A request for the Forum Membership

[strelnik]

As you know, the year is ending.

Some people have reminisced that this will be the first year without certain loved ones in their circle of friends and family to celebrate with them.

It occurred to me that, this year, I have seen several people send their goodbyes because of illness, as if no longer having a MB or being ill somehow excluded them from membership.

I would like all the persons who have "retired" temporarily to be contacted so that we acknowledge them and their past shared activities, and that they know we have not forgotten them.

Just a rambling thought as I approach my 60th Christmas. This last year, the DoD and Congress granted me an extension on active duty for the maximum amount allowed for Chief Warrant Officers: 62 years and 60 days. It also made me think of all the people I knew, especially those during the VietNam war, who didn't return.

I wonder if anyone thinks of them.

[BobK]

When I was young, the young lady that babysat us later married a GI. He never came home. His name is on the wall. She later remarried and the child that never met his father was raised by a good, kind man. I do think about that GI (who I don't think I ever met) and his sacrifice, even after all these years.
Life is too precious, too short to waste being mad at each other. Now I need to go take my own advice.

[okyoureabeast]

They can hold you in active duty for 62 years?!

My best wishes to you sir. Good luck.

[Chris Bell]

Originally Posted by okyoureabeast

They can hold you in active duty for 62 years?!

My best wishes to you sir. Good luck.

Perhaps he meant until age 62?

[jplinville]

Originally Posted by strelnik

Just a rambling thought as I approach my 60th Christmas. This last year, the DoD and Congress granted me an extension on active duty for the maximum amount allowed for Chief Warrant Officers: 62 years and 60 days. It also made me think of all the people I knew, especially those during the VietNam war, who didn't return.

I wonder if anyone thinks of them.

I think of them daily...I may not have lived through the war in the physical sense, but I've lived it through my dad by listening to his stories, the good and the bad.

Bear in mind, dad died due to illnesses tied directly to his service. According to VA math, he was 280% service related disabled for the last 10 years of his life.

[layback40]

Back to Strelnik's suggestion.
It is a good one!! The mark of a true gentle man to wish to offer Christmas wishes to those who are no longer on the forum.The hard part is the logistics, many on here do not have contact details out side the forum for prior members.
If any one on here is in on going communication with prior members, there are several of considerable noteariaty, please pass on my best wishes & compliments for the season.
Thanks Strelnik for the great idea !!

[t walgamuth]

Yes!

Me too!

I do think of the young men who did not come back.

When the lovely Mrs. and I bought our first house there was a stack of old records in the attic. I looked at them and many had the owners name on them. It was a nice collection of at least 50 or so dating from the twenties to the late thirties. I also found a purple heart. I thought it was very strange that someone left behind a purple heart.

One day I was in the park in the center of town and found the answer to the puzzle. The records and purple heart belonged to a young man who did not come back from ww2.

I knew his relatives so offered the purple heart to them, but I still have his record collection.

[benhogan]

I bought a old WWI book that was published after the war and perhaps given to the veterans when they got discharged. I got it from a used bookstore.

Stuck in the pages was the actual discharge letter to the veteran the book was given too.

It would be kinda neat to track down the guy's family and reunite them with the book and the discharge letter.

[dynalow]

Originally Posted by strelnik

As you know, the year is ending.

Some people have reminisced that this will be the first year without certain loved ones in their circle of friends and family to celebrate with them.

It occurred to me that, this year, I have seen several people send their goodbyes because of illness, as if no longer having a MB or being ill somehow excluded them from membership.

I would like all the persons who have "retired" temporarily to be contacted so that we acknowledge them and their past shared activities, and that they know we have not forgotten them.

Just a rambling thought as I approach my 60th Christmas. This last year, the DoD and Congress granted me an extension on active duty for the maximum amount allowed for Chief Warrant Officers: 62 years and 60 days. It also made me think of all the people I knew, especially those during the VietNam war, who didn't return.

I wonder if anyone thinks of them.

I knew/know some guys who served in Nam. Fortunately, I don't think I knew anyone who didn't come home. My best friend flew a Cobra with the 1st Cav.
AirMobile. He was injured in early ' 68 when the VC mortared his hooch. Almost lost his right arm, but fortunately they saved it. I was thinking of Mike just the other day and made myself a promise to visit his gravesite this week.

The Vietnam Vet is becoming like the Korean Vet....fading in time and forgotten by the public.

[daveuz]

Around the holidays, many people use wreaths to decorate their homes. But at Arlington National Cemetery, thousands of volunteers gathered to use wreaths to honor those who aren’t always remembered.
“Wreaths Across America” is a program that places holiday wreaths on more than 5,000 headstones at Arlington National Cemetery, recognizing the sacrifices of veterans and their families for our country.
It all started when Morrill Worcester, a 12-year-old from Harrington, Maine, won a trip to Washington while serving as a paper boy for the Bangor Daily News. He was inspired by Arlington National Cemetery, and later, as president of the Worcester Wreath Company, decided to do something with his extra wreaths at the end of the holiday season. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40644845

[cscmc1]

Excellent idea, Strelnik. Also, thanks for your service and congratulations on your extension. I hope to do 20+, and my dad did just shy of 30 years -- far less than you, but it runs in the family nevertheless.

Tom, I bought a neighboring lot this year and while cleaning out the garage found a photo album from the Korean war era. There were a number of pics of infantrymen, artillery, and armor soldiers; I certainly spent some time wondering who'd leave such a thing behind, and whether the faces in those pictures all made it home.

[Txjake]

Grand Idea, Strelnik. Cudos to Warrant Officers, the guys with the guts to get it done. (If any of you evere were or knew a Warrant Officer, you will know what I mean)

[The Clk Man]

A Vietnam Vet cam into my shop the other day and asked me if I needed any fire wood, I said yes and bought some wood from him, I went to shake his hand and he put out his left hand which only had two fingers on it. I looked over at his right hand and noticed that he had one of those metal pinching arms. I later found out that he had lost his right arm and leg. He is this guy that has been to hell and back out trying to sell firewood to make some extra cash. I thanked him for his service to our Country. God bless that man.

[strelnik]

Originally Posted by cscmc1

Excellent idea, Strelnik. Also, tanks for your service and congratulations on your extension. I hope to do 20+, and my dad did just shy of 30 years -- far less than you, but it runs in the family nevertheless.

.

Thanks, I started in '72, so do the math

[The Clk Man]

Originally Posted by The Clk Man

A Vietnam Vet came into my shop the other day and asked me if I needed any fire wood, I said yes and bought some wood from him, I went to shake his hand and he put out his left hand which only had two fingers on it. I looked over at his right hand and noticed that he had one of those metal pinching arms. I later found out that he had lost his right arm and leg. He is this guy that has been to hell and back out trying to sell firewood to make some extra cash. I thanked him for his service to our Country. God bless that man.

This man deserves more respect.