Have you hugged a vet today?

[giza]

Comments

[unciaa.livejournal.com]

No, none of our cats were sick.
*rimshot*

[drzarron.livejournal.com]

You betcha..

and an extra thanks to any who read this.

[doco.livejournal.com]

Hey, without that one you'd all speak German today. :P

[giza.livejournal.com]

Or Japanese!

[elfasi.livejournal.com]

What is that?

[giza.livejournal.com]

The USS Arizona (http://www.nps.gov/usar/).

[krag-carbine.livejournal.com]

I own an original copy of that very photo, taken by the photographer who shot that picture that fateful day, He was one of 3 who visually officially recored it. I got it at an estate sale. The negatives are with the National Archives.

I posted the same in my LJ along with another he shot. I regret I was outbid on several that were offered that morning.

Least we Forget!

[digoraccoon.livejournal.com]

I've thanked a few currently in service.

[unclekage.livejournal.com]

I had the thrill of meeting a man in the X-ray department of Montgomery Hospital who was wearing a hat that said "USS Nevada." I was so excited I didn't think to get his name.

"I was down below shining my shoes because it was Sunday and I was gonna go to church," he said. "I heard a bang and I got knocked off my feet. The bos'n appeared at the hatch and shouted, "The Japs are attacking -- no shit!" Just then the bugler sounded general quarters." He went on to describe going topside and seeing a torpdeo shoot past the stern and run up onto the beach. The Nevada, he very proudly told me, was the only ship to manage to get underway, but after taking two torpedos, she had to be beached in order to save her from sinking and blocking the channel.

Then I got called to have my X-ray taken. I really didn't want to go, and by the time I was finished the old gent was gone. I'm glad to have heard his story, though.

[lionman.livejournal.com]

My grandfather was working as an airplane mechanic in December of 1947. He and a buddy had flown across the mountains with a couple of pilots and were on the runway, getting ready to take of and go back home. The radio call went out that all planes in the US were grounded.

The pilot and co-pilot looked back at the two of them and as, "Do you want to stay here, or fly home?" They looked at each other and said, "Go home." They proceeded to ignore the radio order and flew home.

My grandfather was eventually pulled into the army and was assigned to the infantry. He was standing guard duty at a California base with a wooden gun when an officer walked by, stopped, came back and looked at him through the dark, rainy night. "Private Hackett, follow me." My grandfather didn't recognize the man, but followed the officer nonetheless.

They went back to his office where in the dim light, the officer got out some paperwork and proceeded to ask, "Private Hackett, you're an airplane mechanic, aren't you?" "Yes, Sir." "Do you want to be in the infantry?" "No, Sir." "I'm transfering you to the Army Aircorp as a mechanic."

Grandpa recognized the man as a test pilot he'd worked on planes for previously.

After mechanics training, my grandfather went on leave. When he returned, he had contracted Rhumatic Fever, and spent several months in the hospital. They finally released him for light duty. He never really got to do mechanic work, but he did a number of jobs from inspections to working the laundry.

[gen-talon.livejournal.com]

I was happy someone shook my hand yesterday. They knew I was in the army. Made me smile. :)
Sorry for the late response.