In the spirit of Memorial Day

[JohnKleeb]

A thanks to my grandfather who served this country in the Korean War,
to my uncle who was stationed in Germany during Vietnam, to my great uncle who was a Seabee during the second world war, to another great uncle who was a truck driver during the second world war, to my distant relative Mike Strank who raised the flag over Iwo Jima and died there for his country and freedom everywhere, to my great uncle who administred last rites to the brave boys at the battle of the Bulge, to my grandfather's relatives in Slovenia who fought back the Nazi invaders for their country, and to my friends who are serving and to all vets who served their country and to those who never made it home. You have my eternal thanks and gratiude.

[Roon]

1. This is for my living Grandfather

Who kicked butt during the battle of the bulge. Although he admitted to me, it was tough taking a shit in the winter weather...LOL

[JohnKleeb]

2. I forgot to mention my great uncle who was a chaplain there

Dad says it made Uncle Bill an alcoholic.

[Roon]

3. It made my Grandfather an alcoholic too

although he has long quit by now...his age and all...he's 85!!!

[JohnKleeb]

4. I can see why

You see your friends die around you and such, it changes you forever. My grandfather who was in Korea drank for the longest time too but he too has been on the rebound. I can't imagine what it would be like to be in a warzone. What those guys did was so fearless and bold. It reminds me of the tagline of Band of Brothers, The world depended on them, they depended on each other.

[Roon]

6. My Grandfather freaks out

on all the people he is outliving...Nephews, nieces, cousins...it's amazing

[JohnKleeb]

7. My grandmother passed away last year at 93

Last one left in our family of a proud generation. It must be hard to outlive a child, grandchild, niece, nephew, etc.

[Roon]

9. He hasn't outlived a child yet

but his youngest just had a quintuplet bypass surgery on his heart. It runs him up there....and my poor grandmother too..

[JohnKleeb]

11. I can imagine so

My grandfather on my mom's side is the last one left in his family and my grandmother is one of only of her siblings to still be alive. It's sad really when you feel like you've been forgotten.

[Roon]

12. This family has never lost anyone close

It's gonna be rough when it does happen.

[JohnKleeb]

15. When you guys do lose him, I think the honorable thing would be to

celebrate him. We celebrated my grandmother and grandfather's life when my grandmother passed away last winter.

[WCGreen]

5. To my Grandfather who slogged through France as

a second Lieutenant in WWI...

To One of his and my distant relatives who fought in the Revolution....

To My Step Father who risked his life as a Merchant Marine during WWII...

To Mrs. WCGreen's cousin who was at the Battle of the Buldge...

To all my friends who fought in Vietnam....

Some who are still scarred by the experience....

To my father who helped keep the peace in Germany after the fall of the Reich....

To my Brother in Law who keeps those vet's who have fallen away from reality as close to the world as possible....

To everyone who serves this great country of ours...

Thanks...

[greatauntoftriplets]

8. To my father, now gone almost 14 years...

who served in Europe during World War II.

Also to my late mother, who followed him around the country from coast to coast until he shipped out.

And to my :loveya:, who served in Vietnam.

[Roon]

10. Nice!

It's hard to move around from town to town. But when you are doing it for someone you love, it makes it that much easier!

[greatauntoftriplets]

13. They didn't have kids yet....

my older sister was conceived during two weeks of leave in NYC just before he shipped out.

Whenever they were in a place for a chunk of time, she found a job (most notably at Fort Lewis in Washington and when he was stationed in Southern California. There was no way she would leave him without being forced to.

She loved the time spent together and met so many of the people he served with. It was a great experience for both of them.

[Roon]

14. I bet!!

Sounds like a great story!

[sakabatou]

16. My contribution

http://youtube.com/watch?v=M_-_Xguwy9A