There should be more... My letter to Vets...

[Glassunion]

Some of us never had the opportunity to serve our country. Some of us are physically unable. Some of us are mentally unwilling. Some of us don’t care. But you do…

I had the opportunity as a very young man to visit “29 Stumps” as a member of the JROTC. I had the time of my life. I got to eat with Marines, sleep with Marines, shoot Marine weapons, drive Marine vehicles, watch maneuvers and hang out all day with Marines. I got to live with them for three short days. I had it set in my mind that I wanted to be a Marine after high school. I dreamt about that for 2 years. My mom supported that decision. That dream never came true for me for several reasons beyond my choosing. I never did get to serve. But I still have my patch.

To the Coast Guard:
Thank you. You insure my safety everyday with your unyielding desire to insure that the coasts of this nation are protected. You protect us from ourselves when our vessels are in distress. You define to the world what search and rescue means.
You keep our waters safe for our future through your efforts with the NRC.
You were there in the pacific in WWII.
There are a thousand other reasons, but you will just call it doing your job. Thank you none the less…

To the Army:
The oldest of all of our services. You served with George Washington before we were even a nation, all the way to George W Casey Jr. Your 7 Core Values can easily be exemplified by looking into the eyes of a soldier. Any of them. One of my oldest friends is a member of your 82nd Airborne Division. If any of you have one tenth his character, you are a hero in my book. There are a thousand other reasons, but you will just call it doing your job. Thank you none the less…

To the Navy:
I work next to a retired SCPO. He is probably one of the toughest sons a bitches I have ever met. If any of you are on tenth as tough as him, you are a hero in my book. I’m sure you all have your own beloved SCPO you could probably tell some funny shit about, but this one is mine now. There are a thousand other reasons, but you will just call it doing your job. Thank you none the less…

To the Air Force: {EDIT: for Skittles. Thank you Sergeant.}
My last boss was a retired Staff Sergeant. He is firm to say the least. “Above all” indeed. You insure that we can all sleep soundly because of what you do. I think that Billy Idol said it best… “Rain hell from above” An old acquaintance of mine was a former Black Beret. The first thing he said to me when we were introduced was “Punch me in the head” while he was pointing at his forehead. I did not punch him. He had a piece of Government Issue titanium where the bones of his skull used to be. He was in Iraq (first time around) where he was shot in the head scouting a very forward position, well before we were officially “in country”. If any of you have one tenth his courage, you are a hero in my book. He spent the next three weeks observing an airfield with a hole in his head before a medical evacuation was possible. If any of you have one tenth his desire you are a hero in my book. If any of you are one tenth as crazy as him… Then you are all in good company. There are a thousand more reasons I’m sure, but you will just say that you are just doing your job. Thank you none the less…

To the Marines:
The man I could never be. You are the reason I am typing this. Those three days I had, I would liken it to walking with giants. I have the opportunity to work with some Marines, and all of you share one thing. “Your character” Your character defines to me what a hero is. Your character to me demands respect. Your character is why I want to say thank you. Even in death, a Marine never rests.

All the branches share one thing in common... You all stand and vow to defend this nation and its Constitution. To keep us all free. To keep us all safe. To keep this patchwork of problems we call America together. You make it so all of America can sleep easy at night. But you just call it doing your job.

Nothing is too good to our service men and women. And that’s about all we give them. There should be more.

Thank you.

[Skittles]

1. where's my kudos for the Air Force

Sergeant Skittles

[Glassunion]

2. I'm very sorry...

Edited not just for you. But FOR you none the less...

[Skittles]

3. lovely tribute

:thumbsup:

[gimama]

5. aww, Skittles..

:patriot: and :pals:
Some of the tuffest old Birds I've known
have had the sweeetest Hearts!

[gimama]

4. Thank YOU, for Your Letter!

Your Compassion, Passion & Respect are evident, & I appreciate this letter, very much.

Last night, I posted in GD, "Ways to truly 'Support the Troops' " that may be of interest to YOU, & Others. I was surpised, & saddened, that my post was not well-received.

I have been a PEACE-maker ALL my Life, and am now the Mother of an OIF Veteran..my ONLY "Child". Although I was/am against these current wars, I am PROUD of MY Veteran, whose motivation & Intentions were HONORABLE. I have also been an Advocate & Friend to "Old Vets",since my teens, having seen MY generation come Home from Viet Nam to a hostile & ungrateful nation.. I don't have to like war, or the old bastards who create them..but I WILL LOVE VETERANS,Active Duty, & their Families.. & do what EVER I can do, to ease THEIR struggling & suffering.

YOUR words comforted THIS Military mama's Heart.
YOUR words offer another kind of SERVICE.
Thank YOU~===]

[Glassunion]

6. Thanks... Read your other post.

This is one of the ones that I personally donate to http://www.lbeh.org/. The value is short lived, but the memories can live forever. It's run by a former member of the Air Force. He is overall an uncouth individual, but this one cause he started touched me.

[gimama]

7. & thanks for the link!

added to my files.

[tburnsten]

8. I can't believe there is only one rec for this... unoffical K&R

Thanks, combat veterans are my heros, as are all of our veterans of the World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, and the more current conflicts.

[Glassunion]

9. Thanks for the unofficial k&r

:toast:

[pinboy3niner]

10. I tried to be a Marine, too . . .

. . . only because my big brother had served 4 1/2 yrs as a Marine just before Vietnam. I volunteered for the draft in '67 (in case I didn't like the service I could be out in 2 yrs), and when I reported for induction I noticed two Marines picking out the big guys and sending them into one line. When they weren't looking, I snuck into what was obviously the Marine Corps line. One of the Marines came back and looked at the other guys in the line--and then down at me--and asked who told me to be in that line. I told him the other Marine did. Well, he checked with his buddy, then kicked me out of that line, and I ended up spending 4 1/2 yrs in the Army. Thanks for reminding me about that--it was good for a chuckle.

[white cloud]

11. Thanks for the entertaining and delightful reads.

USS LEXINGTON 67-71 were some good times. Still get together with the old friends we have made.

[UTUSN]

12. The real bottom line is: ALL branches are in it together. I detest branch rivalry. n/t