Veterans Day fast approaching

[Short Game]

Starting at 7:00 PM on Turner Classic Movies is one of my favorite WWII movies. It was the movie James Garner said was his best, and I quite agree. Right now I'm watching Up Periscope, another Garner flick. Not sure but I think they made that one with the USS Redfish. Operation Petticoat used the Redfish. I worked on that boat when I was on the tender. I like to watch movies with diesel boats. I think Run Silent, Run Deep is still my favorite diesel boat flick, though I love Das Boot, as it really captures the feeling of what I experienced.

Anyway, the one that's about to start in fifteen minutes was the first movie to get banned on all US military bases. What better review could it get? I love that flick with James Garner and Julie Andrews: The Americanization of Emily. This is the movie they didn't want us, who were serving our country, to see!

Start the popcorn and enjoy.

 

[LandGuy]

I am a veteran in only a trivial way, but my dad . . . fought all the way from France to Berlin. Three battle stars, Combat Infantry, two Bronze Stars, and a French decoration. He is still alive, in a VA hospital nursing home, the rascal. He's suffered from severe PTSD all his life since the war. He was damaged in so many ways from the things he saw, the things he had to do. You are never the same after something like that, a kid from central Pennsylvania suddenly thrust into ******'s Europe. Happy Veteran's Day, Dad. Thank you for your sacrifice. I'm so proud of you.

 

[Zoomtopz]

I am an Aussie Vietnam Vet , thank you to All our Aussies in mid-east &
other areas . Thank you all our Allies .
To the "74" from USS Frank E Evans , who are not on 'the wall'.
We WILL Remember them , lest we forget .
Zoomtop

 

[adjusterr]

Thanks to all the Vets who kept this country free. Adjusterr, SSgt, US Army, 1961-1968.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Having ended up in Germany (2nd/75th FA 1970-72), I humbly thank those who had it rough and those who continue to have it rough.

FWIW, I won't dwell on my experiance wearing my class A's while traveling through NYC on my way home during a leave. I will however talk about waiting at a bus station for my sister to pick me up.

Having made my phone call, as I waited outside the station, I noticed two men across the street eyeballing me. They proceeded towards me, right hands extended and thanked me for wearing that uniform and for my service. They too had been in Europe though under vastly different circumstances.

Looking back, I wished I had been a little more aware during my time in Germany and had gone to see some of the great final resting places on the coast of Normandy.

 

[weatherman]

Having served in Nam (9th div.Mekong delta-69,70) I flew into oakland,outprocessed,and took a taxi round the bay for my flight home to Ohio. As I sat there waiting for my red-eye out, a group of hippie types came by and hasseled all of us sitting there in uniform. Babykillers, etc they called us - spitting on some of us.After they left we started talking about it. What the **** were we fightin for? So some sissyfied chickens--t pretending to have a cause can act up? Long story short - I make it my mission to make sure vets coming home get a handshake and a thank you!! If you know a vet dont think it hoky to walk up and do the same. TRULY, TO LOOK IN THEIR EYES WILL SAY ENOUGH.

I also served with the 9th in 1969, at Dong Tam from May-August. I was USAF Weather and was transferred to 101st Airborne in I-Corps when Nixon supposedly sent the 9th home. Sorry you had such a rude greeting on returning stateside. I stayed low key after landing at Norton in May, 1970, and getting ride from local USAF folks to LAX. Family met me on landing in Detroit, so did have a decent greeting from them, but cold shoulder from most other folks. Glad today's troops get proper welcome home, and I continue to get "Welcome Home" from folks today trying to make up for the rude treatment many received in the Vietnam era.

Welcome Home!

John

 

[weatherman]

Air Force here from 1968-1971. Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam 1968.

Short clip of a few scanned slides from 43 years ago...
Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam 1968 - YouTube

Kodachrome 64 holds up well after 43 years. Will you still have your digital image files 43 years from now?

Loved your slide show, especially the music - definitely my favorite song from that era!

I was USAF Weather and also landed at Tan Son Nhut, but in 1969. Welcome to Vietnam!
Though I was Air Force, I was attached to US Army aviation units since they didn't have their own aviation weather folks. I spent three months with 9th Infantry in the Delta and then the remaining nine months of my tour with 101st Airborne between Hue and Quang Tri (also included occasional "TDY" to fire bases overlooking the A Shau Valley).

Flew home (May, 1970) out of Da Nang AFB.

I've got to digitize my slides one of these days.

Welcome Home!

John

 

[om21braz]

Looks like the tradition of my cities Veterans Day Parade has been cancelled because of the Occupy Movement... how sad is that?

That is terrible. A heartfelt Thank You to all veterans out there. Now thinking about it, I guess I was the first to break the line as I have my father, grandfather and others going all the way back to the Revolutionary War that served. Many here speak of talking to the veterans. One of my most memorable times was that of attending a reunion (with my wife's uncle) of the 47th Bombardment Group (WWII). The miracles and atrocities that these men were witness to were beyond my comprehension. Mere 17-year olds flying planes half way around the world, leaving out not knowing for certain if they had enough fuel to make it. Having listened to their speakers, among them a Vietnam POW. My thoughts were, "These guys have seen and experienced the worst and the best things in this world, yet are the most humble people." Thanks again to all veterans!

 

[dlauffenburger]

I just recently retired from the Navy after 28 years. I want to Thank all of the Vets current and past.

I also want to Thank all of you that take the few seconds to say Thank You to our young men and women you see walking around town, throught the airport, or anywhere else. I can tell you that when i first joined the Navy you very rarely recieved any recognition from the civilian population, while it is not why most of us joined, it is amazing how much pride a simple Thank You can instill in our young service members.

Again, Thank You for your support.

Dave

 

[mx842]

Having served in Nam (9th div.Mekong delta-69,70) I flew into oakland,outprocessed,and took a taxi round the bay for my flight home to Ohio. As I sat there waiting for my red-eye out, a group of hippie types came by and hasseled all of us sitting there in uniform. Babykillers, etc they called us - spitting on some of us.After they left we started talking about it. What the **** were we fightin for? So some sissyfied chickens--t pretending to have a cause can act up? Long story short - I make it my mission to make sure vets coming home get a handshake and a thank you!! If you know a vet dont think it hoky to walk up and do the same. TRULY, TO LOOK IN THEIR EYES WILL SAY ENOUGH.

Yeah I got out in 1968 and waiting for my flight home out of San Francisco I had a run in with the same bunch. Four long haired hippy guys and one ol scragly blond headed hag that came up to me and started to hassle me about how misguided I was about the war and I should be ashamed of myself for killing babies and women and that someone needed to teach me a lesson. I said to one of them that, I thought hippys were all about free love and flowers and sh**, what's up with all this talk about teaching someone a lesson about anything?

That dude looked at me kind of strange and didn't say a word, but that ugly azzed old ho jumped in and started to yelling and pushing at me. I didn't mind the pushing and bumping but when she spit at me from about 6 inches from my face I decided that if I was a baby and woman killer I may just as well live out the part and punched her right in the eye. Then I dropped my seabag and told her buddies all of you or one at a time, lets get it on....they turned away and scraped the ol' chick up off the floor and disappeared into the crowd.

It was pretty bad on the west coast but not as bad back home in VA. I did have a couple incidents when I got home but mainly most folks here were pretty nice. I have a grandson in Iraq right now and they are headed for Afganistan in a couple months and I hope he never gets treated like a lot of the VN vets did. I know I have went out of my way to make the servicemen and women.....not so much the women for fear that I might get accused of sexual harassment, which is a shame because they are vets too. I don't know how many times I have seen servicemen in airports or in restaurants and have paid their checks and most of the time tried not to let them know who did it. I'm not a rich guy but it is a small price to pay for the jobs they do.