Myself . . . . . . - US Special Forces, MACV SOG - 2 tours in Vietnam, 8 years off/on in Afghanistan
Twin Brother . .- US Special Forces - 13 months in Vietnam
Brother . . . . . - Army Security Agency, "tour driver"* in E.Berlin - fluent German speaker - 4 years
Nephew. . . . . - Marine Harrier Pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan
Father. . . . . . - Commander Pathfinder stick for 3 BN 508 PIR in Normandy - Killed at Pretot
Uncle. . . . . . . - B-24 Navigator flying out of England 1943-44 - 30 missions
Step-Father. . . - US Navy, Radar officer on USS Pensacola.
Uncle. . . . . . . - Corsair pilot in US Navy 1945-1949, reserve pilot served in Korea
Uncle. . . . . . . - 30-year navy pilot/officer - USS Enterprise Air Wing commander 1968 off Vietnam
Grand-father. . - tank battalion in WWI battle of the Somme - lost an eye
Grand-father. . - Merchant Marine officer plying the N,Atlantic during WWI
etc. etc.
Veteran's Day used to be Armistice Day. Memorial Day remembers the fallen. But this is the day for us the living (and sometimes we have to think about why that is). Thanks to the American people and God Bless America.
*The US mission in Potsdam E.Germany during the Cold War (WW-III) had the right to drive through E.Germany to "inspect" things, just as the Soviets did in West Germany. They put him through race car driving and used disguised 4wd Fords (illegal) where they would lose surveillance and run down tank trails to photograph military equipment on sidings. One was murdered by the Soviets. He was getting out to finish Mechanical Engineering degree at Stanford and the Army decided they had to "prepare" him for civilian life so posted him to a Mercedes factory - hummmm. Mercedes = Mechanical engineer; "Please Mr. Bear, don't throw me in that briar patch." He advised buying Mercedes made in the morning - because every worker consumed 6 beers during lunch.
Last edited by Argo44; 11/08/25 08:03 PM.
