Although this page is primarily written to honor our VETS in all the branches of the Military,it also is to honor the Mothers,Fathers,wives,daughters,sons,brothers,sisters,husbands & other family members that patiently waited & supported our men & women in uniform;to those that still wait for their loved ones to come home.
I served 2 years in the Army & 4 years in the Air Force.I was in the 8th Army in Germany.I was a ground radio operator on a Forward Air Control Team.After enlisting in the AF I became an airborne radio operator;our official title was Airborne Command Post Technician.We had direct contact with Air Force One;our mission was to provide communications for the President in case of a nuclear attack.I was in the Strategic Air Command,stationed at Bunker Hill AFB,Peru,In(it is now called Grissom AFB).Our oldest son,Jeff was born at Bunker Hill AFB.
Then I was sent to Korea for 13 months;my wife Rustyjo was pregnant at the time;our 2nd son,Kevin was born while I was in Korea;he was a little over 9 months old when I got to see him.I missed so much;his first smile,first steps,saying dada & mama,so many things.No matter how many pictures that Rustyjo sent or letters she wrote to me nothing could heal the emptiness in my heart.
During this period it was very hard on her.She became the mommy & daddy to our babies.Every night she would get my picture and the babies would kiss their daddy goodnight.She had to keep the homefires burning until I returned.
I left right after Thanksgiving and before I left we went shopping for things that Santa would bring to our sweet baby,Jeff.I would not be there to see him open any of them but I wanted him to have a nice Christmas.
The holidays are so rough when you are gone from those you love,pics and letters are nice but they cannot take the place of your loved ones arms around you.Three days before Christmas Rustyjo's grandpa died,she nearly miscarried.The doctor tried to see if he could get the Red Cross to help bring me home on emergency leave but that was not to be.Rustyjo's and my heart ached for each other.Somehow with the help of the emotional support of her dad she got through it and delivered a beautiful baby born on Mar 10.I had made her promise to name him Kevin.I remember being told that she had given birth and I was so happy but sad at the same time.
She wrote to me every day but the mail service is ridiculous in the service.Sometimes I would go for days without mail from her and then I would receive a whole stack of letters from her.I was overjoyed and counted the days until we could be back in each others arms.
When I left not only was she pregnant but I left a little baby that was still taking a bottle;when I returned that little baby was eating hamburgers and drinking shakes.Rustyjo & I tucked our baby,Jeff,into his crib that night before I left and I kissed him for the last time as a baby for when I returned he was a toddler.
There were many tear stained letters written to each other.Anyone that has been in the service knows what I am trying to convey.
Those in the military follow orders with no questions asked.Sometimes it is impossible to have your family be relocated with you.These are the times that are the hardest.
When I returned to the states I was stationed at Seymour Johnson AFB,NC where I flew on the Airborne Tactical Air Command
Post;of course Rustyjo was able to accompany me on this assignment.Our 3rd son,Jody was born while we were stationed at Seymour Johnson AFB.
The year we spent at Seymour Johnson was the most enjoyable as Rustyjo was with me.Although she was with me at Bunker Hill AFB we were apart a lot of the time due to my aircrew being constantly on ALERT!!(had to stay at base without Rustyjo).Also we had many extended flights out of the area.
Anyone that has been in the service knows that even the Armed Forces member that serves away from the battlefield endures many hardships;but these hardships in no way compare with the LIVING HELL that our boys went thru in Viet Nam,WWI,WWII,Korea,Gulf War & all other conflicts not classified officially as War.I served 6 years during the Viet Nam War& was fortunate not to have actually served in Nam,but flew many missions close to Nam.Also I lost many friends to that ungodly war!!
The life of a military family is a hard and often lonely life.
My re-enlistment time came up and Rustyjo said that whatever I decided she would go along with.It was a tough decision but being away from her and my babies decided for me.
Our baby,Jody,was a little over 4 months old and I could not stand the thought of missing so much in his first few years of life,so we became civilians.
This was our experience many years ago but the memories are still fresh.Our children are all grown now and when our oldest son,Jeff, graduated from high school he enlisted in the Army.He graduated one day and a few weeks later we were kissing and hugging him goodbye at the bus station.We came home and had a good cry.We prayed that God would keep our son safe from harm.
This baby of ours was now going to wear the uniform proudly.We were very proud of him but also very worried.Rustyjo was so afraid he would have orders to go to the MIDEAST.He didn't have to go and was stationed at Ft.Knox.When his 2 years were up he came back home.He was proud of the time that he served and is a better man for having served.We are very proud of him also.
He is now married and has given us 2 beautiful grandbabies.
It seems that too many people want to constantly cut back on the defense budget.
Our military men,women,and families deserve the best that we can give to them.
They are now forced to live in sub-standard housing which is a disgrace.
Too many people take their freedom for granted.They do not realize the sacrifice made by all those before them is why they enjoy such freedom.
66-70 63-65
A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam.
He called his parents from San Francisco.
"Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've got a favor to ask.
I have a friend I'd like to bring with me."
"Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him."
"There's something you should know the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting.
He stepped on a land mine and lost an arm and a leg.He has nowhere else to go,and I want him to come live with us."
"I'm sorry to hear that, son.
Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live."
"No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us."
"Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives.I think you should just come home and forget about this guy.He'll find a way to live on his own."
At that point, the son hung up the phone.
The parents heard nothing more from him.
A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police.
Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide.
The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son.
They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something
they didn't know,their son had only one arm and one leg.
The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are.
Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.
Tonight, before you tuck yourself in for the night, say a little prayer that God will give you the strength you need to accept people as they are, and to help us all be more understanding of those who are different from us!!!
There's a miracle called -Friendship- that dwells in the heart.
You don't know how it happens or when it gets started. But you
know the special lift It always brings and you realize that
Friendship Is God's most precious gift!
Unselfishly, you left you fathers and your mothers,
You left behind your sisters and your brothers.
Leaving your beloved children and wives,
You put on hold, your dreams—your lives.
On foreign soil, you found yourself planted
To fight for those whose freedom you granted.
Without your sacrifice, their cause would be lost
But you carried onward, no matter the cost.
Many horrors you had endured and seen.
Many faces had haunted your dreams.
You cheered as your enemies littered the ground;
You cried as your brothers fell all around.
When it was over, you all came back home,
Some were left with memories to face all alone;
Some found themselves in the company of friends
As their crosses cast shadows across the land.
Those who survived were forever scarred
Emotionally, physically, permanently marred.
Those who did not now sleep eternally
‘Neath the ground they had given their lives to keep free.
With a hand upon my heart,
I feel the pride and respect; my reverence is revealed
In the tears that now stream down my upturned face
As our flag waves above you, in her glory and grace.
Freedom was the gift that you unselfishly gave
Pain and death was the price that you ultimately paid.
Every day, I give my utmost admiration
To those who had fought to defend our nation.
Karla W. Daigle 5/30/98
For those who have fought, Life has a flavor
the protected will never know.
Signed, Vietnam Veteran
(The above was found written in pencil on the metal seat back of a bus in northern Thailand many, many years ago.
Long may Our Country stand strong.Remember our continued freedom depends on the brave men and women of the armed forces of The United States Of America.
So the next time you see a Soldier,Airman,Sailor or Marine,tell them thanks for protecting our freedom! Please don't ever forget those who lost their lives or are still missing while protecting our freedom.
Military Mail~Friends of Our Troops
codyjoe@adelphia.net