ARtraveler
R.I.P. Dwayne
Thanking all for their service to our country. :bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:
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There were many reasons for the change of the site software, the biggest was security. The age of the old software also meant no server updates for certain programs. There are many benefits to the new software, one of the biggest is the mobile functionality. Ill fix up some stuff in the coming days, we'll also try to get some of the old addons back or the data imported back into the site like the garage. To create a thread or to reply with a post is basically the same as it was in the prior software. The default style of the site is light colored, but i temporarily added a darker colored style, to change you can find a link at the bottom of the site.
To all Veterans Happy Veterans Day!
- Thread starter Roadster Renovations
- Start date
grumpybob
New member
I didn't know that until yesterday. When did that start?
Many thanks to all our Vets, past & present. Happy Marine Corps birthday to all Marines today.
wyliec
New member
IdahoMtnSpyder
Active member
I'm not a veteran, but I was made to feel like one a couple of years ago. It was a truly humbling experience. Allow me to share.
I was of draft age during Vietnam, but the draft law offered an out. I went to college so I automatically qualified for a student deferment. After college I worked in the Navy Nuclear program so I was given an occupational deferment for one year. The draft board decided not to renew the occupational deferment the second year, so according to the provisions of law I started an appeal with the support of the HR department. While that was in process we adopted our son. Under the draft law provisions I automatically qualified for a family deferment. Then the next year the draft lottery was instituted and my number was 360. I was safe from ever being drafted. I always have said I avoided the draft, I did not evade the draft. But I have never been proud of that fact. I often wished I would have served, but as a 20 something year old back then when the out was offered, I took it just like so many others would have. I've always had a regret about not serving.
Fast forward to 2013. I was visiting my cousin in Springfield, MO. He worked at the headquarters of the Assemblies of God church and he took me there. There I met Col. Scott McCrystal, brother of Gen. McCrystal of Rolling Stone controversy, and a retired Army Chaplain. During our visit I related my draft avoidance regrets and then went to an adjoining office to visit another person. My cousin told Col. McCrystal about my years of working in the Quality Assurance program of the US Army overseeing the quality programs of military ammunition production. When I returned to the Colonel's office he told me what my cousin had said. Then he said working in the program to ensure that the ammunition that the soldiers and Marines and the other warriors got had been produced properly was a very important and vital role in the defense of our nation. He strongly emphasized that soldiers needed ammunition they could depend on. He then gave me the medallion pictured below.
So even though I was never in uniform, that retired uniformed military officer made me feel like one of them. I was truly humbled and will forever be grateful for his kind words. He made me realize that there are many others like me, who although we were never a soldier, airman, marine, or midshipman, nevertheless have played an important role in protecting this nation and are welcome to stand with the veterans. It's enough to make me cry.
I was of draft age during Vietnam, but the draft law offered an out. I went to college so I automatically qualified for a student deferment. After college I worked in the Navy Nuclear program so I was given an occupational deferment for one year. The draft board decided not to renew the occupational deferment the second year, so according to the provisions of law I started an appeal with the support of the HR department. While that was in process we adopted our son. Under the draft law provisions I automatically qualified for a family deferment. Then the next year the draft lottery was instituted and my number was 360. I was safe from ever being drafted. I always have said I avoided the draft, I did not evade the draft. But I have never been proud of that fact. I often wished I would have served, but as a 20 something year old back then when the out was offered, I took it just like so many others would have. I've always had a regret about not serving.
Fast forward to 2013. I was visiting my cousin in Springfield, MO. He worked at the headquarters of the Assemblies of God church and he took me there. There I met Col. Scott McCrystal, brother of Gen. McCrystal of Rolling Stone controversy, and a retired Army Chaplain. During our visit I related my draft avoidance regrets and then went to an adjoining office to visit another person. My cousin told Col. McCrystal about my years of working in the Quality Assurance program of the US Army overseeing the quality programs of military ammunition production. When I returned to the Colonel's office he told me what my cousin had said. Then he said working in the program to ensure that the ammunition that the soldiers and Marines and the other warriors got had been produced properly was a very important and vital role in the defense of our nation. He strongly emphasized that soldiers needed ammunition they could depend on. He then gave me the medallion pictured below.
So even though I was never in uniform, that retired uniformed military officer made me feel like one of them. I was truly humbled and will forever be grateful for his kind words. He made me realize that there are many others like me, who although we were never a soldier, airman, marine, or midshipman, nevertheless have played an important role in protecting this nation and are welcome to stand with the veterans. It's enough to make me cry.
Attachments
3 Wheel Rider
New member
I may catch a lot of ____, but I disagree. While you should be proud of the job you did to support the military during a time of conflict, you shouldn't feel equal to the uniformed veterans who stood watch and fought in defense of our nation.
My Grandfather served in the US Army and was wounded in WWII
My Great Uncle served in the United States Marine Corps during WWII
My step mom's brother served in the US Army and was killed in Vietnam
My cousin served in the US Army and was wounded during Vietnam
My oldest son served in the United States Marine Corps during Operation Iraqi Freedom (3 deployments) and was wounded in Iraq
My youngest son served in the United States Marine Corps during Operation Iraqi Freedom (1 deployment)
My own service is referenced above in an early post
My Grandfather served in the US Army and was wounded in WWII
My Great Uncle served in the United States Marine Corps during WWII
My step mom's brother served in the US Army and was killed in Vietnam
My cousin served in the US Army and was wounded during Vietnam
My oldest son served in the United States Marine Corps during Operation Iraqi Freedom (3 deployments) and was wounded in Iraq
My youngest son served in the United States Marine Corps during Operation Iraqi Freedom (1 deployment)
My own service is referenced above in an early post
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IdahoMtnSpyder
Active member
I didn't mean to imply I feel equal to those like you list above, because clearly I'm not. But I think you'll agree that there are many levels of participation and involvement even on the part of those who are in uniform, from the truck driver and cook back in the support logistics arena far from the battlefield to the infantryman on the front. They are all exposed to varying levels of danger, including some like drone pilots in Colorado who are in no physical danger whatever, and the Captain in charge of logistics at an Army Depot on the mainland whose greatest danger is getting killed in a car wreck on the way to work. What about all the contractor personnel doing jobs uniformed folks used to do? Are they less deserving of recognition just because their paycheck shows ABC, Inc. instead of US Gov't, even though they are in direct support of the front line troops in Afghanistan? They all can stand proud together as one in the defense of the nation. The Colonel made me feel like one of them.
For the sake of all uniformed military members I certainly hope you don't intend to imply some are more worthy of recognition than others. Or are they? Does the Purple Heart medal convey that? I'm not going to say, because I don't know. But I do know that everyone who spent time in the military, like my brother, regardless of duty and function, is a considered a Veteran. They all are who we recognize tomorrow, the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
wyliec
New member
This is what a Veteran is:
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com/whatvet.htm
If you don't meet the criteria, you are not a Veteran. It doesn't matter how many pats on the back you get, or if you were a civilian working in a war zone, unless you meet the criteria listed, you are not a Vet.
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com/whatvet.htm
If you don't meet the criteria, you are not a Veteran. It doesn't matter how many pats on the back you get, or if you were a civilian working in a war zone, unless you meet the criteria listed, you are not a Vet.
PCBeachBum
New member
I only watch and listen to this video on one day of the year on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month and each time, something else comes back to me from my time on active duty, whether I was in Hawaii, Philippines, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Guam or the waters in and off the coast of South Vietnam.
I tried to stay in contact with one of my friends who I had served with and never hearing from him, a another friend who sent this link to me, I sent it to my friend. It must have struck a cord with him, because now we are back in contact and talk. Vietnam never comes up, neither of us want to talk about it and in my case like many other Vietnam vets, not a day goes by that I don't think about it or relive it in nightmares. Although some were good times, most were bad times and even though Vietnam Vets were in different branches of the military, we all worked as one branch, when our lives were on the line.
I? Like my friends in high school, could have taken another path, but knew years before I enlisted what I was going to do after I graduated. Some of my friends got into school, others took off and kept moving around the country, never staying in one place very long and others went to Canada. I don't regret enlisting and it was the greatest experience of my life and I would do it again.
As for my friends who took off? That was there choice and I never held a grudge against them. I did however hold one for when I got out and hated how Vietnam vets were treated by the American people and employers when I got home. I had to lie about my service, to get a job and no Veteran should have to do that. The VA Hospitals in the 60s and 70s with Vietnam Veterans and Veterans Affairs? I won't go there and will only say I saw them as the enemy.
So I wish to thank all that served before and after me. This is for all Veterans. All Gave Some, Some Gave All.
Terry Kelly-Pittance Of Time
I tried to stay in contact with one of my friends who I had served with and never hearing from him, a another friend who sent this link to me, I sent it to my friend. It must have struck a cord with him, because now we are back in contact and talk. Vietnam never comes up, neither of us want to talk about it and in my case like many other Vietnam vets, not a day goes by that I don't think about it or relive it in nightmares. Although some were good times, most were bad times and even though Vietnam Vets were in different branches of the military, we all worked as one branch, when our lives were on the line.
I? Like my friends in high school, could have taken another path, but knew years before I enlisted what I was going to do after I graduated. Some of my friends got into school, others took off and kept moving around the country, never staying in one place very long and others went to Canada. I don't regret enlisting and it was the greatest experience of my life and I would do it again.
As for my friends who took off? That was there choice and I never held a grudge against them. I did however hold one for when I got out and hated how Vietnam vets were treated by the American people and employers when I got home. I had to lie about my service, to get a job and no Veteran should have to do that. The VA Hospitals in the 60s and 70s with Vietnam Veterans and Veterans Affairs? I won't go there and will only say I saw them as the enemy.
So I wish to thank all that served before and after me. This is for all Veterans. All Gave Some, Some Gave All.
Terry Kelly-Pittance Of Time
MouthPiece
Banged Up Member
A big THANKS from the Ray family.
Chris
Chris
ndspyderlover
New member
I join everyone who is thanking the Vet. Magnus Thorsteinson 1966-1968
Sp E-5
Sr Medical Specialist
