In honor of Veterans Day

Post by **Linnea** » 11-11-2009 07:45 PM

...among our crew at the Fantastic Forum and throughout the country.

Thank you for your service to our country and to us all. Especially our vets who have experienced the horrors of combat and of war. We owe you a debt of gratitude that cannot be re-paid.

Post by **Linnea** » 11-11-2009 07:53 PM

And this is especially heartbreaking and should not stand - especially for our Viet Vets:

Homeless on Veterans Day

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/11/opinion/11wed4.html

General Shinseki says a renewed Veterans Affairs Department must, and will, address that problem.

We believe he has the mettle to pull this off. He will need a lot of help from the White House, Congress and communities across the country. The general-turned-secretary is appealing to thousands of worthy organizations already in the field to double their efforts to help.

Our veterans shouldn’t be forced to battle on their own just to survive at home.

Contact Dept of Veterans Affairs:
http://www.va.gov/landing2_contact.htm

racehorse · Post by **racehorse** » 11-11-2009 08:30 PM

Thank You to all Veterans and in particular to Corvid, Jon-Marcus, Biker, Psychicwolf, Spike Mike, and to any other Pirate veterans for their selfless devotion and courageous service in keeping our beloved country free and strong.

What you have done is truly appreciated!

Biker · Post by **Biker** » 11-11-2009 09:00 PM

Biker

Corvid · Post by **Corvid** » 11-11-2009 09:56 PM

Mike Iler, 1st Air Cav, thanks you.

Viet Nam 1966-1968 Huey pilot, Decorated. Good people, twin daughters and a son (who looks just like him). Died November 1975, agent orange.

I did nothing.

Mike gave all.

rumike · Post by **rumike** » 11-11-2009 10:18 PM

This is my Dad. He was a minesweeper in the Korean War. I miss him and I'm very proud of him.

Jon-Marcus · Post by **Jon-Marcus** » 11-11-2009 10:23 PM

I do appreciate the sentiments, folks.
But i got to go with Corvid on this. I'm a peace time vet. I did nothing.

racehorse · Post by **racehorse** » 11-11-2009 10:26 PM

Heroes All!

Corvid · Post by **Corvid** » 11-11-2009 10:38 PM

Jon-Marcus wrote: I do appreciate the sentiments, folks.
But i got to go with Corvid on this. I'm a peace time vet. I did nothing.

Yea you did.... you committed.

Everyone ever in uniform did something.

On the VA shuttle van is printed: "All Gave Some, Some Gave All".

All the dead people I saw were people I didn't know...... I was on the flight deck, Mike was hovering in the huey picking up the survivors and the wounded from an LZ.

He's dead. I am alive.

Sometimes it works that way.

rumike · Post by **rumike** » 11-11-2009 10:47 PM

Jon-Marcus, without a standing peace-time military we would be open season to our enemies. Thanks to all our vets for keeping us safe - in good times and bad.

Joolz · Post by **Joolz** » 11-11-2009 10:54 PM

This seems fitting for this thread:

Doggies Welcome Their Daddies Home from the Wars

Enjoy!

Post by **Linnea** » 11-11-2009 11:05 PM

Corvid - there has never been anything as horrifying as the Viet Nam conflict. Before, in country, and afterwards. Lies, betrayals, and no hero's welcome home. Of course, all you guys were/are always heroes to me, and to many others. We will not forget.

Corvid · Post by **Corvid** » 11-11-2009 11:17 PM

rumike wrote: This is my Dad. He was a minesweeper in the Korean War. I miss him and I'm very proud of him.

I am proud for him too.

Joolz · Post by **Joolz** » 11-11-2009 11:24 PM

rumike wrote: This is my Dad. He was a minesweeper in the Korean War. I miss him and I'm very proud of him.

He looks like he was a wonderful father, Mike. Thanks so much for sharing him with us.

I miss my Daddy very much, too. He also served during the Korean War. He was Army, and part of a sharp-shooter unit.

Corvid · Post by **Corvid** » 11-11-2009 11:48 PM

Linnea wrote: Corvid - there has never been anything as horrifying as the Viet Nam conflict. Before, in country, and afterwards. Lies, betrayals, and no hero's welcome home. Of course, all you guys were/are always heroes to me, and to many others. We will not forget.

ALL war is horrifying.

What was the butcher's bill in WW1... 7 million? Mostly combatants.

WW2 killed about sixty or maybe seventy million. Insert your best guess at civilian dead here......

Korea?

Viet Nam?: Fifty eight thousand Soldiers, Sailors, Air Force and Marines.... dead. Add some many, many others wounded and crippled. Civilian deaths?

Joolz told me that posting a picture of Mai Lai would be a very stupid thing to do.

So I will not.