine and my brother who served 2 tours in Nam, would have been just as touched.
 
This is for all those that were with us and can not see the message you have sent! :heart:
 
This is a poem by George L. Skypeck that best describes all veterans.

Soldier

I was that which others did not want to be.
I went where others feared to go, and did what others failed to do.
Iasked nothing from those who gave nothing, and reluctantly accepted thought of eternal loneliness...should I fail.
I have seen the face of terror; felt the stinging cold of fear; and enjoyed the sweet taste of a moment's love.
I have cried, pained, and hoped...but most of all,
I have lived times others would say were best forgotten.
At least someday I will be able to say that I was proud of what I was...a soldier.
 
One more time...

IN YOUR NAME


If called, I will go,
If placed in harm's way, I will fight,
I will close with and destroy our enemies,
I will die or be injured so you won't have to be,
I will return home, and mourn the lost,
I will be spat on like before,
I will do it again if needed..........in your name.


:rose: :rose:
 
What is a veteran?

He is the cannon fodder for imperialism, the poor man pressed into service to fight wars for the rich.

He is paraplegic, quadriplegic, blind, impotent, crippled, or his mind has been hideously scarred by the horrors of war.

He is cast aside as soon as he is no longer useful, treated with scorn by the country he nearly died for, cast adrift and often left to rot, homeless, on the streets.

He or she is in many cases lying six feet under.

He was been barked at, abused, ordered about, reviled, treated with contempt, murdered by "friendly fire," poisoned with Agent Orange, made sick by rotten meat sold to the military by war profiteers.

He is Black, or Latino, or a working class white, and returns home only to be told he's not good enough, "your kind is wanted here," and to be called a "spic" or a "nigger" or "poor white trash."

As Rosa Luxenburg said, "Proletarians falling, profits rising."
 
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