(this thread is inspired by Svobert's recent confession that he is heading to the Mid-east to protect our country)
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Who amongst this big 'ol Pond Boss family has or is serving in the US military? Let's see a show of hands. Most of you steer clear of recognition and lay low on the radar; the modesty and humility that I would expect of the brave ones that can handle the job. Personally, I'm too big a chicken to handle that type of commitment. I'm not too big, tho, to understand that the sacrifices made by others on my behalf allow me to do the wonderful things in life that I do. I'm also not too big to get teary eyed when I hear of the bad news when one of our nation's best is wounded or fallen.
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So....who are you guys and gals? When did you serve? Years ago, or right now? Of course, this includes the families and their loved ones....tell us about them. Please. I wanna know...we wanna know...stand up and let us count you. We want to know who amongst us to thank for protecting our blessings.

US Army, 4th ID, 1969-1971. It was an honor to serve, no thanks are needed!

God speed, svrobets!

Brettski, I never served but my little brother did. He did 4-1/2 years in the Marine Corps including eight months sleeping on the sand in Saudia Arabia before Kuwait was finally liberated. I am very grateful that he made it back alive, his job as a forward observer was very dangersous, some of the guys he served with did not make it back.

To all those who haved served, Thank You!

U.S. Army, 25th Infantry 1968-1970
My Father, US ARMY Pacific Theater 1941-1945
Shawn, Thanks for your service, stay safe, your pond will miss you.

122nd Fighter Squadron CAMS Ft. Wayne, IN 86-92. Our area of operations was the Middle East but I lucked out and was never deployed there. As I said earlier we missed Desert Storm by 20 minutes. The war ended prematurely.

I can't even touch my dad who was a Green Beret and served in Vietnam and Cambodia. I can't believe he came out of there alive considering the things he's told me. (He never said much orginally but opened up over the years) He did everything from crawling into VC underground tunnels, riverboat, gunman on a chopper, remote camps, POW rescue, and on and on. I guess he had to try everything. He was recommended for a silver star but he turned it down.

My favorite thing is the Super 8 movie he took back in the 60's of the German Bundes Grenches (I think I have that spelled right) troops they were having war games with in Germany. A German foot column passed by within feet as my dad filmed them. The Germans never saw him or his team. What i like about the film is they redezvoused with the Germans before the games began and one of there officers was really cocky when my dad told him to be careful where he pointed his firearm. (It's on the same Super 8 movie. He mocked my dad by acting stupid with it. Of course my dad's team had the last laugh.

Note: I have nothing against the Germans. My mother is German and it was my first language.

U.S.Army 58-62 last 2 yrs in Germany,intended to re-enlist,but had an old sgt.talk me out of doing that. Seems he knew someone who knew we already had "advisers" in Nam. Sure wish I could remember his name to thank him again!

US Air Force Strategic Air Command 1968-71
Father US Army WWII
Uncle US Army WWII Purple Heart, wounded fighting on islands in the Pacific. He was one who carried flame throwers and shot it into caves.

All these guys serving our country long before I was born! I wanna thank you all for the freedoms I have today...

USAF 64-68

I'll ditto CJBS. A big thank you to everyone who has served our country, past or present, and risked harm so that the rest of us are safe.

Svoberts, be safe, come back soon, and God bless you for your service.

U.S. Navy, 1969-1975

U.S.Army Air Corp - 20th Air Force
Pacific Theater Operations
WWII 1943-45

Sister - U.S. Army WWII
Father - U.S. Navy WWI
U.S. Army WWII

FREEDOM ISN'T FREE

US Marines 78-80

Father us Navy 52-55

Son in Law US Navy 2002-present

USN '66 - '69.
Uncle US Army WWII (Germany).

Tom,

Where were you stationed in Germany? My dad and our family were stationed in Karlsruhe and Bad Tolz. Not sure but I think my dad was in an engineer batallion when were were in Karlsruhe. One thing that puts me in stitches is my dad was a naive country boy when he enlisted. At the first firing range he was worried he was going to have to pay for all that ammo he was using up! I think he was already a Sgt. at 19 though.

US Air Force Strategic Air Command - 1957 -1961 Most of the time spent at Forbes AFB, Topeka, KS. -- thankfully during peace time.

Brother: US Army Ranger, Lt. of a Bradley Fighting Vehicle Unit stationed in Germany approx. '89-92/93 & Gulf War Vet.

Myself: 2 years of Army ROTC; didn't get scholarship due to grades; (also, does not count for the puposes of this thread!; almost got to go to Airborne School between freshman and sophmore year of college)

I have deep respect for all of you who served. Thanks.

US Army 87-91

I served during the first Gulf War but was fortunate enough to not have to deploy there. I was in Germany at the time and had my shots and paperwork in order to ship out but was never called to go. I look back quite fondly on my military time, it was great life experience for me.

Both of my Uncles were in the late 50's to early 60's, one was a Combat Engineer in the Army Ed Welch, and the other was an Air Force Bomb Navgation Specialist on B-52's Bernard Welch. Both are Uncles on my Mother's sisde of the family.

US Navy 69-75. Heavy Cruiser, USS Albany. Missile fire control technician. A fire on board kept us from deploying to Nam. How convenient, huh?

FWIW, I have never allowed a person in uniform at a restaraunt pay for their meals. My daughters once asked why a sailor was waving, trying to get our attention once as we were leaving a small town restaraunt, and I told them that I'd paid his families bill. As they started to realize that I had never let them know about this, they started to tear up when they recalled all the other times I had needed to go back into a restaraunt to "take care of something" and that Dad wasn't looking for any glory. I get a large lump in my throat everytime I see someone in uniform and now my children do as well. They now understand the potential danger our military can face at a moments notice and have a very deep respect for that now. My wife had figured it out years ago when she thought we had been billed twice at restaraunts. She started doing the same thing.

Rainman,thats a pretty cool idea.You may have just started a new trend.I think I'll start doing the same thing.If you dont mind me coping you that is.
Ohh,and by the way,although I didnt serve,I'm VERY proud of the 2 sons I have who are.

Tom, hoping to start a trend is the ONLY reason I let my secret out. Be proud of yourself for teaching them! I may have "served" but never felt like it since I never faced any threat, other than my D.I., SSG White. He was one scary hombre!


Edit PS; I always write something like "Enjoy your meal with your family! Your service has provided the safety, freedom, and protection for my family to enjoy ours. Thank you!" or if it's a group of servicemen at a bar or elsewhere... "This night is on me because my freedom has been on you! Thanks! And of course I always do this as I'm leaving so they can't stop me!

Rainman, thanks for fessin up. Some of us served because we were asked to. You may have volunteered as all the young folks alive and deceased now. I wish the protesters for terrorists rights would understand that is it the bloodshed thru the years that has given them this privilage. They should try and protest the government of the people's 'rights' they are protesting for.

Very classy, Rainman.

People sometimes offer to pay for my bill being a police officer in uniform. I always turn it down, but sometimes people like Rainman slip it in without my knowledge and I can't refuse. On those nights when you don't feel appreciated as a police officer it makes you sit back and realize most citizens really do appreciate what you do and that you aren't just some ticket writing jerk.

I have not served in any military or public function in my life. Males on both sides of my family served in various capacities, even dating back to the Civil War, Ebenezer Snow from Tennessee, on the Confederate side. I have had a life of opportunity and peace at home because off all the people like you great guys here on PondBoss who served whether you agreed with the conflict or mission at hand, and I thank each and every one of you!
Freedom is never free is it?

Thanks Rainman. I believe I'll start doing that.

Based on my father's genealogy every generation back to pre Revolutionary War England.

These people are the heroes as they willingly gave up all of their tomorrows for your today.

For such sad places, the beauty of these cemetaries are breathtaking.

Saving Private Ryan is on TNT right now... What brave men they were!

Headquarters Co. 6th Marines. Mid 1950s
Never saw combat.

US Army 1993-2004 (EOD and 5-jump chump)
Germany 94-96, Ft Carson 96-98
Commanded the 38th EOD Company (Fort Stewart, Ga) 00-01
CENTCOM staff 02-04 stationed in Saudi Arabia/Qatar (with trips to all the exciting places)
Liked the Middle East so much I'm still here

I recently was notified of the death of SFC Lawrence Ezell - we went through EOD school together and he was one of my soldiers at Stewart. He died in 2008 in Iraq while trying to defuse an improvised explosive device). His name will be inscribed on the EOD Memorial next month. Be good EZ.

1984-2004 US Navy Hospital Corpsmen (Medic to you Army guys) . 4 years stationed with the 2nd Marine Air Wing and deployed to Desert Sheild/Storm. Great bunch of guys.

Granfather: US Navy WWII
Uncle: USAF VietNam
Cousins: 2 seved in USAF
Brother USN Submarines 1988-1996
Niece: USMC Just back from Afghanistan and still serving.
Nephew: National Guard, Served in Iraq.

Rainman, that is a class act and a great idea!

My thanks to all those that seved before me, with me, and are currently serving. You make me proud of this country.

I visited Normandy Beach a few years ago. Save for that topless French woman on the beach that had all the males heads turned her way -- while the guide pointed at the gun implacements on the other side of the bus -- it was an absolutely breathtaking tour. Well she was breathtaking too but in a different way.

Please don't get me wrong I am not making light of the sacrifice of our troops. I was in tears at the cemetary. I just can't imagine the courage it took to move against a massive barrage of lead and exploding shells.

Eric,

Maybe our ancestors knew each other? On my dad's side they go back to the revolutionary war with one we know for sure that fought for the Americans -- although they originally came from England in 1650. Name was spelled different then -- Beard.

Hats off to you Edinbowen! If there's anything you need let us know! Anything you can't find over there we can send you?

My 6th great grandfather came to America is 1667. He was a ship builder by trade and settle in south central PA. There is actually a village with my family's last name to this day where our originally family settled in PA. When the Revolutionary War broke out, he was enlisted by the Brittish to sail back to England and sail a ship along with supplies back to America to supply the war effort. Little did the Brittish know he was a Patriot and turned the ship and supplies over to the Colonists!

That's fascinating CJB! I find it also fascinating that the revolutionary war was actually not a popular war - at least at first. Apparently many of the colonists didn't want to get on the wrong side of England and were willing to pay the taxes etc. and remain tied to the England.

On another note one of my ancestors in Mass got kicked out of his church for fishing on the Sabbath. I guess he told them "so be it" but then decided to swallow his pride and ask for forgiveness. A different time I guess. What's blows me away is he wasn't pleasure fishing. He was harvesting shad out of the Connecticut river for food.

I had ancestors on both sides of the Revolution. Never been a war that they weren't in.

I told my daughters that they ought to easily qualify for the DAR. There are College Scholarships that aren't all that hard to get.

Dave,

With the cost of college these days you need all the help you can get. There is no way I could afford to go to college now days. I don't know how people do it these days. I worked up to two jobs at a time when I went to college but that wouldn't even make a dent these days.

Same here Dave, as well as two generations of ancestor grandparents that were citizens of The Republic of Texas.
Two ancestor uncles fought in the Battle of San Jacinto.

With much lower populations back then in North America wouldn't it be wild if our ancestors knew each other?

Mongo - US Army 1973-1975 Combant Engineer - Germany
Dad - US Army WWII 1943-1946 Tank Gunner

Mrs. Mongo - US Army Reserve 1992-2004 Deployed 10/2001-10/2002 Afghanistan
Dad - US Marine Korean War
Uncle - US Army WWII

Mongo & I are both deeply grateful for past, present, & future soldiers; who have, are,& will protect & serve so that we may enjoy all that we have. We, also, acknowledge the soldier's families' sacrifices & are grateful to them.

Mongo thanks for keeping this thread curent and many thanks for your and Mrs. Mongo's service to our country.
Your thoughts about the families of those who serve are often forgotten or ignored and their sacrifice is honorable.

Right on George.

THIS MIGHT BE A HIGHJACK, but.....
I've enjoyed this PB forum for over 5 years and know what a patriotic, loyal and caring group of members we have, and I know that many are involved in charities and other worth-while ventures, but I was just thinking that maybe we could do a little something (as a group) for a few of our men and women serving overseas. Maybe magazine subscriptions (PB, SI, People, Guns & Ammo, etc, etc, no left-wing weeklies). I'll be glad to help get this started. And Bob Lusk, don't feel pressured to give anything else away - we'll pay for the subscriptions.
Sorry about the semi-highjack, but when I think of the sacrifices that these young people are making for us, and the general public doesn't seem to be too appreciative, it just makes me want to "stand up and be counted".

I had a friend return from afghanistan with a shattered femur from an AK-47, an inch of his bone is simply missing from the force of such a weapon. Despite receiving the best of care in germany and here at home the bone graft isn't taking as hoped. Thankfully 3 of my other friends returned home safely without a scratch. I only hope that these fine men and women can truly understand how much their sacrificies are appreciated. So to all of you who have served, are serving or will be I humbly thank you!

My dad flew for the Army aircorp, L19 Birddog in Korea 1952. Killed flying a Twin Mohawk in 1961. My uncle served in WWII, landed on Omaha(purple heart) , fought in the Battle of the Bulge(two purple hearts)retired as Lt Colonel. Many other family members as well, thank you all in the military..

And Afghanistan is really heating up with Pakistan going to hell in a hand basket next door!

Thanks for the service to all of you and your families. Svoberts, thanks for serving, we can't thank you enough. I have not served but my daughter just joined the Army and she's due to deploy to Afganistan this winter. I will finally understand what the families of our soldiers go through. It's something I hoped I'd never have to experience. My daughter and Svobert both need prayer! She is excited to go and serve, go figure!

Though I have not served I do work with lots of uniformed military because I've spent my career designing weapons. It's a pretty cushy job compared to the guys that fight with them. Sunil, I would be interested to know what you think of the Bradley. Again, I cannot adequately express the gratitude I have for you brave ones like Svobert. Godspeed! While I did not design the Bradley I work for the company that did and know many people who worked on the design. I also work with people who are designing upgrades to the Bradley. I have recently been involved in designing the MRAP vehicles. We hope they save lives.

SGT in the Army helping to train sailors for JTF GTMO.

My father is a retired SGM from the army

I salute and thank you RB!

Too bad you're training will not be needed before long!

I have a cousin that was a Sgt. Major in the Army at Gitmo.

Cecil its my pleasure to serve. Yeah it looks like this will be over soon, but theres always something to do in the Army haha

I think you confused my response with Rainman's.

Oh well.

Woops haha Its my pleasure Rainman