Memorial Day

[CKMustangCobra]

I didn't see a previous post.

Just wanted to say Thanks to all the soldiers, marines, sailors, airmen, guardians and their families that have had to endure the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of this great country.

[Hacklemerc]

I was just thinking the same thing but you beat me to it.

Thanks to all Military Men and Women who have served, will serve, and have fallen in defense of our Nation. It an Honor to serve next to all of you.

Hack

[Ms. Denmark]

15910

15911

15912Can't say it any better than you guys did. Was thinking that it would be fitting to be on our National Mall today, to pay respects at the beautiful Memorials. Saw the WWII memorial last year. Was sorry my Dad (Navy) didn't live to see it himself. He would have been moved to tears I'm sure. Having served on the USS Indianapolis from San Francisco to Pearl Harbor with The Bomb on board, he was reassigned and did not make the fateful trip to deliver the cargo. Of course he also did not suffer the fate of so many of his shipmates when the Japanese sub torpedoed the ship and left hundreds in the shark infested waters to die, awaiting a rescue that was horribly delayed by Navy Command failure. He was a math teacher, and one day he was telling his class about the Indianapolis and how just by pure chance, a sub hunting US plane spotted the survivors in the water and affected a rescue. A girl raised her hand and said, "Mr. Juel, that pilot was my dad!" He couldn't repeat this story without tears in his eyes. He was truly one of the Greatest Generation. Here's to you Dad.

[CKMustangCobra]

Awesome story.

I don't have any really interesting stories yet in my military career... but I am sure I will have some soon.

Proud to serve. Long line of military men in my family... all branches represented!

[CKMustangCobra]

Here are some pictures I took while I was in A School.

http://www.fuelslut.net/ihost/files/90/SDC16240%20%28Large%29.JPG
http://www.fuelslut.net/ihost/files/90/SDC16241%20%28Large%29.JPG
http://www.fuelslut.net/ihost/files/90/SDC16251%20%28Large%29.JPG
http://www.fuelslut.net/ihost/files/90/SDC16275%20%28Large%29.JPG
http://www.fuelslut.net/ihost/files/90/SDC16304%20%28Large%29.JPG

[Ms. Denmark]

Those are wonderful pictures! Thank you for your service.

[SC Cheesehead]

Wow! Paula, that is one awesome story.

And a huge +1 on the THANK YOU for all the men and women who wear the uniform and serve our country. http://www.bloodydecks.com/forums/images/smilies/appl.gif

[03calitejas]

Semper Fi! And that goes for all servicemen and women past and present.

[Bluerauder]

Was sorry my Dad (Navy) didn't live to see it himself. He would have been moved to tears I'm sure. Having served on the USS Indianapolis from San Francisco to Pearl Harbor with The Bomb on board, he was reassigned and did not make the fateful trip to deliver the cargo. Of course he also did not suffer the fate of so many of his shipmates when the Japanese sub torpedoed the ship and left hundreds in the shark infested waters to die, awaiting a rescue that was horribly delayed by Navy Command failure.
Thanks for sharing Paula. I'm sure your Dad was proud of his service and that of his shipmates. :flag:

I had never heard of the USS Indianapolis or its story until "Quint the Sharkhunter" in "JAWS" made his speech about the incident.

For those who don't know it. Here is the story >>> http://www.ussindianapolis.org/story.htm

The survivors were spotted by LT(jg) Wilbur C. Gwinn, the pilot of a PV-1 Ventura bomber. LT R. Adrian Marks was the pilot of the PBY Seaplane that was the first to arrive on the scene. Read more at the link ^^^^.

[MyTMerc]

After serving 25 years on active duty in the Navy, I was continually amazed at the dedication, hard work and routine sacrifice made by the men and women I met over the years. Today at 3pm, Secretary Gates asked that each of us observe a moment of silence in remembrance of our shipmates that made the ultimate sacrifice. The moment of silence was a small but fitting gesture for our Sailors, Marines, Soldiers and Airmen that gave everything.

If you didn't take a moment at 3 pm, it's OK... take that moment right now.

My family was mostly Navy

Grandfather - Navy WWI - Atlantic - Boiler Tech
Father - Navy WWII - Tin Can - Pacific (Japan) Radioman / Later - Naval Air Reserves - Lakehurst, NJ
Me - Mostly Fighter and Attack Aircraft Squadrons and Aircraft Carriers (one P-3 Orion tour) - Work for NAVAIR Headquarters as a Navy Civilian now.
Son - Marine - been out since before the current conflicts
Nephew - USAF - Security Forces - Heading to Iraq this month
Uncles - Marines, Army Air Corps, Regular Army, Navy and Coast Guard

[MyTMerc]

The story of the USS Indianapolis was amazing. If you've never heard of it, it's worth reading about.

Paula, Charlie,
Thanks for sharing their story.

[guspech750]

i think about the veterans of past and present and thank them often and not just on the holidays.....Thank you for helping preserve our way of life, peoples beliefs and trying to help others here and abroad and much more. our veterans are true heros.
thank you

[Ms. Denmark]

I'm proud to know both Charlie and Shaun. Thank you both for your service to our country. There are many more members who have or are serving. We need to express our gratitude more often, to the living, as well as memorialize the sacrifice of the fallen. Thanks to all of you.

[Baaad GN]

Okay people now go on the Internet and type in Jane Fonda in Viet Nam. To this day I'm shocked on how many young people have NO idea what she did! Just an idea if interested!

[CKMustangCobra]

Father - Navy Enlisted (11 years) FTC First Class - Marine Corp Officer (23 years) Major - Civilian Contractor (4 years)
Fathers Father - Navy Enlisted (31 years) Corpsman
Mothers Father - Navy Enlisted (4 years) Engineer
Uncle - Airforce Enlisted (23 years) Chief Master Sergeant
Uncle - Army Enlisted (3 years) Infantry
Myself - Coast Guard Enlisted (just over 1 year so far) FNMK

[LIGHTNIN1]

i think about the veterans of past and present and thank them often and not just on the holidays.....Thank you for helping preserve our way of life, peoples beliefs and trying to help others here and abroad and much more. our veterans are true heros.
thank you
I think about our veterans quite often but not enough i'm sure. Will try to make it daily.Just heard on the radio that 2000 veterans daily die.

[Hacklemerc]

Army Spc. David A. Schaefer Jr has just returned home here in the city I live in. I am proud to say that I will be partaking in the services that lay this young man to rest. I will be in a line of Riot Police protecting the services from members of the Westboro Baptist Church who are coming to protest. He was killed in combat in Iraq. I didn't know him or his family, but I ask you guys to say a prayer for them on this very sad day.

Hack

[merc]

8 of 800 plus picture I took of Rolling Thunder on Memorial day weekend

http://gallery.me.com/mwhite26/100337/DSC_0463/web.jpg?ver=12432020150001

http://gallery.me.com/mwhite26/100337/DSC_0473/web.jpg?ver=12432021160001

http://gallery.me.com/mwhite26/100337/DSC_0488/web.jpg?ver=12432021430001

http://gallery.me.com/mwhite26/100337/DSC_0494/web.jpg?ver=12432021500001

http://gallery.me.com/mwhite26/100337/DSC_0642/web.jpg?ver=12432022830001

http://gallery.me.com/mwhite26/100337/DSC_0709/web.jpg?ver=12432023310001

http://gallery.me.com/mwhite26/100337/DSC_0693/web.jpg?ver=12432023090001

http://gallery.me.com/mwhite26/100337/DSC_0866/web.jpg?ver=12432023830001

[rayjay]

Sorry I missed this thread yesterday. Thanks to all who served past and present without whos sacrafice we would not have this wonderful thing called freedom we all enjoy on a daily basis.

RIP Daddy, US Army Infantry, WWII

[Ms. Denmark]

Thanks for the pics Merc. Would have loved to be there.;)