Share Your Story

My son, my hero

I spent over 20 years in the military, 14 years on active duty in the Navy, getting out to take custody of my children, and 8 1/2 years in the Army Reserve. Both my son and my daughter followed in my footsteps. My daughter spent over 8 years in the NMARNG 44th Army Band, getting out to raise her family. My son attended the New Mexico Military Institute, where he was commissioned a 2nd Lt. following his graduation.

He was assigned to a transportation unit, where he quickly became revered as an officer whom his personnel would follow anywhere. However, his commissioned life didn't last too long. He upset some senior officers when he took matters in his own hands involving fouled up orders. Following this, my son suddenly found that neither he nor his men were able to obtain the classes they needed for advancement. After trying to fight this through channels, my son decided that he was the focal point of the whole thing, so he resigned his commission and transferred to another unit which was preparing for deployment to Iraq. (Note: following his resignation, his men suddenly had their schools approved.)

He spent a year in Iraq, coming home physically safe after his year. However, the Army, in it's infinite wisdom, assigned a counselor to his unit who had never been overseas, much less heard a shot fired in anger. This obviously didn't go over too well. Up to this point, my son had been at loose ends, not knowing what to do. Now, though, he had a fire in himself that I hadn't seen in a while. He told me, "Dad, the men and women I served with need someone as a counselor who understands where they have been, what they are going through. I want to study Psychology and become a counselor for veterans..." He's now nearly finished with his Master's degree in Psychology.

That's my son, my hero.

Mark
Lakewood, CO

My silent father

My father served during WWII. He left college at UC Berkeley to serve. He became a 2nd Lieutenant and was assigned to an anti-tank unit in the 99th infantry. The 99th infantry first saw action during the Battle of the Bulge. As an anti-tank unit during an attack by overwhelming German Panzer tanks, my father must have been involved in some of the most intense fighting during that famous battle. In looking up the history of the 99th Division, it talks a lot about the Battle of the Bulge and little else. The Battle of the Bulge was their baptism by fire. My father never talked about the war. No matter how much my brother and I tried to get him to tell us war stories, he never did. The best we could get was his rendition of "Killroy was here". Since my Dad was a great cartoonist, I am sure he contributed some of the Killroy was here graffiti left in Germany during the war. Again, he never said he did, but he could draw Killroy quickly. Just like someone who had drawn it many times before. I like to think that he left his mark drawing pictures of Killroy all over Germany. He may not have, but he might. I have no way of confirming it one way or another. I also have not been able to track down his military records to find out just what he did or did not do during the war. I can only speculate. I know what kind of a man he was as a father. If he was half that as a 2nd Lieutenant then the Germans had their hands full. He died in 1984 and is still greatly missed by his two sons.

Steven Revie
Chandler, AZ

Welcome Home from Vietnam - NOT!

In 1968 I was returning home to Morris, Illinois from Walter Reed Medical Center. Wearing civilian clothes and on crutches as told to make travel less noticeable , I met with resistance all the way home. Wearing one low-quarter dress shoe was a dead giveaway to the war protesters, draft dodgers, etc. that seemed to be everywhere in the airports. Humiliation was the norm when returning home and not telling anyone of my Viet Nam service. I did not do anything wrong! I was called and went to serve! At 26 years of age married and one child, I became "Pappy" to my squad of kids , the worst feeling in life was to see them die for our country! Thinking that they could have burnt their draft cards. However, the worst memory of being called a baby killer and told "You lost your war" at a local veterans' post tops the sadness. To this day I refuse to join that post.

Wendell Johnson
Morris, IL

Proudly served 25 years (20 1/2 active duty and 4 1/2 active reserves

I was raised in a military family, and it had a direct effect on a large part of my adult life.

I served in three branches of the military during my total time in service, during good times and bad, but I do not have any real regrets. My main regret was that I did not stay on active duty all the way through.

I spent four years in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, and it was a very trying time, especially when the civilian public, especially those of "baby boomer" ages, did not appreciate the service of those persons who were in the military (even those who never saw duty in Vietnam. Just being in the military at that time carried a bad social stigma. That was my reasoning for leaving active duty after my four-year enlistment.

Following my time in the Air Force, I joined the Army National Guard unit in my home town. During the first 3 1/2 years, the unit was Military Police, and one of our special duties during that period was to provide security for Pope John Paul II during one of his visits to the United States. The unit changed over to Signal Corps during the last year of my time in the National Guard, and I served as a Secure Communications radio operator.

Finally, I joined the Navy and served for 16 1/2 years as a Cryptologic Technician (Naval Intelligence). It was very interesting and satisfying duty, and I did see a lot of the world, especially in the Pacific and Middle East areas. My best tour of duty during my naval career occurred when I was assigned to the National Security Agency, where I finally got to see first-hand what all my previous naval endeavors had resulted in. Nothing I can write about, for security reasons, but very interesting, nonetheless.

I felt that I made the right choice in my life, and I have often told people I know that the military is a good place to start to learn a career field.

Anonymous
LAKESIDE, CA

My Uncle George

I do not know a lot about my Uncle George, as he died defending our country on September 2, 1950 in Korea. What I do know is that he was a member of the 1st Airborne as an enlisted soldier and then while serving went from being enlisted to an officer. He was a captain when he was killed in action fighting the North Koreans. Although I do not know a lot about his military history he is my hero and I am very proud to be his nephew. If anyone knows more about my Uncle George Jones I would love to hear from you.

Brock Jones
Overland Park, KS

My Husand,My Soldier, My Life

My husband started his military life in Nov 2003 after the job he was working shut down twice in one year. We were a young family with 2 small kids. He joined the army and got stationed at Ft Campbell, Ky which is where we stayed till 2010 when he was medically discharged due to an injury from his first deployment in 2005/2006 he was hit but not too bad from an IED. He then deployed in 2008/2009 to Afgan. Then came home and got out. He will forever be my HERO no matter what. Once a solider always a solider. I love you Raymond M Carr II (SSGT Carr 4th BDG Ft Campbell Ky)

Misty
Kingman, AZ

My Son, My Soldier, My Hero

My son has talked about joining the Army while he was in high school. I was scared, worried, and just sad about him doing this. I tried to talk him out of it, but he said that was what he wanted to do. When he turned 18 he went to MEPS, and after he graduated he left two months later for basics. I cried for hours after he left for Fort Benning. When I went to his Army graduation I was so proud of the man before me. He is now at his duty station in Texas, and we get to talk more now. I am still a scared mother, and I don't think that will ever change. Now I am a Army Mom and so proud of my son!

Anonymous
irvine, KY

Welcome home

Growing up I was always proud of my heritage. My uncle was in the Oklahoma National Guard. My mothers dad was a navy veteran of WW2. My fathers dad fought in the trenches of WW1. I had ancestors in most of our nations wars, even some Cherokees who fought for this country when it was theirs. I married a girl whose military heritage was awe inspiring. Her father was on Iwo Jima and was one of 6 DeHaas brothers who were all in the military at one time in their lives. They took pride in tracing their ancestry back to Brig Gen JP DeHaas who fought in the Revolutionary War and in the French and Indian War prior to that. Also to Capt. Wm Shippen who was the first Marine KIA at the battle of Princeton in 1777. I was proud of both my family and my wife's family heritage. Then my wife and I had a son. Of course I raised him to be proud of his ancestors. Their sacrifice was instilled on his being. He called one day and said "I have to join..." I asked why. He said he could not allow his college friends go to Afghanistan while he enjoyed college life. I felt great pride in him. We watched as he graduated an infantryman at Ft Benning. And then as he told all who were dear to him 'Goodbye' when he deployed. I prayed for him as all the horrors of war touched his life. Then he came home. On veterans day, I asked him if I could put up a static display for his friend who was killed. Of course he said that it would be fine. He told me that when he came to see it, he had to have a good cry. He told me the thing that combat has changed for him is how real it is when someone says those two words....Welcome home

Will Meyer
Ames, OK

Not a deployment story but still meant a lot to me.

In late '06 early '07 I was 17 and still in high school, working at an IHOP, and talking to a recruiter at the time about joining the Army Reserves (grandmother has health problems and wanted to stay near by for her). I met a young man one night one my shift his name was Nathan and we got to talking while I took his order, he was in town for the weekend from Ft. Sill to visit his family. He quickly became my regular customer and a good friend. We would talk about the Army and what I should expect, or movies and video games things of the sort. Time came and went then I shipped for basic training at Ft. Jackson, then off to AIT at Aberdeen Proving grounds, when I got my cell phone privileges back he would talk with me still and help me when I was feeling down and missed home. I finally made it through and was ecstatic to let him know I would finally be coming home! When i finally got to baggage claim I saw my mom, and then out of the corner of my I i caught him there, and ran to give him a hug hello, they were the only ones to greet me. I found out later he had skipped out on seeing family and going to a concert he had looked forward to just to make sure I wasn't waiting alone for a ride when I got back. Now we are both out of the Army and December 4th we will have been married for 3 years and have 2 beautiful precious little girls. My husband finished his time as an E-3 Field artillery man and I finished as an E-4 Quartermaster and chemical equipment repair woman.

Jessica Smith
Amarillo, TX

Mother Mary

My Dad never went to church with us but he believed.
During World War II, he and his fellow soldiers in Germany were surprised by a long lasting mortar attack as they were traveling. They jumped out of their vehicles and found protection in some nearby ditches. They were there, pinned down for hours.
Unfortunately, those ditches were filled with varying levels of rain water and it was wintertime, so they became wet and really cold. Most likely hypothermic. The attack rained on so they had to stay where they were and defend their position.Some men chanced getting out of the ditches so they wouldn't freeze to death, he doesn't think they made it.
Then there was the period of silence where fear grew. He lit a ciggarette. His thoughts were of family back home; he prayed fervently that he could see his mother one last time.He was scared to death he wouldn't make it. He was shivering so bad from the cold and being wet. Getting out of the pit was a death sentence. Staying in the pit was similar.
He started to pray. Over and over again he prayed , "Just let me see my Mother one last time."
A period of time passed that he can't recall and he sort of "came to."
He was still crouched in the cold wet water, his ciggarette had burnt down but the ashes were still attached and he said he felt so warm. He looked down and most of him was dry. He swore Mother Mary placed her arms on him, provided comfort and kept him safe and warm.
He teared up the two times I heard him relate that story and he didn't share it with anyone - it was far too special an experience.
Miracles do happen.

Kristine Benevento
Williston, VT