Who knew the littlest boy (my great uncle Jack) would die in a place called Anzio Beach near Altaville, Italy in 12 years and the oldest (my grandfather Leon) would jump out of a burning B-17 over Magdeburg in May 1944 to spend 11 months in a POW camp? They weren’t victims or rubes. They were stiff-necked, patriots and the salt of the earth — the backbone of this nation.
Also my Dad (USAF Vietnam), sister Jennifer (USAF late ’90 through the early part of the GWOT), and my brother-in-law Ben who currently serves in the USAF…. God bless them all and those who have served and who are currently serving.
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To my late old man James McLendon,US Army,and my grandfather Cecil Currie,USMC
To my Grandfather, Alfred Astroth who served in WWI in the Veterinary Corps, US Army and then returned home to work for the VA Hospital in Waco, TX till he retired, and my Dad a WWII veteran who was on a train going to basic training when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He served in North Africa, Sicily and the Italian Campaigns.
I remember having an assignment when I was in school where we were to ask our parents how they felt about the Atomic Bomb. My Dad looked at me like I was an idiot and said I probably wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the A-Bomb, because he was preparing for the invasion of Japan when they dropped it.
I thank God we’ve had people like my Pa and Daddy, may they rest in peace.
My dad was in the Occupation forces in Japan. Never saw a second of combat. But if it weren’t for the bomb, he’d probably be dead and I’d never have been born.
I probably wouldn’t be here, either. My dad was a Lieutenant in the 7th Infantry in the battle for Okinawa. He definitely would have been on the short list to hop to the “big island.” As it was – he wound up serving in the initial occupation of Korea.
Thanks to my grandfather and great uncles who served most ably in WWII.
Thanks also to all veterans and those who serve our country everyday.
First, thanks to Outlaw and all other active duty members of our military for keeping my family safe!
Second, like the rest of you I want to enter a list of family and thank them, but there is almost no military service in my family! I hadn’t realized this before, but we hardly have anyone who served. It got me to thinking why. Best I can tell my ancestors were in a generational gap that was out of sync with the wars our country fought. Both my grandfathers tried to join during WWII, but they were deemed too old and they also worked in industries considered vital to the war effort. My father joined the Navy, but he was after Korea and before Viet Nam. My mother’s father was born in Poland, so none of his ancestors could have served in the U.S. military and as far as I know my father’s grandfather did not serve. Probably too old for WWI. I know one of my father’s, mothers great Uncles was a Civil War hero, and I imagine his brother, my grandmother’s grandfather, might have served, but I’ve never heard anything about it. Could be he was too young.
Odd. Had I been younger during the Gulf War or in my late teens/early 20′s on 9-11 I’m pretty sure I would have joined. When I graduated from College I tested into Navy flight school, but my impetus was to get free training to be a commercial pilot. I decided that wasn’t the proper motive so I never signed the papers. And, even though my folks knew I had gone to the recruiting office and taken the written exam and physical they did not encourage me at all. I knew my mom wasn’t happy about it, but I think my dad probably was, but kept quiet for my mom’s sake. Odd.
So, thanks to all those who serve and have served! Hopefully I can do some charitable works before I shuttle this mortal coil, and pull more weight for the Firefly bloodline.
Just thought I’d share a story from my own experience. I have relatives that fought in WW2, although for the Reich, but that’s not the story. A couple years ago, I was in DC with some friends of mine after attending a wedding and we arrived in the city around 11 pm and decided to walk around some of the open air monuments that night. When we were over at the Vietnam Memorial, I spotted a man with a veteran’s hat on. I approached him, got his attention, thanked him for his service and shook his hand. It was the first time I’d ever done that, so it felt kind of awkward, but I was glad I’d done it. We went our different ways and I rejoined my friends and told them what had just occurred. A few minutes later, a woman walks up to the group of us and asks which of us just spoke with her husband. After I told her I had, she told me that I was the first person to thank him for his service since he got back from Vietnam. She thanked us and we all went over to him again and thanked him as a group. That man deserved thanks as soon as he stepped back on American soil, but sadly because of the political environment of the day, he wasn’t.
I recently did the same at Gettysburg. I saw a veteran and thanked him. He said that people my age (20-30) don’t understand what it takes and what they have. I agree.
Thanks to the veterans that fought for my freedoms. You have earned my thanks and respect.
and I just finished Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2…wow. Russians in Whiskey Hotel? May it never come to pass.
Great story and welcome to Threedonia, voz!
It kills me that so many of the Vietnam vets were never thanked but often reviled. My dad was deeply wounded by that.
It is turning around a little. My BIL has had many drinks bought for him, many people who graciously thank him for his service. I make it a point to thank every serviceman I see, I’m glad you do the same.
To my Dad who was with the Mighty 8th US Army Air Force fighting the German Luftwaffe. “Gentleman the target for today is Berlin….” To my Uncle Joe, who was with the 101 at Bastonge. To my Uncle George who helped open up Dachau…..
My Hubby, Gulf War I. Thank You. I love you, we all love you!
Tell him thank you from us too. Thank you, Stephanie, for loving him and being what he needs at home, as I’ve seen with my sister, the wives back here serve and sacrifice too.
Tracy,
I have no first-hand experience, but I imagine the wives and kids back home have it tougher than those serving, in some aspects. I have tremendous respect for them.
I want to clarify; the men and women in the field have it extremely tough, and being away from their loved ones makes it even tougher. What I mean by the folks left at home though is this:
Anyone who is a parent knows the sincerity of wishing your loved one’s misfortune could befall you instead. It is easier for me to bear a personal burden than watch one of my children or my wife bear a burden that I cannot bear for them. It is sometimes harder to watch someone you love suffer than to suffer oneself. That’s what I mean about the difficulties for those left home. Also, there is a lack of knowledge with those left home. They don’t know what their loved-ones are doing day to day, hour by hour, until after the fact. Maybe right now, while they’re at the movies with the kids the father of their children is in a firefight with Al Qaeda. Who knows? That constant uncertainty must be nearly impossible to bear at times.
And to our own Outlaw……keeping watch in Iraq…..we got you covered on the Homefront my friend.
I’ll second Rufus’ first, thank you, Outlaw! All others here who have served or who have family members or friends currently serving, thanks as well!
My grandfather’s military funeral flag sits proudly at the front of our living room, a picture of Papa in his Marine uniform in front of it. Recently learned of his complete service detail from the Pacific theatre when my grandmother sent me his discharge papers (so honored she trusts me to carry on the family history), and glad he made it back, met my grandmother, so on and so forth to my dad and then the brief time I knew him. Also glad my uncle Steve made it back from his two tours in Vietnam. Dad was Navy, cousin Bud Air Force, all the Livingstons in one branch or the other … and then me, like Rufus caught between the two wars in the Middle East.
Too fresh from my closed head injury coma to make the cut for the Gulf War, the injury reared its head again after 9/11 after I volunteered for the Navy. A strangely scored 97 on the entrance test (who knew I understood engineering questions) and they were excited to get me involved with the Armed Forces Network. Then the Navy tells me I have to go for a battery of psych tests at the MEPS station due to the 1986 accident … the day before the 5:30 AM tests (my ex-wife tells me later she forgot my recruiter called the week before about it). It was Christmas week and I was the only one in my department so I politely told the medical officer there was no way I could make it, asked if we could reschedule. He was pissed because they apparently paid a lot of money to secure the doctors to administer the tests. He said to call later in the week to discuss rescheduling, but he never answered a call from me again, ditto my recruiter. Que sera sera. I guess God ultimately didn’t want me to go overseas, but I have and will unrelentingly support our men and women who have joined the battles. It’s the least I can do. OK, done babbling.
We’ve always had someone serving, my dad being the most notable. He was a Navy man, went reserve after marrying my mom, served in Vietnam and Desert Storm, although his DS tour was only 6 months and he claims to have never seen any fighting or been in any danger. He was a bit old for it, but had some training they needed. My grandfather and his brother taught flying here in Tx during WW2. One of my uncles was Army, but never saw combat. My great grandfather was Army but I don’t think he ever saw combat either. We did have a few Confederate Soldiers too, which I will never apologize for.
Our generation has been the slackers except for my BIL. He is a former Marine and now a captain in the Army. He did one tour in Iraq and is expecting to go to Afghanistan in 2010. They were in Ft Hood up till Aug but now are enduring OK while he takes a career course.
I hope at least one of my boys will serve. It will scare the pants off of me, but make me so proud. I try and instill the gratitude and respect for our Armed Forces that they deserve. We will be calling my daddy and my BIL today to thank them for all they gave and will continue to give.
And thank you Outlaw. You are in our prayers as a family. Stay safe.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t plug yet again for my friend Jack Marino’s Forgotten Heroes movie. Not the splashiest or greatest war movie, but its dogged respect for our troops, notably the Vietnam vets, and dripping with love of the United States and our love of freedom, makes it well worth seeing. http://www.forgottenheroesthemovie.com/
Jack’ll also be all over online radio today, including the John Henry show tonight (Armstrong Williams next week), so be sure to check it out. Added thanks to Jack’s son, recently returned from tours in Iraq.
Agreed. Thank you, Outlaw. We cannot repay the debt we owe.
My granpa – CPO USN 1938-1958. Pacific theater WWII part of occupation force.
My uncle – sgt Marine Corp. 2 tours Viet Nam. 2 purple hearts.
My cousin – USN hopes to get into Navy Seals.
At the cemetery I work for we get calls from scout troops putting flags on the vet’s graves. Today the place is alive with flags. Great job, and it does my heart good to see the American Spirit not only surviving by thriving under the Liberal Occupation.
Apparently Google is even doing a Veteran’s Day title. I don’t google, but I’m glad to see them something ANYTHING right.
Apparently those usual assjacks learned a lesson from their 9/11 insensitivity, when they did nothing to memorialize the day. Good, and credit where it’s now deserved.
To my Dad: Pfc Walter S. Trzupek, Pacific Theater, WWII
And to my big brother: Major (ret.) Eugene W. Trzupek – Bronze Star – DaNang, Viet Nam
To … my great X 8(?) grandfather Lt. John Howland and his brothers Jabez and Isaac, who fought in King Philip’s War … to my great X 4 grandfather Cpt. Elijah Cushing who led his own company of Minutemen in Pembroke, MA … to my great X 2 grandfather Sgt. Charles Howland who fought with Co. E 4th Regiment MA Volunteer Militia in the Civil War at the siege of Port Hudson … to my grandfather Charlie McLeavy who joined the Navy with his brother Francis, and their brother John a Marine, all in the Pacific Theater.
FYI, I have an envelope addressed to Chas. [?initial] Howland Esq., Hospital Steward, 4th Regiment Mass. V[olunteer] M[ilitia], Banks Expedition, Washington DC. This turned up in my father’s stamp collection. Write me if you want it!
To my niece at Ft. Hood, her husband a vet from Iraq, my Bro-in-law, and of course to Outlaw.
Yikes, I forgot Outlaw. Thank you, sir.
My cousin Andrew, who got back earlier this year from Iraq.
To my Paternal randdad who served in the Phillipines and Germany.
To my Maternal Grandad who served as an MP in Japan.
Thanks for the maternal/paternal grandfather reminder, Kit. My mom’s parents divorced when she was young, so we didn’t know Papa John (the o-riginal, pizza fans
) anywhere near as well as my dad’s dad, even though he outlived him by about 15 years. John, too, served in the Pacific theatre and I shouldn’t not respect him. My step-grandfather, who lied about his age like so many others, was in the Air Force, both WWII and Korean War — way to go, Homer Gindlesperger!!! Yes, that’s his real name, and makes me feel a little better about being saddled with Porvaznik.
To everyone, thanks for the well wishes. I spent a relatively uneventful 3 hours in the air tonight over Baghdad. Happy Veteran’s Day indeed.
Uneventful is good! We like uneventful.
Hey Outlaw! Hugs dude!
Here is the Commandant’s birthday message to the Corps for this year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CcNygpqpHo
Great video, Steph!!!!
Just stay sharp, Outlaw. I’ll buy you a beer or two when you get back.
[...] uncle Jack (not short for anything — he was Jack). The tallest is my grandfather Leon (Papa). I posted this pic back on Veteran’s Day. He died in Italy approximately 12 years after this [...]