(Yes) Thanks for a great video. Would have loved to be there in person to see it take off. WWII produced some of the greatest military aircraft. The B-29 was a beauty and was a huge bomber in it's day. While out in Nampa, ID during Memorial Day weekend I got a chance to see a beautifully restored B-17, "The Aluminum Overcast". The EAA had it on display plus you could get rides in it for $475. for about half an hour or so.
To All Our Vets...
- Thread starter spiritdream
- Start date
MikeyTX
Dead animals deserve balloons...
"Puff the Magic Dragon" :yahoo:
Awesome.
Sully, Great!!! Thanks for sharing.
Better Then Coney Island on the fourth of July.....:trippy:
ISP-FL
600+ Posts
Since going to the visitation of a buddy from Nam I hadn't talked to in over 46 years I have been doing some thinking about those past days. I am one of the younger VN vets since I was there in 71 and part of 72 while being 18 years old.
When I got home it seemed like everyone was a veteran, or at least everyone I worked with or hung out with. We didn't really talk about it much. We didn't talk about it with each other, with our families, or with anyone, we just began a new phase of our lives and that was that.
A couple weeks ago we were visiting our son in Chicago. I had just attended my buddy's visitation in downstate Illinois and told him about it. He asked me "you were in Viet Nam?" I had never talked to him about it. Then a couple days ago I got a call from my deceased buddies middle son. He had gotten my phone number from the on-line funeral home condolence entry I had posted for his Dad. He wanted to know if I was going to be in the area and if so if I could meet with them to talk about being with his Dad in Viet Nam. He said his Dad had never talked about his time in the military and they wanted to know. I told him I would absolutely meet with him and his siblings next month on our way back through.
But now it seems like some of that has changed. A couple years ago I found a VN campaign sticker. I bought a couple of them. Put one on the windshield of my Harley and one on the back of my RV. I joined the Legion and began attending once and awhile. Now I probably don't go a week without someone coming up to me at a gas station or a RV park and thanking me for my service. It is hard getting used to. I almost took the stickers off because of it. I didn't do anything special, I wasn't a hero, I didn't save anyone, I didn't kill anyone that I'm aware of. I was just a kid that went over there with some buddies, did our jobs, and when we had time partied as hard as we could.
But the stickers are staying. It is my way of honoring some of my fellow VN vets that have not been as lucky as me: My older cousin Gary Clem who survived the tet of 68 only to die of agent orange related cancer in his early 60's. My brother-in-law Bill McLaughlin who as a gunner was shot down twice and came home to die of the same cancer in his late 50's. My other brother-in-law Ken Crawford who was only in the bush for 3 months before losing both of his legs. My buddy Mark Aberle who came home and had 7 kids and 21 grandkids before agent orange cancer killed him this month at age 66. Any finally my buddy Vernon Smith who was by my side from basic until we got back from VN, who was just diagnosed with bladder cancer.
I wish all my brother VN vets would display a campaign ribbon sticker on their car, motorcycle, or RV. And to all of you out there, get used to hearing it "welcome home brother".....
When I got home it seemed like everyone was a veteran, or at least everyone I worked with or hung out with. We didn't really talk about it much. We didn't talk about it with each other, with our families, or with anyone, we just began a new phase of our lives and that was that.
A couple weeks ago we were visiting our son in Chicago. I had just attended my buddy's visitation in downstate Illinois and told him about it. He asked me "you were in Viet Nam?" I had never talked to him about it. Then a couple days ago I got a call from my deceased buddies middle son. He had gotten my phone number from the on-line funeral home condolence entry I had posted for his Dad. He wanted to know if I was going to be in the area and if so if I could meet with them to talk about being with his Dad in Viet Nam. He said his Dad had never talked about his time in the military and they wanted to know. I told him I would absolutely meet with him and his siblings next month on our way back through.
But now it seems like some of that has changed. A couple years ago I found a VN campaign sticker. I bought a couple of them. Put one on the windshield of my Harley and one on the back of my RV. I joined the Legion and began attending once and awhile. Now I probably don't go a week without someone coming up to me at a gas station or a RV park and thanking me for my service. It is hard getting used to. I almost took the stickers off because of it. I didn't do anything special, I wasn't a hero, I didn't save anyone, I didn't kill anyone that I'm aware of. I was just a kid that went over there with some buddies, did our jobs, and when we had time partied as hard as we could.
But the stickers are staying. It is my way of honoring some of my fellow VN vets that have not been as lucky as me: My older cousin Gary Clem who survived the tet of 68 only to die of agent orange related cancer in his early 60's. My brother-in-law Bill McLaughlin who as a gunner was shot down twice and came home to die of the same cancer in his late 50's. My other brother-in-law Ken Crawford who was only in the bush for 3 months before losing both of his legs. My buddy Mark Aberle who came home and had 7 kids and 21 grandkids before agent orange cancer killed him this month at age 66. Any finally my buddy Vernon Smith who was by my side from basic until we got back from VN, who was just diagnosed with bladder cancer.
I wish all my brother VN vets would display a campaign ribbon sticker on their car, motorcycle, or RV. And to all of you out there, get used to hearing it "welcome home brother".....
Joe, Welcome Home brother.
I have a Nam decal on mine, and the same thing happens to me. People come up to me and Thank me. I would have not thought by placing the decal it would even be noticed by most people, only other Veterans.
I have a Nam decal on mine, and the same thing happens to me. People come up to me and Thank me. I would have not thought by placing the decal it would even be noticed by most people, only other Veterans.
Times have changed, haven't they? Still remember walking carefully through airports wearing my Navy whites and avoiding anyone whom I thought might spit on me because I wore that campaign ribbon. Then, again, I don't think that mattered - we were all "baby killers" in the eyes of some regardless of uniform. I go out of my way to shake the hand of anyone I can identify as a Vietnam, or Vietnam era, vet and have found that others do the same for me. Welcome home, brother.
Like you Sully... I just have the Vietnam campaign sticker on my Trike....Those that know will thank me, Those that don't know will ask...And i just tell them 'It means Boots on the Ground... I have mixed feelings about it....Drafted in 65, Nam in 66.
That was a long time ago, Did what i had to do 11b20 RTO... Came out alive and in one piece, And relatively healthy.. I never joined any Vet Groups, Back then most Older Vets, Remember that was 50 years ago...Felt we lost that war...:Shrug:
Joe, Like you I did what I was told. Definitely not a hero and not really wanting to get praise for being there. I was told to go and I went.
Lost some BROTHERS as we all did. Long time ago! Welcome Home Brother!!!!!!! Bill
Lost some BROTHERS as we all did. Long time ago! Welcome Home Brother!!!!!!! Bill
I'm retired and live near and shop at Fort Campbell. When we go on post to the commissary I always wear my VN Veterans BB cap as do many others. It draws the attention of other VN Vets and next thing there will be a group of us taking up space in a isle. It's like being in Repo Depot.:laugh: 192nd AHC, Phan Thiet, 1968... "Hooah"
Peter A.
1000+ Posts
VM
I too did my time (1965-69) but fortunately never saw VM - but I still remember the MOOD
and TENSIONS of the time, lost many classmates/friends.
Those were troublesome times and I GLADLY shake the hand of ANY VETERAN that I come across a BIG WELCOME HOME to all of you!!
ThumbUp
I too did my time (1965-69) but fortunately never saw VM - but I still remember the MOOD
and TENSIONS of the time, lost many classmates/friends.
Those were troublesome times and I GLADLY shake the hand of ANY VETERAN that I come across a BIG WELCOME HOME to all of you!!
ThumbUp
- Moderator
- #913
Lost my high school sweetheart to the VN war. I worked for a guy in PA who was a real jerk towards Vets. One of the customers bought a bike there and he fought in VN and we had a good talk. Every time he came in for parts he'd ask for me to help him. Many were whining about the draft, a number of guys went into the Navy together, John he enlisted in the Marine Corp and then there were the ones I had no use for that ran.
Gentlemen, thank you for your service.
Gentlemen, thank you for your service.
As a Vietnam Vet myself I've lost a few life long friends to Agent Orange. It haunts me on occasion since we shared equal spaces in our 68/69 tours. One who was very close passed a couple years ago and his wife asked if I would write something to say at the burial of his ashes just recently. It has taken her that long to release them back into the earth. It was very difficult for me to even think about it so I asked my youngest daughter who has a talent for writing, to do it from my Nam journals and poems I had written so many years past. She took on the task without hesitation since she has read all of them many times. This is what she wrote and his wife was very appreciative. She doesn't mind me sharing it with all brothers who served in the war. I hope all of you enjoy it as much as I did.
Youth brings the promise of dreams,
Dreams of every kind-
filled with life and brightness,
Love and beauty.
Youth fosters hope for the better.
Hope for more.
But youth is also burdened with naivety,
Burdened with faith given carelessly-
Faith in those that will lie.
And a lie was told-
A lie that spoke of glory and virtue,
A lie promising a just cause,
A lie that bore nothing it foretold.
A lie.
The soldier boys were full of youth.
Youth slept in their bones
And fed their blood.
It filled them with wonder,
And they believed the lie.
And war found them,
And stole youth away.
When the War came
So did death and regret...
shame in believing the lie.
War did not gift the soldier boys with
glory and strength.
It did not gift them with pride or honor.
Instead, it gave them sorrow
and sleeping orange dust,
Anger
Disappointment
Hate
Sadness.
War left them wizened.
Some of the soldier boys never returned.
Some returned fragmented.
Some returned whole.
All returned a shell of youth.
Youth had fled from the inside,
And with it naivety as well.
For some, faith and hope perished.
For some, dreams were forever buried.
For some, youth was all they lost.
Those that remained from all the others...
Those that had only seemed to have lost youth,
They still carried the war on the backs
of orange flecks of dust.
Inside it slept.
It settled in their bones.
In their lifeblood.
In their very cells.
War pretended to have perished
with the soldiers' youth.
But it was always there.
What war did not steal from their hearts,
it stole from their beings.
It stole their lungs and limbs
Their teeth and hair
It stole their very bodies...
Slowly and silently infiltrating and taking more and more until there was nothing left to take.
Youth brings the promise of dreams,
Dreams of every kind-
filled with life and brightness,
Love and beauty.
Youth fosters hope for the better.
Hope for more.
But youth is also burdened with naivety,
Burdened with faith given carelessly-
Faith in those that will lie.
And a lie was told-
A lie that spoke of glory and virtue,
A lie promising a just cause,
A lie that bore nothing it foretold.
A lie.
The soldier boys were full of youth.
Youth slept in their bones
And fed their blood.
It filled them with wonder,
And they believed the lie.
And war found them,
And stole youth away.
When the War came
So did death and regret...
shame in believing the lie.
War did not gift the soldier boys with
glory and strength.
It did not gift them with pride or honor.
Instead, it gave them sorrow
and sleeping orange dust,
Anger
Disappointment
Hate
Sadness.
War left them wizened.
Some of the soldier boys never returned.
Some returned fragmented.
Some returned whole.
All returned a shell of youth.
Youth had fled from the inside,
And with it naivety as well.
For some, faith and hope perished.
For some, dreams were forever buried.
For some, youth was all they lost.
Those that remained from all the others...
Those that had only seemed to have lost youth,
They still carried the war on the backs
of orange flecks of dust.
Inside it slept.
It settled in their bones.
In their lifeblood.
In their very cells.
War pretended to have perished
with the soldiers' youth.
But it was always there.
What war did not steal from their hearts,
it stole from their beings.
It stole their lungs and limbs
Their teeth and hair
It stole their very bodies...
Slowly and silently infiltrating and taking more and more until there was nothing left to take.
peteg59
Meme Master
5 years too young to serve in V/N myself, but full respect given to all who bore that solemn burden for our country...
Hey My Brother,
I hear what you're saying as I have not mentioned my service in country(VN), but have lost several friends there.
I'm not a hero either but I still won't join a vet group, VFW,AL or the like just my way of protest for lack of respect for those returning home and those who didn't JUST ME....
No offense to those who chose a different stance.
MAY GOD BLESS ALL THAT SERVED and SERVE. REMEMBER OUR FALLEN BROTHERS, I will.
Ride Safe and RIDE FREE!!!!
Ken
I hear what you're saying as I have not mentioned my service in country(VN), but have lost several friends there.
I'm not a hero either but I still won't join a vet group, VFW,AL or the like just my way of protest for lack of respect for those returning home and those who didn't JUST ME....
No offense to those who chose a different stance.
MAY GOD BLESS ALL THAT SERVED and SERVE. REMEMBER OUR FALLEN BROTHERS, I will.
Ride Safe and RIDE FREE!!!!
Ken
Same here.....
ISP-FL
600+ Posts
Ken, I certainly agree with what you are saying brother. When I flew home I didn't have any problems in the civilian airports but certainly no one wanted anything to do with you. I felt like a reject so instead of waiting for my flight from Chicago to my downstate home I went outside and paid a taxi $150.00 to drive me the 140 miles.
[video]http://loyceedeen.webstarts.com/uploads/GoingHome.mp4[/video]
peteg59
Meme Master
There are a few "old salts" and former sailors out there who'd sooner be buried at sea, than take up space in a land based graveyard.
An interesting bit of trivia:The USN will carry out a BAS for anyone who's served honorably.
Not sure if its "free", but hope so...:Shrug:
An interesting bit of trivia:The USN will carry out a BAS for anyone who's served honorably.
Not sure if its "free", but hope so...:Shrug:
- Staff
- #923
Its free. Your cost is to pay airfare to ship for burial. But your on wait list, too.
Nuc
peteg59
Meme Master
The 2 burials @ sea I personally witnessed while serving on a FF over 30 years ago, were held in rather plain looking metal caskets with holes all throughout the outer casings, presumably to speed up the sinking? The caskets were gone from sight in less than 1 minute after being released overboard, to their final resting places in the Atlantic Ocean.
I remember them as a solemn service held with utmost dignity to honor those who served in our seagoing military.
I remember them as a solemn service held with utmost dignity to honor those who served in our seagoing military.
The story behind the video...Nov. 5, 1944. Imagine being there to witness it.
Loyce Edward Deen an Aviator Machinist Mate 2nd Class USNR was a gunner on a TBM Avenger and was killed in a raid on Manila.
The pilot, Lt. Robert Cosgrove managed to return to his carrier, the USS Essex. Both Deen and the plane had been shot up so badly it was decided to leave him in the plane.
It is the only time in U.S.Navy history that an aviator was buried in his aircraft after being killed in action.
Loyce Edward Deen an Aviator Machinist Mate 2nd Class USNR was a gunner on a TBM Avenger and was killed in a raid on Manila.
The pilot, Lt. Robert Cosgrove managed to return to his carrier, the USS Essex. Both Deen and the plane had been shot up so badly it was decided to leave him in the plane.
It is the only time in U.S.Navy history that an aviator was buried in his aircraft after being killed in action.
- Moderator
- #926
I get my news from AP and UPI, so it's good reading in my opinion. The Navy just launched a new ship on Monday the 3rd.
http://www.upi.com/Defense-News/201.../?utm_source=fp&utm_campaign=ts&utm_medium=19
http://www.upi.com/Defense-News/201.../?utm_source=fp&utm_campaign=ts&utm_medium=19
It's wild watching that video how they just dump the ship sideways into the water and doesn't tip over.
- Moderator
- #929
I have just viewed a video of how the launch a Navy ship and to be honest with you I hope no one is on it when they do. I feel sorry for the recruits, they haven't got their 'Sea Legs' yet. :titanic:
God Bless our VETERANS
God love you, man! This AO stuff is killing the ones of us that the Vietnamese couldn't!! I have no recognized reasons that would cause the problems I have, but by thunder the VA pushes away my pleas and won't connect them to AO exposure! I am at 90% with PTSD, hearing loss, muscle, nerve, bone and connective tissue damage to my legs. The VA PAYS for my allergic reactions, my lung disorders that are associated with asthma and COPD, but, I NEVER smoked, and that is the first question they always ask! Then they say "why do you have COPD?" :gah: Makes me turn ORANGE! :angry2:
Oldveteran :Trike1:
God love you, man! This AO stuff is killing the ones of us that the Vietnamese couldn't!! I have no recognized reasons that would cause the problems I have, but by thunder the VA pushes away my pleas and won't connect them to AO exposure! I am at 90% with PTSD, hearing loss, muscle, nerve, bone and connective tissue damage to my legs. The VA PAYS for my allergic reactions, my lung disorders that are associated with asthma and COPD, but, I NEVER smoked, and that is the first question they always ask! Then they say "why do you have COPD?" :gah: Makes me turn ORANGE! :angry2:
Oldveteran :Trike1:
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