Remebering "my" veterans today

[lillian13]

My father was a member of the US Army Air Corps in WWII, and served in the South Pacific. He never spoke to me of his service, but I do know he tried to re-enlist for the Korean War, but was "too old". (He was born in 1913.) He was a pilot and a small aircraft mechanic, and he taught me to shoot a rifle when I was five. I miss you, Daddy.

My mother worked for the Navy during WWII, "vetting" photos to be released to the press. I never thought about it much until I saw some of the uncensored photos from that time, and realized that a teenager (Mama was born in 1925) was looking over them every day. So, yes, I consider her a hero.

My oldest brother was a Marine in Vietnam. He was literally in one of the first battalions to hit the beach after war was officially declared. (His words: "We were coming back from maneuvers in the Philippines and instead of turning right at Hawai'i we turned left.") During his tour, his jeep drove over a land mine, throwing him out; he landed on his radio (he was the radioman), and broke his shoulder in two places. He passed away from a brain tumor before he turned 51.

My other brother was (and is) in the Navy (Reserves, now). He's a doctor, and for most of his career he has been attached to the Marines in one way or another. He was in Desert Shield /Desert Storm, setting up a Marine field hospital. He was also involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom, which he has described as a "lot of waiting around for people to decide if they needed doctors or not". He's a Captain in the Reserves.

My great uncle, who fought in WWI, commanding a "Negro engineering battalion". He gave me all the coins he'd collected and told me many stories I was probably way too young to hear.

Others: My brother-in-law, who served 4 years as an Army tanker in Germany. My first ex-boyfriend, who spent 12 years in the Navy. Another ex-boyfriend who became an emergency room doctor after serving in the Navy. Two different roommates who went back to Israel in order to serve their compulsory military service. A friend's husband who did two tours as a submariner. A good friend from college who became an Army Ranger. Another friend who served in Vietnam at the same time as my brother. 

And my many, many relatives and ancestors, who fought in WWI, the Spanish-American War, the Civil War (both sides!) and the Revolutionary War.

I salute you.