What's up gents. Happy Veteran's day! 1. Thank you for your time in service and protecting our country! 2. Post Branch/Rank/Favorite duty 3. Post an interesting story from your time in service 4. If you contracted any STD's please post those as well Happy Veteran's day!
Happy Veterans Day to all. When I was in Baghdad in 2005 a truck filled with a few hundred pounds of explosives was detonated on an Iraqi police station that happened to be located right outside of the wall of our small base. The interesting part for me was that when it exploded I was on the crapper. So I was sitting there trying to take care of business and I hear a thunderous sound and everything shakes violently. The doors to the little trailer where the toilets are all pop open. From inside it sounds like a mortar or rocket or something hit right outside the door. So I'm sitting there hoping I don't get blown up and then hoping if I do they lie about what I was doing when it happened. You'll be happy to know none of our guys were injured in that attack that day.
happy veterans day to all those who served, both my grandpas and my uncle are veterans. I dislike you though for keeping l2g safe.
My sincere thanks and appreciation to all of you that have served our great country. May God bless and keep each one of you.
I found this on another site I frequent and I think it sums up how we should all feel about those people who serve our respective countries. War is a horrible thing , the stories I got told by grandparents and other elder family members will stick with me forever. Thankfully it is something I have never experiences nor do I wish to. Never ever forget the sacrifies made by so many for us to have the freedoms we have today. My utmost respect and gratitude to every person who has fought or will fight for my country. Her hair was up in a pony tail, her favourite dress tied with a bow. Today was Daddy's Day at school, and she couldn't wait to go. But her mummy tried to tell her, that she probably should stay home. Why the kids might not understand, if she went to school alone. But she was not afraid; she knew just what to say. What to tell her classmates of why he wasn't there today. But still her mother worried, for her to face this day alone. And that was why once again, she tried to keep her daughter home. But the little girl went to school eager to tell them all. About a dad she never sees a dad who never calls. There were daddies along the back wall, for everyone to meet. Children squirming impatiently, anxious in their seats One by one the teacher called a student from the class. To introduce their daddy, as seconds slowly passed. At last the teacher called her name, every child turned to stare. Each of them was searching, a man who wasn't there. 'Where's her daddy at?' She heard a boy call out. 'She probably doesn't have one,' another student dared to shout. And from somewhere near the back, she heard a daddy say, 'Looks like another deadbeat dad, too busy to waste his day.' The words did not offend her, as she smiled up at her Mum. And looked back at her teacher, who told her to go on. And with hands behind her back, slowly she began to speak. And out from the mouth of a child, came words incredibly unique. 'My Daddy couldn't be here, because he lives so far away. But I know he wishes he could be, since this is such a special day. And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know. All about my daddy, and how much he loves me so. He loved to tell me stories he taught me to ride my bike. He surprised me with pink roses, and taught me to fly a kite. We used to share fudge sundaes, and ice cream in a cone. And though you cannot see him. I'm not standing here alone. 'Cause my daddy's always with me, even though we are apart I know because he told me, he'll forever be in my heart' With that, her little hand reached up, and lay across her chest. Feeling her own heartbeat, beneath her favourite dress. And from somewhere in the crowd of dads, her mother stood in tears. Proudly watching her daughter, who was wise beyond her years. For she stood up for the love of a man not in her life. Doing what was best for her, doing what was right. And when she dropped her hand back down, staring straight into the crowd. She finished with a voice so soft, but its message clear and loud. 'I love my daddy very much, he's my shining star. And if he could, he'd be here, but heaven's just too far. You see he is a soldier And died just this past year When a roadside bomb hit his convoy and taught brave men to fear. But sometimes when I close my eyes, it's like he never went away.' And then she closed her eyes, and saw him there that day. And to her mother’s amazement, she witnessed with surprise. A room full of daddies and children, all starting to close their eyes. Who knows what they saw before them, who knows what they felt inside. Perhaps for merely a second, they saw him at her side. 'I know you're with me Daddy,' to the silence she called out. And what happened next made believers, of those once filled with doubt. Not one in that room could explain it, for each of their eyes had been closed. But there on the desk beside her, was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose. And a child was blessed, if only for a moment, by the love of her shining star. And given the gift of believing, that heaven is never too far
I too would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to all that have served our country. Thank you one and all. And, may god bless you all. I will also say a prayer for those that made the ultimate sacrifice. It is on this solemn day that we honor you. But, the truth is we should honor you all each and every day. PS: Great poem ScottishFin. I've seen it before, but it made me well up reading it again.
Thank you for all of your thank yous. U.S. Navy, of course, a birdfarmer, an Aircraft Carrier sailor to all of you non Navy types. It was an honor to serve this great country of ours and looking back I don't regret one minute. Although, to be honest, at the time of my discharge I was a happy camper to be sure. And yes I'd do it again in a heart beat! A funny boot camp story. I went to BC at GreatLakes in November, a Daytona boy wearing a light jacket, we arrived there in a snow storm after leaving Jax where the weather was a nice 70 degrees. It took 4 hours to get from Midway (8 PM) to the base (Midnight) and we stood outside the gate until 1:00AM before being carted into a warm room. My Stepbrother had "helped" me to pick the Navy when I recieved my notice that I would be called up six weeks before and the original plan was ro go to Treasure Island on the west coast where he was stationed. I should have known that being changed to GL was par for the course, I was a virgin, but I would learn soon enough. Anyway standing there at 1 AM and freezing to death I could have killed my stepbrother and in fact did in my mind several times!! Ah yes one last little fact; there was a 55 gal. drum posted at the gate and we were instructed to rid ourselves of all Playboy type material. No naked ladies in this mans outfit!! Of course 6 weeks later while serving my service week I was a gate guard and retrieved some of those little buggers!
Had to come back and post these two videos, enjoy. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te-cKxsBapM&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube- Reveille[/ame] [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYlrrAWCTRg&feature=player_embedded#"]YouTube- A Pittance of Time - Terry Kelly[/ame]
Just beautiful Ga. They both got to me, but the second one is an eye opener. My dad, my uncle that went down with the Indianapolis, my other uncle and my father-in-law were all Navy men, so this day means a lot to me and my family. May they all rest in peace.
USMC/Sergeant/Okinawa, Japan I was stationed at Camp Kinser back in 84-85. Right outside the side gate was a big rock over looking the water. Back then the mixer such as soda was more expensive then the liquor. I must have weighed only 150 lbs back then, and spent the day which turned into night drinking Old English/Pabst Beer. We didn't think of lighting to get off this huge rock needless to say. By the time we were off the rock and walked back to the barracks in our ripped and muddy clothes, we all looked at each other once we had good light, and laughed our butts off. Happy Veterans Day to all the vets, and to those serving our country right now!
Better late than never, and with 6 minutes left until tomorrow. Thanks to all our servicemen and servicewomen.
i can't share most of my stories, but one i can share that cracked me up was during a ceremony where i was serving on the honor guard (post-combat). we had a wing commander coming to our base to speak, and they had set up for the speech to be in the quadrangle, out in the open (probably just over 1,000 troops). given this, they had a microphone and speakers out so all the squadrons could hear the general speak. what they didn't account for was the local seagulls having a reunion tour right over the podium when the general arrived. if that wasn't enough, they all started "cawing" right when the general started to speak. now, the microphone was picking up all the cawing. the crowds out in the fields could faintly hear the general but most definitely heard the cawing, in echo, both from the birds and through the speakers. this was so ridiculously funny words cannot describe. if that wasn't enough, the birds left some "presents" on some of the troops in formation near the front. by then we were red, ready to burst with laughter. if THAT wasn't enough, one of the birds landed on the podium that the general was standing & speaking, and let a loud "cuh-CAW" rip right into the microphone, which echoed & reverberrated all around the grounds. at that point, the entire grounds broke out into laughter - literally hundreds of troops. thankfully the general & his crew were laughing as well, so we were off the hook. the only thing that would have made it even better would have been if one of the birds left a present on the general's shoulder - but alas, no birds were feeling that brave that day.
Sorry this is late also,but I too would like to say thank you to the veterans and current servicemen and servicewomen,I appreciate everything you do.