Let's Not Forget. . . . .

. . . Why We Can Have Our Rat Rods And Everything Else We Hold Dear To Our Hearts. A Lot Of Good Boys Are Sleeping In Foxholes This Christmas As They Have Done For The Past 200 Odd Years . My Great-grandfather Was 35 Years Old When He Volunteered To Go Fight In World War Ii, My Grandmother Was But A Year Old. The Youngest Of 5 Kids. Granddad Was Gone For 4 Years Fighting The Japs In The South Pacific Onboard The U.s.s. Santa Fe Battleship. Many Others Have Long Since Died For Us Since He Last Fired His Aa Guns At The Jap Planes.

"man Hath No Greather Love Than This, That A Man Lay Down His Life For His Friends" -god.

 

Amen brother. Merry Christmas.

 

Double Amen to that!!! Merry Christmas to all, and especially to our sons, daughters, sisters, brothers and all that serve our country.

 

We cannot thank our vets enuf...past and present. Let's hope they all come home safely. Pray for Peace!

 

To Quote a soldier I met earlier in the week,"I do what I do so that you all can do what you do..."
That applies to all of us in whatever we do. God bless the American troups, past and presesnt.

 

one of my favorite things I've seen on TV about WWI was on Christmas all fighting ceased and the two sides got together for tea and football(soccer).

 

How truw. God bless all those Soldiers and all ( Police, Fireman etc ) that protect us

 

This DID actually happen during the United States Civil War ...

 

God bless our servicemen and women, past and present. We owe them.

 

12/25/69-I corp RVN.... We got mortard

Merry Chistmas to all........ AND DON'T FORGET THE M.I.A.s

 

never forget

 

Never forgotten, and never taken for granted.. Merry Christmas to all.

Doc.

 

Yes, Couldn't agree more! I heard the reason many vets are still listed as MIA is so their families can continue to receive bennies, if their status was changed to KIA ,they would get a"death benefit" and that would be it.

 

I read about that incident on my "Civil War Trivia" a day calendar this week.

But double agree with the original post. Be safe, everyone.

Jay

 

yep, I'm especially thinking of my brothers/sisters in arms this holiday as this is the first christmas I've been home in 5 years....its a bit strange I tell ya but I'm extreemly thankful to be here....Merry christmas to all and to all a good night......

 

Let's pray for them all to return home safe.


HOOAH!

 

Pow/mia Never Forgotten Also Never Forget 9/11 The Reason So Many Of Or Friends Are Not Home For The Holidays

 

Merry Christmas to all!!!
Without your support,it would not be possible !!
GOD BLESS THE U.S.A

 

As someone serving over sea's I just want to say thanks. This is my third holiday season I have missed being home. I want to post a poem that was sent to me on my ship by a friend.
EMC Eric Krohn USCG

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here everynight."
It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always
remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her
smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the
sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not
fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're
gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."


PLEASE, Would you do me the kind favor of sending
this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon
and some credit is due to our U.S.service men and women for our
being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this
small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make 20 people stop
and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed
themselves for us.
LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq


If you can read this - Thank a teacher!
If you are reading it in English -Thank a VET!!

 

Cgkidd Hope U Make It Home Soon

 

Thank you everyone. There's a light, wet, snow falling this morning, and it's bleak and grey outside. Not much color in anything over here, and definitely doesn't feel like Christmas.

It means the wolrd to us to know that there are good people, some of which we may never know, that have us in their thoughts during these times.

So, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for remembering us. May you have a safe and joyous holiday, and a wonderful new year!

Thanks,
Dan

 

Thank YOU brother, and all the other servicemen and fellow vets. Merry Christmas.

 

Hey Dan, Keep your head down over there. I agree about it not feeling like Xmas it is 70 out here on the water and I am stuck on watch in the engine room. Keep dry and safe.
Eric

 

I knew there were more Hamber's out there,onduty, Dan if you get down to Incirlik, look me up ! Msgt Dad

 

Last year this time I was in a tent looking at they Christmas cards and stocking that was sent to me By MrsBenD and her class. That stocking hangs next to my daughter's waiting to be filled this year, and will go with me next year to Afganistan to remind me of those here at home. While I'm sure you all think about the guys and gals that are away from families overseas don't forget that we have lots of these kids way from home right here in the states. We cooks, will be cooking and serving them a good Christmas dinner, the best that the Army will provide. Still it ain't home so don't forget about them, because I know how it feels when you are are getting the love. Its something you want to continue. If you are close to a base reach out and invite a young service member home for dinner. You'll be glad you did.

 

I have a co-worker over there this holiday season. We worry about him alot. A collection was taken up to send him some presents. We exceeded our needs and bought phone cards for other soldiers.
Merry Christmas all.

 

Dan send me a sitrep later on if you would. Gotta get the real deal to train my kids up on.

Msgt Dad, FYI Bagdad Int Airport gets mortared often so if you are on the hercy bird or C17 ferrys in there have fun. Nomally happens about 1500ish bagdad local time. Haji's got a thing for the birds in there.

Kidd stay afloat and zap anything that don't look right.

 

Thanks Zeke ,,guess I'll sit on my helmet ,on the inbound

 

Oh Yeah Thanks for the ride outta there!!

 

Just got back in from a mail run. The bird never came, so we just rolled over to the German camp at RC North for Christmas dinner. Then a quick ride through Mazar-I-Sharif back here, tossing candy to the kids along the way.

Not how I would've like to spend Christmas, but the smiles from the kids made it alright.