I am sure all of you have a story. My father served on easy red 2 and was in the 2nd landing party on Omaha Beach,Normandy Beach,June 1944. He ended up in a british hospital for 6 months at 19 years old. He recently finally went back 2 years ago

I cry when I see the men at the grocery store selling the little red flowers. I love my veterans . I thought it would be a good place to share our family stories...

Have you visited Arlington? I went to the NORMANDY cemetary featured in PRIVATE RYAN, the american cemetary in Oran, Algeria and the one in Tunis, Tunisia.... Its an amazing experience...knowing that the US liberated Algeria...Tunisia....that at one time 64 years ago, Nazis marched across Europe...


With love and pride.....for our nation...one marines story



Lets remember our American family , friends and relatives this memorial day and tell their stories...

You see that little girl sitting on my great grandmothers lap.. Helen...she was my world. My great aunt Helen was an amazing Army nurse who chronicled her army nurse service across Europe...and she died recently...I remember you Helen. I love you great aunt helen

One of our sons.....A marines story and his funeral

My father spent 4 years in Vietnam in the Airforce. He was one of the few that loaded ammunition onto the planes He quickly realized the lies that the military, media and the government were telling the rest world and couldn't wait to get out of the military. They told him that he would have to serve another 4 years and he pretty much told them to F off, he did his time and didn't want to spend anymore time in the military. He did his 4 and was out. They made promises and lies they couldn't keep. My grandfather had a heart attack and the military and the Red Cross promised to send my dad home for R&R to see his dad and they never did, thank god my grandfather didn't die. So I was raised to never trust the military or the government. And I still don't trust them. I feel sorry for the men and women that serve because they are led blindly into anything that the US pursues. The only good thing my dad got from the military was his education. They put him through college. He was only one in his family to go to college.

Sorry to be so down, but the military is not a nice word in my family.

I think alot of it had to do with the era in which your dad served... Vietnam was a very black chapter in US history. But it doesnt diminish all the wonderful soldiers like your dad who served.... who gave of themselves.... and did amazing things...

I have alot of ww11 vets in my family... my father is the only one still living 83 years old. I think because I saw Normandy and really know the story behind what happened there particularly..my heart is very moved on d day and especially when I see veterans.Its not about the military.. its about the soldiers and what they did.. and gave up...and who died..so that we can run around and freely move around. We often forget that 67 years ago, Nazis were rounding up Jews and murdering them... the Japanese had just finished slaughtering 300,000 in china and had moved into the phillipines and were raping and ravaging asia.... Our soldiers were over there giving their lives to set these areas free...it isnt about politics.. its about people...and what they lost

I dont know all the details cuz my pop pop never wanted to speak of the war
He served in World War 2
I just know he was all over the place in the Navy
God rest his soul and thanks to all who have fought and are still fighting to keep the world safe and fair and free

I think this is pretty normal . My dad only RECENTLY started talking about Normandy. He only recently went back to Normandy Beach.. Men today talk alot more than the older men of our generation...the kind of men who took care of women and families... They didnt emote much

My mom's father was also in WWII but I never talked to him about it. All I know is that he was in the Army.

Don't forget that awful things were also happening here in the US while we were around the world in wars. There were concentration camps here in California during WWII. My God Father was one of them, Kurokawa was not a desirable last name to have during WWII in California. He spent his childhood in a concentration camp in the nation that prides themselves on personal freedoms.

Helps to always remember the other side of things. There were amazing Japanese and American Indians that served in the US Military during this time. Most older people dont naturally talk about the war or being in the service. The younger people have to express interest.. most us have and had very little and never asked. It doesnt diminish their service though...

Memorial day is a good day to remember everyone who served and also to remember people interred in these camps as well

My late Grandpa's served in WWII (Navy). My Dad served in Vietnam (Army). Two of my younger brothers are serving in Iraq (Navy) & (Marines). I think about them and pray for them everyday.

Oz





Dal

My whole family has served in the military, including me. You are right wahrania, it is about people in the military, just doing what we are sent to do. I served in the Army Special Forces, than I married a naval officer, so I just lived the whole military life for a long long time. I remember my ex-husband calling me from Kuwait, they flew missions over Kuwait and Iraq, and never in a million years would I think I would marry an Arab. Most of the people I met in the military were awesome; it is like anywhere you have your good with your bad. I spent many many years alone raising my daughter, while her father was somewhere doing something, and it was always in some foreign land, the longest time he was gone was over a year. In that year I saw him for a week. So being alone is something I am all too familiar with, waiting is the name of the game married to a navy man. I do say while I was in the Army there were some of the brightest and intelligent people I have ever met. Do I trust the government, I used to, not anymore, and I know a lot of vets that feel the same way, but I will always support my fellow soldiers, I know what it takes to do that job, and the sacrifice to the family. I just want my brothers and sisters out of Iraq, let’s bring them home.




MEMORIAL DAY, 2008

FOR OUR TROOPS (both past and present, but particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan at present)

Though I don't know your name
And I have never seen your face
I shed tears for you.

Though my memories don't contain a time
We shared together
I miss you.

Though we are not related
You are in my thoughts.

When I'm eating, or taking a shower, or doing housework,
I think of you, knowing how much you wish you could be at home,
Your stomach full, doing mundane chores such as cleaning your house,
Clean from a fresh shower.

Though you are at terrible risk, and perhaps may not survive,
You are NEVER ALONE, and will always be alive
If only in our spirits, hopes and memories, our dreams for your future.

There are MILLIONS of people praying for you tonight
And throughout the day.

Praying for your safely and return as a whole person
In mind, body and spirit.

We are crying because we know. We know you are scared, and lonely.
And that you'd give anything to see your family, to hug you mother, father.
Your child, sister, brother, aunt, uncle.

To be showered with love and comfort,
Instead of sand and shrapnel.

We long for you too, with an ache so desperate as to make us insane.
To touch your face, see your smile; share your laughter and your tears.

We love you so much soldiers, you cannot know. You cannot fathom the swelling of pride in our chest as we think of you.
Of your courage and your sacrifice, the hope that you can come home soon.

And those that have returned, we have not forgotten you; you are in our prayers,
That you may recover from your experience and be healed.

No matter what anyone says, not matter the reason you are there,
You are a UNITED STATES SOLDIER, and you make us PROUD!!
Every day for that beautiful flag, for our great fortune to be Americans.

There are no politics, no scandals, no mistakes, NOTHING, which can diminish the sentiment we have for you.
And even as democracy permits free speech, as it should, which some may use to make judgments or cast aspersions,
Remember always, we know you'd rather be on the couch debating it with us than spending your days trying just to stay alive.

Let no "freedom of speech' EVER make you doubt the American people's faith in and love for you.
We are PROUD!

I've never met you, but I want you to know that I love you.
I'm praying for you.
I honor you.
I'm waiting for your return.

On this Memorial Day, 2008, and every day,
Please know that you are being thought of.
WE MISS YOU.
GOD BLESS YOU and keep you until the day we can celebrate face to face.

no, you didn't. earlier you told me you were a nurse, now you're trying to tell me you were in the special forces, an elite combat unit closed to females?

She could have been attached to lets just say 5th special forces group as an admin sgt. I dont think ganja is saying she was a medic on a b team.. LOL


By the way , I am a vet too. I am a graduate of the Presidio of Monterey, Monterey, California and I served in 2 differenct services.

She could have been attached to like a medical training department that trained a team members . Thats really all I can gather that could be termed as special ops.

I think she was attached to one of the intel units or some kind of training division. All I know is that the SF guys always had their act together. The seals that I worked with were always in jail every weekend serving dui sentences. I remember the sf guys always doing the long hair, hey I am chill thing. Literally , all my seal friends were constantly in fights, gettin bailed out and then on house arrest for this and that in California.I ended up hanging out alot more with group people. I ended up working with the group people in the end who didnt have groups anymore. You know the beeper types who said they werent even in the military.( Jsoc, wally world,etc...you will know who I am talking about charles..)

Those are amazing pictures Olivia. I bet you are so so so so proud of them.... That is so cool

Here's my Shadow 5 years ago...
He was in army for 1 year,, but the worst thing happened in his life......... the time that everybody believe he's gonna die coz of medical problem, He was discharged..
But I'm very very glad now coz he's not in army anymore and we are always together and he survived... we meant to be...

Yes charles, I was in a unit, I was a nurse but was connected to 101st, not the famous 82. Ft. Benning, know this base well. I will find you a picture of me dressed in green, not the kind they wear now, I wore the fitigues that were worn in Vietnam, we didn't get the fitigues you see now until the early 80's. I field tested one time some great brown boots, they were awsome, didn't have to polish them or anything. Ex-husband, I can get all the ships he flew on, there are a ton and some of them are not even in service now. Fryar Drop Zone, the most famous drop zone of all time. Also was attached to this unit for a year and and half 14th Field Combat Support Hospital.

My father was a pilot in WW twice. He flew B-52's. I still have his bomber jacket and old photographs . I lost some friends in Nam.

Correction, it was a B-17, not 52.

I was born and raised in the military. I knew nothing else but the military. My whole family including myself, my twin sister, uncles and my brother were military. I loved this life and treasure all the memories. It's a good life, but you also give up many things. I learned that love for country was the greatest gift !! My twin and I were Air Force, dad and grandfather were Army and my brother was Navy. What a fantastic life!!

you were not in the special forces - the 101st is not special forces, nor is the 82nd.
and that uniform you're referring to is the old permanent press, that went out in the early 80's and was replaced by the bdu.

I was connected to the special forces, ok, I am not Rambo, never said I was, in fact I am not a fighter at all. So let's say I never mention my military experience again. Sorry to have offend you, truly I am, I am not sure what I ever did to you, to really dislike me, but I can feel your dislike for me through the forum, once again truly I am sorry if I offended you, I won't say anything ever again about the military. I hope you have a great day. Blame it on the wording of my post, which I am sure you will point out anytime you have spare moments, but I blame it on not being brilliant, I am just scraping normal in my smarts. So if I offend anyone truly I never meant to do that.

Charles I normally keep my thoughts to myself but in this case I do believe you were out of line in your response to GG. She is a great woman and you did her a great injustice. She served her country, did her duty and was proud to post her thoughts on the forum. She is a veteran so please honor her.

I think so too. GG don't let one bad one get in your way. Speak out as you want. We've got freedom of speech here. Remember, you served to help us keep that. So speak what you want.

you were not "connected" either to the sf......you can play semantics all you want, but there is a world of difference between serving in the sf or being "connected" to the special forces as compared to serving in a 911 unit like the 101st (which you briefly did) or the 82nd. while i served 6 months in turkey and northern iraq as part of operation provide comfort, later known as operation northern watch, i was in the jsotf there - we had special forces from the 5th sf group assigned - yet i'll never try to say i was part of a sf unit as i never held a sf mos, was awarded a ranger tab, nor an assigned billet in a sf unit!

as for your earlier statement, you claimed the status of being in the army special forces, something that is untrue, nor can you claim it by being in the 101st or 82nd. sf and the 101st/82nd are two entirely different animals.



you can write this off in your assumption that i dislike you (which is also untrue) or you might consider that i dislike grand claims to something that i know is patently untrue. i suggest you do some research on what special forces really is and spare us, me in particular, more overblown war stories.

Well... I am the 5th generation service member... I can trace a great great great (how many??) uncle who died at the Battle of Bull Run.. the only living thing was his horse comanche (sp sorry) Captain Keogh on my mother's side, my grandparents in WW11. My grandfather firing on Omaha beach while his brother was in the German Army trying on the same beach trying to figure out how to give himself up to the U.S. and live (he was forced to serve). my Uncles in Veitnam.. one of which was my hero who just passed away from complications of the war. My father in the Navy and myself 11 yrs served all over the world in different "conflicts" and "humanitarian" efforts in the Army Reserve (not reserve anymore).

Am I proud ooooohhh Yeeeaaahhhh I am also proud to have served and being an American Muslimah. It can be done. May God bless all of the service members and their families weither apart or together it always seems hardest on the families we leave behind.

Ok Charles,
I never served in anything; I have no idea what I talk about, and am a complete idiot. Ok feel better now; I sure hope so, so from now on, I am nothing, ok. You are the expert in everything, and a lot younger too, I am stupid and lying all the time, why I would lie about the military is beyond me, I think a better lie is I was a super model. But nope, I have no idea who the hell I am anymore. Thanks for your kind words, and being in a hormonal mood, I have cried, just like the bully in the sand box who knows more than anybody here. Nothing better than menpause with no hormones. I also made my own dog tags because I think it was cool. I really am a 22 year old super good looking girl here to yank your chain. Oh and my pictures of myself in the military, I am sure they are not me either, oh maybe I am a 40 year old male. So for now, I step out of this.
Can this day get any better, that freak from Morocco just wrote me like 8 times begging me to write him back, now that is something I wish was a big lie.

now that we're done with you trying to get the sympathy vote............

i doubt i'm much younger than you as i'm 46. i served between 1980 to 2000, with assignments ranging from a line battalion up to eac and joint commands. i spent 20 years in the army plus i've worked for the army for the past 7 years since i've been retired. my overall view is your story just does not pass muster. for example, i can still recall every unit i was assigned to and the time frame, yet you can't. i know to the month and year what mos i held, you didn't know. i've never met anyone who served in the army that can make the leap in logic of being in the special forces sf qualification requirements link with a regular army assignment location us army assignment locations worldwide link.

it sounds to me like you were in the army for less than a full enlistment; indeed it sounds like you were in and out in less than a year, which would explain the errors on your part.

Charles, she was probably at that time, in what was considered a "hot "unit. To give you some background on me, I have lived at both Fort Campell, the old home of 5th group, which was Fort Bragg previously ( which still houses 7th group and JSCO and SWC. I have been around Delta, Shadow and group from 1985 foward when I enlisted in intel. I was first in voice intercept but became an interrogator and worked hand in hand with seals, recon and group. She was most likely in a special response group but the average person is not going to know enough about these other groups to even align themselves with them.

I could never say that I had an 18 mos or was a part of an A team. Are there groups more specialised than even group? Yes,Delta is one of them but belive it or not there are groups HIGHER than Delta called Shadow. I dont even know who is attached to shadow. No one knows . So I doubt Ganja was in Shadow group but there are women believe it or not working out of the Special Warfare Center at Bragg that do all kinds of jobs we dont know about. I know one herein Orlando that is a member of a team that goes in and out of Haiti at a moments notice and she doesnt even live anywhere near a military base.

I never assume anything...especially after working with counter intel people

OMG, are you serious, do you need to see my military discharge, I am not sure you would believe it, if I did that. What do you want from me. This is a long time ago for me, and yes sir, I am older than you. My ex-husband is retired navy, I never retired from the Army, never said I did. I served in the Army went to ranger school in Benning, did some time in Germany, but to be honest, I have had a lot of life since those years. I married while I was still serving in the Army, got out, put all my stuff away from those days, because my ex-husband was a lot like you, didn't want to even see the stuff, and went on to be married for 23 years to a naval officer. So if my memory isn't like sunshine blame it on my MS, if you even know what that is. I honestly don't sit and think about my Army days, and I really have so much more interesting stories than that, so it is not something I go around and talk about day in and day out. Like I already said before, I NEVER DID ANYTHING, ok drop it. For you, since you run this place, I will never speak of it again. Would you prefer me to never come back, than I will do that, since you think I am nothing but a liar? Just give me the heads up, I will leave, not a big deal.

For her it was considered a special unit. The pathfinders in Campbell consider themselves very hooyah and so does the 82nd. The SF groups consider themselves to be "elite" , then DELTA considers themselves better than everyone. But to be honest with you, the most inshape and insane I ever saw were the NAVY seals and Marine Recon. I lived and worked around 7th group, 1st was in Washington State but they were always running around Bragg, of course you have 10th and they are the mountain people.. then of course 5th that became 3rd and frankly until Desert Storm came around and training the Taliban in the late 80s, the only thing they ever did was Operation Bright Star in Egypt once a year and sit in the desert. Its only been recently that group has been super active. The reality is in Haiti it was the seals that were dying all over the place...group only since the Iraq war has become relevant again in my opinion ( leaving out the hostage rescue in Iran by Delta) and certain very infrequent operations. Lets get real, groups main job was to train the very people who turned against us and became AL Qaeda. We were planning for Gitmo in the early 1990s and lining up training groups long before 911.

I saw all kinds of things Charles, and I never ever even with all my time at Bragg and around SWIC and JSOC EVER ASSUME ANYTHING about who anyone is. I really saw too much to ever do that....

Let me guess, you are an enlisted man, maybe a first sergeant, or did you become a top. I don't see you as a warrant officer, Right out of high school, joined up and made a career, did I guess that right?

I enlisted twice... I graduated from college but never was commisioned.. I was just a lowly enlisted plebe...llol

wahrania- girl you know I love ya, I HATE MENOPAUSE, and being this age, it suckssssssssssssssssssss. I should have had menopuase when I was older, but noooooooooooooo, not lucky me. Ok I am losing my mind with the no-hormones, does it end anytime soon.

My cousin ( female ) is a Colonel in the AF. Does that give me bragging rights? ( the one who was part of the crew on Air Force One during the Clinton Administration ) .

Whats so weird...is you know I have been going in and out of Algeria... one of the top travel advisory countries on the list with the UN being blown up in December and daily car bombings and over 151 kidnappings this year including 2 tourists in March who were near the Mali border and last December oil workers were ambushed. I tell friends of mine who are out of the service and who are still in and they are like " wow... thats so exciting" LOL. The reality is and I hate to admit all of this, but I kind of just want to go on a cruise now to somewhere normal like the Bahamas and eat at the chocolate bar and dip strawberries in the chocolate fountain. I have had enough of the military, of being exciting, of running around. Period. I just want to float in cool pool, come home to cool air conditioned house, have ice in my sodas that doesnt give me dysentary and I like being able to walk around not dressed like I live in Afganistan. Maybe if I would have never travelled, maybe I would be like HEY THIS IS SO ADVENTUROUS AND EXCITING. Now after being in and out of Algeria and being in the service and seeing this and that, all I wanna do is read cosmo, float in a pool, drink Fresca and chew ice cubes.. I dont care about being super gung ho , I just want to feel super unconcious by the pool baking in the sun


My aunt, the one that is such a ######, just retired as a colonel in the Army Jag corps and teaches law. I hate her. I dont care if she was in charge of the pentagon. She needs a house to fall on her head like Alvira Gulch

This is my cousin, Colleen :

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/library/biographies/bio.asp?id=9176

Wahrania.....

i never said you retired from the army......
as for you "attending ranger training" consider this:

Ranger training is available for male soldiers in the following MOS: 11B/C/H/M,12B,13F,14S, 18B/C/D/F,19D. Male soldiers in the following MOSs: 31C/U, 35E, 54B, 63B, 71D/L/M, 73D, 74C, 75B/H, 88N, 91B, 92A/G/Y, 96B/D, and 97B are afforded the opportunity to attend ranger training provided their follow on assignment is to the 75th Ranger Regiment. Soldiers who are in an authorized ranger MOS and are being assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment must attend the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (RASP) and/or Ranger School temporary duty (TDY) and return to the continental U.S. (CONUS) or TDY enroute outside the continental U.S. (OCONUS).

link

haven't you figured out yet that i'm seeing thru your story? or did you have a sex change somewhere in the past?

pathfinders rank pretty high in my book too. delta and sf groups are always bickering about who's best, but i have to give the nod to the seals. they are an insane bunch.

good to see another intel series on the board btw

made senior nco, not many 8/1sg slots the field i was in. had the education requirements for warrant but passed on it, was having too much fun

Of course you did, you are such the smart one, why didn't you go and be an officer? I can understand, what is that better being a sergeant than to what be a colonel, and being such the young hot shot you should make general in no time. Who wants to make triple the pay, do less work, no I would rather be enlisted. Of course, doesn’t everyone. If you have the degree, and don’t become an officer, than I really don’t have words.

quite simple why - i have a difficult time being politically correct, plus when i did get my degree i was just over 10 years in and ocs didn't appeal to me.

Well I honestly was exposed to so much at only 18 years old to start being at the presidio. I met cia and foreign service... TOTAL geeks. The airforce cryptos were the laziest. The marines and the navy were fun. The SF out there only chased ### all over the place because it was the longest they had been in one place at a time. The seals.. oh yes the seals. I dated a guy from seal team 5 who neglected to tell me till the weekend of the date that he was on house arrest in the barracks for dui. All the seals I knew were in trouble for one thing or another. The SF really depended on what group they were in. The asian groups were kind of weird....the german groups.. well what the hell were we at war with germany wise in 1985. At that time, the groups seeing alot of action was 7th frankly because they were in latin america actually DOING STUFF like operation joint task force bravo... I think they were in Honduras. There was ALOT of stuff going on with 7th and that really never stopped. 5th group at that time The 80s was just training the taliban frankly. We built them up because we were scared of russia. I remember all these FARSI majors ( Iran) not as many arabic majors... lots of Farsi and pashtu and that kind of stuff because we were really focused on pakistan and iran at that time.

Its funny how time changed things and how 9 11 changed our focus, We were training in the mid 90s for gitmo frankly and 9 11 hadnt happened yet. Wanna know how the taliban got so good at what they do? They had the best training they could get.. FROM US. we trained them to fight russia. NOW LOOK...

I often think about some of these soldiers that served during this time... even ones during desert storm one. No one saw the kind of action that the average e2 sees... nothing like Iraq has happened since Viet Nam/// These 18 to 23 year olds are seeing more than SF e7 and e8s saw in the 80 s and the 90s... Vietnam era soldiers and Iraq soldiers are pretty parallel...

presidio-I love that place, the stories I could tell, and it has nothing to do with the Army.

thats cause the naval warfare school is a couple of miles away and all officers go there lol

were you being a navel aviator?

oh hell not me......she was married to a naval officer....they all go there,,,,thats their school

my bad, corrected the spelling of that now