Another Memorial Day

[M60]

Another Memorial Day is almost here. Like me, many of us will go to our respective Memorial Day activity, usually after our local parades. We go to honor those of us who didn't make it home. I go also to honor those who did make it home. Many who suffer in many different ways daily. Veterans who should be enjoying their retirement years, but instead suffer in so many different ways, due to their military service. Some are our own NES members. To those of you who qualify, this nation is certainly grateful and you should be honored on this day each year. Please know that I will also honor you with a hand salute to your Ametican Flag at the appropriate time on Memorial Day. Stay safe one and all and God Bless. SEMPER FI

 

[dustoff22]

Thanks for that Brother. Nicely said and greatly appreciated.

 

[Rat187]

I got Memorial Day calls to make, sitting here thinking how to get through the weekend unscathed...never seems to happen, but it's getting better....

 

[42!]

My thanks to all who have or do serve. From those that paid the ultimate price to those that serve in support roles. Without you the USA would not exist. Thank you.

But this day brings sadness as well, sadness for the lack of support we give our veterans. While the US sends money all over the world and lets in millions of illegal migrants, some how the Gov. "struggles" to find the resources to provide for those that voluntarily gave of themselves to protect our country. Let's dedicate this week to not just thanking and helping our veterans, but also reaching out to those in the Fed Gov and voice our disgust in how they pay the world instead of supporting our own.

 

[Skysoldier]

Well said my friend.
Semper Fi from this old Army Airborne brother.

 

[M60]

Well said my friend.
Semper Fi from this old Army Airborne brother.

Good to hear from you Skysoldier. I still dont get that shit about jumping out of perfectly good, functioning aircraft. Jumping out of choppers onto a hot LZ was bad enough, but you guys are pure-t crazy.lol. Memorial Day salute inbound. You certainly earned it. Stay safe and healthy my friend.

 

[fencer]

Semper Fi Devil Dog.

And to all of those who we lost, or came home affected, you remain forever in my prayers.
" There, but for the grace of God, go I " and I will never forget.

Happy Memorial Day to all NES, and to the vets on NES, I am glad you are here and we can talk shit together.... most of you.
J/K ... all of you that served.

 

[beaker]

God bless all who sacrificed everything so that others may live in peace.

Decoration Day

Sleep, comrades, sleep and rest
On this Field of the Grounded Arms,
Where foes no more molest,
Nor sentry's shot alarms!

Ye have slept on the ground before,
And started to your feet
At the cannon's sudden roar,
Or the drum's redoubling beat.

But in this camp of Death
No sound your slumber breaks;
Here is no fevered breath,
No wound that bleeds and aches.

All is repose and peace,
Untrampled lies the sod;
The shouts of battle cease,
It is the Truce of God!

Rest, comrades, rest and sleep!
The thoughts of men shall be
As sentinels to keep
Your rest from danger free.

Your silent tents of green
We deck with fragrant flowers;
Yours has the suffering been,
The memory shall be ours.

-Longfellow

 

[Andy in NH]

I am alive today and have the opportunity to enjoy my wonderful life because some people gave EVERYTHING.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56gy0Moqffo

Today, I am specifically remembering the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment who were killed in Al Qa’im during Operation Iraqi Freedom 2005-2006.

Cpl. John R. Stalvey (IED)

LCpl Norman W. Anderson III (VBIED)

LCpl Ryan J. Sorensen (SAF)

LCpl Daniel F. Swaim (IED)

LCpl Steven L. Phillips (non hostile)

Cpl. Rusty L. Washam (VBIED)

LCpl Matthew R. Barnes (VBIED)

Additional men I knew who were KIA in OIF.

Capt Todd Seibert (IDF)

Capt Philip Dykeman (SIED)

 

[kingfisher]

Semper Fi, brothers, and all other veterans and their families.

 

[kingfisher]

I am alive today and have the opportunity to enjoy my wonderful life because some people gave EVERYTHING.

Today, I am specifically remembering the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment who were killed in Al Qa’im during Operation Iraqi Freedom 2005-2006.

Cpl. John R. Stalvey (IED)

LCpl Norman W. Anderson III (VBIED)

LCpl Ryan J. Sorensen (SAF)

LCpl Daniel F. Swaim (IED)

LCpl Steven L. Phillips (non hostile)

Cpl. Rusty L. Washam (VBIED)

LCpl Matthew R. Barnes (VBIED)

Additional men I knew who were KIA in OIF.

Capt Todd Seibert (IDF)

Capt Philip Dykeman (SIED)

Thanks to you, @Andy in NH, and everyone else who served in combat. These people need to be remembered.

Also, I don't usually listen to music with as much harmony as in that video, and I enjoyed listening to it!

 

[Skysoldier]

When I was about 15 years old we lived on a large ranch near Monument Colorado. The ranch owner was a retired Air Force Colonel who served with my Dad in the 8th AAF in England during WWII.
We had four boys in ourfamily, and got a rent free house in exchange for taking care of about a dozen boarded horses and also a herd of 20 Rental horses.
The Colonel had only one son, who went to the Air Force Academy and did 18 months in Nam flying the planes that sprayed Agent Orange during Operation Ranch Hand.
He died a horrible death from Aplastic Anemia
3 months after he came home from Nam.
He is one of many I think about every Memorial Day..........

 

[fencer]

I am alive today and have the opportunity to enjoy my wonderful life because some people gave EVERYTHING.

Looking back though older eyes, I admit that I get a little shiver when I think about what ifs.
Forever Faithful


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFvcI9-C5Kw

 

[Darksideblues42]

It is Memorial Day.

I post something like this each Memorial Day, I have refined it year over year and think this year does a good job of capturing my sentiment.

My grandfather (WWII, European Theater) and I had a long talk when I was younger. We agreed that Memorial Day is the most expensive holiday there is. For every pool that is opened, every meal grilled, every beer cracked, every yard game played, every ice cream enjoyed, there is a family remembering a photo of a loved one in uniform.

That picture might be in living color, it might be sepia toned, it might be faded and cracked. No matter the state of the picture, it represents a life not lived. It represents a family gathering around a closed casket, or no casket at all.

These folks never had the opportunity to live a life, they never had the chance to hang up the uniform and enjoy the nation they served.

We all owe it to them to live a life that pays something towards the sacrifice they made, because that butcher's bill will never be paid in full.

Leave the world a little better than you found it.

Inspire the next generation.

Remind them of the lessons you have learned so they don't have to live the same lesson.

Just strive to be a good person.

 

[Rat187]

An old Marine remembers his big Brother killed in action III Corps RVN, 54 years ago.

 

[Andy in NH]

Looking back though older eyes, I admit that I get a little shiver when I think about what ifs.
Forever Faithful


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFvcI9-C5Kw

The difference of five seconds or five meters (sometimes less) can often be the difference in life or death/injury.

 

[fencer]

The difference of five seconds or five meters (sometimes less) can often be the difference in life or death/injury.

Three steps was the difference between rendering first aid and receiving first aid.
It didn't sink in until much later.

 

[Darksideblues42]

Three steps was the difference between rendering first aid and receiving first aid.
It didn't sink in until much later.

Odd that you say it that way.

My grandfather once told me that a yard was all the difference.

A yard one way, you are rendering aid, a yard further, you are receiving it, a yard beyond that, you are being comforted in your last moments, a yard beyond that, you are being remembered

 

[In God We Trust]

My thanks to all who have or do serve. From those that paid the ultimate price to those that serve in support roles. Without you the USA would not exist. Thank you.

But this day brings sadness as well, sadness for the lack of support we give our veterans. While the US sends money all over the world and lets in millions of illegal migrants, some how the Gov. "struggles" to find the resources to provide for those that voluntarily gave of themselves to protect our country. Let's dedicate this week to not just thanking and helping our veterans, but also reaching out to those in the Fed Gov and voice our disgust in how they pay the world instead of supporting our own.

I have to say that in my experience, the VA does a pretty good job these days. The money they pay out is a living wage (not extravagant by any means, but decent) and the medical services are all better than I expected.

 

[Rat187]

I have to say that in my experience, the VA does a pretty good job these days. The money they pay out is a living wage (not extravagant by any means, but decent) and the medical services are all better than I expected.

The post Trump VA hospitals lost a lot of good people some to turnover, some due to anti-Trump sentiments. I understand that things change but it hasn't always been for the better lately. I do remember going to the VA back in the late 60s and that was a pure horror show for Vietnam veterans.

 

[Skysoldier]

The post Trump VA hospitals lost a lot of good people some to turnover, some due to anti-Trump sentiments. I understand that things change but it hasn't always been for the better lately. I do remember going to the VA back in the late 60s and that was a pure horror show for Vietnam veterans.

You said it brother.
A month after I got out in 73 I got a letter telling me I had to go to the VA if I expected to keep my 10% disability.
I was living in South Bend, Indiana and the only VA close to me was in Fort Wayne. I hitchhiked to Fort Wayne and waited all day to be told to "come back tomorrow." The VA hospital was an old WWII Army Hospital that resembled the old wooden barracks, with long corridors and wards off both sides. They had one ward reserved as a "guest ward" for guys waiting for appointments,
The place was filthy, trash everywhere and at night there were rats running up and down the corridors.
The next day I waited five hours and when I was finally called I was told to "come back next month!"
I hitchiked back to South Bend and never went back!
(At least I did get the GI Bill was able to go to Purdue and get my EE Degree.)
After that I met my wife and we moved to NM and for the next 40 years I always had jobs with excellent health insurance coverage.
Fast forward to 2020 and I got really sick and had to quit working, so I went back to the VA for help.
The service I get is fantastic now. I have a Primary Care doctor and also see specialists for Endocrinology, Urology, Pulmonary and Oncology. And every time I need a prescription refill I just go on my computer and click a few buttons and they are in my mailbox in 3 or 4 days.
Every appointment I go to, I never wait more than 15 minutes if I wait at all!
I also used the VA in Memphis and Nashville in the last four years, and they were OK,
but the hospital here in Albuquerque has to be one of the best in the country.

 

[Rat187]

Happy to hear the treating you well Sky. I was probably averaging about $350 a month pay over 20 month period, so yeah we earned it....

 

[Patriot]

You said it brother.
A month after I got out in 73 I got a letter telling me I had to go to the VA if I expected to keep my 10% disability.
I was living in South Bend, Indiana and the only VA close to me was in Fort Wayne. I hitchhiked to Fort Wayne and waited all day to be told to "come back tomorrow." The VA hospital was an old WWII Army Hospital that resembled the old wooden barracks, with long corridors and wards off both sides. They had one ward reserved as a "guest ward" for guys waiting for appointments,
The place was filthy, trash everywhere and at night there were rats running up and down the corridors.
The next day I waited five hours and when I was finally called I was told to "come back next month!"
I hitchiked back to South Bend and never went back!
(At least I did get the GI Bill was able to go to Purdue and get my EE Degree.)
After that I met my wife and we moved to NM and for the next 40 years I always had jobs with excellent health insurance coverage.
Fast forward to 2020 and I got really sick and had to quit working, so I went back to the VA for help.
The service I get is fantastic now. I have a Primary Care doctor and also see specialists for Endocrinology, Urology, Pulmonary and Oncology. And every time I need a prescription refill I just go on my computer and click a few buttons and they are in my mailbox in 3 or 4 days.
Every appointment I go to, I never wait more than 15 minutes if I wait at all!
I also used the VA in Memphis and Nashville in the last four years, and they were OK,
but the hospital here in Albuquerque has to be one of the best in the country.

I started using VA Healthcare the last couple of years (West Roxbury MA and Jamaica Plain MA) and I am impressed to no end. Compared to what I am paying a small fortune for in the private sector (healthcare and insurance cartel) it is all together a much better healthcare system. I've been given tons of support for any number of ongoing health issues and, unlike my current PCP and his minions, it seems the the VA can't do enough for me. I'm not used to being treated this good. I might get spoiled.