Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Veterans Day

Lest we forget.
FREEDOM ISN’T FREE...!
Thanks to all who serve.

I agree. I read this below an wanted to pass on.
Definition of a Veteran: Whether active duty, retired, nation guard or reserve,
a veteran is someone who, at some point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to the "United States of America" for an amount "up to and including my life".
That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.

I'd like to mention my favorite veteren, my Dad. He lied about his age (17) so that he could enlist in the Navy in 1939. He was lucky to get stationed in beautiful Hawaii. He was less lucky to still be there on Dec. 7, 1941. When the bombing started he was just getting back from "church". I'm happy to say that he survived the attack and lived into his seventies. I miss him.

A special thought to you too, george, on this day.

Thanks for that George.

Me too GW. My Dad served on a destroyer in the S. Pacific. He lost his hearing along w/ about 17,000 others. He went on to have an incredible career for the USGS with whom he worked over 50 years. He's 87 now and still going strong.

On a very special note, our big Tom, Joe, was a true warrior in his own right. With great dignity, he peacefully died last night in my wife's arms, on veteran's day. He is the only cat my dad ever liked, and that pretty much goes for me too. We'll miss him. He was a part of the family for 14 years. JHAP, i told him to look for Conan and say hey.

Although I am technially a veteran too -- 122nd CAMS Fighter Squadron ANG Ft. Wayne IN, and a former military dependent, I can't hold a candle to my Dad. He was a 20 year career man and a Green Beret. Then he went on to work as an I& r man for a telphone company for another 20 years. He's still going strong at 71 but spends his winters in Florida now. Served in both Vietnam and Cambodia (yeah I know we really weren't officially in Cambodia LOL).

Our guys that are going on the repeated back to back deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan are in my prayers. That's got to be hard on them and their families. I know what it's like to have a dad and husband in a war zone and not around. It's hard.

DIED sorry to hear about the cat.

Dave and GW, we loved those Navy guys – we’d trade them souvenirs for ice cream and mattresses...

Give my very best wishes to your Dad.

I didn't want to become a veteran, but Uncle Sam had other ideas. I was to report for induction into the Marine Corps in March of '69, but instead became a draft dodger by slipping into the Navy. It was a good six years. I made a lot of life-long friends and it provided me with a career path that I'm still in today. I was far more fortunate than so many others whose names are on that long black wall in Washington DC, and especailly far more fortunate than so many friends who came back less than whole.

GW I am lucky to be here. My Dad was a navy carrier pilot in WWII flying a torpedo bomber. They typically had an 80% fatality rate in an attack. Randy that is more than a blank check. I am not a statistician but the chance of surviving through several attacks is approaching 0 .

Thanks for the stories guys - I was somewhat disappointed yesterday when Veterans Day not acknowledged on the forum.

Strange tho, why 3 WWII survivors mentioned on the forum became geologists..

I gave my old Expert Rifleman's badge to my next door neighbor's grandson Marine - exacyly the same as he was wearing on his dress uniform. Told him to carry it in his pocket until this mess is over and then I wanted it back.
It has made two trips to Iraq and scheduled for return assignment first of year.

Thanks to all for your sevrvice and God Bless.

If you can read this in English, thank a Veteran. With that said I would like to thank my Grandfather, a WWII vet, my little brother who is a Semper Fi vet from the 1990/91 Gulf war, and to the everyone else who has served our great country.

coincidence? or maybe pondboss just attracts that certain kind of people (and their offspring)

We live in the greatest country on the face of God's green earth because of these sacrifices. You bet I'm thankful!
Because of my love, respect, and admiration for my favorite veteran, I am compelled to honor him here by mentioning another battle. My Pa served a tour of duty, much of it chilled to the bone in the frozen mountains, at the 38th parallel in the Korean War. He's 79 and still givin' us hell.

Thank you, PB Vets.

george, as Senior Veteran present, please consider your hand shaken.