Vets

th1bill, well said. I too am a veteran of the 1960's. My father was a career Marine having served in WW II (South Pacific) and in Korea. My wife lost her oldest brother in Vietnam.

Our Freedom is not free and one of the worst things that ever happened to this country was ending the draft. The military will make wimpy cowards grow up.

God Bless you Brother and Semper Fi.

 

Bill,
My grandfather fought in WW1 in France. My Dad was drafted in 1944 as WW2 was winding down. He got called back during the Korean War because of reserve obligations after he had gotten a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and was working for General Electric.

I served about five years after you did for a couple of terms. I appreciate you post, and admire more than words can express your service during Vietnam. There are some on here who have served. Carpro's service was similar to yours. I know that Rev Mitchell served, and believe Arbo did. No doubt there are others that I do not recall or are unaware of. To each and everyone, my hat is off to you.

Since joining ancestry.com, I have discovered some interesting facts. Ethan Allen is an ancestor of mine, along with Micah Vail, who fought with the Green Mountian Boys in Vermont during the Revolutionary War. One of the most interesting things I have found out is that on my Dad's father's side, my great great great grandfather was a Captain in the union army, and fought at the Battle of Vicksburg. At the same battle, I have another great great great grandfather on my Dad's mother's side that fought for the confederate army. I have found detailed dairies of his that detail the horrible conditions of what they ate, the medical care, and the diseases that were rampant, in particular disentary.

 

I have never spent much time involved in my ancestry but understand I did have a great, great someone who fought at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.

Otherwise, not aware of anyone else even though there probably were some. That Civil War involved almost every family way back then.

 

I am not a Vietnam vet, but my uncle had 3 tours in Nam with the marines and it finally cost him his life. I am a vet, however, and have never felt so awed and humbled by my visit to D.C. and the Vietnam Memorial on Memorial Day, with everyone finding their loved ones names on the wall. That was a sobering experience. I come from a family of vets and in school I was one of the few that took up for our boys in Nam. I was horrified by your treatment when coming home, and I still don't think you were ever given your due for service rendered. What gets me the most is the acts of treason (in my opinion) by the press and how they stab vets in the back with the very freedom the vets and God Almighty provides.

 

Thank you all for your support of this country......hopefully we can keep this country out of harms way, however these past few years of having civilians (who have never worn the uniform) call the shots frankly scares me.I think I have lost all faith in our [Career] politicians so I personally have recently been taking a particularly critical view of their motives.

But lately (and this is what scares the heck out of me)I have been noting a fear based militarism on the part of everyday people who believe that the US Military is a threat to our precious liberties. Perhaps we should all request that new recruit training spend more time explaining in detail the United States Constitution & what we are upholding. We do not want our military to be separated from the people we serve. I never want to see anyone in the military draw down on a US citizen. That would bring shame upon us as a country.

 

I feel a bit conflicted. I understand the reasoning behind the position of C-in-C being a civilian one, but I cannot help but think that a President who has served is in some way better qualified than one who has not.

My opinion only.

 

And it's a good opinion.

 

Being a veteran does not make a person a leader. We have the Kerry types who put in for purple hearts when they were scratched, trading on the honor due those who put their life on the line to defend our country.

I am a veteran, but since I was never in combat, I do not think of myself as a veteran. However, my son in law served with the Marines in Desert Storm, and he deserves our unending honor and respect.

My favorite President was a war hero, and he died in the service of our country. JFK.

We should honor Christ above all, but those who gave their lives to protect our ability to freely worship Him shall never be forgotten.

 

I Thank Them All!

I never fail to see a vet without letting them know how thankful I am for their service.

As a Viet Nam vet, who never got the recognition, I felt my brothers were due, I make sure that any veteran I come across in the stores knows I salute their service to this great country.

People forget that the uniform means these people are willing to die for you, and no greater gift can another human give to their fellow human than his or her lifeto see another live in peace and in freedom.

 

Amen!

Those who faced the possiblity of giving their life to maintain the freedom of others, would more than likely make a better leader, because they would know the depth of sacrifice from going to war. It is never easy sending another into "Harm's Way, so a veteran would make a good "check and balance" in a national figure leading this nation.

Well said, by both my brothers above!

 

I honestly don't know how to respond to this thread.

Bill, you have my utmost respect. As well as those that have already posted, and Sapper Woody, and the rest of the Baptist Board vets. I can't think of anything more to say than that.

I started my new life a couple of months ago. I'm employed at a small community college. One of the "additional duties" I immediately volunteered for is sponsor for the Student Veterans Association. Hopefully, I'll be able to help out some of these kids returning from the Middle East.

If anyone's interested, go to www.greenbeanscoffee.com/coj/; a small donation will allow you to buy a coffee for a deployed troop.

By the way--please don't thank me for my service. Even though I'm classified as a combat veteran, I was never in direct combat, and it just doesn't feel right when I think of all those that have been, and truly deserve your appreciation.

Don
US Air Force, retired
12 Dec 1987 - 1 Dec 2012

 

Well Said...

May be one of many who deeply appreciated your many yeas of dedication and service to keep America free.

May you experience his favor in your new civilian life!

 

Oh, I thought this was about veternary surgeons..... my brother-in-law went to Vietnam and has had EXCELLENT government support. At the time of course he and many like him laid low because of public feelings in some quarters.

I have ben surprised at how poorly some countries look after their veterans...after all these guys did fight for what was seen at the time critically important issues for their country.

Even dad who was regular army was in Malaya during the "emergency" which was a communist insurgency, and although not a combat soldier,he was a surveyor....he received what was due for working at risk I guess is the best way to describe it.

His younger brother was in Japan after the srrender and was CO of a POW camp.....he and his ilk have only just been recognised by the government for working in a shattered country. Not much use to him, he being dead for quite some time,but good for his family.