Kind of a long story, so bear with me. Had to go to Home Depot to pick up another grease gun today (Saturday, just noticed time). Get gun and am heading to my car. There's a 30 something guy and a teen boy packing up their truck. Nothing unusual. Then the guy stands facing my way and I notice he's got a T-shirt on and across the top it says Korea, with the American and Korean flags, with some writing underneath. Well, I couldn't resist but to pull around in my car and talk to the guy. I say "Excuse me sir, got a second?" He says "Sure, how can I help you?" I ask, "You were stationed in Korea?" "Yes" "Cool, thanks for your service." "You're welcome." he says as we shake hands. "I was stationed at Kunsan Air Base." "Really? When were you there?" says he. I tell him '88. He says "A bit before me, that was the Olympics wasn't it?" "Yes it was." So we get to bantering a bit, can't remember the name of the Camp he was stationed at, he was Army Airborne. I mentioned his T-shirt, he says that he hasn't worn it in years, just happened to grab it today. I say that I'm glad he did. I point to my squadron patch on my rear window, he glances and says "Cool, I like that." After another minute or two of chatting, we wish each other well, and as I'm pulling away I hear (I assume) his son say "I bet that just made your day." And I hear the guy say "Yes it did." I drove away with the biggest smile on my face, it was just awesome. Just thought I'd share that bit of warmth with my fellows. Be well everyone.
Way to go! They say its the forgotten war, i totally disagree, nobody forgets a war. Thanks for stopping and talking to him.
Well, neither one of us was/is quite old enough for the Korean war, we were stationed there in the "modern era". But I do try to make it a point to recognize our vets whenever I see the opportunity.
I remember as a kid going back to Kansas with my grand parents on the train. At time's we would have to pull off on a siding and let a train go by with Truck's, ambulances, jeeps, and some other war related items heading to be delivered, to the docks then head to Korea.
I can't speak for all vet's. But most that I know will agree that it was our honor. I loved my job in-service, but let the politics get "in my head", and got out. If I had "matured" sooner, I would have been a lifer. No sense quibbling about that though. The biggest thing I've always missed in civ world is the sense of comraderie and mission. Too often it's just folks showing up for a paycheck. I'll end this here, as I feel that I cannot continue without it becoming personal or having politics involved, and I have no desire for strife on the site. Be well all.
Chaz, I don 't recall when you said you were in but I went in in 1985 and retired last year. It got "REAL BAD"!!!!! One of the reasons I retired. But being I was in the military for 4 Presidents I can tell you this, "Every Democratic President" Took from the military and every republican tried to build it back. If we get another 8 years like Obama, "WE WILL" get nuked or invaded! The US Coast Guard under George Bush has almost 43,000 members, by the time Obama left office we only had 31,000! I didn't make these numbers up, this is a fact. We were at the "lowest" ever military strength in all the services since pre-WWII When Obama got out. The Koreans and Russia knew this!!! They were just praying for Hitlery, she vowed to lower it even more and give the money to social systems. I say this with a disturbing thought: "If" Hillary was President right now, North Korea would be in Hawaii and maybe on the US mainland. They "NEVER" said the war was over and vowed to continue. The only reason they are playing nice right now is because of $$$. Watch what happens this time in a couple years.
I served from 1987 to 1992. Was stationed permanent party @ Korea, Texas, and Georgia. Still a bit ambivalent about whether sending me to Korea was good or bad. It just "was", I guess. Being stationed there had a real focus and mission. You worked with, lived with, ate with and partied with squadron mates. In the states, there wasn't quite the same comraderie, but it was there. The mission was gone however. It became more of an issue that your boots shined, and the planes were pretty and clean. Seemed that keeping them flying was of secondary concern to some in command. That is why I volunteered when Desert Storm came up. I wanted to serve in the capacity I was trained for, rather than keeping hangar queens clean. When I got out, it was during one of the downsizing periods (Clinton), and they were freezing all overseas orders. I didn't want to spend another 4 years without the sense of mission, and then got my arse chewed out our SMSgt about a missed appointment. That's when I started out-processing rather than re-enlisting. I'll skip the rest, as stated, not trying to get a political argument going.
No need to, I believe we all know what happened. And, I actually didn't mean to get political in my above statement but it was past history facts.
Chaz thanks for doing the job you chose to do keeping us safe as we slept in our beds at night. WeldrDave you know I've thanked you in person and will do it again next time we share a beer. As you know my favorite uncle was Coast Guard in WWII. My step dad was in the 8th Army Air Force stationed in England in the same war. He was a crew chief keeping B-17's in the air. He said they never made friends with the crews of the bombers because so many never came back. The 8th Army Air Force had the highest losses of any branch of all the services in the war as took the war deep into Germany.
NH mountain man thanks, it was my privilege to serve. Funny that you mentioned 8th AAF, as my squadron was in the 8th Tac Fighter Wing. 35th Tac Fighter Squadron Pantons, part of the Wolfpack
