"We Will Remember Them" - Veterans Day

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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 1:43 pm

Tomorrow is Veteran's Day. This is the day we remember all those brave men and women who have laid down their lives not just in the "Great War" but in all wars.

http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp

Does anyone have memories they would like to share?

I remember quite well for the first time hearing TAPS and a 21 gun salute. I was about 5 years old -- just a few years after WW2 ended -- my cousin's body was finally returned to the US and we went to his funeral. The TAPS were so sad, but the 21 gun salute scared me and I still recall my emotions.

My cousin was killed on a Philippines Island as he was operating a machine gun. I was told it was the Island of Luzon.

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 2:16 pm

The Pogues - The band played waltzing matilda

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 2:18 pm

When You Go Home
Tell Them Of Us And Say
For Your Tomorrow
We Gave Our Today

2nd British Division memorial, Kohima, Burma
John Maxwell Edmonds

Here dead we lie
Because we did not choose
To live and shame the land
From which we sprung
Life to be sure
Is nothing much to lose
But young men think it is
And we were young

A E Housman

Baiting Guru Joined: 27 Mar 2011 Posts: 21158

We have the known that many pay honor to, and we have the "known only to God". Bless them all!

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_of_the_Unknown_Soldier

Elite Baiter Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 1440

I love this tribute, for all the men (and mere boys) who fought and died, or lived (like my father) and suffered forever the effects of what they witnessed and experienced. Crying or Very sad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hlyjnIN9bE

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 7:26 pm

thanks guys

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 8:37 pm

Here in UK, we have Remembrance Sunday tomorrow: http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/remembrance/the-nation-remembers/remembrance-sunday/

My father served in the Royal Air Force, towards the end of WWII.

Quote:

Shall Life renew these bodies? Of a truth
All death will he annul, all tears assuage?
Or fill these void veins full again with youth,
And wash with an immortal water, age?

Wilfred Owen

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 11:21 pm

GreatWar 1914-1918

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

My grandfather served in both world wars and both my parents served in the second.
Grandfather and father in the ARMY and my mother in the WRAF, my father was still fighting in Burma after Japan had stopped fighting, did not get home until about May 1946.

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 11:54 pm

This reminded me to once again open my Father's log books from the Second World War. Most of it is simply a log of daily activities that really is of no interest to anyone.

One particular page jumped out at me though. The day I believe is February 13, 1945 ( although I could be wrong) and there is a very small notation with seven crosses. My Father was unable to fly that day. Liberator 3716 did not return to base. Two days later, he dropped bombs on a U Boat.

No these people did not get time off because their friends had died. There was no grief counselling as we know it. They did what they had to do for the good of their Country!

Oddly enough, my Father who was a Historian (among other things) found out that the U Boat was not destroyed in the attack from a description he found in a book he found in a Yard Sale. Years later my Father and this Gentleman met over coffee discussing their 'stories' while I sat about wondering where the Chicks were.

Maybe there is some hope in this world after all.

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 11:58 pm

Any other "Nam vets on this forum?

Dad was in the Navy in WWII, his dad with the Army in WW1. Other grand-dad was in both world wars with the Canadian Provost Corps.

"Green Fields of France"

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 12:07 am

^ I'm reminded of the only Victoria Cross awarded solely on the basis of a report by an enemy survivor - to Flying Officer Lloyd Allan Trigg of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Allan_Trigg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unterseeboot_468

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/u-boat-captain-who-shot-down-nz-vc-winner-found-7724.html

It makes you wonder about the courage that no-one lived to witness, and the sacrifices that no-one now recalls.

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 2:35 am

Thank you to all my brothers and sisters that served in any branch or country.

Semper Fi!

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 4:40 am

My grandfather helped patch up the Lancasters that returned from bombing raids over Europe, repairing shrapnel and bullet holes, fixing wiring and piping and getting the aircraft back into service as fast as possible. That was the easy part. The first job was cleaning the inside of the aircraft, and I think that haunted him for the rest of his days. These were evil times.

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 12:57 pm

Nailgunner wrote:

...The first job was cleaning the inside of the aircraft, and I think that haunted him for the rest of his days.

Nailgunner’s Post reminded me of this, which may appeal to anyone interested in WWII: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bomber-BBC-Radio-Collection-Baker/dp/0563523557/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1352638136&sr=8-2

I have it on CD and it is both brilliant and harrowing.

Quote:

Bomber is the story of the final mission of RAF Lancaster bomber WF183 - call sign O - Orange, which took place one night in 1943. It is also the story of the many men and women - British and German - whose lives were irrevocably changed by that night's bombing raid. Starring Tom Baker, Frank Windsor, Samuel West, Emma Chambers and Jack Shepherd, Bomber is a brilliant production and a consistent bestseller for the BBC Radio Collection.

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 1:45 pm

From here in the once occupied parts of Europe, the thoughts are not only directed at the allied forces that persistently fought against the occupying forces, but also those in the resistance movements, who risked, and ultimately laid down, their own lives as well as those of their friends and families, to oppose the invaders. Each and every life that was lost in pursuit of the freedom and democracy we enjoy today makes me feel humble.

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 3:31 pm

My father and several uncles served during WW2.One uncle wound up a POW.They are all gone now,but I remember them all being proud of their service.I found out after he was gone that I was one of the only family members that my uncle would talk about his experiences as a POW with.I don't understand why he did,but I consider it an honor.
RIP guys,you earned it.

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 2:43 pm

Our family is a military family. My cousin as mentioned above was in WW2 on the PI and ultimately KIA there.

Two husbands were 'Nam vets....one career... the other not. And currently my grandson is a US Marine recently back from Afghanistan (and will have to return in 2013 -- unless he gets the Embassy duty he requested (and now that makes me nervous also). My dad wanted to serve but had a physical disability that made him "unfit"

And our favorite hymn -- is the Navy Hymn ("Eternal Father, Strong to Save) and it actually names all the services, military families, the SEALS, doctors, artic expedition, inter alia.

The original words are:

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walkedst on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Father,_Strong_to_Save

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 3:20 pm

@TM - I think i heard that when it first came round. It was very good.
'Lancaster - the second world war's greatest bomber' by Leo Mckinstry is also well worth reading. It's a fascinatingly detailed account of the aircraft, its development and deployment as well and contains some amazing accounts of raids by pilots and crew.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lancaster-Second-World-Greatest-Bomber/dp/071952363X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352732853&sr=1-1

Baiting Guru Joined: 27 Mar 2011 Posts: 21158

Justcold wrote:

Thank you to all my brothers and sisters that served in any branch or country.

Semper Fi!

Hoorah Marine! We're all just brothers from another mother! Army grunt and fellow Okie here.

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 5:07 pm

I'm reading In Harm's Way by Doug Stanton. Its about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. I met an Indianapolis survivor and heard his story on Remembrance/Veteran's Day 10 years ago.

I was reading In the Shadow of Greatness until it was loaned out. I found that I am Facebook friends with 4 of the authors and they all have "In Harm's Way" inscribed on their class rings.

I had FRONT BURNER: Al Qaeda's Attack on the USS Cole on my desk, unopened and unread when it too was loaned out to a service member.

I going to post my colors (raise the American flag in the front of the house) and attend a Veteran's Day Parade.

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 2:13 am

I would like to thank Morgain for starting this thread as it is something that we should all pay attention to; no matter where we are from. The sacrifices made by any Serviceman/Woman and their Families should never be taken lightly. Whether one believes War is good or bad is not the issue here. The issue, in my opinion, is Remembrance for those who made a sacrifice for their Country.

Personally I have never been active in Military service although I was an Army Cadet and a long time member of a Militia Unit. These days I am a member of a (somewhat local) Royal Canadian Legion. I volunteer my time as I can but take certain steps to ensure that Remembrance Day activities are not in want of anything. Essentially I help out wherever I can, lugging stuff around, tending bar, or generally welcoming people into our Local.

When I do go to the Legion, I usually sit with a group of Veterans and play Cribbage. The experience is quite surreal,to say the least as these Gentlemen always have quite a few stories to share of their exploits whether Military or otherwise. I am usually in awe of these 'Heroes' as it is so far from home!

Last year, there were four of us at the table but now there are two. My Friend Garnett comes to play Cribbage with me; or as he calls me Him/He. Yes, he is very old, is Post-Stroke and has had a very tough life, something that I know so little of. This Man's only real joy in life is the special attention given by others willing to donate a bit of their time.

If you ever think of joining a local Service Club, Legion or whatever they might be called, please do. You might just make someone a bit happier even for an hour.

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 2628

Its over 2 years since by daughters pal was killed by an IED, his friends, collegues and family will always notice the gap in their lives.

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 1:33 am

My ancestry on both my mother and father's side of the family can be traced to America's founding fathers. Three of my grandparents were in ww2. I had an uncle in Korea and two uncles in Vietnam. Five of my cousins were in either the first or current Gulf war(s). The majority of my high school class went into the military and served in either Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, or Iraq.

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