Thank You, Veterans

If you have 5 minutes go look up the song “A Pittance of Time” by Terry Kelly. I listen to it every Veteran’s Day and it never fails to bring a tear to the eye.

If you have an hour find the youtube series “Extra History” and watch their 4 part series “The Seminal Tragedy.”

Blessed to watch/listen to both this morning with my 6 year old and explain them to her.

thank you to all vets you have mine and my families total respect

If you can read this thank a teacher. If you read it in English thank a soldier.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

You know what really says “thank you”?
Whiskey. Whiskey means “thanks” to a vet.

Thank you all for your service.

I took advantage of two freebies today.
A free car wash and a large coffee.

Even tho rain is on the horizon it just does not get the highway grime
off the vehicle and well free coffee speaks for itself.

Men are haunted by the vastness of eternity. And so we ask ourselves,
Will our actions echo across the centuries? Will strangers hear our names long after we’re gone and wonder who we were, how bravely we fought, how fiercely we loved?

– Odysseus

My grandfather and two of his younger brothers were all in the Australian Army in WW1. He was wounded three times and his younger brothers twice.

Came home and became a successful farmer.

He was upset when he couldn’t join the army in WW2. Still had three bullets in his bones.

He was 70 by the time I was born and died when I was 9. Still one of the toughest men I have ever known.

Hope everyone’s families are safe today.

RIP fallen heroes and worn-out warriors. I might not have always agreed with the how, why, or where, but the people that have done the fighting for us… I can never argue with their role. Thanks to all who have served in the name of the greatest nation that has ever existed

I appreciate the sentiment, but I can’t help but think all of this thanks is too much for my service, when I remember playing a lot of pinball in the geedunk above the hangar when I was on shore duty. The only danger I was in was perhaps a little carpal tunnel syndrome. So, thanks to the real veterans from a veteran that didn’t work too hard and wasn’t in much danger during his military service (I guess working the flight deck was a bit dangerous).

We will NEVER forget. As the son of a WW2 hero and a Vietnam-era Veteran, Thank a Vet EVERY day and try to make some of his simple struggles just a little lighter. Many of us volunteered for service, some were conscripted. WE ALL SERVED!

Please don’t forget the Veteran. We didn’t forget to serve and protect you!

Thank you to all the veterans who served our country. I hope our president elect will do a much better job of taking care of you beyond the battlefield.

Don’t thank a vet but support the clown in D.C., or the BS mass media outlet that does the push me pull you with public opinion on the U.S. Military’s mission(s) or efforts. Do not tolerate one iota any (proven) bs allegations of honor violations http://electroniciraq.net/news/bytopic/Haditha_Massacre_Allegations_May_2006_2367_printer.shtml, and take all others with a grain of salt until vetted. But help stomp a mud hole in the ass of anyone found to be putting forth false information.

BUT ABOVE ALL (there is GOD, and. . .)

All my guys would say, and I will forever repeat,

Thank you for there being an America to come back to.

The tumult and the shouting dies;
The Captains and the Kings depart:
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.

RIP Jimmy 10-31-67.

Lest we forget.

My 90 year old dad, a Veteran, was buried last week. That folded flag has a new significance!

Celebrate a Veteran today. Young, old, here, gone. Thanks.

I have my dads last flag in a shadow box with his ribbons.
Mom and I looked all of them up. 2 tours in Korea, 4 in Vietnam Nam.

To all TTAG readers and staff who served: thank you for your faithful service !

Alas, it becomes harder to mourn the dead when we never avenge them.

Mark Steyn

My day of Reflection.

1980 I walked into a toy shop an purchased a Hornet model. Little did I know a year later I was selected along with another Marine Carl Crim, to fix them in the first training squadron VFA 125. Still recall Jack Anderson (columnist) article stating it was a bad aircraft with no range and maintenance per flight hour was poor. Jack never worked on a F-4. Now 33 years later it’s the backbone of Naval Aviation.

As mustang LT, on a bird to the sandbox, bottle of tequila tucked into my cargo pocket, a young Marine sitting next to me ordered a OJ from the stewardess, I requested one as well. When arrived, without a word, I poured a shot into my cup and casually tipped the bottle to his. A group of Air Force officers seated in front of us started a conversation stating did you see that guy this morning (Sgt Major). Walked to the middle of the gym and yelled REVEILLE…and they all, officer & enlisted (300) got up and started packing their gear. If that was Air Force there would be a lot of questions. Young Marine seated next to me finished his refreshment and without a word got up and traded seats with another. A new Marine landed quietly next to me and ordered a OJ…and again distributed a complementary pour. This kept up for at least a squad. Needless to say a few Marines landed in a dry country with a healthy buzz. Do miss those days.

Witness this in gulf one. As a mustang thrown into a combat replacement regiment, wide diverse MOS group jelled into an infantry platoon in days. NCO’s and non coms grabbed gear, formed squads and fire teams…not by a guide book, but instinct forged on an Island & San Diego. Bare bones yet ready of battle, proud moment, and a honor for me to lead.

When crossing a half century threshold still whole and of sound mind, you cover and aline yourself with your history and wonder what is the measure. Some days it’s two fingers of scotch choosing neat or rocks; on others thoughts drift to the path brings you to the moment. The chance encounter with Zeb found memories tucked away. Peers back in the day, would say I thought to much considering flow path was plane-fly-break-fix-repeat. However against the backdrop of keeping Hornets airworthy, the people, places and events molding Marines into an identity of a Squadron holds a place in my heart.

Never was it the daily grind of a flight schedule or routine maintenance that carried the day. Perhaps for a pilot, it was flying the edge of the envelope. MC having the paperwork complete or the crew chasing that intermittent A799 until solved or keeping unauthorized spares away from a supply officer. We carried out the plan of the day knowing OPNAV instructions were written in blood, yet did our best to keep them flying when cold war operations picked up the pace.

314 rotated their best mechanics over to the gun squadrons getting ready for boat duty and at times struggled to keep the schedule, however over time our collective abilities improved and later became noteworthy. Witnessed one evening on the far side, the combined experience of every Black Night was leveraged getting a broke bird ready for the return pond hop. A leading edge motor stripped a torque tube spline. Not recalling one failing, supply fell short citing none to be had in Europe. Speed tape shaped into a shim, securing the leading edge at the optimum cruise position and flight control wiring bypassed preventing computer moving it. CO was scheduled to fly, but unknown to him, our AMO pulled the electricians aside and had words. They rigged wiring to simulate flight control fail causing boss to hot seat another plane. Next morning Mr. AMO strapped himself to a “field repair” plane and prepared for a two ship scoot across the Atlantic. His faith & confidence in our abilities, was for me, a leadership moment. We stood…watched as he used the entire runway before wheels in wells, his wing was off a third sooner. As silence fell across a foreign airfield, we looked at one another without words, knew our abilities exceeded what was scribed in a manual.

There were may days like the one mention. In a world of black & white, stayed on the lighter side of gray, everyone calculating risk, executed our plays, getting the job done. There is no civilian comparison, two hundred plus keeping a weapon system ready to do damage when called upon. Proud then and more now seeing the replacements perform as well, if not better.

A heartfelt thank you from my entire family, and our deepest respect.

Thank you for what, exactly? Killing for politicians? Thanks for nothing.

WHY?????????