Veteran's Day

Carried MC-88, 1911, and M-16

Here's a word for some men I miss not being able to toast with:

ONE BY ONE
(The day the last 'Nam vet died; for Richard)

Once, we many -- invincible and immortal in our young minds --
yes, once, glad to respond to the call of duty, we prepared,
and went as sent. We were brave once and innocent.
War has its ways, and changed us, once.
We thought we survived by chance, but Fate followed us home,
hounding us all, in memory, alone.
There was no adequate resistance, no way to regain innocence.
So we walked on home, steps one-by-one.
A path, a ladder, a maze, a question: "Was I really what I was, once?"
Trying to un-think our experience...."Good night Sweet Prince..."
We wonder what we were; Life became "sweet sorrow."
One-by-one we tarry, go on, linger, unknown but to our own,
and unsung.
Aging, dying, one-by-one. Fading into tomorrow,
quiet warriors, heros, daughters or sons.
They live forever, and will live on as long as we remember
and give honor. Their lives, deeds, and love live on.
We must never let those die out, alone.
Memory is their hallowed ground; quiet, sweet, fresh, calm,
finished in duty and in life.
Now WE are in command of their names; one-by-one
until we are none.
" Semper Fi! " because we all know what it means.

Well said, daorhgih.

I was Air Force, 1965 - 1988. Carried at times M2 carbine, 38 Special pistol, and M16. That's all, never fired either in anger, fortunately.

I guess I'm the young gun. Basic training M16A2, with a restamped A1 receiver. In the sandbox I had a M4 which was a glamorized paperweight and traffic control device, and a M2 HMG which was put through its paces in its intended (and sometimes unintended) uses.

I never did figure out the original manufacture date on my M2, but the receiver was re-arsenaled in 1947, then again in 1954, then in '68, '74, and most recently in 2007. The stories that gun could tell.

When I arrived in beautiful sunny downtown SE Asia, I was issued a M2 Carbine and was also authorized a sidearm but none were available. I was able to buy a S&W Model 39 from a returning chopper pilot and carried in an M-6 holster shoulder holster (came with the pistol) I believe. Later I did mamaged to secure a 1911A1 and returned to the world with the Smith 39. I sold it a short time later because of it's god awful DA pull and size.

Another young one here. At MCRD SanDiego in 1998, I was issued an M16A2. After MCRD and Infantry school I was issued an M240G and an M9. (I love that 240, one day I would really like to try an M60 if I get a chance a FA shoot.) After the Marines I joined the guard and was issued an M16A1, never got to shoot it before it got "upgraded" to an A2. Since 2006 my duties changed and I have the M9 again. Nothing all that interesting I guess, but having been in the infantry I did get to fire some other cool stuff a time or two, including:

M9, M16, M249, M240, M2, MK19, SMAW spotting rounds, M203 grenades, several variations of non lethal shotgun ammo, non lethal M203 ammo, AT4 simulator (9mm, never got to shoot th ereal deal ), dropped 60 mm mortars, and of course, got to throw my fair share of frag grenades. 9mm Simu-nitions Kits (which are a blast)

U.S.Army 1972-1976. Issued a M16A1 but shot M2, M203, and 1911A1 but carried a mean torq wrench as I was a wheeled vehicle mechanic. When stationed in Fort Dix, N.J. was assigned to a MP outfit and was one of the M2 gunners for that outfit if we was depolyed anywhere that a machinegunner was needed.

Happy Veterans day fellow brothers and sisters, current and past.

I've spent a lot of time deployed to Iraq.

I've been issued and carried a variety of arms. I've carried a semi-auto M4 with flat top receiver and flip up iron sights, a fully auto M4 with eotech, a M9, and a Browning Hi-power when we were short on M9s.

To all those who have served and who are serving our country, thank you.

I wish to extend special thanks to my best friend, Sgt. Jerusha Jennings of the United States Air Force.

Salute!

I remember the day a guy fired a quad 50 over my head as I walked by the M-60
There is a man that is very lucky that he is still alive today.
Have a great one////////////////////

Remembrance Day up here. Carried an ancient (1956ish) C1 -FN FAL- to everbody else in the world while in the reserves in the late '80's. Great rifle, wish the government would let me legally shoot the ones I have in my safe...

US Navy, '84-'04 active duty, presently a cilivilian for the DoN. Never issued a duty firearm, just tended the nuclear reactors onboard our carriers.

A big and heartfelt "Thank You" to all the vets out there!

Carried a Springfield in boot camp...My next arm was a fast attack diesel submarine. Then they asigned me to a destroyer escort. Then a submarine tender. A harbor tugboat was next. A torpedo firing craft. An ammunition ship and I retired off an ocean going mine sweep (Iron Men/Wooden Ships).

My guns were bigger then yours, Art.

Didn't get into the Military...got called for 'pre-induction physical', had huge leather & stainless steel device wrapped around 1 knee post-surgery....instant 4F.

however...For our fine men & women now in Service and those that have Served...A very sincere "THANK YOU" and a sweeping tip of the hat.

For those that did not return...A moment of silence and my deepest condolences to your family and friends.

Tonight, I'm going to get out the US Rifle Cal .30 M1, and my Springfield GI-45 while I watch Episode 9 (IIRC) of Band of Brothers "Why We Fight", and consider the reasons WHY we have and will always need our Fine People in Uniform.

Carried an M4 and M9 in Iraq. Rode around the turret of a HMMWV with a 240B for a while and then manned the turret of an MRAP with a M2 .50 on top.

Qualified with an M16A2 in basic and got to shoot other various weapons as others have mentioned.

6-68 to 7-77 carried SW38, 1911, Thompson to darn heavy, but mostly carried a 40mm for my long gun on Nighthawk missions. The Nighthawk bird had 7.62 mini-gun, 50 cal, m-60s, usually a couple of M-16s, starlight and Zeon.

Because we were young bold and almost invincible we went out asking everyone to shoot at us. We would return fire, break off, and our blacked out cover bird AH-1 Cobra ( they were called snakes) would squeeze off a few rockets and that was pretty much it or we would bring Arty down on the location.

Except for Laos this worked very well.

To all those who fight for what they believe in both past and future I salute the brotherhood.

May our cause always be just and if my brother falls have him save a seat for me in heaven for Lord you know I have sent many to hell..

No military service for me, thanks to all of you veterans my generation knows little of war and strife.

In honor of veterans day, a prayer from Lewis Millett

I have fought when others feared to serve.
I have gone where others failed to go.
I've lost friends in war and strife,
Who valued Duty more than love of life.

I have shared the comradeship of pain.
I have searched the lands for men that we have lost.
I have sons who served this land of liberty,
Who would fight to see that other stricken lands are free.

I have seen the weak forsake humanity.
I have heard the traitors praise our enemy.
I've seen challenged men become even bolder,
I've seen the Duty, Honor, Sacrifice of the Soldier.

Now I understand the meaning of our lives,
The loss of comrades not so very long ago.
So to you who have answered duties siren call,
May God bless you my son, may God bless you all.

Lewis Millett

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It doesn't seem like much in text, but watching "Tales of the Gun, guns of valor" and hearing the legendary Lewis Millett read this prayer that he read at his sons funeral is incredibly moving.

Another young one here. At MCRD SanDiego in 1998, I was issued an M16A2. After MCRD and Infantry school I was issued an M240G and an M9. (I love that 240, one day I would really like to try an M60 if I get a chance a FA shoot.)

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What BN were you in? I was there the same time as you 2nd BN Plt 2066 Graduated July 3rd 1998.

Mine was the M16 from 76-79.

I also want to offer a big SALUTE to my fellow veterans and all my brothers and sister who are active military!

God Bless!

First ship, 1903A3 and 1911A1 as backup for MarDet., second ship, M14, 870 12 ga ,1911A1,M60 mg, as a member of the landing force and security force on the ship.
The 1903A3 on the first ship ( a carrier ), had a 1943 date and was cosmo'ed to death, took me 6 hours to clean up that rifle, using approved USN methods.

trueg50 said:

In honor of veterans day, a prayer from Lewis Millett
It doesn't seem like much in text, but watching "Tales of the Gun, guns of valor" and hearing the legendary Lewis Millett read this prayer that he read at his sons funeral is incredibly moving.

Click to expand...

I had the distinct pleasure of knowing and serving under Col. Millett when he was the commander of the US Army Security Agency Training Center & School at Fort Devens, MA back in the late 60's. He was a real character and one of the best commandant's that training center ever had though there were a lot of people who would disagree with me.

He was a hard taskmaster, but you knew right where you stood with him and if you did your job like you were supposed to you'd never have a problem with him.

He passed away November 14th of last year at 88. R.I.P Col. Millett

God Bless America

Navy '94-'00 M-16 durring boot, M-9 through the rest until in theater where I carried a M-16 A2 with 203 attached, a PPpSh, a scorpion, an AK 47, and a Kate. Arty we humped AT-4's, 81mm's, and SMAW rounds.
To all those still in harms way "Thank you, and Semper Fi!"~2/2 and 2/8 Second Mar Div

I was in 1-41 Mechanized Infantry so I got to shoot quite a few different weapons. M16A2 then I was issued an M16A4 about a year before I got out. Also M4, 50 cal mounted on top of a humvee, 249 SAW, Mark 19 grenade launcher was very fun!, AT-4, M9, and then the obvious ones incendiary and frag grenades, clay mores stuff like that.