Veteran's Day

Thanks to all who have served or who are currently serving our country state side or abroad. Veterans Day has always been a day of remembrance for me personally, I remember all the fine people I served with in so many different places. It is also a day of sadness and pain, caused by wounds that never seem to fully heal.

I would also like to say you are also not forgotten to the Mothers, Fathers, Brothers, Sisters, Wives, Girl Friends, Husbands, Boy Friends and children of those who can't be with you today because they are serving our country. I understand the sacrifices you all make when a loved one is deployed away from home.

Last to those no longer with us, you and your sacrifices will also never be forgotten!!!!!!!!

US Army Retired 1978 - 2003

God Bless Our Veterans!!!!!!!!
 
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Thanks to all Veterans

I bought a CD the other day that had some great Presidential speeches....
Among them was Roosevelt's following the Pearl Harbor attack, and JFK's during the Cuban Missile Crisis....I was reminded of why we join the military and what this nation stands for....I hope we never forget....Freedom is not free......

USS Engage MSO-433
US Navy 1967-68
 
JoeyA said:
You made me smile with that one.

I wasn't smiling a little while ago. I was watching the Arlington Cemetery and the people visiting the graves of soldiers that they knew, loved and missed. I was fighting back the tears as I thought about how the ones who were left behind feel when they realize that they will never see the face of their brave loved one again. I guess I am just a wuss. Sometimes I get so angry I can barely stand to think about war and the price that we all pay and I'm not talking about the billions of dollars that we have spent on it either. While most soldiers feel a patriotic duty to fight for their country's cause, I often wonder what that cause is and are we really able to justify all of the pain, suffering and misery that it causes.

Like most of you, I would again fight for our freedom and I would fight to protect my fellow soldiers but there is a part of me that curses the ground that George Bush and Cheney walk on. I don't believe I've ever said that about anyone before and I'm ashamed of my feelings but they are there.

It always seems that we have a really "good" reason for going to war. In Vietnam, we fought to stop the spread of communism. We didn't win that war and communism is still doing just fine while allowing for a little private capitalism to generate a few bucks. In Iraq, it was to neuter a tyrant who had weapons of mass destruction. It turns out the weapons of mass destruction were a mirage or perhaps more likely, a purposefully conjured vision to mask the real reason to go after Saddam Hussein. Now that Pandora's box is open and the real devils are fast afoot, we are damned if we do and damned if we don't.

Hopefully, Barack Obama will have as much courage as Richard Nixon and end this war quickly regardless of the opinion of the war makers. There are no weapons of mass destruction except the ones we have there and since you cannot occupy another man's country without paying a very heavy toll, we need to just pack up our shit and come home.

I watched a few minutes of The Deer Hunter this afternoon before the emotions started coming over me and thought maybe a little venting would help. I had to quit watching it. I like Robert De Niro and believe he is a great actor. I just can't get through much of the movie without bringing up feelings that are better left alone. It's a good movie to see if you are interested in seeing how war can affect the lives of everyday people. It's not too far from the truth.

If Obama wanted me to believe he is the greatest president that ever lived, he would need to persuade our legislators to amend the constitution and pass a law that says, if our country ever goes to war, the President and all of his cabinet members and every Congressman and Senator would be required to send their first born child (of age) to the front lines to fight for our country's cause and then sign it into law.

I know this post is simply born of frustration and anger and am sorry I had to bare my soul this day and hope you will forgive this intrusion.

I'm headed to the pool hall to play a little pool and afterward will toast a few of my fallen comrades and the heroes that continue to fight today for our country's interests, whatever they might be.

American needs to learn to keep their nose out of other nations business but when we are forced to go to war, we need to do it so visciously that we nor anyone else will ever want to see another.

JoeyA


AWESOME.............terrorists don't but governments understand a head for an eye


Here's a toast to ALL my brothers and sisters:)

ARMY

65-67
 
My mother was at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked on Dec 7, almost 67 years ago. That day and the following period burned into her memory for always, as if it were yesterday. She was working for the federal trade commission. She recently turned 92, and is in about full health.
Wahcheck`s comment about Roosevelt`s speech triggered me to comment.

We are blessed with our freedom and must always remember how and why we are able to enjoy it so.

Will
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
Sad thing is the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs don't seem to care about some of our vet!

CocoboloCowboy, I just had to chime in on that remark. I work at the Regional Veterans Affairs office in Muskogee. We have continually been singled out for going above and beyond what we are required to do for our Vets...

1.First and foremost! We would not have a job if it were not for our Veterans!!!

2. Not all, but the majority of the people that work there are Veterans, myself included

3. Our Regional Office takes on the workload of most other Regional Offices simply because we get the job done.

Every one of you Veterans out there just need to remember. Some Regional Offices have people that do not care, or just do not have good management. And I hate that. If you feel that you are being given the runaround...ask to speak with a supervisor. If you dont feel you are getting the response that you deserve...go higher. But, everyone has to realize, the VA can only do so much. I cant tell you how many times every day people call in to try and pretend to be Vets to get benefits..we try to do the best we can, but sometimes, unfortunately, we mess up..we are only humans.

We were told that we give out MAXIMUM benifits if that Veteran deserves it....And we do all we can at our Regional Office for our Vets. I was on the outside looking in and I can feel your pain...trust me. But, now that I am on the inside looking out, at least in our Regional Office, I am proud of the job we are doing for our Vets.

We have Retired officers, enlisted, disbled vets...you name it, they work in our office...I wish there were more things I could do but I cant.

One thing people can do to help themselves out is..go to a service organization, Disabled American Veterans, Purple Heart, American Legion, Paralized Vets of America..get one of these great organizations to represent you..it can only help...

I do wish all Vets a Happy Veterans Day...pray for our troops home and abroad....
 
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ftgokie said:
CocoboloCowboy, I just had to chime in on that remark. I work at the Regional Veterans Affairs office in Muskogee. We have continually been singled out for going above and beyond what we are required to do for our Vets...
1.First and foremost! We would not have a job if it were not for our Veterans!!!

2. Not all, but the majority of the people that work there are Veterans, myself included

3. Our Regional Office takes on the workload of most other Regional Offices simply because we get the job done.

None of you Veterans out there just need to remember. Some Regional Offices have people that do not care, or just do not have good management. And I hate that. If you feel that you aer being given the runaround...ask to speak with a supervisor. If you dont feel you are getting the response that you deserve...go higher. But, everyone has to realize, the VA can only do so much. I cant tell you how many times every day people call in to try and pretend to be Vets to get benefits..we try to do the best we can, but sometimes, unfortunately, we mess up..we are only humans.

We were told that we give out MAXIMUM benifits if that Veteran deserves it....And we do all we can at our Regional Office for our Vets. I was on the outside looking in and I can feel your pain...trust me. But, now that I am on the inside looking out, at least in our Regional Office, I am proud of the job we are doing for our Vets.

We have Retired officers, enlisted, disbled vets...you name it, they work in our office...I wish there were more things I could do but I cant.

One thing people can do to help themselves out is..go to a service organization, Disabled American Veterans, Purple Heart, American Legion, Paralized Vets of America..get one of these great organizations to represent you..it can only help...

One thing people can do to help themselves out is..go to a service organization, Disabled American Veterans, Purple Heart, American Legion, Paralized Vets of America..get one of these great organizations to represent you..it can only help...

One thing people can do to help themselves out is..go to a service organization, Disabled American Veterans, Purple Heart, American Legion, Paralized Vets of America..get one of these great organizations to represent you..it can only help...




I totally agree this is the best way to start, and I also agree with the content of what you have said. Thanks for taking the time to post, it certainly may be very helpful for some one down the road.

I noticed that you have a Third Battalion Ranger patch for your Avatar. I went to Jump School at Ft. Benning, Georgia during the early 1980's. I was stationed at Ft. Stewart, Ga and at Hunter Army Air Field in Savannah. When were you down that way?

Take care
 
Thank you to all, and a special thanks to all my fellow veterans who are serving now, have served and for those who have fallen.

SSG Joshua Johnson
U.S. Army; INSCOM
Jan 1999-Present
 
manwon I totally agree this is the best way to start said:
I went to basic at Harmony Church "Ft Benning Ga" 1986, jump school after AIT. 5/8Inf Mainz Germany 1987-1990, 197th Inf Bde Ft Benning Ga "Desert Storm", Drill Seargeant at Sand Hill, A Co. 3/75th Inf "Ranger" Ft Benning Ga, 4/9Inf - 2/1Inf Ft Wainwright Alaska, ROTC Instructor Northeastern State University

basic summary of my service to our country
 
manwon said:
ftgokie said:
CocoboloCowboy, I just had to chime in on that remark. I work at the Regional Veterans Affairs office in Muskogee. We have continually been singled out for going above and beyond what we are required to do for our Vets...
1.First and foremost! We would not have a job if it were not for our Veterans!!!

2. Not all, but the majority of the people that work there are Veterans, myself included

3. Our Regional Office takes on the workload of most other Regional Offices simply because we get the job done.

None of you Veterans out there just need to remember. Some Regional Offices have people that do not care, or just do not have good management. And I hate that. If you feel that you aer being given the runaround...ask to speak with a supervisor. If you dont feel you are getting the response that you deserve...go higher. But, everyone has to realize, the VA can only do so much. I cant tell you how many times every day people call in to try and pretend to be Vets to get benefits..we try to do the best we can, but sometimes, unfortunately, we mess up..we are only humans.

We were told that we give out MAXIMUM benifits if that Veteran deserves it....And we do all we can at our Regional Office for our Vets. I was on the outside looking in and I can feel your pain...trust me. But, now that I am on the inside looking out, at least in our Regional Office, I am proud of the job we are doing for our Vets.

We have Retired officers, enlisted, disbled vets...you name it, they work in our office...I wish there were more things I could do but I cant.

One thing people can do to help themselves out is..go to a service organization, Disabled American Veterans, Purple Heart, American Legion, Paralized Vets of America..get one of these great organizations to represent you..it can only help...

One thing people can do to help themselves out is..go to a service organization, Disabled American Veterans, Purple Heart, American Legion, Paralized Vets of America..get one of these great organizations to represent you..it can only help...

One thing people can do to help themselves out is..go to a service organization, Disabled American Veterans, Purple Heart, American Legion, Paralized Vets of America..get one of these great organizations to represent you..it can only help...




I totally agree this is the best way to start, and I also agree with the content of what you have said. Thanks for taking the time to post, it certainly may be very helpful for some one down the road.

I noticed that you have a Third Battalion Ranger patch for your Avatar. I went to Jump School at Ft. Benning, Georgia during the early 1980's. I was stationed at Ft. Stewart, Ga and at Hunter Army Air Field in Savannah. When were you down that way?

Take care
You would have more likely seen 3rd Bat when you were hanging from the mighty Ongowas, Ft Benning=3rd Bat, Ft Lewis=2nd Bat, Savannah=1st Bat
I got a little dinged up when I was in and the VA has been nothing but good to me and I have never asked for a thing. I use them for my hearing aids and Dr. visits when needed and they have been great.
 
2rgrbn said:
manwon said:
You would have more likely seen 3rd Bat when you were hanging from the mighty Ongowas, Ft Benning=3rd Bat, Ft Lewis=2nd Bat, Savannah=1st Bat
I got a little dinged up when I was in and the VA has been nothing but good to me and I have never asked for a thing. I use them for my hearing aids and Dr. visits when needed and they have been great.

My last duty assignment was at FT. Lewis, I was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 14th Cavalry Squadron Striker when I retired in 2003. I also agree that the VA has been more than fair to me, I have two facilities that I can use American lake, and the Seattle VA Hospital. In addition I live around 10 minutes from Ft. Lewis, so I can also use Madigan Army Medical Center.
 
ditto!!!

poolplayer2093 said:
The VA took good care of me.
I have nothing but praze for the men and women of the va in oakwood ga and clerimont hospital in atlanta, they have taken exc-care of me ,just over crowding is the only problem i see!!!:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:
 
You know what just popped into my head? It is very possible I have got into some heated arguments with members who I would normally, in REAL life, show absolute respect to.
The difference to me, between a veteran and a member of the military who is not a veteran, is just timing, nothing more. EVERY single person who ever served deserves the same recognition.

Koop - just thinking out loud
 
Veteran = a person who has or is working in the armed forces... I think I understand what you are saying but Veterans Day encompasses active as well as non active military personnel and in reality it should include those people who have shown the same level of dedication in their chosen field.
 
A final word on this Veterans Day

This Picture makes one hell of a statement.

Young Man.JPG
 
2rgrbn said:
Veteran = a person who has or is working in the armed forces... I think I understand what you are saying but Veterans Day encompasses active as well as non active military personnel and in reality it should include those people who have shown the same level of dedication in their chosen field.

That is true. I should have clarified that I meant some of the perks you get as a veteran that aren't available to others.
In MA you can go to any state school tuition free if you are veteran. By that they mean, do you have the defense ribbon designating that you served during war time. I just feel that this same recognition should go to anyone who served or is serving.

Thanks,
Koop
 
2rgrbn said:
manwon said:
You would have more likely seen 3rd Bat when you were hanging from the mighty Ongowas, Ft Benning=3rd Bat, Ft Lewis=2nd Bat, Savannah=1st Bat
I got a little dinged up when I was in and the VA has been nothing but good to me and I have never asked for a thing. I use them for my hearing aids and Dr. visits when needed and they have been great.

Gotta love them 250' towers....and then the Back Door in the evenings..lol:thumbup:
 
2rgrbn said:
This Picture makes one hell of a statement.

View attachment 81298

Man..I can totally relate to that picture...my best friend SSG Raymond Hatcher of Monticello Fla died March 2nd 1991 in Iraq in my arms. He was hit with a mortar round and it blew half his head off.. He was begging me to tell his son and wife that he loved them very much. I got to go see Raymonds son after I got back from Iraq.. I just couldnt stop crying...and I am even crying now as I write this, 17yrs later. I dont care what you did in the service...YOU are what makes this country strong and safe. To all my brothers and sisters in the Armed Forces, Past and Present ..I Love You!
 
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