Theodore's World: Thank You Veterans

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November 11, 2006

Thank You Veterans



If you know a Veteran, someone in your family, friend of the family, neighbor, who served their country, take a brief moment of your day to thank them. Thank them for the sacrifice they made for the better good of their country. I am so very thankful for every service member in our military who has served our great nation .So, to the men and women who answered the call in both times of war and peace, I thank you. ---- Wild Thing



Our Veterans took a thousand towns and villages……
Snow fields and empty stretches of Ocean……..
The jungles hot and deep,
and fought the fight for FREEDOM,
and turned then into sacred places
with their courage in the face of unimaginable horror
.





Anzio


When they fought their way ashore at Normandy....
Dodged their bombers through a deadly maze of antiaircraft fire.......
Went weeks without sleep in a mad race to break the German Code...
They KNEW what was at stake.......
it was the United States of America.
Their children and grandchild and their homeland.......
it was about our FREEDOM



And away He went to war…….
Young, full of dreams and hope for a future...blue eyes shining bright.

He stepped on the bus that would carry him away from us.

We waved until we could see the bus no more and then
we waved once more...as if to insure all our love went with him.

We could not imagine our baby boy going off to
fight a war in a place we had never even heard of...

Days came and went. The letters were full of wonderful
memories of his childhood and telling me to be sure and
cook his favorite foods and think of him...He wrote about the
endless rain that kept them walking in soggy field of rice ...
and the heat that was relentless ... and of the people who
were so distrustful because of the Americans.

He also wrote of his pride in our country...
of believing in what he was doing.

And once he wrote a letter that ripped my heart into...he wrote

"Mom...there are times when I am in the foxholes and
I feel like I am not going to come out. I don't want you
to worry though, Mom because I believe I am going
to come home...deep inside of me. I am coming home, Mom."

Never before had I thought much about soldiers until
my son put on his uniform. And then I began to pray for them all...
and when I would see one my heart would fill with love for them.
I did not know all the horrors they saw or the pain they felt
but I knew they were laying down their very lives for the country we live in.

I knew there was no greater love.
Soon the calendar in our kitchen was filled with marks.

We were counting the days ...
and then the letters which had been coming stopped.

A couple of weeks after the letters had stopped and
my heart was growing so heavy...
it hurt to breathe. A mother knows. I gave him life.
He grew inside my body...and I knew. A part of my soul had died...
I knew before the two men knocked on our door that morning.
I did not hear much of their words...
all I knew was my baby boy was gone.
And I knew that my world would never be the same.

Many years have come and gone since that day in '69.
But whenever I pass a soldier on the street or see one on TV,
I stop and pray...

"Dear God...bless that young man...
protect him and let him know how grateful we are
for what he does. For what he is doing for this nation...
bless His life, dear God. Please keep him safe and
let him return home safe and sound..."

Today I laid a wreath and a flag on my son's grave.
I could hear his words still even after all these years...
"Mama, I am coming home."
And he did ... not the way I had prayed but my son is
home-in a place where there is no more death or sadness.
And He is home in his mother's heart...with every breath I breathe.

Each time I sing, "Our Country 'tis of Thee...Sweet Land of Liberty,"
I see my son, I see mothers and fathers who have lost their children...
I see wives who lost their husbands...
I see children who lost their Dads ...
and I see a flag waving in the wind over a land that is free.

And I know the cost of that freedom...
God bless our veterans ... each and everyday.

May they always know the price they paid is not forgotten ...
and the land they fought to save ...
may freedom always ring!




BALLAD OF THE CHOSIN
The nights were cold in the Korean soil.
But the night's been cold before.
And it's not so hard in your own back yard.
To be set for peace or war

But in history there's a chapter of a place called Valley Forge
Repeated one December on the Chosin Reservoir.

They had us all surrounded I could hear them scream and yell
My feelings at that moment No tongue could ever tell.

I saw the bursting mortar shells And the bullets around me flew
As all my strength had left me And all my courage too.

With the breaking of the morning Just before the dawn
I heard the sounding bugles And the big attack was on.

The cotton quilted uniforms Against our bullet spree
The screaming yelling banzai They called the human sea.

Baby faces bearded And chapped with hardenin' mud
Parkas that were dirty And stained with frozen blood.
Here a bunch of youngsters Who fought on 'til the end
In the battle of the Chosin Where boys were turned to men.
Twelve long miles of convoy Headed for the sea
Roadblocks at every turning Down through Koto-Ri.
The frost bite and the wounded With their dead and dying too
No matter what the objective be These boys were going through.

The Captain he informed us Perhaps he thought it right
That before we reach the river boys We're going to have to fight.

We're going out like Marines
In an organized withdraw
And no matter what the rumors say
It's no retreat at all.

We fought at least nine hours Before the strife was ore
And the like of the dead and wounded I've never seen before.

But the everlasting promise Kept along each bloody yard
No one leaves behind the wounded 'Cause there ain't no fight that hard.

The Chaplain collected dog tags In his hands were quite a few
There was Captain Smith's, McCloskies And Corporal Bryan's too.

And before we reached the river And fought our way back through
The Sergeant had the dog tags And he had the Chaplains too.

If I made you pause one moment And take a little time
Then I know it wasn't just in vain That I put these words to rhyme.

For there's just too many people Who take this all in stride
Who hear these tales of battles Then cast it all aside.

The nights were cold in the Korean soil But the night's been cold before
And it's not so hard in your own back yard To be set for peace or war

But in history there's a chapter of a place called Valley Forge
Repeated one December on the Chosin Reservoir.

Written by Frank Gross

The Ballad of Chosin was composed on December 29th 1950
and it is believed to be among the first ballads
to be composed on the war in Korea .




"To those warriors, who have passed on since and to those who gave their youth, their health and their peace of mind in the fight for freedom, particularly the freedom of speech. We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.” ~ Orwell



Posted by Wild Thing at November 11, 2006 02:55 AM


Comments

Wild thing, I have been studying your blog. I truely appreciate the wonderful effort you have put into this and it is a real pity that more people don't post here. Would I have your permission to post your web address into several forum boards that I visit? It seems a waste that more people can't see what you have achieved here. Your tribute to the fighting men and women of America is truely truely beautiful....

Posted by: Lyn in Australia at November 11, 2006 04:26 AM


Hi Lyn, absolutely, what an honor that would be. Thank you so much.

I wish I could thank every one of our Vets and our troops today.

Posted by: Wild Thing at November 11, 2006 04:48 AM


The Senrinels

You ancient, rusty relics- if you
could only tell
Your history and your legends, of
the battles and the hell.

You lie silent on those beaches,
where you formed a battle line,
Now decaying hulks of rusting steel
from a different place and time.

Ghostly figures man your turrets,
though the surf's the only sound.
Aye, your guns are long since si-
lenced, while the ground swells
rage and pound.

I close my eyes and visualize those
beachheads long ago,
When young Marines were fighting
through that surf and undertow

All too many never made it and, like
you, they shall remain
Silent sentinels at your turrets, while
the hourglass drops its grain.

Time, to you , is unimportant; You're
a monument to the past,,,
But your presence is a waning, if
again the die is cast.
Let no tyrant, King or ruler ever tam-
per with our land,
Lest you start your rusty engines,
and your gunners rise and stand.

May you never be forgotten; May the
old vets spread your fame,
For your colors still fly boldly, and
Old Glory still her name.

Carl Dearborn.

Posted by: Mark at November 11, 2006 07:59 AM


Thank you Mark so much what a perfect poem.

And thank you for your service and being a part of why I am living in the land of the free.

Posted by: Wild Thing at November 11, 2006 11:24 AM


Thank You Wild Thing,God Bless You and Your Home.
fighting_fort

Posted by: Edward L Mc Intosh at November 11, 2006 12:05 PM


Thank you Chrissie, for this wonderful post and your selfless service.

Thank you to my fellow Veterans who read and comment here, and a special thank you to those still serving.

May God watch over and protect all of you.

Posted by: Jack at November 11, 2006 01:33 PM


For the umpteenth time, Thank You Wild Thing for your tributes to vets. Thank You my fellow vets for protecting the "shining beacon on the hill", America.

And Lyn, Thank You to the Aussie vets who have been by our side so many times.

Posted by: TomR at November 11, 2006 01:57 PM


Thank you so much Chrissie for your support of our veterans, it means a lot. You are OUTSTANDING.

Posted by: John 5 at November 11, 2006 04:44 PM


I attended today's parade and paid respect to Sarasota's Forgotten Heros

Posted by: The Logan at November 11, 2006 05:36 PM


Chrissie, you and AOL have earned a few medals along the way. We thank you both.

Posted by: Rhod at November 11, 2006 05:58 PM


Thank You, and Semper Fi

Posted by: Tony De Bellis at November 11, 2006 09:28 PM


You really are awesome, Chrissie :)

Posted by: beth at November 11, 2006 10:08 PM


All, check out this link!!!http://www.mclbaltimore.org/ then click on
Farewell Marine. On the scale of 0-10 its an 19 1/2....

Posted by: Tincan Sailor at November 11, 2006 10:14 PM


I have this letter to the editor in the Idaho
Press Tribune...

Our Granddaughter Sacrificed Her life with Honor
in Iraq at the age of 19 June 5,2005

For Carrie
If tears could build a stairway
And heartaches make a lane
We,d walk a path to Heaven
And bring you home again...
We miss you so much Carrie. Love you always.
Granddad and Grandma French Notus Idaho....

Posted by: Tincan Sailor at November 11, 2006 10:27 PM


Edward L Mc Intosh, hi good to see you. Thank you Mac for your service to our country.

Posted by: Wild Thing at November 12, 2006 01:52 AM


Jack, this is such a special day. Thank you for all you do and have done and your service to our country.

Posted by: Wild Thing at November 12, 2006 01:53 AM


Tom, good to see you. Thank you Tom for being a part of my great country and why I live in a free land.

Posted by: Wild Thing at November 12, 2006 01:54 AM


John 5, thank you for serving our country in the military and all you have done in protecting us in your career as well.

Posted by: Wild Thing at November 12, 2006 01:56 AM


The Logan thank you and thanks for the link to your blog.

Posted by: Wild Thing at November 12, 2006 02:00 AM


Rhod,thank you for your service and also for your sons serving now. :)

Posted by: Wild Thing at November 12, 2006 02:02 AM


Tony De Bellis, love seeing the Semper Fi, thank you!!!

Posted by: Wild Thing at November 12, 2006 02:03 AM


Beth you are so kind, thank you my sweet friend.

Posted by: Wild Thing at November 12, 2006 02:03 AM


Tincan Sailor, wow, wow!!!! Thank you so much!

Posted by: Wild Thing at November 12, 2006 02:04 AM


Here is something I posted at Vilmar's last night. I think most of you here will enjoy this as it's not only true but it shows you the really true hero's are usually the most humble.

http://rightwinghowler.com/2006/11/11/10-things-a-janitor-can-teach-you-about-leadership/#comments

Posted by: BobF at November 12, 2006 09:01 AM


BobF - thank you for that story, I loved it! If only this tale of heroism was placed above the fold around the country instead of the recent election news.

Posted by: TomR at November 12, 2006 01:31 PM


Thank You so much Chrissy, and may I return the thanks for your own services that you rendered our country.

Posted by: delftsman3 at November 12, 2006 09:33 PM


For the umpteenth time, Thank You Wild Thing for your tributes to vets. Thank You my fellow vets for protecting the "shining beacon on the hill", America.

And Lyn, Thank You to the Aussie vets who have been by our side so many times.

Posted by: TomR at November 11, 2006 01:57 PM

.................................................

You are very welcome TomR. If it wasn't for America my country would have been overrun by the Japanese during WW2. The Battle of the Coral Sea and the halt of the Japanese in Papua New Guniea by our Aussue Diggers was the catalyst in halting the Japanese advance. We were with America during the Korean War and also the Vietnam War. We have yearly war games with your boys at Shoalwater Bay in central Queensland and they usually come to the Rockhampton-Gladstone area for some R&R....

Regards,
Lynette.

Posted by: Lyn in Australia at November 14, 2006 02:15 AM


I met a marine veteran last night. He was one of the first wave to land on Guadalcanal! He told me that if he were a little younger on Sept. 11th, he would have signed up again.

Thank God for the US Marines!

Posted by: Shoulung at November 14, 2006 05:50 AM