Comments for Veteran's Day 2009

Veteran's Day 2009

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:51:37 -0600

Today is my day. Today is SWWBO's day. Today is Dusty's day. Today is Bill's day. Neffi's, Bloodspite's, Sanger's, Jim B's, Mike L's, Jim C's, John S', V29's, Sergeant B's, 1SG Keith's, Oldloadr's, 74's, CAPT H's, a certain Canadian Gunner who shall remain nameless, a certain Redleg Captain who shall remain nameless, RetRsvMike's, the 'Phibian's, Lex's, Matty's, Chuck's, Fishmugger, John(NTA), Heartless Libertarian's, Kevin's, Grumpy's, Grimmy's, the list is endless, and I know I didn't list everybody - feel free to add yourself in the comments. That would be a nice touch, actually.And even though last year it was the Auld Soldier's...

Comment from Fishmugger on 2009-11-12

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:29:16 -0600

AF12643526, USAF 61 to 65, me.

Father SSgt Army Air Corp Michael E. 1942 - 1945
SSgt Michael "Doc" Bird USA 25 Infantry Div, Hawaii, 2 tours Iraq, 2nd Brigade Medic. New assignment West Point and close to home.
Brother Edward R. ANG, New York, 1965-1969 He delivered the mail during the mail strike and learned to play volley ball on telephone poles at Ft Gordan.

Comment from Robin from Anchorage on 2009-11-12

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:36:00 -0600

I called my favorite veteran yesterday - my Dad (Maj. Robert M. Radlein), now nearly blind, but a veteran of B-26s in WWII's Army Air Corps and a mustang officer who served in the US Air Force through Korea and Vietnam, but never again faced combat. He was nearly shot down returning from a bombing run by his brother, who was an artillery man.   His other five brothers also served in WWII, as did several of his brothers-in-law.
My brother served one tour in the Air Force, but never got near enough to the planes he loved to tempt him to stay in.
I did get close to the planes and spent nine years in the Air Force Reserve as an Aerial Reconnaissance Weather Officer in the Storm Trackers (now using the name of the defunct active duty unit, the Hurricane Hunters).   I was able to overcome my fear of water because they told me we would never survive the ditching if we went down... It never came to that (only one AF hurricane hunter was ever lost). Still, our crews were like families, and I had the best.
My mother's father, Charles Gordon, was a red-headed Irishman, a WWI marine who survived gassing.
I have a young friend who is like a son to us, Rick Hawkins, a Navy corpsman. We have watched him grow from an eager kid to a strong, responsible adult who loves his career and has his own family.
My favorite veterans are all the ones I knew growing up as a brat. They were the parents of my friends, and some, like Andy Guillory, would have taken the place of my parents if the need had arisen. They were the grandparents I picked for myself, like Col. Rachel Douglas, who loved me as if I were her own. They were the parents of the kids I babysat, like Col. Bert Brennan, the fighter pilot next door that never came back from Vietnam. No body, no closure. Just his name on a wall. Even my college sweetheart, Topper Rush, who wasn't much as a fiancee, but turned out to be a great soldier and Ranger.
They are the cadets of Texas A&M that marched out to war and to life. Some that I knew then, I still work with now, like Carven Scott, one of the highest ranking meteorologists in the US Navy Reserve.
They are the young heroes I read about in blogs and newspaper articles, the best men and women of their generation. I would be proud to know any of them, and through the written words of those that know them, I feel that I do, too. They are now the children of my friends and family. Carven's son in the Marines.   Some may even be the grandchildren of my friends.
I pray for them all, and I honor the debt we have all paid, the contribution we have each made, however small or large or final, to the price of liberty.

Comment from SGT B on 2009-11-12

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:15:48 -0600

You lot, the Right Good Company of Denizen of Castle Argghhh!

Grandfather - RAdm W.L. Benson, USN - WW2, Korea (USS OKLAHOMA, Destroyers) R.I.P.
Uncle Bill - MAJ W. L. Benson Jr, USA - Korea, Vietnam (Airborne Infantry)
Dad - CAPT P.S. Benson, USN - Vietnam, Cold War (Sudmarines, U.S. Navy Diving Officer)
Best Bud - SSGT T. Molino, USMC - Desert Shield/Desert Storm (USMC Rotary Wing) R.I.P.
Teammate - SGT M.B. O'Boyle, USA/WAARNG - Cold War, OIF (Mechanized Infantry)
Teammates - B Co 1-161 IN 81 HBCT WAARNG - OIF (All of them)

And the newest additon:
SSG R. MacLellan, USAAF - WW2 (B17 Waist Gunner) R.I.P.

And that's the short list...

Semper Fi, one and all.

Comment from Tim on 2009-11-12

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:52:30 -0600

Dave, you might lose that fight. John's probably got a flamethrower on his plow. Now that I think of it, who needs a plow when you have a flamethrower?

Comment from dave on 2009-11-12

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:41:44 -0600

Thank you all vets and family members for your service and dedication.

Just Desert storm here (Army), I feel humbled.

John of this site, I live in the same state, we'd be fighting for the honor of shoveling/plowing the sidewalk and drive.

Comment from Alan D. Briley, RN on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:14:11 -0600

John,
Thank you, your wife, the blog writers and veteran readers, (and their families and supporters. God bless you all. I am proud to have you at my back, and in the virtual foxholes of this dangerous world.

Airborne, All the Way!

2LT Alan Briley, RN
Virginia Defense Force
Former Paratrooper, Sniper, Grunt ..., ALL AMERICAN TROOPER 82nd Airborne Division, USA
Drill Sergeant, 80th Division, USAR

Comment from Old Fat Sailor on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:51:40 -0600

For Willie, the Rocket and Charley-the guys at Ben Keo, Tra Cu, Go da Ha, Tuen Nhon, Ca Mau and Song On Doc.

Comment from Cortillaen on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:59:09 -0600

all retired:
Everett - US Army - Korea - Grandfather
Donald (Bud) - US Army - Vietnam - Grandfather
Guy - USAF - Great-Uncle

Also, if any of you could keep Uncle Guy in your prayers, I'd appreciate it. He was recently diagnosed with stage 3 cancer in two places.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:11:22 -0600

Little Red1 - anyone at Bastogne who still detests snow - in my mind, he's earned that right, no matter how much I happen to like it!

And if he lived near me, I'd clear his sidewalks and driveway, no questions asked.

Comment from LittleRed1 on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:29:35 -0600

My father, USN with the USMC 1970-1972 plus Reserves, who discovered to his surprise that some Navy guys do have to march.

My adopted grandfather, USA, 503 PI, Normandy, Market Garden, Bastogne, Wessel et al. Who still detests snow.

Comment from Lamigra on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:28:25 -0600

Dean Thornton, my Dad, US Army WWII

Myself, US Army 1966-1990

Comment from Argent on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:35:39 -0600

Happy Veterans Day to you all.

Comment from AFSister on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:33:17 -0600

Wow... I guess I should add my list, eh?

First up, my favorite, and my husband: Keith
Next:
My AFBrother and AFFather, Bill and Tom.
My WAC Grandmother, and Army Medic Grandfather, Edith and Carl.
My Army CWO cousin, Tori, currently in Afghanistan.
My Army NCO cousin, Jim, a single-digit-midget in Iraq.
My Twin, BillT, currently in Iraq.
On Keith's behalf, I'll add his AFDaughter, Kati, and her currently-deployed AFHusband, Travis.
There are so many uncles that have served, I don't even know if I could name them all.
And, of course, my favorite milbloggers: John, Dusty, Beth, Sean, B5, SoLow, CJ, CBTFW, Free, Army Girl, Troy, Lex, and others I'm sure I'm forgetting.

But Thank You to all!

Comment from olga on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:37:42 -0600

Thank you all for serving and protecting and for letting us live our lives free and safe.
My most favorite vets are my maternal grandfather who I've never known for his was killed in 1944 and the late Chuck Gibson, USMC Korea and Vietnam.
The rest of you all are my "just" favorite ones :o)

Comment from RetRsvMike on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:59:21 -0600

thank YOU kind sir.

Comment from Rod Thorsen on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:49:07 -0600

Joe Thorsen - dad, US Army infantry, Phillipines 1945-1947, sadly gone now.
Jerry Leavitt - favorite uncle, USAF radar tech, Japan 1951-1953.
Keith Leavitt - favorite uncle, US Army infantry, Viet Nam 1967-1968.
The Leavitts are a large family and Keith was just barely older then my oldest brother.
Myself - US Army tanker, Ft. Lewis 9th ID 1974-1976 and Kitzingen (spl) FRG 3rd ID 1976-1978.

Comment from Pogue on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:05:47 -0600

Dad - Maine National Guard 1949 -1950 USAF 1950 - 1974
Mom - USAF - 1952-1955 and yeah, I'll stand up too - USN 1973-1979, NJ and AZ National Guard off & on since then, currently at foggy Ft Sill getting ready to play another round.

Comment from Romeo 6 on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:42:31 -0600

For my father, 'the old man'
SFC Earl C. Fox, USA 2ID Korea 1950-1951
And for all the other fathers who never got to see their sons.....
we love you all, god bless.

Comment from Damian on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:13:10 -0600

Thanks to you, and all those you mentioned, for your service, John.

Comment from Neffi on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:36:47 -0600

My favorite vet...
CMSGT Raymond C. Dedrick, USAF ret. (served 1951-1981)
Thanks, Dad....

Comment from Big Griz on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:33:23 -0600

A wonderful thank you post. Thank you for all the Veterans for allowing us to live the American dream, Thank you Dad, WW2 Army air corps, Recalled for Korea, Air Force. Thank you my eldest Son, Currently serving in Iraq. Thank you families of those who gave their all.

Comment from Tim on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:00:56 -0600

My dad - John J Bowden. He served with the 25th ID in WWII, then got recalled to serve stateside during the Korean War.

Also, his brother Tommy, who enlisted in the Marines and went on to become Deputy Chief of Police for my hometown.

I had the distinct honor of working with members of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps during my 8 1/2 years in the Air Force. God bless and keep each and every one of them.

Comment from Katherine Optima Maximae on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:27:43 -0600

Larry, Scotty, Sass and Ron...

Comment from Carrie on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:04:23 -0600

My two favorite vets?

My husband (24 years USMC and still serving) and my son (4.5 years USMCR and deployed right now to Afghanistan).

Thank you, John. You're on the list too, ya know...

Comment from bman on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:03:40 -0600

2/505 3rd.bgd. 82nd. Airborne USARV 1968 -69, 70
91B20, 91C B MED

Here is to the 55,000 KIA in the Nam, and to the 2 remaining POW/MIA from the Golden Brigade.
I will always wonder why I am here and you are not.

Comment from MikeD on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:59:07 -0600

US Army, 1992-1997 but more for my dad, US Army 1962-1992 (active and reserves combined). I'm blessed to still have him; as he was, is and always will be my hero.

Comment from htom on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:34:21 -0600

My favorite living vets have to be my parents, both of whom served in WW2; Dad in the Army, then in the Army Air Force, while Mom served in the Navy. Got a pile of other family who served, and serve today, and want to serve tomorrow. To all those who gave me my freedoms, to those who served with me (USMC 1968-69), to those who serve today --- thank you. Semper Fi!

Comment from Joshua of Basehor on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:51:10 -0600

United States Army, 2002 - 2005 66th MI BD

Comment from AFSister on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:51:02 -0600

Happy Veteran's Day to all who have served, and a special thank you to the spouses of those who have served. Without the spouse's support, the soldier's wouldn't be able to do what they do... and what they do is too important to forget about their personal support system.

The home of the free..... because of the brave!

Comment from Joshua of Basehor on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:47:32 -0600

2002 - 2007 US Army, 66th MI BD

Comment from Oldloadr on 2009-11-11

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:03:33 -0600

Thank you, veterans!
My favorite vets:
1. My dad, who was at the Yalu when the Chinese came to the dance.
2. My cousin Johny, who was a crew chief on CH-47s during Tet.
3. My daughter, Charlie, who has had medical problems since returning from Balad over 18 months ago.
Thank you John for your milblog and the opportunity for us vets to revel in the things we revel in that most of the rest don't understand.