Comments for Father's Day 2009

Father's Day 2009

2009-06-21T13:57:33Z

Today, SWWBO and I are in Columbia, doing the Father's Day thing with the Auld Soldier, my sister and her family.

One reason we get to to that is because of timing and location, location, location. And a bit of the Luck o' the Irish.

The fact that there was one of these, and the Auld Soldier came home...

...is because the Auld Soldier was pretty much where he needed to be when this happened.

Thanks for ducking, diving, shucking and jiving to make sure that silver oak leaf cluster wasn't your final decoration. Too many people only get one career-ending Purple Heart.

Happy Father's Day, Dad.

Comment from Victor on 2009-06-23

2009-06-23T22:39:26Z

AS an american by choice, not by birth, a belated Happy Father's Day Sir. People like you made this God Blessed country what it is, and what made people like me happy to be here. You may not think you are a hero but I think, as a matter of fact I know you are. I will make sure my son visits this web site and reads about you for you are an American he should know about.

Comment from fdcol on 2009-06-22

2009-06-22T20:13:39Z

Indeed. Real heroes don't think they are ..... they just believe they were doing their job when it needed to be done, and were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

But please allow the rest of us to consider you as such ... glad you made it through ALL your Purple Hearts, Auld Soldier!

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-06-22

2009-06-22T15:07:55Z

Argent, yeah, I agree. Hence today's post!

Comment from Argent on 2009-06-22

2009-06-22T14:50:40Z

Ahh Ok straight from the source. I am ever curious so I guess I ask the impertinent questions. Only way I get any understanding.

Well sir I would respectfully disagree with your self effacing assessment. Just the way I see it, but I'm certainly not going to argue the point.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-06-22

2009-06-22T11:32:50Z

Argent - the only comment Dad made yesterday about the post was along the lines of "Someone thought my colors were frayed." (Note the lack of exclamation point)

As for not being a hero, yeah, okay.

I've read the citations. You may not think you were, Dad, but people around you did.

Which, of course, is probably the best way for that to be.

Comment from Dad on 2009-06-22

2009-06-22T10:22:30Z

No fringe (or fraying ) on the national flag. The Battalion colors were fringed and that is what shows below and to the right of the US flag.
For Old Fat Sailor - yes, my A battery was split between two miserable 5th SF group camps on the Cambodian border for over six months.
Not a hero, I was a professional soldier by choice, but I had a bunch of draftees I would put in that category.
Dad

Comment from Argent on 2009-06-22

2009-06-22T08:35:03Z

Thanks Alan, I thought there would be a reason for it.

Comment from AFSister on 2009-06-21

2009-06-22T02:47:33Z

That's REALLY cool, John. Great pictures... and the fact that Dad made it home after that attack does make Father's Day just that much sweeter.

Hope you all had a great Father's Day!

Comment from Ashes on 2009-06-21

2009-06-22T02:12:21Z

(to continue my fubar-ed comment above, sheesh.) (Andy asks you to pass it on to Daddy Tim, who has a letter over here that needs a stamp.) Hope you're celebrating well! Love, Andy, Ashes, and Miles

Comment from Ashes on 2009-06-21

2009-06-22T02:08:12Z

Hey John! I cannot find your e-mail anymore to save my life, so sorry for the comment-form of this, but Happy Father's Day! We still haven't found the phone, but we didn't want you to think we had forgotten about you on this day, particularly it being your first father's day as a grandfather. And happy father's day to your father as well; he certainly deserves that and more.

Comment from Justthisguy on 2009-06-21

2009-06-21T19:52:51Z

It is good to survive the occasion of the Purple Heart, let alone more than one. If yer Dad says "Eh?" and asks you to speak up, it ain't just because he was an arty person. My best to yer Dad on this day.

Comment from Grumpy on 2009-06-21

2009-06-21T17:47:25Z

John,

So for the "Auld Soldier", it's "Silver Oak Leaves". Now for his son, it's brass, all brass and *big ones*, too. I know when to stop, like right *now*.

End Statement

To both of these men, I say, "Thank you, for your Service to this Nation."

Gentlemen, I hope you can enjoy your Father's Day.

Comment from Alan D. Briley, RN on 2009-06-21

2009-06-21T13:00:14Z

Argent, lots of ceremonial flags have gold fringe around them. That may be what you are seeing.

Happy Father's Day, John.

Alan

Comment from Old Fat Sailor on 2009-06-21

2009-06-21T12:29:38Z

Tay Ninh artty eh? Before they move me to the U Minh i was at a little ville called Ben Keo. I was there a little later than the Donavan Dad but he left behind a good battery(ies?) Wish him a good one from one of the guys in 594. BTW did he have anything to do with the artty barges on the way to the old SF camp?

Comment from Argent on 2009-06-21

2009-06-21T10:19:50Z

Well you know many boys think their Dad is a hero, it's nice when it actually works out that way.

It looks that the bottom of both flags are a bit frayed. What's up with that?