Memorial Day 2012 in the United States - What's it about?

Thank you Jeff. Thank you so much for voicing how you feel about the USA.

All of my Uncles served and survived WWII. My grandfather on my dad's side served in the US Army twice..in the Spanish American War and WWI . He survived both wars without a scratch...he also worked as a civilian to help build the Panama Canal.

We had a neighbor that was killed in Vietnam in 1965. I cannot remember his name. My oldest son was on the same track team at San Diego High as Seaman Recruit Lakiba Nicole Palmer. She was eating on the messdecks when the attack occurred.. she never had a chance.

Originally Posted by bd popeye

Thank you Jeff. Thank you so much for voicing how you feel about the USA.

All of my Uncles served and survived WWII. My grandfather on my dad's side served in the US Army twice..in the Spanish American War and WWI . He survived both wars without a scratch...he also worked as a civilian to help build the Panama Canal.

We had a neighbor that was killed in Vietnam in 1965. I cannot remember his name. My oldest son was on the same track team at San Diego High as Seaman Recruit Lakiba Nicole Palmer. She was eating on the messdecks when the attack occurred.. she never had a chance.

My Dad was a US Navy combat officer in the PTO. He was the CO of a Landing Craft Infantry (LCI) carrying about 150 Marines to shore on hostile beaches. He came up through the Philipines with the MacAuthur group.

He joined in early 43 when he was 17 and shipped out in late 43. Came home in 46.

My only blood uncle (my Mom's brother) was killed, as I said above, over Europe in a B-17.

All of my in-law uncles and several of my great uncles all served in that war. Uncle Barney was a Marine in the 3nd wave on Tarawa, and he later also fought in Korea. My Unncle Joe was in the Army Air Corps but in the southern European area, coming up through Italy. My great Uncle, Uncle Austin, was a physician aboard a US Navy hospital ship. He and my dad, by chance met up in Peleliu harbor. My Dad recognized his ship and took a launch over to it. This was in late 44 or early 45. They ended up having about 30 minutes together before my Dad's flotilla sailed. They talked about that meeting the rest of both of their lives.

Those in the mess on the Cole never had a chance. Amazing testimony to the hard work and battle damage and fire control that they saved the vessel and she lived to sail again and serve with distinction during the last 10 years, helping take the battle back to the enemies who attacked her. May Palmer and all those lost Rest in Peace.

On a side note, with all the talk about US Iowa class battleships and there museum status, though two are ny law (Act of Congress) supposed to be maintained in a readiness state so they could be called back if necessary...if the bomb that almost sunk the Cole had gone off next to an Iowa class, it would barely have dented the surface of that armor belt. Amazing vessels.

God bless 'em all. God bless everyopne that serves and sacrifices that others may know the blessings of true freedom and liberty...particularly in the USA.