I Remember - Do you?
POSTED BY: TPage
UPDATED: Thursday, November 16, 2006 00:55
VIEWED: 3832
PAGE 2 of 3
To all of those who fought protecting us: Peace, honor, and remembrance.
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Reality sucks. Especially when it contradicts our cherished ideas.
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Rupert Brooke - THE SOLDIER
If I should die, think only this of me:
That there's some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
A body of England's, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.
And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.
Prayers of hope and health to those serving. A greatful Thank You to those who have served.
----
Bestower of Titles, Designer of Tshirts, Maker of Mottos, Keeper of the Pyre
I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"
FORSAKEN original
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We keep hearing on a very consistent basis about how many WWII vets are passing away daily. I think about my uncle (through marriage to my aunt) who is going to be 87 in 2 weeks, and was with the 101 Airborne (502nd) in WWII. He fought throughout the Italian campaign (including Anzio), then was among the very first Americans into France when he parachuted (just after midnight) into enemy-occupied terroritory on June 6, 1944. He also participated in the battles of Arnhem and Batastogne, amongst others.
While still fully alert and willing to discuss his service, he's not in the best of health. I've mentioned to my cousin (his daughter), that she should record him speaking about his involvement in the war for posterity. I hope she will do it before it's too late.
Along these lines, I'd urge anyone who has so served their country (whichever country it may be) -- particularly those who saw combat, to record their recollections for posterity. Once you (or they) are gone, your stories can't be told.
Again, my very best to all of you who've served, whether in war or peace. 
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My dad had a very interesting history. He was drafted into the Polish Army just weeks before getting his PhD in Physics, escaped the Katyn Forest massacre by claiming he was the phtographer (not an officer) and survived a Ukrainian tin mine and a Siberian labor camp, only to join the British commandos and become a provocateur in Poland. He ued to get a disability check from Her Majesty's service- it always came in pounds, shillings and pence. His favorite song as "A Scottish Soldier", partly, I think, because he trained in Scotland.
I made the mistake of not asking him for more details. He has since passed away. Those of you with living relatives, please don't make the same mistake.
The Scottish Soldier
There was a soldier, a Scottish soldier
Who wandered far away and soldiered far away
There was none bolder, with good broad shoulder
He's fought in many a fray, and fought and won.
He'd seen the glory and told the story
Of battles glorious and deeds neforious
But now he's sighing, his heart is crying
To leave these green hills of Tyrol.
Because these green hills are not highland hills
Or the island hills, the're not my land's hills
And fair as these green foreign hills may be
They are not the hills of home.
And now this soldier, this Scottish soldier
Who wandered far away and soldiered far away
Sees leaves are falling and death is calling
And he will fade away, in that far land.
He called his piper, his trusty piper
And bade him sound a lay... a pibroch sad to play
Upon a hillside, a Scottish hillside
Not on these green hills of Tyrol.
And so this soldier, this Scottish soldier
Will wander far no more and soldier far no more
And on a hillside, a Scottish hillside
You'll see a piper play his soldier home.
He'd seen the glory, he'd told his story
Of battles glorious and deeds victorious
The bugles cease now, he is at peace now
Far from those green hills of Tyrol.
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Good bye Dad. I miss you.
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Thanks for sharing your story, SignyM. People like your dad bought us the freedom we enjoy.
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I remember many. Some who came back and some who did not.
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My family has been farmers, small business men, and civil servants, not professional military.
My mom's grandfather fought in the Civil War (on the losing side). Two of her brothers fought in France in WWI. My dad's company strung phone wire from Normandy to Berlin in WWII, and my cousin flew C-46 Commandos over the Hump in Burma. I lost my brother-in-law in Vietnam many years before I met and married his sister. I spent a year in Nam myself - like my dad, keeping commo working. My wife's nephew is in Germany right now, keeping Air Force transports flying.
This is nothing special. Most everyone in the US can relate a similar story. We are defended by citizen-soldiers, who do their tour, or fight their war, and come home to be the guy who builds your house, or fixes your car, or teaches your kids how to read. You are surrounded by heroes.
"Keep the Shiny side up"
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Quote:
Originally posted by Geezer:
This is nothing special. Most everyone in the US can relate a similar story. We are defended by citizen-soldiers, who do their tour, or fight their war, and come home to be the guy who builds your house, or fixes your car, or teaches your kids how to read. You are surrounded by heroes.
I presently work with two combat veterans -- one from Korea (82nd Airborne), and another from VietNam (he never told me his unit, but he has a Purple Heart). I have repeatedly told them both how much I appreciate their service. The Korean vet freely relates recollections of his service to appease my interest. I don't know the Viet Nam vet as well, so he hasn't opened up like the other, but he seems to deeply appreciate the gratitude I express to him for his service on a fairly regular basis.
Of all vets, I think that sadly the Viet Nam vets have been the most overlooked. I grew up daily watching that war on TV, terrified at the prospect of one day having to go there (by the grace of God, it had ended before I was of age). I also saw the shameful way its vets were treated here in the states.
As someone who served there, you deserve the honor and respect of the nation you served. Thank you for your service.
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THANKS, to all veterans.
May we never take your service for granted or send you to sacrifice for needless wars.
And no matter how badly the government treats you, remember your fellow citizens appreciate and value what you did.
Can't Take My Gorram Sky 
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Vote for veterans' benefits and services. They've earned it.
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I remember and give thanks for those who have sacrificed their blood for freedom.
I, too, remember my father who died in 2002. He was with the Third Marine Division when they raised the flag on Imo Jima in WWII. While he talked about some things, there was much he didn't or couldn't talk about. He was in college when the war began and enlisted - came out a commissioned captain.
I miss you, too, Dad. I pray you have found peace and rest where ever you are.
Siri
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