Thank you to everyone who has served or has supported those who served

[Fern]

I want to say how much I appreciate the men and women who have served and are serving our country.

My dear Father was in the Army during WWII as an intelligence specialist. He was born in Germany and sent to the US at age 16, before WWII. His "job" in the Army was to translate from the German. He was naturalized in New Jersey along with many of his friends. He was and will always be my hero.

[Manuel]

Fern, I thank you for your message.

I am also a naturalized American and a Vietnam Veteran. I was naturalized in Harford, CT. and went into the US Army a few months after that.

I salute all my fellow veterans.

TM

[Lakers Fan]

My mother had 3 nephews (brothers) who enlisted in 1938 .Two left in 1946 and one became a career soldier .

[Cruznut2]

Military and families of our military, Thank you for all the sacrifices you make to keep us free and safe in these United States. God Bless you all.
Remember to say a prayer for those that have died for the freedoms of this magnificent country.

Laura

[skymaster]

THANK YOU! As a U.S. Marine, Vietnam veteran I am proud to have served our beautiful country. We didn't get a lot of respect when we returned,,,so it's particularly nice to get it now!

"SKY"

[Trip]

We live the lives the way we do, because of all the brave men and women, who have served this country, through the years. Bless them every one.

[Manuel]

Originally Posted by skymaster

THANK YOU! As a U.S. Marine, Vietnam veteran I am proud to have served our beautiful country. We didn't get a lot of respect when we returned,,,so it's particularly nice to get it now!

"SKY"

I agree with you 100%. Things have change quite a bit, now I get handshakes, hugs and a thank you very often.

TM

[Mike M]

A heartfelt thanks to those who are and have served our country and sacrificed more than most of us ever know.

My father was a WWII veteran stationed in England and France and my brother is a Vietnam veteran.

I also have close friends and family who have served in Vietnam, The Gulf, Iran and Iraq. I also have one who really pissed off his CO and spent four years at the NAS in Adak, Alaska.

My thanks and remembrances to all!
Mike

[Aerogirl]

A big thank you goes out to all the men and women who serve and served our great country this Memorial Day. God bless you all and may the lord keep you safe. A special thanks to all the families of our troops, it must be very hard to have them gone.

[Snoozeman]

Amen to all the comments.

Our family is much like Lt. Dan's from Forrest Gump. We have lost someone in every major conflict. Several in a few. Fortunately my ggggrandfather survived the Revolution and retired with RevWar pension in what was then the new state of TN. He started the tradition of American service.

I was very pleased with the attention my uncle received on our cruise on the Voyager of the Seas in January. As a WWII Navy vet (Iwo Jima and more) he received a tour of the bridge. He also just returned from DC where he got a tour of the new WWII memorial. Not many of the WWII vets left.

We are lucky right now, no one in harms way. Those that have families still in the service--Bless you!

[ToddDH]

I was a Vietnam era Air Force vet but since I never left the states I won't join the VFW even though they changed the rules and I can. I honor all who served but it's those who were either in combat or at least "in country" who are my heroes and aways shall be.

Here's a make you feel good story followed by an episode that's from a book. My wife's niece Adelaide whose husband was the hero cop killed in '72 in NYC (they have either convicted and sentenced (or the perps are already dead in shootouts) all those involved in the SLA, the group who was shooting all the cops in the back, with one notable exception. They NYPD will stop at virtually nothing to get Joanne Chessimard (who also gunned down a NYS Trooper) and I'm kind of surprised she's still alive and, by the way, not living a life of poverty as does your average Cuban. With things progressing as they are, maybe she'll end up being brought to justice.

At any rate, Rocco, Adelaide's husband was loved by all of his Marine buddies (as a matter of fact), his company's web site has I believe his picture and shield as it's homepage. One night, a guy on guard duty fell asleep and the platoon paid the price. There were many dead and wounded and the fella's were of course furious wanting to write the guy's family and tell them their son had caused the needless death etc., etc. Rocco would hear none of it, pointing out that most all of them had, at one time or another fallen asleep because in combat there is only so much sleep deprevation the human body can endure. Rocco was so respected and admired, no negative communication was evern sent nor ever again uttered. One of the first things he did upon arriving stateside was go to the parents of the boy who was on guard duty (who also paid with his life) and told them their son was an unmitigated hero in combat and they should always be very proud of him.

Also, Jimmy Wagner, a NYC cop who is a very successful private investigator wrote two books. The first was "My Life As A NYPD Cop., by Jimmy The Wag" He is still known today as "Jimmy the Wag." His father was a ranking officer and had him assigned to a safe place in Staten Island. His son insisted on going to where the most action was and they posted him to the 9th Precinct in the East Village. He was in the locker room changing into his uniform when in walked a guy dressed all in black with a black bacalava on. He pulled out a handgun and fired six rounds into Jimmy's chest. Jimmy knew he was dead, but then everyone started laughing. The "killer" pulled off the black hood and it was Rocco. They told him he had just been initiated into the "9th." and if they hadn't have wanted him there, the initiation would never have occurred. Jimmy from thereon idolized Rocco and devoted an entire chapter in his book to him. Jimmy was the first officer to arrive on the scene when Rocco and his partner Gregory Foster were killed. Foster was dead but Rocco was still alive. He died before Adelaide could get to the hospital. Rocco had graduated not only at the top of his Academy class academically but physically as well. That almost never happens. As such, he was awarded a Walther PPK automatic by the Department. Jimmy wrote I believe that Rocco had the biggest funeral he ever remembered of any officer killed in the line of duty.

Todd