Veterans Day

B

boltgun

Inactive
In approximately 6 days, it will be Veteran’s Day. I didn’t want to wait until then to express my gratitude for those who have served, and to the families in which supported their Service Member. Thank you for Serving America.

Its fascinating to think of all the men and women throughout time that have deployed to military bases that sit literally across the street, or to far away foreign lands to fight often times an unseen enemy.

I’m thankful for what you have done, the sacrifices you have made, and sure would like to hear one of your memories that you may be revisiting this week due to the Holiday on 11/11…

I’m posting this here because at some point, you have found yourself behind a military issued weapon and there has to be a story that goes with it…

Semper Fi, Dave
 
On Friday, our county senior citizen center will be hosting a breakfast for all veterans. We will also dedicate a newly donated POW flag in the ceremonies, and if all goes as planned, it will be first raised by a former POW.

Additionally, they are "building" a remembrance quilt to be displayed there once it is done. They are using 6 inch by 6 inch squares of white material, putting the service branch, medals, rank, name, and conflict (among others) in a graphic display on each square.

I thought as a Navy vet, . . . it was really pretty neat, . . . there could be WW1 names next to an Afghany vet, . . . nurses next to Iwo marines, . . . who knows how it will play out. All materials were donated, . . . labor was offered, . . . and a local quilting guild will put it together.

The memories it will represent will be astounding once it is done.

May God bless,
Dwight
 
you have found yourself behind a military issued weapon
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as a 25 year Navy Vet, i never found myself behind behind a military weapon, unless you might consider an F3H-3m Demon or F-4 Phantom a military weapon.

there has to be a story that goes with it…
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personally, after 25 years i have scads of stories, one is when i was with VF-161, on the USS Oriskany CVA-34, we were tied up at the refueling dock in Sasebo Japan, we had a J-71 engine to be tested before installing in the aircraft, we had to have special permission from Fleet Commander to turn up the engine, when we got the "OK" we tied the engine on a test stand down on a special spot for engine testing, at the same time there were Japanese workers (maybe 50+) repairing the wood on the flight deck, when a new engine comes out of the "can" it has a lot of preservative oil in the system, i was the P.O. in charge, i started the engine windmilling and hit the igniter button, white smoke was coming from the exhaust, when the JP-5 fuel ignited, a huge ball of flame lit off the vaporized oil, producing an "explosion" those Japanese workers scattered everywhere some (2 or 3) even jumped overboard into the water, when the engine stabilized at idle, i done all the required tests, at 100% power, then come the afterburner test, there once more the afterburner system also was full of preservative oil, when that sucker lit off there was another huge ball of smoke from the vaporized oil and the resulting BOOOOOOOM ! again the Japanese workers took cover, none jumped overboard this time, the test required three afterburner tests, the most impressive is the one from idle speed straight to afterburner, if the engine "hiccups" in that test we had to make adjustments to the fuel/igniter systems. when done, our C.O. got a call from Fleet Comm. expressing their disbelief of the engine test and the resulting panic caused throughout the entire bay, we just had one hilarious laugh over it all.

below is a stock photo of a J-71 engine installation while i was stationed at VF-121, i am the mechanic under the "3599" number.


300px-F-3C_J-71_VF-121_NAN6-63.jpg
 
USAF, 92-96. We got to play with the M16 once, during basic. NOT allowed to put it on FA. One kid did and got 'washed back' for it.

Dad was based in the Philippines during the Tet Offensive. Some local hostiles stole all their guns from the locker a couple nights prior, and took pot shots with them from the woods. The only folks on base with firearms were the MP's and they yelled at the airmen to "get your ***heads down!" while laying into the aggressors with 50's. :p
 
A big, sincere Thank You to all of the men & women out there who have served our great country. Without your sacrifice, there would be no United States of America. As I go through my daily routine, enjoying the Liberty & Freedoms that we have in America, I take the time, every day, to THANK GOD, that men and women like you have lived. May God bless you and keep you from harm.

To our Marines out there, Nov. 10 is the Marine Corps Birthday -- 'Semper Fi' --
a big HOO-RAH! to all, and may God bless & keep you safe. Thank you.
 
Veterans Day.

I wanted to take a second to thank all my brothers and sisters in arms both past and present for their service and sacrifice and to remember all of those who did not return to enjoy the freedoms that others enjoy today. May God Bless you. Thank you. Enjoy Veterans Day.
 
It turned cold and its snowing.

SO

I'm gonna shoot my early WWII Garand in honor of my fellow Paratroopers from the 101st. Abn Div.

Then I'll set out a empty glass and drink to those who drink with me no more.

Bastogne.

Hang-Tough_-Bastogne-1944.jpeg
 
What Veteran's Day means to me

My father: US Navy E3 World WarII Guam ABSD-3
Grandpa: US Army Sergeant World War I trained the artillery crews Fort Sill OK
Ancestors: Civil War CSA, Spanish American War, War of 1812, American Revolution Virginia Regiment.
...me ... Texas State Guard WO1, and 25 years in law enforcement.
 
The first Army issued weapon I found myself behind was an M16A1 that was made by Hydramatic - a division of General Motors. It was 1986 and I was in Basic Training. Everyone else in my platoon had a Colt M16A1 and I didn't. I was jealous. Many had almost new M16A1's and I had some old clunky Vietnam era rifle. I was jealous until many of the newer ones began to break and my old dinosaur kept on trucking.

Over the next fourteen years I used many different firearms, but I have always remembered that old Hydramatic M16A1. It was probably sold to some friendly dictatorship a few years later or cannibalized and the remainder crushed, but I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for that "clunker".
 
Happy 237th Birthday, Marines, and many more. Semper Fi, brothers.
And Happy Veterans Day to all who served, whatever type of service they
did for all of us.

I’m posting this here because at some point, you have found yourself behind a military issued weapon and there has to be a story that goes with it…
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I trained in boot camp with the M-14 rifle, and imho, that is the finest infantry rifle ever devised, George Patton's opinion duly observed.

I was issued a Colt M16 A-1 rifle shortly after my first entry into RVN in January, 1969. Nice gun, I guess, but not really my style.

Shortly after the start of my second trip "down south", I swapped my M16 for an M79 grenade launcher. Nice weapon, and it came with a Colt 1911 A1 to boot. I liked that a lot better. I was a pretty good rifle shot, but with that M79, most of the time, "close" really was "good enough". It's just too bad there really is no good civilian application for that gun.:D

Walter
aka "Blooperman"
 
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Happy Veterans Day to all Vets.

Your sacrifices has made it possible for me to sit here and freely type this post and to carry on my daily activities as I see fit. Unfortunately, to often, your sacrifices are taken for granted and the daily sacrifices that your families have made are overlooked as well.

You... Vets, are the true HEROES of this country.

I Salute You and Thank You and your families as well,

shortwave.
 
Thanks to all of you that have served our country. I'm going to visit my brother's grave today... he came home from Vietnam in 1970 but bore the scars for the rest of his life. I understand the price many of you have paid as a result of your service.
 
Thanks for your post.
I have been invited to be the main speaker at the Vet Day ceremony in my community. I will be going dressed as a Revolutionary Rifleman and will present his role in the war of freedom. It will be an honor to do this.
 
veterans-day-courage.jpg


I spent from 1983 until 2005 in the Navy and the only handgun I ever carried was a 1911A1, usually a Rand but
not always, they’re ugly, heavy, rattle and not the most accurate weapons but, I loved them and always will.

I went to the armory once to sign out a sidearm, the Chief handed me a M-9, I looked at him and laughed,

he laughed,

then handed me a .45.



Happy Veterans Day to those whom have served

BMCS (SW/DV) ret.


And as my wife reminded me (by kicking my shin) its Remembrance Day also.

Remembrance-Day.jpg


Her father was a Lt Col Royal Army Veterinary Corps, and her brother was a Maj. Royal Marines.
 
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