Lest we forget those who truly make this forum possible

[29aholic]

A friend sent me this link, and I am not ashamed to admit I shed a tear. Things have been tough this last year for me, but seeing this humbles me in the knowledge that it could be worse.
Thank you to all the Vets of all the wars for giving us the freedom of choice and a goal to better ourselves in your name. My sincere thanks goes out to all the members of the Forum who have answered their Country's call to arms and did so unselfishly so I could have the freedoms I enjoy today. In case the members dont know it, our own Handejector did his time in the meat grinder of SEA. Thank you all and hope you have a Merry Christmas.
the link
YouTube - Silent Night 1968

 

[ia1727]

Thanks Curtis--

A memorable tribute. Mine was 69-73. Didn't mind doing my service time at all. The Christmas holidays were a different story however. The military tried to do what they could for the single guys but it just wasn't the same. For those of us fortunate to have a very close and loving family ,Christmas was very lonely away from home. I never got to take leave for any Christmas's in 4 years.

To everyone--please remember our service men and women--this is a very lonely time for them.

Steve

 

[29aholic]

back up to the top

 

[wbraswell]

Amen! Thanks to all of you who served and are doing so now.

 

[Maximumbob54]

The Navy always put out a good spread for us lowly blue shirts during the holidays. I always felt for the guys in the dirt that it was just another MRE for them. I got a four day pass to Qatar and seeing some of the soldiers and marines just get four days worth of sleep in a bed when there were pools, shopping, WMR events galore, places to eat other than chow halls... It was very sobering and I felt like didn't belong there on R&R. I really don't know how those guys do it and then enlist again. Those are men and women a cut above. My thanks goes out the them and those before them. I won't dismiss my own service but I won't make it sound like it was more than it was either. Some tours are clearly just harder on you than others.

 

[Class III]

If you can, you might want to consider calling your local military bases public relations office and see about inviting a service member over for Christmas dinner. We're having two over for Christmas dinner from Millington Naval Support Activity. I've been doing this for years, since one of my brothers was stationed in Nuremberg back in the early eighties. We have never had a bad experience inviting them into our home and have kept in touch with a few over the years.

Class III

 

[mg357]

beautiful video god bless our veterans and all of our military personnel

 

[29aholic]

keep it going until Christmas

 

[SFsc616171]

Proud member of Operation Linebacker II, Dec. 1972.
635th Support Group, active list "augey-doggey" (Security Augmentee)1972, 1973.
RTNAF U-Tapao, Thailand '71 - '74.

For all those who have served, before me, with me, and after me, I make no claim to any debt owed, except to those who can't read this, because they paid the price, in any fashion of GI jargon to express it.

 

[29aholic]

It has been said before and will be said again...if you can read this, thank a Teacher...if you are reading this in English...Thank a Soldier.

 

[JohnnieB]

After watching the video clip, I was reminded of the first line of "Ue o muite arukō".
Known in the English speaking world as "Sukiyaki", a hit song of the early '60s sung by Kyu Sakamoto.

Loosely translated from the Japanese lyrics, it goes:
"I look up when I walk so the tears won't fall"

What reminded me was I looked down ..... and then had to clean my glasses.

May God bless all those that have, are or shall serve.

John

 

[J.P.60]

Christmas 1968, we were recovering from a few months at Khe Sanh, a few months in Hue and a lot of casualties, generally. I remember two losses that shook us up, quite a bit - "Dark Brown" a well liked black man and "Light Brown" a well liked white guy - and both comedians. Christmas 1968, with 26th Marines, was not a happy time, but, rather a time to give thanks that we were still alive.

 

[CH47gunner]

I was fortunate enough to attend the Bob Hope Christmas Show in 1969 - this was in Lai Khe, in III Corp. It will always remain one of my Christmas highlights.
I was also lucky enough to be invited, while I was stationed in Germany a year later, for Christmas dinner with one of our pilots and his German wife. This was also a Christmas highlight. I've always thought it was very thoughtful & considerate of this officer/pilot to invite a single/lonely enlisted man to join his family for Christmas.

Merry Christmas All,

Bruce

 

[Badkarma 1]

I spent my fair share of Christmases in places that were anything but silent or holy. That said a few years ago I was somewhere in Astan with a bunch of guys, some Marines, some Army, some Air Force and a few Navy. One of us realized that it was Christmas eve and and he began humming 'Silent Night'! We all huddled together and silently joined the chorus and there wasn't a dry eye anywhere!
You can say what you like about the holidays with family and friends, but it's nothing like spending it with brothers in arms!
And a certain old Chief got up and looking toward the sky said "Have a safe flite St. Nick, we got your six."
To all those that held the line before me, I say "Thank You Sir!" To all those who held the line with me, I say "We did our job fellas, now let's makes sure it's not forgotten!" And to those who are now holding that line, I say "Thank You Sirs and Ma'ams, you will not be forgotten and we have your six!" Dale

 

[Babalooie]

I served in the air force from 1968 to 79. My loneliest Christmas was as a ninteen uear old sitting in a bar in Tachikawa Japan. After getting married, I made it a point to invite single guys and gals from my shop (Autopilot) and squadron (AMS) to our home during the holidays. The trappings weren't elaborate, but we always had a fairly decent time. Some of the guys would come over to help set up my son's toys. Nothing replaces home for the holidays, but a little home cooked food and a lot of liquid refreshment seemed to help.

 

[29aholic]

take it back to the top