This is a little late, but it seemed right to post it anyway. When I think of veterans that have given much, it gets a little personal for me. My great-uncle, the late Raymond Porter, was stationed in the Phillipines during the attack on Pearl Harbor, & was a survivor of the Bataan Death March and subsequent clandestine transport of POW's to the Japanese mainland in unmarked ships in shipping lanes regularly patrolled by US subs. After all this, he naturally had no use for MacArthur(who he felt abandoned them to save his own neck), and used to tell those who spoke to him of Salvation that he wasn't going to Hell--he'd already been!! He lived to the age of 80, and I think he was able to put his War experience into a healthier perspective near the end.
The other two veterans from that war that I got to know worked for Southwestern Bell. Both were hired in 1949, & both moved all over Texas in their early careers. At the time they hired in, SWB was modernizing all of its exchanges, and these two men were members of crews sent into rural parts of Texas to replace local battery operations with common battery equipment. If I remember correctly, they told me this work took about five years--from 1946 through 1951.
A.T."Chick" Sturrock worked for SWB for 30 years, and was a ball turret gunner in B-17's over Fortress Europe.
J.A."Buddy" Bobbit hired on with SWB in '49 & retired from AT&T--after devestiture--in 1984. He was in the Army in the Aleutians and, among other assignments, was part of the burial detail of the Japanese garrison on Attu.
Again, I salute all our veterans, living or gone--past service or present. May God Bless your every effort!!
Very Nice.
D/P
thank you, stephen
Thank you Stephen for starting this topic and sharing your thoughts with us. Thanks too to all of our Veterans who have served to keep our freedom. Without their sacrifices and dedication to our Country, those of us today might not be sitting at our computers sharing free speech on this or any forum.
I'd also like to acknowledge future Veterans, those currently serving in our Armed Forces to keep us all safe. Tonyrotary for one.......God Bless you all.
Thanks Dennis. And thanks to everyone who remembered our Vets. Trust me, it means alot to us. We cannot defend our country without all your support! I also want to thank all the Veterans that came before me. Many sacrificed way more than me.
To all our Veterans who gave their lives so we can live Free in the wonderful country, we are remembering you on Memerial Day. We will never forget what you gave for your country.
To all our troops who continue to serve to keep us free, thank you. Your job is truly appreciated. You are our heroes! ...Doug
Doug,
Thanks.
My daily work takes me through the VA Medical Center in Milwaukee every other month or so. I happened to be there early one spring morning this year. While driving out, I stopped, backed up and took this picture of the rolling hills at Wood National Cemetery. It's but a small part of one of many of these - our fields of heroes. Many people never get a chance to see these cemeteries. To be in the middle of one is sobering. Thought I'd add it to your well written sentiment on this day of remembering those no longer with us.
Well said, Doug. Thank you for your post.
Thank you for the photo, John. I have been to Arlington National Cemetery a few times. Seeing the rows and rows of headstones is incredible. It puts into perspective how many individuals have sacrificed to maintain our freedoms.
Indeed. God bless all of them for making the ultimate sacrifice to protect us, and protect our freedom. May they NEVER be forgotten.
Ed
I will never forget. I have a son who spent two tours in Iraq. He is now stationed in Wis. I made this display a couple of years ago. It was set up on a military folding field desk. It contained a small fraction of my military collection, some of which I got (legally) while I was in.
Note: the Army Air Corp shoulder patch, in the upper left corner of the second row, was my grandfather's.
To all our Veterans who gave their lives so we can live Free in the wonderful country, we are remembering you on Memerial Day. We will never forget what you gave for your country.
To all our troops who continue to serve to keep us free, thank you. Your job is truly appreciated. You are our heroes! ...Doug
Well said Doug.........
Terry
See:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=7904.0
Dave
I felt it appropriate to add to this thread and wish all our active and veteran servicemen a hearty "Well Done" a few hours' early!
To all of you who gave the ultimate sacrifice so we can live Free in the wonderful country, we are remembering you on this Memorial Day Weekend. We will never forget what you gave for your country. Our country!
To all our troops who continue to serve to keep us free, thank you. Your job is truly appreciated. You are our heroes! The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.....Doug
Quote from: Doug Rose on May 25, 2013, 08:25:41 AM
To all of you who gave the ultimate sacrifice so we can live Free in the wonderful country, we are remembering you on this Memorial Day Weekend. We will never forget what you gave for your country. Our country!
To all our troops who continue to serve to keep us free, thank you. Your job is truly appreciated. You are our heroes! The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.....Doug
Doug, I don't think it could be said any better. I would just like add a personal note; My Dad was a proud a Korean War Vet. He loved his country.
Hugs to all the vets out there,
Love,
Mo
HERE! HERE!
How many vets on the forum?
I for one, US Navy.
My dad was in the Korean war.
Quote from: HarrySmith on May 25, 2013, 03:14:51 PM
HERE! HERE!
How many vets on the forum?
I for one, US Navy.
Seabees! 8 years, 2 Combat Tours. Ah-Ooh-Rah!!! Thanks to all you Veterans for your selfless devotion and service to this country!
Best regards!
Happened to take a wrong turn during work last week and ended up going by a cemetery in Racine, Wisconsin. It was a overcast day with a light rain falling. From the street, I noticed a lot of flags set out so drove into the cemetery. Came across this memorial for those who served in WW-I. Walked through a few rings and noticed than none of those buried there were born after 1900. The first deaths were in 1917 and the last in the 70s. Someone, a long time ago, planned out this memorial, rings around a bronze statue of a WW-I Doughboy. The last vet buried there is in the lower left center of this picture. That morning, the feeling I got walking around those graves was one of extreme silence, immortal serenity and great strength. The ghosts of the greatest were standing tall that day. There are many such cemeteries but none I've ever been in felt like that one did on that rainy morning. A caretaker there said the small cemetery had about 1,500 flags. There had to be 300 to 400 in the WW-I memorial, and twice as many in the WW-II section on the other side of the cemetery. I don't think any more graves will be added to this memorial and few to the WW-II section. Just a little, out of the way cemetery most people wouldn't know about but one power feeling that morning.
I'd like to say a hearty Thankyou to all our veterans on this, the 95th anniversary of the Paris armistice.
My grandfather and my great Uncle were both Vets. They have both passed but not from the service.
Ben
U.S. Army Signal Corps 1969-71
Vietnam: 6/14th Artillery and 6/32nd Artillery 1970-71
Thank you all veterans!
My grandfather-WWI British army --trenches in France
My dad-Royal Engineers 1948 Malaya
Me- right now local Police Service
We all share the same name. Brings it home when you see your name on a WWI medal.
Can't even imagine what he went through.
I wish to extend my eternal thanks, and blessings to all the Veterans who served before me, and since...
Thank you for your service to this country!!!
AH-OOH-RAH!!!! ;)