THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

[Rusty]

Since this is the start of Veteran's Day Weekend I wanted to thank you all who served and are serving for your service to our country. Nothing political, just a thank you from the bottom of my heart.

A friend sent me this, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoABty_zE00


May you all have a blessed weekend with your friends and family.

[Griff]

I've seen that several times... still makes my eyes leak. Thanks Rusty.

[JReed]

Nuts cant watch it on the crappy internet here. Thanks Rusty and to you too.

[Blaine]

No thanks necessary. My 20 years were a privilege to me. (And a heck of a lot more fun than the next 20 working for civilians!!) I'd gladly do them over again.

[Blackhawk]

Thank you to all my brethren who served.

Johnny

[Canuck Bob]

We remember in my house to say thanks for our ally and neighbour. It is also Remembrance Day weekend here. I think of all the Canadian and British soldiers lost as well.

To the service men and women from the recent wars your service and sacrifice is special because you keep my family and country safe today. Thanks for standing on that wall and a special prayer for the loved ones of soldiers lost.

[Grizz]

dittos to the servicemen AND their families

[new pig hunter]

As Blaine says, sometimes those 20 years were the best years. Lots of years in CivPac weren't as much fun as my Navy time.

Here's a picture that really bends & warps my military mind. This picture was taken this past September at the Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado, CA. That's my car in the center, the dark blue 1974 BMW 2002.
What is mind-bending is that exactly 39 years ago, when I was just starting my Naval career, I bought that car and parked it in exactly that same parking lot.

What I cannot figure out is how those 39 years flew by .... but there's the car to prove that it did.





Cheers,

Carl
retired Navy Seabee

[rjohns94]

Yes thank you and I too would do it all again. It was my honor to serve 21 years. Blessings to all who served, and to those allies overseas who also served.

[MrMurphy]

I did 3.5 years before getting too dinged up. And I would do it again in a heartbeat.

[Blaine]

I did 3.5 years before getting too dinged up. And I would do it again in a heartbeat.

You are who we owe the thanks.....I was lucky enough to emerge just about intact, for the most part. I don't know anyone that did 20 or more and still has a back, knees, or shoulders....Great teeth, though

[hfcable]

3 years active, many more reserves; those 3 active were near the top of the best years of my life..... it really was a PRIVILEDGE !

[Paladin]

I agree no thanks necessary, I was getting paid to do things I would have to pay some else to let me do. MY 29 years 11 months was a great 95% of the time. Where else would I get to play like this:






I am still lucky enough to be training kids to try to help them from getting hurt from IEDs when they deploy.

[MrMurphy]

All I ended up with was some stiff knees. I'm still fit enough to do a lot of other jobs.


Friend of mine, due to bad training pre-war by the USMC, took a round in the spine in Iraq, 2003. He shot one guy, shot the second, the guy fell back into a door and he didn't confirm he was down. Went to reload, guy popped out and shot him, went through the side of his armor. He shot him again (and again, and again, and again) from the ground before the medics could get to him.

He's in a chair for life. He stills trains for defense, hunts, and has a hot girlfriend. If he doesn't complain......I sure have no right to.


I used to work in the video game business, primarily surrounded by hippy types. A few of us evened that out though (the night Osama got whacked, my supervisor was a Bronze star recipient, 2006, and one of his other junior supervisor types jumped into Iraq with the 173rd) and fairly frequently I had guys ask either 1. do you regret it or 2. would you do it again

I generally answered, if they had something of a clue that there were good days, horribly bad days, and a couple very, very good days they'd never get to learn about (the joys of classification) and while I had made my peace with getting out before I wanted to, given the chance to arm up, stand guard mount and roll out again one last time on patrol, even with a couple guys I didn't care for much....

I would pay much. Won't happen, but in some ways, you still miss some things. No matter how screwed up some days got, it was worth it.

[handirifle]

Blaine
In '74 I was in West Germany (Nike Hercules, Fischbach), and used to see those 2002 BMR's all the time. They were the hot ticket then. Just a little nicer and faster than the 1954 VW I was driving. Heck I bet you could see at night with your headlights. Not like those 6V jobs I had.

People in my back seat used to ask if my lights were on at night. I also never ventured into the left lane on the Autobahn.

[octagon]

My thanks to all who served. Many vets in my family. This week my boy and I helped the American Legion mow the grass and set out 300 flags in the county cemeteries. Yesterday after the parade (I was the M.C.) I was proud to watch all 5 members of my family serve chili and cornbread and cherry cobbler at the veterans fundraiser. The American Legion guys and gals are a great bunch of folks.

[1894c]

I've seen that several times... still makes my eyes leak. Thanks Rusty.

must have been some smoke near my laptop...my eyes were...well you know...thank you to all who serve(d)... :)

[JimT]

Hard to believe it's been nearly 47 years ...



Blessings to all veterans .. those still serving and those who have gone before.

[Griff]

JimT, I take it you ferried some brass around in that.

I remember standing as PO of the watch in Subic Bay on our lowly DDG when a long low, Caddilac staff car pulled up... 5 stars on the little flags on the front corners... This LT gets out with a briefcase and walks up the gangplank, salutes the colors and asks permission to come aboard... When I say Welcome aboard and ask the nature of his visit, he tells, me that CINCPACFLT is transferring his command to the Somers; I guess my jaw dropped, as he explained that the Admiral was required to be "aboard" the largest warship in the harbor... but not to fret, he was actually on the golf course.

After sending for the runner, "dinging" CINCPACFLT aboard and announcing his arrival; I still remember the cussin' I started to take from the OOD who ran down to the quarderdeck to chew my butt in person! When the LT, with the aiguillette simply told him, "...lay off LT, no joke..., can you show me to the wardroom," HIS jaw dropped!

Biggest mistake was my NOT staying in... but the little woman said she missed me...

[w30wcf]

Rusty,
Thank you for the video.

Many thanks to all who have served .....

w30wcf

[BigSky56]

To all that served a Thank You. All my Heroes died in RVN may they RIP, 34 men passed away on 10 May 72 when a blade retaining pin failed on a Ch47 at 2000' 5 crew and 29 grunts crew were 362nd Avn Bn, troopers were 2/8 Cav skull plt. A Co 1/12 Cav and 11 ACR Dark Horse. My friend was a crew member on that bird when I got to the crash site it was unbelievable. Terry I'll see you at fiddlers green my friend. danny

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