During the Vietnam era I spent my time on a Nike Ajax then a Nike Hercules site. By the time the 'sand box' wars started I had retired. I am happy to know and have known many combat vets. God bless each one of them.
Veterans Day
- Thread starter J. Yuma
- Start date
My Dad was WWII USAAF I was USAF Son and DIL USN Daughter USN and MT Air National Guard.
Two Veterans Lt Cmdr. Brandie and Capt. Trey "Tex" Hayden
Col. Kathy Hayden Lyton
Two Veterans Lt Cmdr. Brandie and Capt. Trey "Tex" Hayden
Col. Kathy Hayden Lyton
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SFAR6.5
Bearcat
Colonel, I know exactly what you mean and feel. I have an Uncle who died recently at the age of 104. I was a helicopter pilot with the 1st Cav in 64-65. He was a POW who escaped but was recaptured. I always thought of him as a true hero.
Attachments
Small world, Jeepnik !! You didn't say, but if your dad was a member of a tank battalion you might want to check out a great website tankdestroyer.net
They are a non profit group dedicated strictly to tank destroyers and their men / crews . Some great pictures and a history of each battalion . If your dad was a member, you can posted his name, pictures and his biography in the battalion he served . I did so with my dad, and they even helped me with some of his battalions information and history I did not know. Great site run by great folks dedicated to preserving this part of history.
I know my dad was Sixth Armored Division. I have a shoulder patch. I know he was a tank driver. But I don't know Al what specific unit he was in.
I do know his was one of the first units into Buchenwald. I didn't know that until I returned from SEA and he only spoke of it once. Oh he told stories, but they were all "funny" anecdotes.
I do know his was one of the first units into Buchenwald. I didn't know that until I returned from SEA and he only spoke of it once. Oh he told stories, but they were all "funny" anecdotes.
My father was a combat surgeon with the Marines when they went ashore on Guadalcanal and then onto Iwo Jima. I commented in amazement that he was on Iwo Jima and he said, no Guadalcanal was the bad one. In the past he never talked about his war time experiences but when I returned from Vietnam after sustaining serious life changing wounds he then started to open up and tell some stories. In his usual British Humor style he made tragedy rather amusing and thats when I noticed I did some of the same, it must be a self defense mechanism. Some drink to numb the emotional pain, others take drugs, and then there are those that silently go to work and forge on. War is an ugly business and I have had family members fighting for this nation since the American Revolution. There were 5 brothers that fought at Chickamauga and they all survived to go on with their lives. It is impossible to describe the horror of war.
Jeepnik...give the Tankdestroyer.net website a shot. They may be able to shed more light on your dads history. Very accommodating folks !! (y)
protoolman
Service-Sixer
I spent Veterans day at the eye surgeon in town. Waited 3 hours for my appointment because they cancelled it without telling me as they didn't think the VA was going to pay for the appointment ( community care). I insisted I would be seen so waited. Then got to a restaurant for lunch about 2:30 ordered the chicken wrap off the free Veterans day menu. Waitress brought me a hamburger. When I told her of the mistake she just said " what do you want me to do?" As it was late anyway I just said I'll eat this I guess it's free anyway! Overall a very disappointing day. And I had to work just like most veterans days. In my experience the businesses around here just use it for advertising.
Anyone who served in uniform is a veteran whether or not they served in combat or even if they served during a peaceful period. And that includes the semi-military services of the Air Force and Navy. Its not true that only Army and Marine Corps count as true veterans.
Vito. First, Marines are Naval personnel. Second, how many Marines and soldiers have had their collective butts saved "semi-military" sailors and Airmen via naval gunfire and air strikes?
As a side note, aviation units from all 5 branches almost always fight behind enemy lines.
And the Navy with their Marine (aka men's department) contingent, Go in first for natural disasters & as a show of force when things start getting warm.
We all had different missions, but we all were in it together when it hit the fan.
Semi military services? Care to explain?
Question is it five or six now? I've always considered the USCG a military service, and don't care about technicalities. But with the relatively new Space Force, does that make six?
I served in Thailand during 1972-73, but in a definitely non-combatant role. Consequently, I never used to claim myself as a Vietnam Vet.
But now I do. Why? I reviewed my DD214. It shows that the AF authorized me to wear the Vietnam Service Ribbon (VSR) for my Thailand service. So, issue resolved.
I can also wear the National Defense Service ribbon and the Air Force Outstanding Unit award. But my 12-months on Mindanao, PI (1970-71) didn't ring any bells. So...
Nevertheless, it aggravates me to see Vietnam Veteran caps which display the Republic of Vietnam Campaign medal (RoVC). That medal is strictly reserved for those who served in combat or in combat support.
Watching someone who never served in SEA during that era wear "Vietnam era" paraphernalia (caps, T-shirts, etc.) that displays the RoVC medal is, to me, essentially stolen valor.
But now I do. Why? I reviewed my DD214. It shows that the AF authorized me to wear the Vietnam Service Ribbon (VSR) for my Thailand service. So, issue resolved.
I can also wear the National Defense Service ribbon and the Air Force Outstanding Unit award. But my 12-months on Mindanao, PI (1970-71) didn't ring any bells. So...
Nevertheless, it aggravates me to see Vietnam Veteran caps which display the Republic of Vietnam Campaign medal (RoVC). That medal is strictly reserved for those who served in combat or in combat support.
Watching someone who never served in SEA during that era wear "Vietnam era" paraphernalia (caps, T-shirts, etc.) that displays the RoVC medal is, to me, essentially stolen valor.
The book "Stolen Valor" by B. G. Burkett is a very interesting read. Some of the tall tales spun by fake veterans are both amazing and disgusting.
When my son was a junior in high school he was given an assignment in his social studies class to interview a veteran and write a report about the vet.
He chose a friend of mine who spent 20 years in the US Navy as a Machinery Repairman. The report he wrote was factual with no embellishments of heroism and feats of daring. The report was given a C for not being interesting enough.
My son's friend wrote about a guy who claimed to be a Navy Seal and was given an A on his report. The tale that was told was pure fantasy and bullcrap. I know that the guy who told the kid happens to be an ex convict and registered sex offender who was in prison during the time that he was claiming to be in the Navy.
I didn't normally go to the school about my son's grades but in this case I did. I brought proof that the other kids report was a pack of lies and told the teacher that my son was going to have his grade raised to an A or he was going to give the other kid an F.
The teacher said that both grades were going to stay the way he gave them. I told him that in that case I was going to the superintendent and school board about the matter. After I made the higher-ups aware of the problem and told them that the next step would be the media they had a big change of heart.
My son was given a B+ which I was good with because the other kid was then given an F for writing a false story.
I think it can be maybe a new branch within in the USAF, like the Marines within the Navy.
It was the Space Command under the USAF, like SAC, MAC, & TAC. I guess it's new designation gives it a bigger piece of the pie.
Again more Navy bashing from a medical corps type....you really need to get over your inferiority complex just because you were not a fighter.....:rolleyes:
jmca
Single-Sixer
I've heard Air Force Colonel's make fun of "Space Farce". I know lots of American Legions went out and bought Flags, even there are no Space Force Veterans yet.
