The US Military

[The Green Titan]

I hear a lot of stories from my friends in the military, some which will always remain personal and private, and others that I would like to share with you. It's not to anger you, nor is it to remind you of what side you are on with regard to our involvement in Iraq or Afghanistan. In fact, I don't want this to become a discussion about the politics of war, but instead a tribute to the people who sacrifice themselves to fight them. Not every one that goes to war is injured physically or mentally. But for every one that leaves, it is a sacrifice of ultimate proportions, if not for them personally, it is always that for the people they leave behind. So I'd like to share some stories with you, some of which I've heard first hand, and some of which I've heard through the grapevine. I will tell you from personal experience that moral is high. When volunteers were requested for an upcoming mission to a location I can not disclose, there was more volunteers than there was slots for the mission. Even a very good friend of mine, who has been in 3 separate IED explosions (that's right, 3), and one RPG attack (his vehicle was hit and destroyed) has volunteered to go back. Those 4 incidents have put him in the hospital twice, and though I love him like a brother, I have informed him that I am refusing to ride in his vehicle (on going joke - I told him I'd rather run along side like the secret service). What am I trying to accomplish with this thread. I'm not quite sure. Maybe if it reminds you of how great it is to be an American, that will be good enough. But if it makes you stop and think about the men and women who are keeping you safe, because even I forget that they are over there some times, then I promise, that is enough for them.

[The Green Titan]

Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by civilization that complains about the noise from the base and its planes, forgetting that it was there long before they were. A certain lieutenant colonel at Luke AFB deserves a big pat on the back. Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere near Luke AFB wrote the local paper (Albuquerque Tribune) complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed his/her day at the mall.

When that individual read the response from a Luke AFB officer, it must Have stung quite a bit.

The complaint letter from a civilian:
'Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base:

Whom do we thank for the morning air show? Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 A.M, a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune! Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns early bird special?

Any response would be appreciated.

The response from Col Robin Rand, Luke AFB:

Regarding 'A wake-up call from Luke's jets' On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed four- ship fly by of F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt. Jeremy Fresques. Capt Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day.

At 9 a. m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend. Based on the letter writer's recount of the fly by, and because of the jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the President of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured..

A four-ship fly by is a display of respect the Air Force gives to those who give their lives in defense of freedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects.

The letter writer asks, 'Who m do we thank for the morning air show? The 56th Fighter Wing will make the call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives.

Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you....Jesus Christ and the American Soldier.
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr.

USAF

[The Green Titan]

It is the soldier not the reporter Who has given us freedom of press
It is the soldier, not the poet Who has given us freedom of speech
It is the soldier, not the organizer Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate
It is the soldier, Who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag.
And Whose coffin is draped by the flag. Who allows the protestor to burn the flag

-Father Dennis Edward O'Brian, USMC

[The Green Titan]

To a normal person, one missed call is a day to day thing. To this service member, it meant the rest of his life!

[Scooter]

This isn't speculation. It's the truth.

America is the greatest country invented because of those that sacrifice for it daily and believe in doing what's right. Anyone that does public service because they BELIEVE in it makes this country free. Our servicemen and women especially because they put their lives on the line every day, but also the firemen, police, teachers, public servants, people that serve jury duty, etc. are as important to making it all work.

I truly believe if people stopped and thought about the small sacrifices we need to make (paying taxes, voting, participating in your community, like showing up when called for jury duty and not complaining) they'd learn to appreciate the bigger sacrifices others (like the soldiers deployed all over the world) make just so we can come here and b**ch about the Jets or watch American Idol.

[Jetschris]

Our servicemen and women especially because they put their lives on the line every day, but also the firemen, police, teachers, public servants, people that serve jury duty, etc. are as important to making it all work.

You left out Forum Moderators

[Scooter]

You left out Forum Moderators

Oh they get shot first when democracy fails.

[DomUK]

This isn't speculation. It's the truth.

America is the greatest country invented because of those that sacrifice for it daily and believe in doing what's right. Anyone that does public service because they BELIEVE in it makes this country free. Our servicemen and women especially because they put their lives on the line every day, but also the firemen, police, teachers, public servants, people that serve jury duty, etc. are as important to making it all work.

I truly believe if people stopped and thought about the small sacrifices we need to make (paying taxes, voting, participating in your community, like showing up when called for jury duty and not complaining) they'd learn to appreciate the bigger sacrifices others (like the soldiers deployed all over the world) make just so we can come here and b**ch about the Jets or watch American Idol.

don't wanna be spoiling all the patriotism (i feel dirty after using that word) but erm....england does that too.

[Jetschris]

We do it better than England

[Jets337]

don't wanna be spoiling all the patriotism (i feel dirty after using that word) but erm....england does that too.

I'm glad that as a young man, you have pride in your country as well. Patriotism, and I don't feel dirty after using that word, is in short supply.

I'm glad Titan started this thread. Out of respect for both the members of the military, and the United States, I hope it stays positive.

[The Green Titan]

don't wanna be spoiling all the patriotism (i feel dirty after using that word) but erm....england does that too.

I've served with the Royal Marines on operation Royal Dragon. The British military are a lot of fun and I really enjoyed working with them. And despite someone elses comments in this thread (cough cough), they are certainly on an equal footing with me when it comes to respecting them for their service. You should consider doing a couple of years Dom. You won't regret it.

[DomUK]

heck Titan i'm only 15,
but i have seriously considered a stint in the army,
i wanna be a doctor but if that don't work out, i think being an MO would be a great job

[The Green Titan]

heck Titan i'm only 15,
but i have seriously considered a stint in the army,
i wanna be a doctor but if that don't work out, i think being an MO would be a great job

Why not the Marines. I'm an army ranger myself but with the Marines you'd get to travel a lot more. My best friends are Marines and they've been to so many places. Whatever you do in the military, make sure it's something you can take into civilian life. I kick down doors and scream violence at people who don't have a clue what I'm saying. Not much need for that in civilian life :-)

[DomUK]

i'm sure it comes in handy every now and then

[The Green Titan]

It's why they picked me for moderator :-)

[Jetschris]

I gather some people feel as if some subjects should not be joked about so I will be serious for a minute.

On 911, I was in downtown Manhattan. I was being admitted into Beth Israel Hospital to receive treatment for a chronic illness. When I heard about the plane crashes, I went to the corner and saw the smoke pouring out of both towers. In order to create room for the injured, the hospital began to refuse admittance to anyone who wasn't an absolute emergency. I was refused. In the hour between the plane crashes and the towers falling, everyone appeared to be in a terrified dream-like state. It was one of the longest hours of my life. We heard over the small radio in the hospital's emergency room, about other hijacked planes in the sky over the city.

The World Trade Center collapsed and all communication was cut off. People walked back and forth, holding useless cell phones to their ears in a futile attempt to find out the fate of loved ones. We were not able to learn anymore information, and having the knowledge of the other hijacked planes, left us with the reality, "no place was safe".

We were completely isolated. Other than the handful of people that walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, nobody was getting off the island of Manhattan. The buses, trains and subways were all shut down and driving was virtually impossible. The massive cloud of chemical death that was shown repeatedly on the news, was now diluted as it came down 1st Avenue. All the people stopped and stood still as it passed around us. That event alone caused forced images of the death and destruction we were unfortunate to be a part of. People closer to the collapse were coming toward us covered in black and blood. Cars driving toward us looked as if they had been in a storm of black snow with just the area where the windshield wipers work to see through. This was just the beginning of an entire day stuck in Manhattan until the island opened around 7 PM that evening.

I too was injured that day. Now I am disabled and living in New Hampshire. I have panic attacks and horrific nightmares on a constant basis, rest is mostly an impossibility. One of my only comforts today is the knowledge that our military and those from around the globe are doing all they can to insure nobody has an experience like mine. I shed tears for soldiers killed in action that I here about or see on the news.

I don't like thinking about it. I don't like talking about it. I don't like typing about it, I like to find a middle ground with laughter and jokes.

[SackExchange]

The greatest pride of my life is that I served in the US Army, represented my country abroad and in conflicts. It was an honor.

[SackExchange]

Oh, and England is cool with me.

[The Green Titan]

Oh, and England is cool with me.

Yeah but are you cool with England. Very tactful response. What were you in the Army, Public Affairs.

[The Green Titan]

We Stand By You

This is a moving email from a naval officer at sea (Aboard the USS Winston Churchill.If you haven't served aboard ship — "manning the rail" is a shipboard ceremony reserved for only high ranking dignitaries, such as Heads of State (not in the Nave so I'm not sure)

Dear Dad,

Well, we are still out at sea, with little direction as to what our next priority is. The remainder of our port visits, which were to be centered around max liberty and goodwill to the United Kingdom, have all but been cancelled. We have spent every day since the attacks going back and forth within imaginary boxes drawn in the ocean, standing high-security watches, and trying to make the best of our time.

It hasn't been that fun I must confess, and to be even more honest, a lot of people are frustrated at the fact that they either can't be home, or we don't have more direction right now. We have seen the articles and the photographs, and they are sickening. Being isolated as we are, I don't think we appreciate the full scope of what is happening back home, but we are definitely feeling the effects. About two hours ago the junior officers were called to the bridge to conduct Shiphandling drills. We were about to do a man overboard when we got a call from the Lutjens (D185), a German warship that was moored ahead of us on the pier in Plymouth, England. While in port, the Winston S. Churchcill and the Lutjens got together for a sports day/cookout on our fantail, and we made some pretty good friends. Now at sea they called over on bridge-to-bridge, requesting to pass us close up on our port side, to say good-bye.

We prepared to render them honors on the bridgewing, and the Captain told the crew to come topside to wish them farewell. As they were making their approach, our Conning Officer announced through her binoculars that they were flying an American flag. As they came even closer, we saw that it was flying at half-mast. The bridgewing was crowded with people as the Boatswain's Mate blew two whistles- Attention to Port- the ship came up alongside and we saw that the entire crew of the German ship were manning the rails, in their dress blues. They had made up a sign that was displayed on the side that read "We Stand By You."

Salute

Needless to say there was not a dry eye on the bridge as they stayed alongside us for a few minutes and we cut our salutes. It was probably the most powerful thing I have seen in my entire life and more than a few of us fought to retain our composure. It was a beautiful day outside today. We are no longer at liberty to divulge over unsecure e-mail our location, but we could not have asked for a finer day at sea. The German Navy did an incredible thing for this crew, and it has truly been the highest point in the days since the attacks. It's amazing to think that only a half-century ago things were quite different, and to see the unity that is being demonstrated throughout Europe and the world makes us all feel proud to be out here doing our job.

After the ship pulled away and we prepared to begin our man overboard drills the Officer of the Deck turned to me and said "I'm staying Navy."

I'll write you when I know more about when I'll be home, but for now, this is probably the best news that I could send you. Love you guys.

http://www.snopes.com/rumors/images/lutjens.jpg

The above-quoted text comes from an e-mail message sent by an officer serving aboard the USS Winston S. Churchill, Ensign Megan M. Hallinan, to her father in the days immediately after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. in 2001. It was accompanied by a photograph of sailors from the German destroyer FGS Lutjens holding up a banner reading "We Stand By You" taken by Photographer 2nd Class Shane McCoy. Excerpts from the e-mail were posted on the U.S. Navy web site by the Navy Office of Information on 26 September 2001.

[The Green Titan]

From Jetsnicks1

"I served in the military a lifetime ago and my son is now in the Navy going through the nuclear(sp?) power program, he's just come home for the weekend as a matter of fact. To that lady who wrote the letter, shut the [censored] up and be grateful for the freedom you have."

[Jetschris]

Every now and again, Green Titan and SackExchange chat about personal experiences from military duty. It's rare that you ever get real insight into this, from the real source. I remember SackExchange chatting about leading younger men and giving them direction, and that made him feel. I guess this is the right thread to say I appreciate you guys sharing your experiences with the rest of us.