Delivering the skydivers (Presenting the American Flag) at the start of the annual Corvallis, Montana Memorial Day Parade.

The "Biggest Small Town Parade in the World" is organized by the Corvallis American Legion and Auxiliary Post 91. Thank you all veterans!!

This year's theme is Law Enforcement-Keeping Us Safe Through Sacrifice.

Aircraft? A Veteran in its own world, a Historical Backcountry Buster, a 1956 Cessna 182! (Flaps on takeoff)

Richard

Cary wrote:I posted this on Facebook a couple of days ago. I hope you'll all appreciate it, too.

Cary

Cary, I remember this story from a previous post. Thanks for sharing.

FARMAULE wrote: I urge you all to get out of your comfort zone maybe and just start up a conversation. Never know where it may lead you and there is not many left from that generation.

Trebor,

Thank you for your service and your post in this thread.


I heard something the other day about my generation- the millennials. (The next paragraph is not all my words, but I tend to agree with them, and I AM paraphrasing.)

While it is true that the WW2 generation is the "first" greatest generation, we also need to think about the current generation of service men and women. They are wholly a volunteer force. Many of them enlisted after 9/11 after seeing an attack on our home soil, much like what was seen on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor. These men and women ran to the fight for our freedoms and to take the fight back to the enemy. They have endured countless deployments and are still fighting the longest war in American history in Afghanistan. These soldiers are selfless, and are devoted to this country and the values that it holds. Nearly all that were in combat suffer from some form of PTSD, and will live with those emotional scars for the rest of their lives. These soldiers prove that American values and patriotism still exist in this generation despite what the media projects on and about us. I am proud to be part of this generation. It makes me wish I would have served.

I would never take away from the first greatest generation. Or any Veteran for that matter. I love all our vets and I always thank someone in uniform when I see them. These are the people that have shed blood for us. The blood that they have shed is not always manifested in actual blood. It is the time away from home and family, it is watching their fellow soldiers fall to the hand of an enemy that hates this country and the values that it stands for, and it is seeing the aftermath of war and the toll it takes on the mind. That is the price these people pay for us to live free.

So when you are enjoying that cold beer and burger today, remember those people who made that freedom to do what you want, whenever you want possible. I know I will.

Thank you to all our vets. I appreciate every one of you.



At least 1.2 million people have died fighting for America during its wars dating back 241 years, according to Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs data.

Most died in battle, while many others never landed abroad but are no less honored on this Memorial Day.

Here’s a by-the-numbers breakdown of when and where they died, as of May 27, starting with the American Revolution:

American Revolution (1775-1783)
Battle Deaths: 4,435

War of 1812 (1812-1815)
Battle Deaths: 2,260

Indian Wars (approx. 1817-1898)
Battle Deaths (VA estimate): 1,000

Mexican War (1846-1848)
Battle Deaths: 1,733

Other Deaths (In Theater): 11,550

Civil War (1861-1865)
Battle Deaths (Union): 140,414
Other Deaths (In Theater)(Union): 224,097

Battle Deaths (Confederate): 74,524
Other Deaths (In Theater)(Confederate): 59,297

Spanish-American War (1898-1902)
Battle Deaths: 385
Other Deaths in Service (Non-Theater): 2,061

World War I (1917-1918)
Battle Deaths: 53,402
Other Deaths in Service (Non-Theater): 63,114

World War II (1941 –1945)
Battle Deaths: 291,557
Other Deaths in Service (Non-Theater): 113,842

Korean War (1950-1953)
Battle Deaths: 33,739
Other Deaths (In Theater): 2,835
Other Deaths in Service (Non-Theater): 17,672

Vietnam War (1964-1975)
Battle Deaths: 47,434
Other Deaths (In Theater): 10,786
Other Deaths in Service (Non-Theater): 32,000
(These cover period 11/1/55 to 5/15/75)
Battle Deaths: 148
Other Deaths (In Theater): 235
Other Deaths in Service (Non-Theater): 1,565

Global War on Terror, including Iraq and Afghanistan (Oct 2001 - present)
Total Deaths: 6,888.

In addition to those, the State Department Office of the Historian lists the Philippine-American War, 1899 to 1902, citing the deaths of more than 4,200 U.S. combatants.

From:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/memorial-day-12m-people-died-fighting-america/story?id=39475580

Does anyone still see the red Buddy Poppies available, worn, or displayed ?

As I mentioned earlier, I volunteered to taxi a 95 year old aviator to Russ's fly-in and back today. That turned out to be a real treat. First, the ol' boy was physically and mentally as sharp or sharper than a lot of people 30 years younger. I was expecting a doddering old codger--almost threw my Ma's walker in the back of the car just to make sure, and I expected to have to drive right up to the front of the hangar where the food was being served. Instead what I found was a man, very upright, who could probably walk as far as I can, very spry, not wobbly in the slightest.

The conversations going out and back were fascinating. He was a tiny bit repetitive, but not bad, nothing like I've experienced with other older folks. Here's his story, and it's a good one:

He was a design engineer for Boeing before WWII. He'd always been fascinated by airplanes--took his first airplane ride at age 8. He grew up on a farm in Kansas, about 80 miles from Wichita. So he hired on to Boeing in Wichita, and he was one of the principal designers of the B-29. After the War started, he was deferred from being drafted because he was needed at Boeing. But once the B-29 became operational, his deferment ended, and he was drafted.

However, because of his background, he was fast-tracked through basic training, and soon he was flying as a flight engineer on the B-29s which were carpet-bombing Japan. He flew some 29 missions before the end of the War. He didn't mention it, but I got the impression he was not involved on the final two runs to Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

After the War, he returned to working for Boeing, and continued to work there until 1976, when he retired. He said that his wife, who died some 20 or so years ago, insisted that he retire, because he was working himself too hard, 13-14 hour days, 7 days a week. The advantage, however, was that he had a good retirement package, which still supports him.

After retiring, he and his wife moved to Fort Collins. He said that one of his regrets now is that everyone he ever worked with, flew with, or did anything with, is dead--he's outlived them all. He expressed that he's very healthy, which was obvious, and that he stays in shape by walking a lot and by using his home gym in inclement weather. Until last year, he mowed his own lawn, but his neighbor volunteered to do it for him, which was OK with him, because he never enjoyed mowing anyway. He still has a drivers license, but his daughters insist that he shouldn't drive "because I'm 95", not because of any particular other reason.

I grew quite fond of him in the short time we spent together today. He made me think that getting into my 90s might not be so bad after all! Once I get my airplane back, I'm going to have to invite him to go up with me--I think he'd enjoy it, and I know I would.

Cary

Thanks for sharing your stories Cary. They made me feel honored to be American and thankful for men like your Dad.

Regards...Rob