As is my personal tradition for Memorial Day, I got up early this morning, went out to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge and waited for the sun to come up. As I sat there in the dark, I reminisced upon earlier, darker morns as I waited (prayed?) for the sun to come up and chase away the darkness.

This morning was, of course, different. It was peaceful and it was quiet. There were no explosions last night; no pre-dawn stand-to peering uneasily out across a misty field while waiting for the sun to chase away the darkness while birthing a new day. There were no others with me peering fearfully into the darkness hoping to see nothing. Instead, there was a sunrise reflected off of a moderate cloud deck. A sunrise of vibrant hues and brilliant light peeking ever so slowly over the eastern terminus of this small mountain chain in the middle of the Oklahoma flat lands. The sun leapt above the horizon, eager to start a new day, a day of both promise and remembrance.

Yes, remembrance. Remembering friends who did not make it back home; taken from life to young, before they had realized the promises of their tomorrows. Some died in battle; some died in training accidents; and some died while serving, victims of non-duty accidents and incidents; and some for no apparent reason at all.

Memorial Day is not the day to remember all of those who served; we have other days for that. Memorial Day is to remember those who served and never came back. Far, far too many names are listed on the scroll in my memory. I cannot forget them. I will not forget them.

Don

KR5T wrote:Memorial Day is not the day to remember all of those who served; we have other days for that. Memorial Day is to remember those who served and never came back. Far, far too many names are listed on the scroll in my memory. I cannot forget them. I will not forget them.

None of us will...

Semper Fi

Gump

I was at sea on the USS Queenfish Memorial Day 1968. Just a few days prior to that the USS Scorpion (another fast attack submarine) was reported missing. It was scheduled to come back to home port after several months deployed and it did not show. Wives and kids were all waiting on the pier.

We were depressed a bit. I did not know anybody on the Scorpion but a few of my shipmates did. Still think of those kids waiting for dad to come home.

Tim

I have a similar tradition and I never want to forget the fallen and try to live to the fullest for them.
In remembrance of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.


Richard L. Moore 5-17-67
20E

17
Illinois
Jerry I. Beckman 5-19-67
20E

39
Oklahoma
Harold E. Fetner 5-20-67
20E

58
New York
Joseph W. Allwood 7-31-67
24E

53
Florida
Henry C. Cauthen, Sr. 7-31-67
24E

54
Mississippi
Rodney O. Davie 7-31-67
24E

54
Illinois
Douglas R. Noel 7-31-67
24E

55
North Carolina
James R. Poggemeyer 7-31-67
24E

56
Nebraska
Wayne G. Van Lant 7-31-67
24E

57
California
Robert M. Wallace 7-31-67
24E

57
Ohio
Paul E. Williams 7-31-67
24E

58
Illinois
Alfred J. Smith 8-30-67
25E

72
New Jersey
James T. Donahue, Jr. 9-22-67
26E

111
Illinois
Jimmie W. Green 10-13-67
27E

100
Florida
Boyd E. Morrow 10-13-67
27E

102
Pennsylvania
Robert W. Watts 11-22-67
30E

67
Kentucky
Joe D. Helvey 5-18-68
62E

18
Oklahoma
Leroy McKeever 5-18-68
62E

21
Missouri

Former Black Widows
Name Date
Panel

Line
State
Frank L. Kerbl 10-7-67
27E

65
New Jersey
Ellis M. Bailey 10-11-67
27E

87
Texas
David E. Thomas 11-3-67
29E

17
Missouri
John Frederick Holz 12-19-67
32E

23
Pennsylvania
Ronald Boysen Baker 2-10-70
14W

119
Pennsylvania
Phillip Sharp 5-23-71
3W

52
California
Charles C. Windeler, Jr. 4-5-72
02W

130
Georgia
Dan C. Kingman 5-24-72
01W

30
Nebraska

Charlie CO 101st Aviation Battalion
Name Date
Panel

Line
State
Harry Kim 8-5-68
49W

15
California
Richard S. Riley, Jr. 10-24-68
40W

30
New Jersey
David L. Sparks 10-24-68
40W

30
Colorado
Wilofard A. McClain, II 3-28-69
28W

74
Texas
Eric V. Pulliam 3-28-69
28W

75
Maryland
Ronald F. Ricciardo 3-28-69
28W

75
New York
William D. Richardson 8-21-69
19W

90
Tennessee
Joe Carl Shaw 8-21-69
19W

90
New Mexico
Norman F. Paley 11-24-70
06W

82
Ohio
Robert T. Callan 12-16-70
06W

124
Ohio
Phillip D. Sharp 5-23-71
03W

52
California
Steven J. Minkler 7-18-71
03W

110
Washington
Rudolph Stevens 7-18-71
03W

110
Louisiana
Jay Steven Aston 7-18-71
03W

109
Ohio
Richard A. Crocker 3-17-72
02W

115
Pennsylvania


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Don, Thanks for posting this and sharing your thoughts. And thanks to the others for replying. Bill, that is a really touching post. It chocked me up as I read the names and dates. Having spent the last 6 years in the Navy Air Training Command, my hat goes off to you folks that actually put boots on the ground. This is a day for remembering. I have known a few too who left us and went West. Here's to them and all the others. My thanks to them for the life I am privileged to lead in this great country.

Respectfully,
Arnold McCoy
LCDR USN (R)

Don, Bill, and all others who served,

Thanks, that really hit home.

In memory of my Dad,

Richard D. Maynard, USAF
Korea - radio operator
N0EVM

and my Father-in-law,

Hilm Fauske, US Army
WWII & Korea - medic

Jim Maynard

Thanks Don and Bill. In Memory of my son Jeff who served in the 52nd fighter Wing 23rd fighter squadron in the first Gulf war..

TO ALL MY VETERAN FRIENDS




When a good Veteran leaves the "job" and retires to a better life, many are jealous, some are pleased and others, who may have already retired, wonder if he knows what he is leaving behind, because we already know.

We know, for example, that after a lifetime of camaraderie that few experience, it will remain as a longing for those past times.


We know in the Military Life there is a fellowship which lasts long after the uniforms are hung up in the back of the closet. We know even if he throws them away, they will be on him with every step and breath that remains in his life. We also know how the very bearing of the man speaks of what he was and in his heart still is.

These are the burdens of the job. You will still look at people suspiciously, still see what others do not see or choose to ignore and always will look at the rest of the Military world with a respect for what they do; only grown in a lifetime of knowing.

Never think for one moment you are escaping from that life. You are only escaping a "job" and merely being allowed to leave "active" duty.

So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into retirement, in your heart you never forget for one moment that "Blessed are the Peacemkers for they shall be called children of God," and you are still a member of the greatest fraternity the world has ever known.

Civilian Friends vs. Veteran Friends

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Get upset if you're too busy to talk to them for a week.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Are glad to see you after years, and will happily carry on the same conversation you were having the last time you met.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Have cried with you.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Borrow your stuff for a few days then give it back.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Keep your stuff so long they forget it's yours.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.
VETER AN FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Will kick the crowds' ass that left you behind.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Are for a while.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Are for a lifetime.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have shared a few experiences...
VETERAN FRIENDS: Have shared a lifetime of experiences no citizen could ever dream of...

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will take your drink away when they think you've had enough.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Will look at you stumbling all over the place and say, "You better drink the rest of that before you spill it!" Then carry you home safely and put you to bed ...

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will talk crap to the person who talks crap about you.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Will knock the hell out of them --- for using your name in vain.



A veteran - whether active duty, retired, or national guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in their Life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life."

From one Veteran to another, it's an honor to be in your Company. Thank you Veteran!

You are welcome. Still have my uniform hanging in the closet.

Once a sub sailor, always a sub sailor.

Tim

Little late posting this but it still hits home. Lots of friends and family served in various branches of the military. Several friends from the Vietnam era that were injured or affected.

I'm ex- AF Security Police/ Special Operations Hurlburt Field, FL.

My wife is currently Active duty Army (21+ years) and stationed in FallS Church Virginia.

Oldest daughter is Active Duty Army (12+years) and is currently stationed in Afgansistan for 15 months.

My son is in AFROTC and is currently at Officers Field Training at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. He is hoping to fly.

God Bless all of the past, present and future generation of our countries souls willing to sacrafice everything to uphold our freedoms.

Keith

I suspect that this will only be read by the contributors of this thread but I need to get it off my mind. I waited a couple of days in order not to use Memorial Day for any purpose other than what it was intended . Rush Limbaugh spoke about this very subject due to Obama's stupidity when he said; " Today is about the broken line of the fallen many whom I see in the crowd". Now either Obama is a Ghost Whisperer or not educated in connection to American History. Please trust that I am not politicizing this because I don't think much of the other 2 candidates. McCain has the gall to say that the American people are sick and tired of the war in Iraq." Giving relevance to the premise that Iraq is different than the war against islamic jihad. Except for the families of the warriors what exactly are these "Americans People" sick and tired of? As far as I can tell the war in Iraq as had no affect on them at all. Thanks to the valor of a few!
The point here is that a large majority of Americans do not know the difference between Memorial Day and Veteran's day and apparently could care less. Honoring, memorializing the dead hero's of war is not a day for politics, or wearing hats, going to political speech's where politicians use your service for their own agenda. It is not about bar BQ, or shopping. It is a day for reflection like Don's post on this thread. I am no idealist and I know all about being used and abused by the enemy from within, the media, movies, TV, and public education system that no longer teaches history. That said I am concerned that the way of life we fought for is slowly being taken a way bit by bit. There was one flag flying on my block on Memorial Day and that was mine. I realize I live in the Peoples Republic of California but that is shame on them.
As soon as possible I will move from this state so that what ever years I have left I want to be surrounded by fellow patriots and not the ignorant, and the selfish. I would implore you all to educate the people you know what Memorial Day is all about and I would like to extend my gratitude for taking up this cause.
God Bless the Fallen and remember their sacrifice!

Well said Bill

I was in a meeting the other day at that wonderful five-sided monument to career-ism when one of the sanctimonious used the phrase "We are a Nation at war" during a presentation. My reply was that we are an Army at war, the nation is at the mall.

KR5T wrote:I was in a meeting the other day at that wonderful five-sided monument to career-ism when one of the sanctimonious used the phrase "We are a Nation at war" during a presentation. My reply was that we are an Army at war, the nation is at the mall.

Isn't that the darn truth!!!! And if we aren't careful, any good that has been done in the last 8 years will go down the toilet next Fall and we will be a nation of those who should be looking over our shoulders for the next bombing from the East. At least those of us that served probably still have some of the means to protect our loved ones and ourselves for a while. I know I do.

pat