Remembering

[High Desert Hunter]

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[Bill in Oregon]

Thanks Dave. Drove up to Fort Bayard National Cemetery yesterday. No flags on the graves, but plenty along the entrance. Two Medal of Honor winners from the Indians wars rest there among the more than 6,000 soldiers, sailors and airmen.

[Ray Newman]

Since Memorial Day -- Decoration Day as it was once known -- is about & for those who made the Supreme Sacrifice, lest I forget those I served with in Echo-2-12 July 1965-March 1967:

PFC David L Felt , USMC, DOB 04/05/46, Sacramento, CA KIA 08/17/65
Lt. Peter Paul Domiano, USMC, DOB 10/18/43, Industry, NY KIA 07/01/66
PFC Billy Dean Nelson, USMC, DOB 06/30/47, Lommis, NE KIA 07/20/66
PCF Bradley Alan Pearson, USMC, DOB 11/27/46,Clear Lake, WI KIA 07/20/66

And most of all:
PFC John Alton Girod JR, USMC, DOB 06/14/44, Denham Springs, LA KIA 02/21/66

The German song "Ich hatte einen Kameraden" --"I had a comrade" is played on German Remembrance Day . Part of it goes:

A bullet flew towards us
meant for me or meant for you?
It took him away,
he lies beneath my feet
like a piece of myself.

In the case of Johnny, if it wasn’t for him, it would have hit me....

[Paladin]

My Display for this day. The rifle is an FN A2 I carried in a few countries (minus the Full Auto Lower) with the scope I used on it. The Dog Tags, one from my uncle KIA Vietnam and one from my nephew KIA Iraq, both Rangers. Helmet and boots were mine. Taken this morning when I put it out at 0530 before the sun came up.

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[piller]

No family I can think of were KIA. Several served. One was awarded a Silver Star in Europe just before the Battle of The Bulge. Another one flew enough bombing runs to be rotated home. Another one survived being gassed in WWI. Another ons served in the US Cavalry in the war between the States. He retired just before the 7th Cavalry left to confront the Lakota, or Sioux as they were known at that time.

No matter. Respecting the sacrifice of all who gave the ultimate sacrifice does not require for you to have family among them. It just requires for you to understand and accept that your Freedom is firmly planted upon their sacrifice.

[piller]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fuqZAw9in2czyx8U8