I would like to take this time to thank those who have served our country. To My Grandfathers and my Brother, My Dad and my best friends. You have done a great service for our country, and I am proud to call myself an American because of the work you have done. To those who have made the sacrifice, and to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, I offer my humble praise. And to those who fly amongst us who have served, I am proud to call you friends.
Take to the skies
By Air
Air Marshal Command
The Tin Man
The Tin Man
Post a replyRemember your Vets
25 posts
If you are able,
save them a place
inside of you
and save one backward glance
when you are leaving
for the places they can
no longer go.
Be not ashamed to say
you loved them,
though you may
or may not have always.
Take what they have left
and what they have taught you
with their dying
and keep it with your own.
And in that time
when men decide and feel safe
to call the war insane,
take one moment to embrace
those gentle heroes
you left behind.
Major Michael Davis O'Donnell
1 January 1970
Dak To, Vietnam
save them a place
inside of you
and save one backward glance
when you are leaving
for the places they can
no longer go.
Be not ashamed to say
you loved them,
though you may
or may not have always.
Take what they have left
and what they have taught you
with their dying
and keep it with your own.
And in that time
when men decide and feel safe
to call the war insane,
take one moment to embrace
those gentle heroes
you left behind.
Major Michael Davis O'Donnell
1 January 1970
Dak To, Vietnam
I guess The Great William Shakesphere In his play Henry the VTh summed up my feelings on my service to my country pretty well. Far better then I could have in this passge from the Play:
Henry V
This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
Henry V
This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
~S~ All
All Navy-----
Grandad - WWI
Dad - WWII - Decorated
Me - Vietnam Era (Submarines)
Son - Afghanistan / Iraq first 9 months - Decorated twice
Not bad for a bunch of Hungarian immigrants!
God Bless the USA
My favorite.......
A Soldier Died Today
He was getting old and paunchy,
And his hair was falling fast;
He sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.
He told of a war he had fought in
And the deeds that he had done;
In his exploits with his buddies ...
They were heroes....everyone.
And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors,
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened ...
For they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Bob has passed away;
And the world's a little poorer,
For a soldier died today.
He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife;
For he just lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family,
Quietly going on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.
When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state;
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell of their life stories,
From the time that they were young;
But the passing of a soldier,
Goes unnoticed and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution,
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise,
And cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow,
Who in the time of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country
And offers up his life?
The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are sometimes disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.
While the ordinary soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension ... small.
It's so easy to forget them,
For it was so long ago,
That our Bob's and Jim's and Johnny's,
Went to battle, but we know ...
It was not the politicians,
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom,
That our Country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand ...
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?
Or would you want a Soldier,
Who has sworn to defend,
His home, his kin, and Country,
And would fight until the end?
He was just a common Soldier
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us,
We may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict,
Then we find the Soldier's part,
Is to clean up all the troubles,
The damn politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor,
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage,
At the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline,
In the paper that might say,
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING"
"For a Soldier Died Today."
~ Author Unknown ~
All Navy-----
Grandad - WWI
Dad - WWII - Decorated
Me - Vietnam Era (Submarines)
Son - Afghanistan / Iraq first 9 months - Decorated twice
Not bad for a bunch of Hungarian immigrants!
God Bless the USA
My favorite.......
A Soldier Died Today
He was getting old and paunchy,
And his hair was falling fast;
He sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.
He told of a war he had fought in
And the deeds that he had done;
In his exploits with his buddies ...
They were heroes....everyone.
And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors,
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened ...
For they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Bob has passed away;
And the world's a little poorer,
For a soldier died today.
He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife;
For he just lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family,
Quietly going on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.
When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state;
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell of their life stories,
From the time that they were young;
But the passing of a soldier,
Goes unnoticed and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution,
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise,
And cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow,
Who in the time of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country
And offers up his life?
The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are sometimes disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.
While the ordinary soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension ... small.
It's so easy to forget them,
For it was so long ago,
That our Bob's and Jim's and Johnny's,
Went to battle, but we know ...
It was not the politicians,
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom,
That our Country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand ...
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?
Or would you want a Soldier,
Who has sworn to defend,
His home, his kin, and Country,
And would fight until the end?
He was just a common Soldier
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us,
We may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict,
Then we find the Soldier's part,
Is to clean up all the troubles,
The damn politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor,
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage,
At the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline,
In the paper that might say,
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING"
"For a Soldier Died Today."
~ Author Unknown ~
~S~
Great Grandpa....WWI....2 yrs (Marines)
Grandpa...WWII...5 yrs (Army Air Corp)
Dad...Vietnam...22yrs (Marines, Air Force)
Me...Grenada, Gulf War, Operations; Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Just Cause.....21 yrs, 4mo, 5 days. (Air Force)
Son (Cable)....Iraqi Freedom....4 yrs (Air Force)
May God Bless the United States of America!!!
Great Grandpa....WWI....2 yrs (Marines)
Grandpa...WWII...5 yrs (Army Air Corp)
Dad...Vietnam...22yrs (Marines, Air Force)
Me...Grenada, Gulf War, Operations; Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Just Cause.....21 yrs, 4mo, 5 days. (Air Force)
Son (Cable)....Iraqi Freedom....4 yrs (Air Force)
May God Bless the United States of America!!!
~S~
Long Family History History Here.
Grandpa M.WWII (US.Navy-Ordnanceman USS.Enterprise)
Grandpa W.WWII (US.Navy-Radioman USS. Henley)
Late Grandpa R. WWII (US.Navy-VS or VT-22 cant remember TBF Gunner)
Late Uncle W. WWII USAAC-(Tuskeee Airman)
Uncle H. Vietnam (US.Army-1/9Cav)
Father in Law Korea (US.Navy-USS.Pasedena CL-65)
Father Vietnam (US.Army-5th Special Forces Group, 18D)
Brother Bosnia-Iraq (US.Marines 2/6-US.Army-4th Infantry Div, 11B)
Cousin D. AFG (US.Marines 1/8 2nd Mar Div,0311)
Cousin R. (US.Navy-SH-60 Pilot)
and Myself Bosnia-Iraq (US.Marines 2/6-US.Army 3rd Infantry Div,0311-11B)
Long Family History History Here.
Grandpa M.WWII (US.Navy-Ordnanceman USS.Enterprise)
Grandpa W.WWII (US.Navy-Radioman USS. Henley)
Late Grandpa R. WWII (US.Navy-VS or VT-22 cant remember TBF Gunner)
Late Uncle W. WWII USAAC-(Tuskeee Airman)
Uncle H. Vietnam (US.Army-1/9Cav)
Father in Law Korea (US.Navy-USS.Pasedena CL-65)
Father Vietnam (US.Army-5th Special Forces Group, 18D)
Brother Bosnia-Iraq (US.Marines 2/6-US.Army-4th Infantry Div, 11B)
Cousin D. AFG (US.Marines 1/8 2nd Mar Div,0311)
Cousin R. (US.Navy-SH-60 Pilot)
and Myself Bosnia-Iraq (US.Marines 2/6-US.Army 3rd Infantry Div,0311-11B)
My Family
Uncle, Army Air corps, , Kitty hawk island NC. (meterologist) Kitty Hawk Island Nc. 4 years. world war 2
Uncle,, US Navy. Cebu Island Phillpines, (aviation Machineist Mate) Served 2 years, ww2.
Uncle ,US navy. USS Yorktown, USS Franklin, ( Gunners mate) World war 2. 4 years
Uncle US Navy. Tarrawa, Iwo jima. 26th Marine regiment. (Corpsman). Served 4 yrs. world war 2.
Uncle 1/502nd 101st abn Division, particaipated in Normandy and Holland jumps. Wounded and sent home during Bulge. (airborne infantry) 3 years
Father. Service company, 3rd BN, 32nd Infantry, 7th infantry division, (Cook, Infantryman) Captured at Chosin Resevoir, Korea. 1950, Served 6 years, 2 years as Pow.
Oldest brother. US ARMY. Company C. 1st battalion, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cav Division (airmobile), Company A. 1st battalion 187th parachute Infantry regiment, 101st Abn DIv.. KIA Firebase musket, near Phu Bai (infantryman/ LRRP) Dec 1970. Served 3 years. Viet Nam.
Older brother, US Army. 2 years. Germany (truck driver) Cold war.
Older brother, US army Reserves. 205th Light infantry brigade. 6th Infantry Division. Infantryman. Cold war.
Myself.
US ARMY.. Company B, 1/9th infantry, 2nd infantry division, Korea.
Company C 1st BN 325th Airborne Infantry regiment. , 82nd ABN Division, (Desert Shield/Storm)
Company E 313th MI, BN (LRSUDET) 82nd ABN Division,
Company B, 361st Signal BN, 13th Signal brigade.
Company B, 3rd battalion, 75th Ranger regiment. (airborne) (Somalia, Operation Gothic Serpent)
194th LRSUDET, (airborne) 34th Infantry Division, Iowa Army national Guard.
11th Armoured Cav regiment,
HHC company, 1st Bn 325th Airborne Infantry regiment, 82nd Airborne Division (kosovo)
Company A, 3rd battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, ( Operation rhino, Anaconda, operation Enduring Freedom) Afghanistan.
Uncle, Army Air corps, , Kitty hawk island NC. (meterologist) Kitty Hawk Island Nc. 4 years. world war 2
Uncle,, US Navy. Cebu Island Phillpines, (aviation Machineist Mate) Served 2 years, ww2.
Uncle ,US navy. USS Yorktown, USS Franklin, ( Gunners mate) World war 2. 4 years
Uncle US Navy. Tarrawa, Iwo jima. 26th Marine regiment. (Corpsman). Served 4 yrs. world war 2.
Uncle 1/502nd 101st abn Division, particaipated in Normandy and Holland jumps. Wounded and sent home during Bulge. (airborne infantry) 3 years
Father. Service company, 3rd BN, 32nd Infantry, 7th infantry division, (Cook, Infantryman) Captured at Chosin Resevoir, Korea. 1950, Served 6 years, 2 years as Pow.
Oldest brother. US ARMY. Company C. 1st battalion, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cav Division (airmobile), Company A. 1st battalion 187th parachute Infantry regiment, 101st Abn DIv.. KIA Firebase musket, near Phu Bai (infantryman/ LRRP) Dec 1970. Served 3 years. Viet Nam.
Older brother, US Army. 2 years. Germany (truck driver) Cold war.
Older brother, US army Reserves. 205th Light infantry brigade. 6th Infantry Division. Infantryman. Cold war.
Myself.
US ARMY.. Company B, 1/9th infantry, 2nd infantry division, Korea.
Company C 1st BN 325th Airborne Infantry regiment. , 82nd ABN Division, (Desert Shield/Storm)
Company E 313th MI, BN (LRSUDET) 82nd ABN Division,
Company B, 361st Signal BN, 13th Signal brigade.
Company B, 3rd battalion, 75th Ranger regiment. (airborne) (Somalia, Operation Gothic Serpent)
194th LRSUDET, (airborne) 34th Infantry Division, Iowa Army national Guard.
11th Armoured Cav regiment,
HHC company, 1st Bn 325th Airborne Infantry regiment, 82nd Airborne Division (kosovo)
Company A, 3rd battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, ( Operation rhino, Anaconda, operation Enduring Freedom) Afghanistan.
Myself continued,
ROTC cadet Command, University of Michigan@ Ann Arbor,
Company A 2nd battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry regiment, OEF 3 OIF. 1 and 4 ,
ROTC cadet Command. Butler University, Indinapolis.. Served 20 years and counting, Retirment Date 29 Jan 09, 21 years service.
( Infantry rifleman 11-b Pvs 30) Signal 31-M. Plt leader, Company Executive officer,Rifle Company commander, Operations officer, Tac officer)infantry branch officer
ROTC cadet Command, University of Michigan@ Ann Arbor,
Company A 2nd battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry regiment, OEF 3 OIF. 1 and 4 ,
ROTC cadet Command. Butler University, Indinapolis.. Served 20 years and counting, Retirment Date 29 Jan 09, 21 years service.
( Infantry rifleman 11-b Pvs 30) Signal 31-M. Plt leader, Company Executive officer,Rifle Company commander, Operations officer, Tac officer)infantry branch officer
Dang Ranger, we didn't need the whole DD Form 214.....lol; thanks again for your service.