Rick Pierce
Well-known member
For all of you who have served our country and "stood on the wall" so that Americans could keep their freedoms, thank you.
Thank you, veterans.
- Thread starter Rick Pierce
- Start date
Pete McMiller
Well-known member
You are welcome Rick, and I will add my thanks to all my fellow veterans. All the recent publicity for veterans makes my heart sing. For too long no one said anything and now they do - I am proud to be one of the 1% of this country who has served.
As I have every year since I found his name on the wall, I looked again today and wept for all those who didn't come home including my high school buddy, Carl 'Dennis' Ruenger, Medic, KIA, April 1970.
Pete McMiller, Navy, VA-52, CVA-63, 1968-1972
As I have every year since I found his name on the wall, I looked again today and wept for all those who didn't come home including my high school buddy, Carl 'Dennis' Ruenger, Medic, KIA, April 1970.
Pete McMiller, Navy, VA-52, CVA-63, 1968-1972
Luke Berkey
Well-known member
Thanks Pete, and all the other veterans out there who have sacrificed so the rest of us can live as safe and comfortably as we do.
Pete and all vets
Thanks for your service.
Pete, you should see old 63 these days.
Thanks for your service.
Pete, you should see old 63 these days.
Pete McMiller
Well-known member
Brad,
As a member of the Kitty Hawk Veteran's Assoc. I was one of 62 former sailors allowed to take the last cruise from San Diego to Bremerton 4 years ago. She was put to bed shortly after that. We all hope that she can be brought out of moth balls at some point but realistically that is unlikely I think. The Association is trying to raise money to have her made a museum like the Midway was in San Diego.
I always said that if I ever had a chance to ride her again I would jump at the chance and I did. I got a hell of lump in my throat when I went up the afterbrough 4 years ago. She looked, smelled and sounded just like I left her in July 1972 with the exception that the aircraft had already departed. A hell of a ship. At the time of her cruise to Bremerton she was the oldest active ship in the Navy and still kicked butt during the last war games that summer when the GW was out of commission.
BTW, that last cruise was the only time I have ever been a part of a burial at sea for an old shipmate - quite a moving experience.
As a member of the Kitty Hawk Veteran's Assoc. I was one of 62 former sailors allowed to take the last cruise from San Diego to Bremerton 4 years ago. She was put to bed shortly after that. We all hope that she can be brought out of moth balls at some point but realistically that is unlikely I think. The Association is trying to raise money to have her made a museum like the Midway was in San Diego.
I always said that if I ever had a chance to ride her again I would jump at the chance and I did. I got a hell of lump in my throat when I went up the afterbrough 4 years ago. She looked, smelled and sounded just like I left her in July 1972 with the exception that the aircraft had already departed. A hell of a ship. At the time of her cruise to Bremerton she was the oldest active ship in the Navy and still kicked butt during the last war games that summer when the GW was out of commission.
BTW, that last cruise was the only time I have ever been a part of a burial at sea for an old shipmate - quite a moving experience.
Rick Pierce
Well-known member
My best friend's father was in the Army in Vietnam. He rarely talks about his service, but I know after the first Gulf War when the soldiers came home to parades, he wept openly because he was proud the country honored them as much as it DIDN'T honor the soldiers coming home from Vietnam.
I am also glad our country seems to have more respect and appreciation for military personnel.
I am also glad our country seems to have more respect and appreciation for military personnel.
Rick,
One of my dad's, aunt's son...what's that 2nd cousin?...served in Vietnam. Dad had told me he was a helicopter pilot. We didn't see my dad's aunt very often but one night at a family dinner I had been bugging him to tell me what it was like. He wouldn't say a word. I figured it was because I was some sort of dork to this guy or something. Actually he didn't talk much at all when he got home. At that dinner we were in the basement shooting pool when he looked at me with a look I'll never forget and started telling me stories. I can't even begin to repeat what he told me here. The image I still have is he was one messed up dude. I haven't seen him in 30 years now. Most of my family has pasted now so I can't even tell you if he's still alive. I know now he suffered from PTSD. I wish those guys...and women would have been acknowledged then as they are trying to today.
One of my dad's, aunt's son...what's that 2nd cousin?...served in Vietnam. Dad had told me he was a helicopter pilot. We didn't see my dad's aunt very often but one night at a family dinner I had been bugging him to tell me what it was like. He wouldn't say a word. I figured it was because I was some sort of dork to this guy or something. Actually he didn't talk much at all when he got home. At that dinner we were in the basement shooting pool when he looked at me with a look I'll never forget and started telling me stories. I can't even begin to repeat what he told me here. The image I still have is he was one messed up dude. I haven't seen him in 30 years now. Most of my family has pasted now so I can't even tell you if he's still alive. I know now he suffered from PTSD. I wish those guys...and women would have been acknowledged then as they are trying to today.