All of the boys in my family have no school on Monday, because it is Veteran's Day. At Central, we still have school. As a tribute to the Veterans that have served this country, I would like you to find a veteran story and tell your classmates. Ask your parents and grandparents if any of your relatives have served in the armed forces. Talk to your neighbors or former Crystal Lake Central graduates and ask them if they know any Veterans. If you are not related to a Veteran or don't know a Veteran, I will attach a link that has video stories of Illinois veterans.
Take a moment to visit the United Service Organizations website:
Below is the Link to the Illinois Veterans History Project:
Perhaps, you can find a valuable link about Veterans that you can share with the rest of the class.
I found a video about the tomb of the unknown soldier that is located in Arlington, Heights, Virginia. The tomb of the unknown soldier is where all of the soldiers that fought in a war and died but had no identification were buried and guarded 24-7. My family went to Washington D.C this past summer and we went to see the changing of the guard. It is very heartwarming to see theses soldiers protect the fallen and give them so much respect for serving our country. I am very glad that we have a holiday where we can have a moment of silence to remember all of theses men and women who have helped us so much.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB3uymC-IEM
Mikayla,
DeleteI also found the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier very emotional. Were you impressed with the size of Arlington National Cemetery?
Yes! we walked through most of the cemetery, it was so big! It made me really sad looking at how many soldiers had died for us.
DeleteI am not related to any Veterans, but i do understand how much they give up in order to serve and protect the country we live in. I found a story about a man named Charlie, who left to be a Veteran at the young age of 17. Ten months after he left his hometown to be a Veteran, he was involved in a tragic sinking of his ship, the USS Gambier Bay. Miraculously, he survived by holding on to his life raft for 42 hours in the Pacific. It would take a great amount of courage and bravery to do what Charlie did, and his actions prove a lot about how strong of a person he was back then. Charlie recalled that he “jumped” into the water as the ship was going down. For a day, he had no life jacket and hung perilously to a life raft with other sailors.He was lucky enough to survive with only minor injuries. I find this story very moving, for this man lived through something completely life changing, and the reason he did was because he was committed to protecting our nation.
ReplyDeleteI found this story at http://www.wehonorveterans.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=3424
http://www.mchenry.edu/News/ViewMccNewsById.asp?NewsId=4068
ReplyDeletethis is a new thing at mcc they have a veteran service center where veterans who are enrolled at mcc can come to study and get advice from other highly succsesfull veterans.
also my great grandpa on my moms side fought in world war 2 as a fighter pilot and my grandpa from my dads side was a navy captain for many years.
DeleteMy grandpa is a veteran, although luckily he never actually had to go into battle. He DID serve his country well, however, he was a good soldier and he later went into the National Guard. I love him very much but I really am happy he didn't have to serve in the way some people do, giving up their lives for the protection of us and others, because I might not have met him ever.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the members of my family who were in the army have passed away. However, I did find some interesting stories online about some veterans. One particular story about a D-Day veteran stood out to me. Edward Farely, one of a relative handful of colored solders, spent D-Day bobbing around in the English Channel. He said "Every man did his job, without hesitation, without complaint." Two of his men lost their lives when the vehicle was swamped. Edward mentioned them in a stanza in his poem "The War". He said "I will always remember two men in my platoon / Burrel Parnell and Grady Hughes were their names / I think about them often / And often I am not the same." The impact that war had on these people's lives is huge. We should thank everyday that there are people who are fighting for our country, because if we didn't have them, we wouldn't be here right now.
ReplyDeleteVeterans are the sole reason that we, as Americans, are free and live with prosperity that other countries are not lucky enough to have. The only person who was involved with any war in my family was my great-uncle Renee, who just recently passed in May of this year. He served in the Navy in World War II, and in the past few years before his death, he had never ceased to amaze us with his stories of his friends that he met, the things that he saw, or even the memories that he was thankful for, or not so thankful for. When cleaning out his apartment, our family found many medals, many photos of his easily recognizable face smiling with his group, and many objects that were reminders or memories. From all of the small knowledge that I know of my great-uncle, he went beyond his job in protecting the U.S.A. and serving his time voluntarily. Without veterans, there would be no flag, no bald eagle, no country of innovation, no United States of America. It is because of these heroes that put their lives in danger to protect millions of others that we prosper and continue to enjoy our lives.
ReplyDeleteAnother well-written response. Great job Drew.
DeleteIn honor of Veteran's Day, I provide great thanks to the soldiers who have had to enter battle, and have had to come face to face with both war, and their lives. I am related to a few veterans who have served in the Vietnam and World Wars, but the one who I would like to mention is my older brother. In 2005, my brother decided to join the marines during the height of the war with Iraq. He risked a lot, because he could have been called out to fight just as easily as anyone else if we needed more soldiers in the area. Fortunately, he did not have to go to Iraq, but one key thing had ended up saving him from having to go out: playing inside the marching band. To me, this really struck a thought, "one should never be afraid of deeper with their passion(s)." Who knows? They may really help you out one day. With my brother, he and his friend were both musicians. Both had played their instruments well throughout high school, and they both desired to be inside the Marine Core Marching Band. In the end, my brother was lucky, and had gotten to stay, while his friend had ended up having to go to Iraq. This decision was made by the tiny comparison of who played their instrument better. Luckily, my brother did not have to end up serving in any wars, but during his time he was a great tuba player and has played in the Marine Core until 2009. Currently, he is in his last year on reserve, and I am grateful for both all of the work he has done for our country, and the life lesson that he ended up teaching me: never give up with trying to excel towards your passion(s), as for they can end up taking you farther than you may think.
ReplyDeleteArianna,
DeleteWhat an incredible story. Is your brother still friends with the fellow that had to go to Iraq?
Yes, my brother still knows both him -along with a few other friends- that had to go to Iraq. Their insights are pretty different though, with the friends of his that had to leave, they ended up seeing some pretty gruesome things, and some of those events still kind of lay in the back of their minds today. It's crazy what rivals can do to each other during wars, or any conflict if it's bad enough!
DeleteMy grandpa served in World War Two and in Vietnam. When he was eighteen he signed up to go to into the World War Two. He was deployed that year into the Philippines. He doesn't talk about it much but all I know about this war was his mom was completely against him going into the war, and he didn't tell her that he was deployed and just left. Of course she was very mad at him and he was upset that he didn't tell her. During the Vietnam war he was right in the action, but he has not told any stories yet. When he returned home he was not respected and almost hated by the American people. My grandpas brother was a cook in the Vietnam war , so that is a very cool story to tell people.
ReplyDeleteShannon,
DeleteIf my sons went off to war without telling me, I would also be mad at them. Thanks for sharing your story.
I am related to a few veterans I discovered when looking back on all my relatives, but honestly the most memorable story I know is of guy I'm not related to. My dad owns his own company and is very close with all the employees. One of the engineer's sons we got to know pretty well, and he came over to our house a few times to help with yard work. As soon as he turned 18 he left for the marines. I'm not sure how much later, but it was during his first deployment, he sent home a few videos to his mom. She showed them to us. I was shocked at how much the scene looked like a movie, with the barracks and camouflage jackets strewn everywhere. He told his mom how much he missed and loved her and his girlfriend. Later, when he came back from his deployment (safely), he told the horrific story of how a man in a pickup struck had come barreling towards the watch tower he was stationed in and he had to shoot the guy. Not only did this barely 20 year old kid have a life on his conscience, but his girlfriend broke up with him because she couldn't bear all the waiting. It's crazy how much these guys go through for us, all so we can sit at home writing blog entries instead of worrying about guys in pickup trucks trying to kill you.
ReplyDeleteGreat story Abby!
DeleteMy grandpa on my mom's side of the family did serve in World War II, however, he did not fight in combat. He is still alive today, considering that he did not literally fight in the war. He served in the Navy on a ship in Portland, Oregon, where he had various jobs, and where he played on the Navy basketball team. My grandpa, along with all of the other war veterans, allowed this country to be the way it is today -- independent. I am extremely thankful for my grandfather's service and all of the other veterans' service, too. Yet still, I am very fortunate that my grandpa is still alive.
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather on my mom’s side was in the military. He was not in combat, but he was deployed in Germany between 1951 and1954. He was a MP and his main job was being a highway patrol man. The military was in Germany to keep peace after world war two. I am vey thankful for his service because if it was not for veterans our every day life would not be the same.
ReplyDeleteConor,
DeleteHave you asked your grandfather about World War II?
My grandpa and his two brothers Martin and harry fought in World War 2. All three of them were in infantry. Martin was in the south seas, my grandpa was in France, and Harry was also in France. My grandfather was 18 when he got put into infantry. He was shipping out when he found out Harry had died. He was shot, however the shot wound was minor. In present day he would have been able to survive it. There was no penicillin, so he died days later after the gun wound. My grandpa and Martin survived the war. Sadly, they have passed away, but they both survived until 2010. I am so grateful for our veterans and everything they do for us. My relatives in the war are my hero, and I miss them dearly.
ReplyDeleteKatie,
DeleteI am glad that you told us about your family. I can't imagine how your poor great-grandmother felt losing two sons to World War II.
My grandpa was 25 years old in 1951, during the Korean War and a part of the National Army, stationed in Alabama. Growing up in a small North Dakota town with a history of hardships, he joined the army at 16 trying to fight in WWII. However, they didn't let him in, due to vision problems until he was needed at the age of 18. Before he could get into the actual fighting, though, the war had finished. Now, years later he was rooming with one of his new friends, Herb, who was also from North Dakota. Herb had recently took a trip to North Carolina where he met up with his sister, Norma, my grandma. She was beautiful and quite the spunky girl (who had a boyfriend) and a nice place to live in Washington D.C.
ReplyDeleteUpon coming back to Alabama, Herb showed my grandpa the pictures he took on his mini vacation and right after my grandpa laid eyes on the picture he stated that that was the woman he was going to marry. And he was determined.
My grandpa arranged to be on leave the same time Herb was so they could travel home together and he could meet my grandma. He begged Herb to introduce them and my grandma was very reluctant. That is until she found out my grandpa had tickets to see Lawrence Welk. Now I don't know much about who he is, but according to my grandma you did not say no to seeing Lawrence Welk. So with much excitement she accepted.
After the date, love had flourished. They constantly talked and had more dates. A week later my grandpa was sent back to Alabama. Now the war just had to pass over and they planned on marrying in September. However that's not what happened. Once he got back, his advisor had told him that he was one of two of many men who were selected to go on a "free cruise to Korea." The news couldn't have been worse and he immediately called my grandma to tell her. She hopped on the next bus going to Alabama and took a ride down to see him. Half way through the trip the bus broke down and my grandma went to a nearby store, found a dress that was her size, and without trying it on, bought it.
After just two weeks of knowing each other, my grandma put on her new dress and went to a nearby courthouse to get married to my grandpa. They spent two nights together as a short honeymoon and he was stationed out. My grandpa never really shared what happened in Korea because it upset him and even years later we still don't know what occurred on that battlefield. Back home, however, my grandma was living with his family and stated that she wrote letters to him every day. It didn't matter if nothing had happened, she still wrote.
Eventually my grandpa came home, and they lived happily ever after (and got to know each other more than just on a two-week basis)!
Wow! Katie, this is an amazing love story. Maybe you should write a book about it. I would definitely read it. Amazing.
DeleteMy very own dad is a former veteran, and when I asked him about his time in service and if there were any stormiest to tell, he couldn't think of any. But being the dad that he is, he remembered about a story he wrote explaining what he did and what happened, though the real story he wrote is really long, I'm just gonna share what I got most out from it.
ReplyDelete"On October 18, 1990 that was when I headed off to Fort Leonard Wood Missouri and my start of service. At this time I was assigned to the CO D 31st Engineer Battalion, first engineer brigade. Basic training took me through December. Advances individual training for my job for a combat engineer also took place there. If I was in some other job I would probably have been shipped to another base. Advanced individual training and is on January 24, 1991. I remember hearing the news and everyone was paying attention to the current events in December. I'm not sure what day it was but I remember a lot of us being brought into a room in the and the announcement was made that we are being sent overseas. It was a moment I knew could happen, but you secretly hoped it wouldn't. This is real. The mood in the room was mostly of astonishment and shock. I remember leaving there and heading off to the first empty payphone banks I could find. I had to make the most devastating phone call of my life to my parents to tell them that I was going to war halfway around the world. That moment will always haunt me for the rest of my life. No one knew what this work and be about how long it would take.
I was assigned to 23rd replacement attachment. February third we left Missouri. I remember taking several flights: St. Louis to New York to Newfoundland and Germany and then finally Duran, Saudi Arabia. I was assigned a third armored cavalry Regiment, 43rd engineer company. This is what you can track me ever look up a map of Desert Storm.
During the day it was miles and miles of moving across barren wasteland. We did pass powerlines and foxholes but there's no Iraqi soldiers. We didn't even see the oil fires, it was just where our location was. All the while I've no idea where we were because we moved so often. After the cease-fire we spent days clearing bunkers and such and I one point before new it it was time to head home.
The only thing I remember about this was that me and and for other guys went on a special detail with some other guys from the third ACR to help bring equipment and ammo to a depot loading back to the states. It lasted several days. We went to meet meet back up with that unit that's when I found out that they had already left to go back to the states. Eventually we tagged along with the third ACR came back to South Carolina stay there for a few days and eventually made it back to Fort Leonard Wood. I had orders on April 3 that the five of us would be going to Fort Campbell Kentucky. We were to report there on April 15, 1991. This was when we also found out that all the guys I came back before us in our unit went to fort Wainwright, Alaska.
So, that is where the 101st came in. The air assault school is also there, hence Air assault sappers. I finished the air assault school May 28th, 1991. I was stationed with A Co, 326 Engineer Battalion until my enlistment was over. Service ended February 12, 1993."
Jessica,
DeleteWhat a cool story! You should be proud of your dad.
I am very proud of him, I have always been! Also, and yes it is!
DeleteAlthough I am not directly related to a war veteran, my mom told a great story about someone she knew who was a nurse during WW2. Louise Kimbel, who is unfortunately dead now, served as an on stand nurse during WW2. Although the details on her experience are hazy, my mom remembers Louise telling her about the sightings of concentration camp members. Because of where she was stationed, she would see the concentration camp guards carrying out deceased bodies and the ones who were alive, how malnourished they were. For her, having to witness the torture some were put through, was worse than the injured soldiers she cared for. I am so grateful for Louise and the millions of others who have served our Country. People today aren't as thankful for those who have served than they should be. Although Veterans day is only once a year, we should take time out of everyday to remember those who have passed in fight for our Country.
ReplyDeleteI have had family members involved in the military, including my grandpas and my uncle. My uncle(living) was in the marines in Iraq for about 3 or 4 years. I do not know all the details, because i was about 6 years old when we would hear anything from him. However, my uncle would always want to talk to my sister and I, not so much my parents, because he missed seeing us whenever he wanted to. He was like a brother and a father(and still is even though we're older) now that I think about it. He really would never say much about what was going on there because we didn't really know all that much of what was going on anyways. He is still very military-ish though, but he is a cop now, so I guess it's okay... Anyways, we had an awesome "welcome back" party for him when he returned. My uncle served our country for multiple long hot years, (returning once a year or so)standing up for our country and fighting for what he believed in. He is a wonderful veteran among many, and "once a marine, always a marine" is his favorite saying!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool saying! He must be a very moral and proud man to be talking of the marines in his daily life. I wonder what other kinds of good deeds he does for our world, in the spirit of goodness that the veterans supply.
DeleteI was doing a little research, and foud this cool story about a man named Charlie. He is a WWII Veteran under hospice care ; recalls the sinking of his ship in the Pacific. It's a very interesting article! I love reading articles about veterans, because my grandfather served in basic training for the soldiers.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wehonorveterans.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=3424
I have not found any members of my family who were veterans so I googled veterans and found the story of Corbin Willis who served in WWII. During his war time he survived many things including interrogation, a crippling weight loss, and a 100-mile journey from one camp to another in Germany. When he got home he found out that most people thought he had died. His wife remarried while he was gone.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have no had immediate family members in the military my Dads cousin was in the Vietnam War. He recently passed and he was in the one of the troops that invaded Cambodia. He sustained major injuries to his organs and his hip was shattered. While he was only in combat for two weeks due to his injuries he became very close with some of the men he was serving with they called him "Degree" because he was the only one who had a degree it just so happens that his degree was in Biology. My Dads cousin Jerry was taken care of in the critical care unit in the hospitals, the doctors did not think he would survive but his new found wife Donna was not ready to say good bye. Jerry pulled through his injuries and after a year of being passed around between hospitals Jerry could walk and live a normal life again but he would never be able to unsee the tragedies he saw. After returning home from the hospital Jerry later on received a Purple Heart for his bravery and courage. He worked with the DNR for the rest of his life because hunting was his favorite thing to do and he passed while doing it and he will always be in our hearts and forever missed.
ReplyDeleteI also love watching videos of soldiers returning home from War even though I ball my eyes out every time so if you are ready for some tears watch this!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnkpU5m-X6M
The stories and thoughts I am sharing come from an 89 year old family friend, Elwin Hart, who is a retired Marine Colonel. He served from 1941 to 1974 and saw action in World War II, The Korean War, and Vietnam before serving at the Pentagon. Elwin was at the beach on the island of Tarawa in the Pacific Ocean when he realized that his friend, Clarence Backus was missing. He searched the beach for him when finally, he found him lying behind the seawall, a few yards from the water's edge. Colonel Hart said, "He had been shot (appeared to be 25 caliber) in the neck with an entry and exit wound on each side of the neck. (He was still alive.) I retrieved the radio accessory box from him and hailed a passing Marine to help me get him into a landing craft for evacuation. As we began to walk him toward he water, a burst of automatic fire started kicking up sand around our feet. I began cursing the unknown weapons wielder and then glanced over at the 'Marine' assisting me, only to discover it was the Battalion Chaplain. I started to apologize for my language , but he assured me that he understood, and that in fact, he had been thinking similar thoughts." Colonel Hart also went on to say, "Anyone who said they were not scared was either lying or a fool. I was scared to death!"
ReplyDeleteI have found this amazing, inspirational story about a soldier who was severely injured on duty but stayed strong and made a huge recovery. A terrible accident caused him to lose his sight, but he has not let that stop him from doing anything his heart desires.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUH0JI8Ok-U
My great grandpa served in the Korean War. He served was deployed in May of 1951, and returned in November of 1952. His position there was Fire Direction Chief, and he basically operated these computers, where he confirmed the position of mortar strikes. He worked with 4.2 heavy mortars, which were commonly used in the Korean war. His job was to make sure everything was set, make sure the firing position was on-target, and then confirm fire. He also said that although his job was mostly technical, he still mentioned that conditions were very dirty and messy, and him and his crew had to sleep on the ground in trenches. Right now he is in his mid eighties, and can still remember what it was like there. I don't get to see him very often, but I do remember one room in his house which he had all of his memorabilia, and some of the stuff is really interesting, and makes you wonder what it would of been like to be in the Korean War.
ReplyDeleteMy father is a veteran. A lot of people in my dads family are also veterans but I would like to focus on my dad. My dad was disgusted with what Saddam Hussein was doing to the ocean by dumping oil into it. My father finally decided that he could no longer stand on the side lines and watch, he had to take action. He signed up for the Marine Corps as soon as possible. he finished bootcamp and became a Marine. My dad went through all of his training and by the time he got out and was ready for war the war had ended. My father served three years in the Marine Corps, and although he didn't get to fight in the war he still went through all of that training to become a Marine which is not easy. I am very proud of my dad.
ReplyDeleteI read this article in the Daily Herald that family friend, Tim Mitchinson wrote, Man's Best Friend Opens Path to Veterans with PTSP. It was about how Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder affects nearly 300,000 service members. Unfortunately each month nearly 1,000 discharged veterans attempt to take their lives. PTSD includes adjustment disorders include flashbacks and intrusive memories, trouble sleeping, alcohol abuse and problems re-establishing relationships with loved ones.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, so Dave Keeler, who is a trauma specialist, brings his labordoodle, Maggie, to PTSD patients to encourage them to talk and become willing to get help. The whole point to Keeler visiting PTSD patients with Maggie is that it is more effective than meds on the veterans. One patient had not talked for three months since he had gotten home, until Maggie's love and affection cured him.
My dad was in the United States Army Reserves and the Illinois Army National Guard for ten years. His first duty position was a 12Bravo Combat Engineer. After serving one year with the Combat Engineers he was transferred into the Infantry and served eight more years during his time in the Infantry, he was awarded the Army Achievement medal for exceptional service. He then transferred from the Infantry to a Chemical Unit where he served his final year. Being honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant. He utilized the GI Bill to go to college and earn his bachelor of science degree. His father, my grandpa served for five years in the US Coast Guard. He was a Combat Coxswain and drove a landing craft during World War Two in the South Pacific landing men on the beaches during the invasions.
ReplyDeleteI have had family members in the Military or Navy like my grandfather, and his brother. My grandfather served in the military when he was young at the age of 19. He was involved in the military during peace time but that could've changed any day throughout his time serving for our country. Just because he was serving during peace time doesn't make him unnoticed, since he still gave his life up for our country. He hasn't really told me that many stories about being in the military since there really isn't much to tell during peace time, but I love him a lot and thank him all the time for having that bravery to give his life for our country.
ReplyDeleteWhen we think of veterans, we imagine their determination to fight for our country, the image of a warm home and happy family waiting for their return, but this is not always the case. Believe it or not, veterans around the globe are homeless, and this is just one of their stories.
ReplyDeleteBob R. is an animal lover, father and fellow veteran and after 30 years of service, he struggled with homelessness. He served as a gunner in Germany in the mechanized infantry for 2 years and later on struggled to hold a job to support his daughter.
"I kept bouncing around, you know, finding jobs here and there," Bob said
He stayed with friends most nights, but if they weren't available, he resorted to bunking outside in the suburbs. Though he loved his daughter, he knew education was in her best interest so he sent her to live with her god-mother so she could attend school consistently. Soon after that, he struggled with addiction (drugs and alcohol) and stayed at a homeless veteran shelter for 2 years. The strict no drinking policy at the shelter whipped him back into shape and he had regained self discipline once again. Now he works at the VA Medical shelter, has a girlfriend and is saving up to buy his own trailer. He took inititive to take his life by the horns and tried to be happy again. I guess there are happy endings after all:)
Imagine traveling the world, helping those fight for freedom in their country. At the same time, still protecting the home of the brave. My uncle entered the marines right out of high school because he felt it was right to serve the land he loves. While he was overseas, he told me that he didn't fight physically but fought mentally. He had to figure out ways to improve the Iraq's government and help the citizens gain freedom. Just recently, my cousin (my uncles son) just got done protecting our country as a marine also. He traveled back and forth from Japan to Hawaii.Like his dad he feels it's right to serve our country. Two years ago, my cousin was on a plane transferring from Japan to Hawaii. At the same, Japan had a earthquake that started a tsunami. These natural disasters caused major damage and killed many. This shows that people should be grateful that they're alive because you never know what is going to happen. Every time I see my uncle and cousin they always are grateful for what they have even when it seem like nothing. They inspire me to appreciate all the things in my life and never take anything or any day for granted.
ReplyDeleteMy grandpa was a lieutenant for the United States Army. He was supposed to be a helicopter pilot but didn't want to do that because he found out he couldn't bring my grandma with. If he had been a helicopter pilot he would've fought in Vietnam. He never served in an actual war as an officer but he was training for the Berlin Crisis which would have been a fight on the Berlin Wall. He has told me stories about how almost everyone had to respect him and listen to his commands everywhere he went since he was an officer. He never drove himself any places, he always had to have other people do it for him. He is very proud of things he did as well as I am and he still tells me different stories about it every year.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I would love to share a story about my grandpa who was in the air force during the Vietnam War, he is currently on vacation out of the country so I cannot reach him! So instead I watched a video about a man named Eric Huckaby Sr. He also served in the Vietnam war but in the United States Army. His job involved nuclear weapons. He was thrilled to say there were no casualties in his unit, and then he goes on to tell us some of his most memorable moments. Even though he was in war, he was thrilled to travel out of the country for the first time. He loved visiting 3rd world countries and realizing they all need our help. He explained how he kept in touch with his family through hand held radios and hand written letters. Also, he raves about the wonderful Japanese food they supplied to him there and how he still loves it today. On his free time he loved to sleep. Also, him and his buddies would play football and once in a while they had an entertained to come and visit but unfortunately he forgot who they were. He had received many awards for his accomplishments in the Army. After he finished serving, he used the money to go to school. He said it was one of the best decisions he had ever made!
ReplyDeleteMy next door neighbors have 2 kids that were/are in the Marines, one of them is in training getting ready to deploy into Iraq. The oldest, David was in Afghanistan and Iraq for a total of 8 years. He is in his late 20's now putting his life in the US aside to help our country by war. He has been back for 4 years now and is studying in college just about to graduate. He gets a large amount of money for college but could not go until he has served his 8 years meaning he went to college later in life. The war gets in the way of many lives and can make people completely new. His brother Trace is following his brothers foot steps ready to make a difference and help us all where we need it quite a bit. People in the wars blow past us sometimes. Days like Veterans day are days when you just have to stop and honor everyone who served for this country. All of the times you forget about these people, this is the time to just take a moment to think about them, thank anyone in uniform, anything that you do to honor them makes a difference. (They are both alive to this day).
ReplyDeleteDuring my ventures on the internet, I stumbled upon the story of Nick Reid. Nick was a bombardier during the final few months of World War Two. Nick flew 25 mission in a B-24 "Liberator". During one of these missions, Nick was sent to raid a German airfield near Prague, Czechoslovakia. Nick hesitated a few moments before he dropped his payload, noticing that the bombs weren’t perfectly lined up with the airfield. Due to this hesitation that increased the overall effectiveness of his bombs, Nick was promoted to lead bombardier of his squadron. On the 25 missions he flew, his plane was shot, but never went down. Near the end of the war, Nick feared that he would be sent to the pacific to assist with the overtaking of Japan. He could only rest safely once news of the devastation caused to Hiroshima and Nagasaki reached his ears.
ReplyDeleteMore on Nick read can be found here : http://www.americanhomecomings.com/news/2013/11/11/wwii-vet-relates-view-of-war-from-bombardiers-turret/
Unfortunately, I cannot share a story of a family member that is a veteran because there are non in the history of Fuhler family ancestry, but I do have a very close friend who plans on going into the Marines this coming summer for Infantry. His passion and choice has really impacted me since there is a great risk being taken of his life and I would be miserable if anything were to happen to him. However, I couldn't be more proud of him for serving our country; there is no better man for the job. The part where the passion comes in is the fact that he truly wants to do this for the rest of us- we sit comfortably here with all the rights and opportunities provided by the U.S. straight in our laps. And that's something a lot of us take for granted. Many of the other countries on this earth do not get that great privilege and it's all because of the young men and women - like my friend- who are here to fight for our freedom.
ReplyDeleteMy aunts old boyfriend, Jeff was in the army reserves and was sent to a Kuwait. He was there for about a year. I was about 6-7, all I remember is writing him letters and drawing pictures for him. He would e-mail us back and sent pictures of the place he was staying. I remember sometimes praying for him in church. He would talk about be bored and about all the sand and how it was "blah" there. We were thankful that he wasn't hurt while he was over there and he didn't really experience any fighting so he came back fine. He was doing something for my country and for that I will always look up to him, and all soldiers as heroes.
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of people in my family that have been in the military. My grandpa, uncle, aunt, were all in the military. My aunt was in the army and she was stationed in Germany on an army base. At the time, she was married to a man in the army, and it ended up that my cousin was born in Germany on that military base. I haven't been able to ask her about it, but from what I have heard, all of m relatives were brave veterans. I am very thankful to all of them, and all other soldiers, for their service to our amazing country. Without these soldiers, nothing would be the same. None of us would be able to have the opportunities and freedoms that we have. I am extremely thankful for every man and woman that is or has ever served for us.
ReplyDeleteI have had many relatives in the military and they are all great veterens! (Thank you!) One of my favorite things to hear is when people from the army or military go to restaurants or public places and people do nice things for them to show respect. For example sometimes they pay for a drink or food. These kind of stories make me want to be a better person. I also like when Dads from the army
ReplyDeletecome back from deployment and surprise their families in a cool way!
I really enjoy hearing nice things people do for past and present veterans. Especially the stories when people buy food for them or do something nice! I also really like hearing/seeing when people from the forces come back from deployment and surprise their families in a nice way! Than you to everyone who served or is serving
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the video about a mortician in the Vietnam war, i was greatly moved. Even though he was not in combat himself, Jack Curry saw many deaths and also had to deal with them for his job. Starting off by growing up in the mortuary business, when he was drafted he easily went along with his job. Jack made a very moving point saying that his job was to make sure that the bodies didn't only get buried, but also got appreciated and respected for all the work they went through. One thing Jack mentioned that surprised me was when he stated that as soon as he got to his first camp, with the war increasing, he was automatically bused over to the next fort. proving how much this war impacted so many people. I also thought it was kind of weird that only married men, including himself, were allowed to get as close as Hawaii , to the sates. After looking back at his times in Vietnam Jack was accepted toward his experiences, for he got to see all of the good and bad things within the world.
ReplyDeleteVideo on Jack Curry:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1bhOytgF5A&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PL27B5AA6F492C012F
My Dad is part of why Americans have freedom. He served in the Air Force as an In-flight Refueling Specialist. His job was to hook up to a fighter jet while flying and pump thousands of gallons of fuel into their fuel tanks.
ReplyDeleteBefore he could do his job he had to go through training. In one of his training exercises he had to survive in the woods by killing rabbits and eating granola bars. This was to simulate if his plane got shot down and he had to survive off the land. He was then “captured” by enemies. He was interrogated and had to go through torture tests. My Dad was released and thankfully didn't have to experience being captured by real enemies. Without people like my father, we wouldn't have the freedoms we do today.
Both of my parents served time in the air force, they were both engineers and it's actually how they met. It started when my mother was reassigned from her previous unit and was stationed at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. She had to go to the Orderly room so she could process in to the unit, 363 Civil Engineering Squadron. Every new person has to get a sponsor. A sponsor is someone who shows the new person around and helps them get settled in, and answers any questions they might have. When my mother got to the Orderly room Capt. Etter was there to take her paperwork. Capt. Etter, after receiving the paperwork realized that my mom needed a sponsor. It just so happened that my father was in the Orderly room looking at a book on military regulations while my mother was reporting in. Capt. Etter assigned him to be her sponsor. It only took nine more years until they got married.
ReplyDeleteMy grandpa is a veteran. Him and my grandma were over in Germany. While they were my dad was born. My grandpa never really tells me stories at all but I can understand. What I have heard though from my dad is that they have no interest in going back there or even to go to Europe. Now that my grandpa is older he has some bad health issues now because of what he did over seas. In my eyes he is still a hero even if I don't know everything that has happened. He's the one that makes me a stronger and better person because he has lots to deal with and he is still holding on. I love him with all of my heart.
ReplyDeleteMany of my relatives have served in the army such as my grandfather (stationed as the war "clean up crew"), and my great uncle. But, my mom's friend named Terri, has a son that is serving as a troop as we speak. Tomorrow to class, I will bring a picture of him, to show with the class. Although I have only met him once, He is a great person and an even better troop. he deserves to be recognized for his great bravery to serve as a troop. I hope I get to know him better one day.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I do not know any veterans directly, I was able to find an article about someone who was willing to share their experiences. A lady named Jackie McMichael has a husband who was in the military for quite some time in Iraq. When her husband, Mike, returned home, he suffered severely from PTSD. Jackie shares how exhausting it was to have a 40 year old man who was completely dependent on her. She gained the responsibility of taking care of Mike, as well as trying to be a therapist by doing anything she could to get her happy, healthy husband back to being himself again. She provides her personal opinion on certain aspects of the military and encourages people to help in any way possible because every little thing counts.
ReplyDeleteBoth my Grandpa and my Great Grandpa were veterans. My great-grandpa served in WW2 and even though he has passed away, I always remember him when it comes to veterans day. I always loved seeing him get so excited when veterans day rolled around because he knew that was the day that he could once again thank all of the current servicemen and women and also remember those who he knew and didn't know that lost their lives serving. When most people think about Veterans Day, they think about what are current servicemen and women are doing and how they are helping us in so many ways. But, I think that it is so important to not only thank those currently serving, but also taking the time to thank those who had served in the past. We have so many blessings thanks to our veterans and a lot of the time, we take that for granted. Now, my grandpa was in the Navy and even though he was only shipped out once or twice, he still is considered a veteran in my eyes. See, our veterans are so brave and have so much courage, we don't even realize it. Going away from their families and friends to fight for our everyday freedoms is not the easiest thing to come by. And at times, not the easiest thing to understand. But, I think it is very important to take time to thank those who are currently serving and that have served in the past on this very important day we call Veterans Day.
ReplyDeletehttps://docs.google.com/a/d155.org/document/d/1C6IE5ui5cWfa0_Tn3w10dkHMEN4ZJlHLXba50fapQBo/edit
ReplyDeleteMy mom (navy) and step-dad (army) both served for our country, and my dad served for the Royal Air Force for The United Kingdom. My story is actually a love story with the best ending ever. My mom and dad were both stationed at the NATO base in Lisbon, Portugal and my mom wanted to be a journalist so she got a job as a radio host working on the base and my dad was an electronic engineer specializing in communications for the UK. My dad always says he used to listen to my mom on the radio when he would work out in the mornings. Then one night they met and they started dating and so forth. And of course a baby was born and that child was me(: I was born in Lisbon, Portugal in a hospital where NO ONE spoke English and it was VERY hot in Portugal. Although my parents never served in any wars I am still very proud of them for serving our country (or Britain). Another quick fun story is that my dad once turned down a body guard job for Alanis Morrisette while she was on tour because it was too girly for him and he didn't want his reputation to go down. He could've been famous but nope he had to be the tough guy. I'm so grateful for my family!
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather, his name is Kenn Rutkofski, was drafted in 1965 during the troop buildup for the Vietnam conflict and assigned to the US Army. He was given orders for Ft. Knox, KY for basic combat training.
ReplyDeleteAfter graduating he was given orders to go directly overseas without attending advanced infantry training. His orders were to Army Command Headquarters at Ft. Amador in the Panama canal zone and he was assigned to a data processing unit. It's lucky that he wasn't deployed to Vietnam.
During his 18 month assignment he was allowed to travel to Bogata, Columbia and Caracas, Venezuela with the commanding general and staff. While in the service he also learned to play guitar, though he claims that he had forgotten how to play only couple years after.
He served in Panama until 1967 when he was transferred back to the US for honorable discharge after a short assignment at Ft. Jackson, SC.
My grandfather doesn't usually mention anything about his time serving in the army, but it was cool to here him talk about it when I asked him to help me with this assignment.
I found a story on a man called Charlie Heinl. He is one of the few left survivors from the sinking of USS Gambier Bay. There are only about 13 survivors left because of old age and illness. Charlie's story was so fascinating. Apparently when the ship was attacked he jumped off of the boat with no life vest and held on to a life raft with other men. The men had to stay awake until they rescued them. The rescuers told the men that they could't get them out fast enough because there was a group of sharks around them. Charlie made it out of the sinking with minor injuries but was discharged from the Navy.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wehonorveterans.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=3424
I know my grandfather served in the war but I really don't know many details about it, so this is just a shout out to him. And possibly the other family members that served who I don't know about! They all are wonderful people. Now, to make this post a bit longer, I researched some stories. I remember once reading an article where it talked about the ramifications after the war for veterans. They are left physically hurt and need some medical attention for quite a while. In one story I just looked at, Marcus Kuboy had his feet shattered, legs mangled, jaw broken, and a brain injury left by a bomb. Now back at home in Minnesota, he is seeking brain treatment. He talks about how many veterans are unaware of the resources available to help them. That's really depressing that some veterans don't get the help they needed after being such a big help to our country. Perhaps one day, they'll all have special benefits that can just begin to compensate for the horror that is war. A huge thank you to them.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.braininjurymn.org/veterans/stories-p1.php
My great grandpa was a general in world war two and was held prisoner in Germany. Fortunately he wasn't treated harshly and made it out alive. thinking of what he must have felt, being captive for the enemy, makes me think about the amount of bravery these soldiers have to voluntarily sign up to risk their lives for their country is unbelieveable. Veterans deserve our up-most respect no matter what the cause of war, or whether we win or loose. Without them, we wouldn't be able to do everyday things that we take advantage of. Our lives would be so different if it wasn't for these brave soldiers.
ReplyDeleteMy grandpa was a veteran in the navy in world war 2. He died a couple years ago but I still remember how nice he was and kind. He didn't talk about the war much as he had a hard life. He ran away at age 13 and worked for Al Capone, later he served for a while and then came home to my grandma. The veteran is a person too, as well as a soldier.
ReplyDeleteI know I already commented, but I thought of something else to add that is sort of funny/good advice. My OTHER grandpa was also a veteran and he served in the Korean War. Apparently it would get really cold at night, and all he and the other men had were their clothes and sleeping bags. So the way they figured out how to get warm was to sleep totally naked or in their underwear, because although this sounds counter-intuitive, their body heat would fill up the whole bag instead of getting trapped in their clothes. So if you're ever out camping and it's really cold, sleep naked in your sleeping bag. You're welcome.
ReplyDeleteMy grandpa on my dads side was a WWII veteran. sadly he died before i was born, so i never got a chance to ask him any questions or hear any stories about his time serving our country. My parents would always tell me how much he had changed into a new man after serving in the war. Even though I have never met my grandpa, I feel like it would have been really nice having him around, listening to his stories and learning life lessons along the way
ReplyDeleteI am not related to any veterans, but I am grateful for everything they have done for us. A story I found was about Stephen Pavon who served in the Marine Crops Air Wing, during 1963-1967 and a tour in Vietnam. He was injured twice during active convoy duty. When he was discharged he was a fireman and a college student. He is now suffering from rectal cancer, and will not survive it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wehonorveterans.org/files/public/va_transforms_eol_care_veterans.pdf
My great-grandfather served in the U.S army during WWII. As the story goes, he was fighting German troops east of Omaha beach when he was severely injured by grenade shrapnel. He lay there slowly dying, until a German medic saw him and helped him with the wound. My great-grandfather healed from his injuries under the help of the German medic. He eventually returned to his men, and then home where he began a family of his own. All war is not brutal, for there is some mercy and kindness on the battlefield. If the German medic had not stopped to save my great-grandfathers life, the long line of my mothers family including myself, would not have had a chance to live.
ReplyDeleteI found out that a man named Charles (Chuck) Hagel served in the Vietnam war. Interestingly, he was Nebraska's senor senator. He was in the war with his brother. For his courage he was awarded not one, but two purple hearts.
ReplyDeleteThe rest of his story here:
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/vhp-stories/loc.natlib.afc2001001.02230/
My Grandpa on my Mom's side of the family fought in Vietnam, obviously i don't remember every story he's told me. But one of the stories that stuck with me was when he first got deployed and was talking to some of the locals and he and his squad put their things down and played a game of soccer with some of the kids who lived in the village. Whenever someone asks him about the war and what it was like he always says that things like that, when they were talking to the locals and trying to help them was the best parts of being there.
ReplyDeleteMy grandpa was a World War 2 veteran. Luckily he did not lose his life, and only sustained minor injuries. He lost his hearing from all of the gunshots and explosions. He was not a normal solider, although he was issued weapons and a uniform, his job was to repair equipment such as radios, weapons, and other communication devices that broke. When ever he travels here from Florida he tells us stories about his time in the war.
ReplyDeleteMy uncle of my dad's side served in Iraq, and made it out alive and is currently a war veteran. He was in the Parachute Infantry, and his most 'famous' mission was to shut down a weapons dealer by dropping out of the sky into the heart of the market, and finding the dealer. He was later interviewed, but most of the information is classified, so sadly, i don't know it all. It was always cool to listen to his stories of survival in enemy territory, and his missions. Veterans should always be thanked for their sacrifices and courage.
ReplyDeleteMy Grandpa on my Mom's side served in Vietnam. He doesn't talk about it much but from what he has said the story that stuck with me the most was during the first year he was there, he was talking to some local people a few children asked him if he wanted to play soccer with them. So he and the rest of his squad proceeded to put their things down and play a whole game with them. And whenever you ask him about the war, my grandpa always says that it was things like that, when he was talking and interacting with the people there that made the biggest impact on him.
ReplyDeleteI don't know any veterans well enough, but I read a story of one online that really caught my attention. His name was Charlie and when he was only 17 when he left his hometown to go into war. 10 months later, he was in a devestating ship sinking, caused by Japan, along with his other men aboard. There were few survivors, many died because they were too old and weak, but among the few, was Charlie. Charlie was the youngest on the ship, and after the wreckage, was sent home and got to reunite with his family again. There has been a reunion to honor those who died in the attack, many family members, friends, other men not involved in the wreckage and those still alive, came to honor the men. Charlie went through a lot to survive the attack and now he lives happily with his wife. Charlie said he will never forget that day, and the men who didn't make it.
ReplyDeleteBoth my grandfathers are veterans. I don't have any stories about them and I don't know what my Dad's father was when he fought in war(s). However my grandpa on my mother's side didn't really fight, but he helped by building or repairing bridges so our troops could get to where they needed to be faster. Also a little side note it is very morbid to think about, but all those men in Iwo Jima flag raising picture died in the next 24-28 hours. It just goes to show that brave men and women are willing to lay down their lives so that all members of our country can live without having to fear being attacked.
ReplyDeleteMy father is a veteran of the Air Force and my brother is currently in the Navy. Nearly everyone on my father's side of the family has been or is in the military, or at least it seems. My brother goes in submarines and well he can't and doesn't talk much about what he does. Mr. Eaton was a computer programmer for the Air Force so he did not see any front lines-action, and the idea of death was never one that seemed too persistent at his position. He has his Dog Tags which I will inherit once I am 18. My brother is often away, coming back to be with his wife not for too long at a time before he is deployed. I do believe he is stationed somewhere in Washington.
ReplyDeleteMy Grandpa (We all call him Packa) was a veteran in the Korean war. He hasn't told me too much about his service but I love hearing his stories. When he was in the Korean war he taught new recruits how to use flamethrowers and grenades. He also taught them about how and when to put on gas masks for chemical attacks. I think he only went to Korea to fight a few times. He always tells me the stories about after the war when he worked at legion burger and sold sliders with veterans all day long. He would always say how my grandma wouldn't like the smell and hose him off in the garage after work. I love my grandpa and I'm honored that he fought to help people keep their freedom.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many stories of this countries brave soldiers and veterans. Stories of bravery, death and sacrifice that make us all humble. Just by reading some the stories others have posted, I was nearly brought to tears. Every story is different and has a great value to their tellers, some may a have similar basis but there are endless combinations and awesome stories. Even though I don't know any veterans personally, when I do meet another, I'm sure they will have a equally humbling story. Veterans are the living examples of history that teach us how to not repeat history's bloody battles. I thank everyone serving and that have served this country for their valiant actions.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I know a 21 year old who is the in Air Force and is currently serving in the United States. Ever since he made that decision, it has influenced me as well to join the military in hopes to having an aviation career. But more about him, in his job, he works on diesel engines for both planes and other vehicles. He graduated through tech school and was competitive to work almost anywhere he would want to. I think this it is great that things are going well for him. Soon enough, he and his fiance became engaged and are also going to have a baby of their own. Although I think it was too soon for this to happen, I hope he is happy; he has been a major influence on me and I am very thankful for his guidance.
ReplyDelete