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The respect for our Military

My father was born in 1928 he got through the great depression was able to join the army for the korean war .He became injured in the leg and was a POW . My father was very patriotic though he never talked about his time in the service. I grew up not caring to much about our military.not really having an opinion about it at all. At the age of 39 I met a wonderfull man in SD California. He changed how i felt about our soldiors . He himself was in Veitnam and he is alot like my father. I would take him to the Lajolla VA to pick up his meds and for Doctor appointments. I was able to see first hand some of our vets who faught in all the differant wars. the limbs lost . the mind states for some of them and just the over all stories i would over here along with the pictures on the walls giving props to all the men and women who served in each and every war gave me a chance to develope an opionion and fellings for our vets and my dad. I shed tears one day for our vets after seeing the pictures on the wall at the VA . right then i realized how lucky i am to live in the USA. over the years so many men and woman have faught to keep me and everyone else safe and free. Free to feel and express our opinions about anything. i vowed never to take anything here for granted again. I have such an amazing respect for our military now . I get very emotional when i see our troops or here the national anthem. I have great respect for my father and wish i was able to tell him but he has now passed away i waisted to much time not saying what needed to be said. so i say now to all the men and woman of our United states Milatary Thank You for your service so i may live in peace and safety.

kimberly jordan
MESA, AZ

Brian is coming home

I try not to pry into others "Personal" business, BUT: I am a Dialysis patient at the C W Bill Young V A Facility @ Bay Pines, FL. Julie, which is one of the dozen or so RN's Lpn's etc that provide veterans with our services, husband is returning on NOV 11TH, if all goes well. They got married a few months ago & after a short Honeymoon he had to go back into service. She is an excellent "Part Timer" and eagerly awaiting his return. Just wanted to share this.

Michael Brand
ST Petersburg, GA

Prince buys us a round

I was a US Army dog handler with the 1st CAV, in Bien Hoa, RVN 1972. Occasionally we would run a demo for visiting VIPs. I had the "Wow the brass" duty one day with Prince and we ran through the training/demo trail flawlessly finding pits, traps, trips and snipers along the way in front of a group of brass, politicians and the press. Afterwards we were standing at the review stand answering questions for the visitors when one fellow asked me if I enjoyed my job. I answered in the affirmative, and he then asked if I thought the dog enjoyed it too.

I said, "I'm not sure sir. Let me ask him".

I turned to Prince and said "Prince, which would you rather be, a Lifer or a dead dog?" Of course he immediately lay down and played dead. Our efforts brought on a standing ovation.

The next morning we woke to find 10 cases of Budweiser stacked in our day room with a note attached saying, "That was the most entertained I've been since coming in-country. Thanks and have a cold one on me". It was signed A. Haig, Major General, USA.

Anonymous
LIVERMORE, CA

a thankful veteran

This is about my dad who was a Korean vet.
My dad could never say enough about the VA and how good they were to him. He formed great relationships with his doctors and nurses over the years and no when he passed on 11/27/2012 I couldn't believe that one of his doctors and 2 of his nurses came to the funeral. Dad always said that this is a benefit and a great one. I just want to thank the VA for caring and loving my dad. Thank you

stephen pontillo
Winston salem, NC

1st Lt. Earl G. Lewis - Combat Engineers - South Pacific

My (step) father, 1 Lt. Earl G. Lewis served with the Combat Engineers in the south pacific during WWII. He initially saw action in New Guinea and worked his through the islands finally ending up in the Philippines at the war's end. He came shore immediately after MacArthur's return to the Philippines. He barely escaped a Kamikaze attack while unloading barges in the Philippines. He heard the screaming Japanese plane as it dove toward it's target and ran like hell and was spared. The barge was destroyed. Throughout the entire campaign he was wounded more than once from shrapnel in his back and neck. He refused to accept the "Purple Heart(s)". He told the medics (Doctors) to "stick the Purple Heart(s) 'cause it wouldn't make him feel any better." He also from suffered ruptured ear drums (explosions) and malaria. I recall him saying that he refused to surrender his Colt Model 1911, 45 cal. pistol (he wore it in a shoulder holster) when boarding the ship home. He said he would remove it when he saw the Golden Gate Bridge. He brought this side arm home with him. I recall vividly seeing this .45 Colt when I was a child and early adolescent. He had removed the standard grips and replaced these a clear "Plexiglas" type material with a picture of my mother on each side. He swapped this pistol for a Coleman Camp Stove when we moved to Alaska. DAD, NO!!! The documented provenance with this pistol would have made it PRICELESS!! IT WAS MY DAD'S . . . . . . However, I do have his jungle/fighting knife.

Paul Lewis
Glennallen, AK

A Proud Daughter

My father, Lieutenant Colonel Lester Leidy, Jr., was a World War II Veteran who served in the 347th Fighter Group in the South Pacific Theatre. Flying 165 combat missions some in the infamous P38 Lightening, he totaled 916 hours of flying time, of which 467 hours were in combat. My dad was a decorated soldier earning The Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 8 Oak Leaf Clusters, The Theatre Ribbon with 4 Battle Stars, and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 1 Battle Star.
My father was very modest about his accomplishments, some which I didn't learn about until after his passing in 1998. His uniforms and flying jacket were donated to the Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum in MI to be preserved for history's sake. As much as I am proud of my father, he was just as proud to serve his country, and did so honorably.
I have thought about sharing this story after seeing many other men and women's courageous efforts shared on this page. We cannot forget those who make our freedom possible.

Barbara Leidy-Maxwell
East Norriton, PA

Oh S*#$!

My grandfather-in-law was stationed in Italy. He went in with friends, one of which volunteered to clean his twin 50's so he could go out, as his friend was going home the next day.
So he goes to a movie, thanks his buddy and sees him off the next day. A day or so later his unit got in a fire fight, when he pulled the trigger on his 50's, nothing. He rips it apart, no firing pins!
He saw his buddy when he got home, who busted out laughing and handed him the firing pins!
I think he punched him in the head, but afterwards they laughed about it many times over the years.

Michael H. Murphy
Woodbury, NJ

Retired Veteran

So glad to be home alive after my 4 tours at war. Life seems a lot harder now with PTSD

Thomas Burnside
DUBOIS, PA

My father who was KIA in Viet Nam

My father served with the 9 th marines he was killed April 14 1967 I can only Remember certain things about my Father I know he left for Viet Nam shortly after my Brother was seriously Burt over 50 percent of his Body this I know was hard for him to leave to go fight for a Country he loved so much so he is my Hero and I know I am the last in are Fsmily to Serve my Father Sgt Robert Anthony Chapp USMC this son and Veteran Saluts you and I will Never Forget

Frank R Chapp Hylla
Beaver, OR

Welcome Home

I was in Vietnam in 1968-1969 as a Marine attached to 1st Bn 1st Marines Charlie Company. We went through hell while we were there and served in Booby Trap Heaven as we called it. We lost so many Marines from booby traps and it made it a challenge to go into the field daily. I was shot at, went through rice patties, through rivers and streams all the time with jungle rot because we could not keep our feet dry. It just does something to you when a buddie is shot beside you or is blown up by a boobie trap.

What really upset me when I came home was I landed at the San Francisco Airport and came off the plane and actually have people spit at me and call me a baby killer. I’ll have you know that I did not kill one baby over there, but it took everything I had from grabbing that person and doing bodily harm to them. I did not like being there either, but my country sent me there away from my family and girlfriend. I had no say so in where I would serve, so that meant you go where they tell you to go. I was there fighting so this sick SOM could spit at us when we came home.

45 years later, my life has changed drastically from the Agent Orange. I have held everything in over time and the PTSD has finally caught up with me. My wife has suffered more than I have from my PTSD, I am getting help for it now.

I want to say thank you to my wife for all her support and thank you for sticking with me for 45 years. If it wasn’t for her, I probably would of taken my life somewhere along the line. Thank you Pam for giving me my life back and being my best friend.

If you know a veteran, give them a hug or a hand shake, when all is said, they most likely need it.

Gene Stewart
USMC 1968-1971 Vietnam Vet 1968-1969

Gene Stewart
Mt Pleasant, IA