The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. All quiet on the western front. If only it had been the War To End All Wars...............
My unending gratitude to all those who have answered the call.
While I answered the call, it was because I was drafted into the Army, but ducked inside a recruiting office and went Chair Force instead - got to babysit missiles in holes in sunny North Dakota.
Not complainin', mind you, just don't think my level of service is comparable to those who TRULY heard the sound of guns fired in anger. Hats off to them!!
As a soldier in the United States Army, I served in the old Republic of Viet Nam as a Specialist Four, E-4, Field Radio Relay and Carrier Equipment Repairman (MOS 31L20) with a "SECRET" security clearance, from Friday 12 December 1969, when I landed at Cam Ranh Bay, until Monday 21 February 1972, when I left from Da Nang, returning to the United States with the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile).
I served in Saigon with the Phu Lam Signal Battalion of the 1st Signal Brigade, and later, at Dong Ha in the 178th Maintenance Company of the 1st Logistical Command, and then at Camp Eagle (between Hue and Phu Bai) in the 501st Signal Battalion (Airmobile) of the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), receiving the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Medal, the Republic of Viet Nam Service Medal (with four bronze service stars indicating five campaigns), the Republic of Viet Nam Campaign Medal, the Expert Rifle Badge, the Meritorious Unit Citation, the Republic of Viet Nam Cross of Gallantry (with Palm) Unit Award, and the Republic of Viet Nam Civic Action Honor Medal (with Palm) Unit Award.
Currently, I am seventy-three years old, retired, totally disabled, and heavily medicated, due to my constant pain and failing heart.
However, I consider myself greatly blessed, as I am being very well provided for by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the local members of The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints (i.e., the "Mormon" church).
I shared today's comic strip with all of my FACEBOOK friends and all of my FACEBOOK groups, with this comment:
"JOHNNY OPTIMISM", one of my favorite comic strips, which is about a terminally ill boy in a children's hospital, is published on the Internet on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
I'm with @Anonymous above: I joined the Navy because I thought I was going to be drafted (my lottery number was 61--even in Feb. '72, we still thought any number under 200 was an instant ticket to Saigon). My job was uncomfortable but not dangerous. Those who have been shot at are the ones I need to thank; nobody needs to thank me.
Jeep, Anon, my kid brother would agree w /you. Went SP in the AF, was assigned to watch holes in Minot, took every TDY he could. He always figured Grandma prayed for his safety, and got him assigned to the most boring place on earth. Genuinely gets embarrassed as he feels he didn't DO anything. Bullshit, he suited up, and took the oath. That ain't nothing.
8 comments:
(hoists a glass) (and NOT Clan MacGregor)
The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
All quiet on the western front.
If only it had been the War To End All Wars...............
My unending gratitude to all those who have answered the call.
While I answered the call, it was because I was drafted into the Army, but ducked inside a recruiting office and went Chair Force instead - got to babysit missiles in holes in sunny North Dakota.
Not complainin', mind you, just don't think my level of service is comparable to those who TRULY heard the sound of guns fired in anger. Hats off to them!!
MY WAR RECORD
As a soldier in the United States Army, I served in the old Republic of Viet Nam as a Specialist Four, E-4, Field Radio Relay and Carrier Equipment Repairman (MOS 31L20) with a "SECRET" security clearance, from Friday 12 December 1969, when I landed at Cam Ranh Bay, until Monday 21 February 1972, when I left from Da Nang, returning to the United States with the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile).
I served in Saigon with the Phu Lam Signal Battalion of the 1st Signal Brigade, and later, at Dong Ha in the 178th Maintenance Company of the 1st Logistical Command, and then at Camp Eagle (between Hue and Phu Bai) in the 501st Signal Battalion (Airmobile) of the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), receiving the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Medal, the Republic of Viet Nam Service Medal (with four bronze service stars indicating five campaigns), the Republic of Viet Nam Campaign Medal, the Expert Rifle Badge, the Meritorious Unit Citation, the Republic of Viet Nam Cross of Gallantry (with Palm) Unit Award, and the Republic of Viet Nam Civic Action Honor Medal (with Palm) Unit Award.
Currently, I am seventy-three years old, retired, totally disabled, and heavily medicated, due to my constant pain and failing heart.
However, I consider myself greatly blessed, as I am being very well provided for by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the local members of The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints (i.e., the "Mormon" church).
John Robert Mallernee
All gave some;BUT,SOME gave ALL.
I shared today's comic strip with all of my FACEBOOK friends and all of my FACEBOOK groups, with this comment:
"JOHNNY OPTIMISM", one of my favorite comic strips, which is about a terminally ill boy in a children's hospital, is published on the Internet on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
https://johnnyoptimism.blogspot.com/
I'm with @Anonymous above: I joined the Navy because I thought I was going to be drafted (my lottery number was 61--even in Feb. '72, we still thought any number under 200 was an instant ticket to Saigon). My job was uncomfortable but not dangerous. Those who have been shot at are the ones I need to thank; nobody needs to thank me.
Jeep, Anon, my kid brother would agree w /you. Went SP in the AF, was assigned to watch holes in Minot, took every TDY he could. He always figured Grandma prayed for his safety, and got him assigned to the most boring place on earth. Genuinely gets embarrassed as he feels he didn't DO anything.
Bullshit, he suited up, and took the oath. That ain't nothing.
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