OT: November 11th, 2010 thoughts

[RedDeath5]

Tommorrow is Veteran's Day. For many, it means nothing. For few, it means everything. here's just a small example of the sacrifice given by a few men to help ensure that we can live the way we do today. remember, a Veteran is someone who, at some point in his or her life, wrote a check payable to "The People of the United States" for the amount up to and including his life.

On February 14th, Valentine's Day, 1944, the Battle for Iwo Jima began. It was a barren 8 mile square island 600 miles south of Tokyo guarded by 22,000 Japanese prepared to fight to the death...which they did.

They were protecting two airstrips that America needed in the strategic effort to contain Japanese aggression after Pearl Harbor. It was a high cause, and the courageous sacrifice was stunning. Almost unbelievable. The biggest battle the United States Marine Corps ever fought.

The hard statistics show the sacrifice made by Colonel Johnson's 2nd Battalion. 1400 boys, many of them still teenagers, landed on D-day. 288 replacements were provided as the battle went on for a total of 1688 fighting men. of these, 1511 had been killed or wounded. And only 177 of those original men walked off that island.

The American boys had killed about 21,000 of the 22,000 Japanese, but suffered over 26,000 casualties in doing so.

The Marines left behind a cemetary with 6800 graves on it. Thousands of families would not have the comfort of a body to bid farewell. Just the abstract information that the Marine had died in the performance of his duty and was buried in a plot aligned in a row with numbers on his grave. Mike lay in plot 3, row 5, grave 694. Harlan in plot 4, row 6, grave 912. franklin in plot 8, row 7, grave 2189.

On the way out of this huge cemetary built in the volcanic ash and dust of the island, someone had chisled a plaque so that all who were exiting the cemetary would be made to read it.

Here's what it said on that plaque:

When you go home
Tell them for us, and say
For your tommorrow,
We Gave Our Today

 

[Cee_Jay]

"......for the amount up to and including his life."

That is honor, and there are way too many
people in this country today, who no longer understand that fact. -----

I proudly support our troops today, and everyday.

Aging member of the 'Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club' - 1964-68

 

[mini_art]

My family has written a few of those checks. We have been blessed that most of them were not cashed, but some were .

I honor our vets every day of the year and always will. Thank u to all who served. The words are inadequate , non the less they are sincere.

 

[Darkwitless]

A very heartfelt Thank You to all who have served or are currently serving. And my thanks to the loved ones who support them.

 

[gramakittycat]

To all those who went and answered the call;to those who returned and those who did not;those unable to leave the battle behind carrying wounds that never heal.Our liberty ,our freedoms we owe to you a debt we can never repay but can only thank you and for you pray.God bless our military active and vets! Gramakittycat

 

[Eekaa Chu]

Deepest thanks to all who have served in defense and protection of this country we love. All gave some, some gave all. Thank you to each and every one and their families for the sacrifices they have made to give us our freedoms.

 

[my2heartboys]

To all currently serving. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

To all our vets....THANK YOU FOR SERVING. Don't ever let your service shame you. Hold your heads up high and be proud (even if the country is going to h*** in a hand basket).

To all the family members of those who are currently serving. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THEM AND SUPPORTING THEM WHILE THEY ARE DOING SO. While your family members may be gone overseas, know that you are not alone. Many stand with you.

To all who have lost family and friends while in service. KNOW THAT YOU DO NOT STAND ALONE. Don't ever let their sacrifice while in service ever shame you.

To anybody of KNG unit #778 that might be on this forum, our thoughts and prayers go with you. You all will be close in our thoughts.

To any family members or close friends of anybody in KNG unit #778, you do not stand alone. You do not walk this path alone. Thank you for supporting/allowing your friend, husband, wife, daughter, son, brother, sister to serve.

 

[my2heartboys]

Happy Birthday Marine Corps

 

[Bahnzo]

When I think of Veteran's Day, I think of my great uncle. I finally got him to tell me about Pearl Harbor a couple years ago......

He joined the service at age 16, lying about his age and was there that day when the attack occurred. Since it was Sunday morning, everyone was gone from his base, out partying Saturday nite. With the planes flying overhead and attacking the ships and his airfield, he and 5 other guys grabbed their rifles and went to the beach, thinking the Japanese would follow with a land invasion.

I can't imagine being 16, thinking that the enemy was shortly invading on the beach, and having the courage to stand with 5 other people thinking that you would do your part to protect against an invading force that you surely couldn't even make a dent in. One of millions of true heros.

 

[classwife]

From my heart..... I thank you all........

 

[redgirl]

A heartfelt thanks for all who have served, are serving currently or who have family members who are.

My dad served in Vietnam, my sister was a Chinese linguist in the army, my nephew is currently in the Marines and had gone to Iraq and saw things an 18 year old is probably not ready for, my husband served in the peace keeping mission in Bosnia, and I was in the Army Signal Corps. I currently work at an army base and still get to support the mission of the army and am damn proud of it!

 

[RippleInStillWater]

I surely appreciate all that the veterans have done and all that those in the military do now. I do wish our soldiers, sailors, flyboys, and marines were always used for the correct purpose but no matter, what they do for the people is altruistic.

I know war destroyed the psyche of my best friend's father in Korea (a ranger -- I don't think I need to say more) and haunted my grandfather from WWII (heavy machine gunner, 3 purple hearts but 5 dead spotters that he saw the rest of his life) and we who have never been there can never, ever know. Being a hippie in his mid-40s I have known a lot of Vietnam vets, too. The Chickenhawks who send these boys to their death have a special level in hell.......I wish that no one would kill........

I have more respect for veterans than any other group I know, they know real risk and real camaraderie, something that most of can understand but never comprehend.

 

[bonniegirl]

Throughout my nursing career...(20 blessed years)...I always asked each patient whether he or she had served in the armed forces as part of my nursing assessment. A really special instructor in nursing school taught me to it and I did. Little did I know, as a brand spanking new nurse with cap...(which are now not worn) and white starched uniform...(now replaced with printed character scrubs) that the one question that gave me most personal gratification would be that question.
Because the question was asked, many felt able to reply with more than a yes or no. I heard real life, sometimes tearful stories of bravery, courage, loss and pride that I shall cherish my whole life. I made it a point to shake the hand of or hug the vet and thank them for their service. I have taught my children and now my young grandson to stop when a person in uniform is present and speak a thank you and shake their hand. I fill with pride when they do so and every vet appreciates the gesture. Our family needs no holiday to honor those who serve. Every day is a day to honor those who gave some and those who gave all.
God Bless every active duty, veteran and all the families of each for their service and diligence in serving this great country.
May God Bless the USA
Most Sincerely
Bonnie

 

[jj2]

Bonnie...I read your post to hubby. He got up, came over and read it for himself. He is a Vet and he said, "God bless you."

 

[RIMP]

Throughout my nursing career...(20 blessed years)...I always asked each patient whether he or she had served in the armed forces as part of my nursing assessment. A really special instructor in nursing school taught me to it and I did. Little did I know, as a brand spanking new nurse with cap...(which are now not worn) and white starched uniform...(now replaced with printed character scrubs) that the one question that gave me most personal gratification would be that question.
Because the question was asked, many felt able to reply with more than a yes or no. I heard real life, sometimes tearful stories of bravery, courage, loss and pride that I shall cherish my whole life. I made it a point to shake the hand of or hug the vet and thank them for their service. I have taught my children and now my young grandson to stop when a person in uniform is present and speak a thank you and shake their hand. I fill with pride when they do so and every vet appreciates the gesture. Our family needs no holiday to honor those who serve. Every day is a day to honor those who gave some and those who gave all.
God Bless every active duty, veteran and all the families of each for their service and diligence in serving this great country.
May God Bless the USA
Most Sincerely
Bonnie

Bonnie,
You always manage to touch my heart Thanks to everyone for posting here. Support our troops and their families
RIMP

 

[HyOnLyph]

Throughout my nursing career...(20 blessed years)...I always asked each patient whether he or she had served in the armed forces as part of my nursing assessment. A really special instructor in nursing school taught me to it and I did. Little did I know, as a brand spanking new nurse with cap...(which are now not worn) and white starched uniform...(now replaced with printed character scrubs) that the one question that gave me most personal gratification would be that question.
Because the question was asked, many felt able to reply with more than a yes or no. I heard real life, sometimes tearful stories of bravery, courage, loss and pride that I shall cherish my whole life. I made it a point to shake the hand of or hug the vet and thank them for their service. I have taught my children and now my young grandson to stop when a person in uniform is present and speak a thank you and shake their hand. I fill with pride when they do so and every vet appreciates the gesture. Our family needs no holiday to honor those who serve. Every day is a day to honor those who gave some and those who gave all.
God Bless every active duty, veteran and all the families of each for their service and diligence in serving this great country.
May God Bless the USA
Most Sincerely
Bonnie

Bonnie, Thanks for writing this. God bless our veterans.
My Dad was a decorated veteran of WWII. Served in the Army Air Corps. My Dad was awarded 2 Distinquished Flying Crosses and 5 Air Medals as the pilot of a B-29 in the Pacific. Twice he brought back the crew after devestating hits and conditions under which a B-29 was not supposed to be able to continue to fly. Engineers were baffled that he was able to keep the plane in the air for the 10+ hours that it took to return to base. In one case, after landing the plane, it had to be bulldozed off the runway. It wouldn't even roll. I like to think angels kept him in the air. He was always honored to serve. He felt that he was a part of something bigger and more important. But his fondest memories were always of those he served with.... the friendships and camaraderie meant so much to him.

I honor him, the men who served with him, and all of the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces.
I also honor all of the family and friends who wait at home supporting with their love and prayers.
God bless you all.

 

[jilless]

God Bless our troops, past, present and future!

 

[bonniegirl]

Great OP
Thanks for the warm fuzzy patriotic feeling we sometimes lose in political vitriol. The men and women are asked to serve and whatever party they come from they are no longer red or blue but red white and blue.
Just an afterthought.