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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,310
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,310 |
I wrote this article about 4 years ago shortly after my Dad passed. I will never forget his sacrifice.
As I stood there next to that bed back in January, watching a soldier fight for his last breaths, I reflected back on Dad's lifetime of sacrifice for his country. Growing up with a true American hero, there are certain things that one takes for granted....watching that American hero lose a battle with Agent Orange instantly put things back in perspective for me. I watched my Dad suffer greatly for his country the last ten years or so of his life. He did so without one word of regret or complaint. Little did he know 46 years ago, that it wouldn't be a Vietnamese bullet that would end his life, it would be a herbicide that he literally was bathing in on a daily basis. Dad suffered bouts of illness throughout his adult life due to the exposure....but he did so silently. I never heard my Dad brag about any of his many accomplishments...and he had many. I never heard him say how things could have been different if he hadn't volunteered. I only saw a Green Beret that went to work every day, always told the truth, and made an outstanding example for his children to follow. I will never know all the missions he went on or the battles that he waged. All I have are a few pictures and a uniform that is filled with proof of things he would never talk about. The Green Beret...it says more about a man than he would ever say about himself.
Buy once, cry once.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 Likes: 1
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 Likes: 1 |
Humbling. And sad.
That God Damned war will never be over....
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Joined: Jun 2006
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,104 Likes: 6 |
I never heard my Dad brag about any of his many accomplishments...and he had many. That was just how those guys were, great tribute.
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,310
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,310 |
Last edited by deerhunter5555; 05/27/16.
Buy once, cry once.
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 23,453
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 23,453 |
Humbling. And sad.
That God Damned war will never be over.... This. Salute to your father; we owe him and his a debt that can never be repaid.
America needs to understand that our troops are not 'disposable'. Each represents a family; Fathers, Mothers, Sons, Daughters, Cousins, Uncles, Aunts... Our Citizens are our most valuable treasure; we waste far too many.
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 59,146 Likes: 23
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 59,146 Likes: 23 |
Your dad was a great American, he sounds like a man I would have liked to met and talked with.
GOD Bless these great warriors.
Paul
"I'd rather see a sermon than hear a sermon".... D.A.D.
Trump Won!, Sandmann Won!, Rittenhouse Won!, Suck it Liberal Fuuktards.
molɔ̀ːn labé skýla
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,412
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,412 |
You come from great stock Sir. And Ingwe is right. That war, it's residual effects, took the man that inspired me to serve. So Damn all the politicians to Hell, and remember our bravest. Lest We Forget.
Me solum relinquatis
Molon Labe
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 24,466 Likes: 12
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 24,466 Likes: 12 |
Dang allergies ...
Rest in peace William F. Mischke thanks for your service Sir .
Deerhunter555 - as stated you come from good stock !
Last edited by ol_mike; 05/28/16.
PRESIDENT TRUMP 2024/2028 !!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Bristoe The people wringing their hands over Trump's rhetoric don't know what time it is in America.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 22,274 |
RIP soldier, thank you for your service.
"...the designer of the .270 Ingwe cartridge!..."
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 12,664
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 12,664 |
I'm sorry for your loss and his suffering. RIP sir!!!
The Karma bus always has an empty seat when it comes around.- High Brass
There's battle lines being drawn Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
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Joined: Oct 2005
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 16,000 |
Humbling. And sad.
That God Damned war will never be over.... I kind of feel that way, i can't seem to get away from it. but there is hope, when we are all finally dead it may pass into history. they put up a memorial in the city park in prescott, arizona, my home town. For a long time they didn't have a fence on it, so kids were playing on it, which greatly aggravated me. The 18names on that plaque were mostly known to me. We have a high school reunion coming up, and that always brings up one name in particular. Tony Yesces. Lynn was pregnant with his kid when news came he had been killed. He never saw the child or vice versa. They finally fenced that monument. But i learned to get over my anger when i realized as a kid i was playing on the statue of bucky o'neil, best known for the charge up san juan hill in cuba. And that was no different.
Last edited by RoninPhx; 05/28/16.
THE BIRTH PLACE OF GERONIMO
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Joined: Jul 2011
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 23,453 |
Humbling. And sad.
That God Damned war will never be over.... I kind of feel that way, i can't seem to get away from it. but there is hope, when we are all finally dead it may pass into history. they put up a memorial in the city park in prescott, arizona, my home town. For a long time they didn't have a fence on it, so kids were playing on it, which greatly aggravated me. The 18names on that plaque were mostly known to me. We have a high school reunion coming up, and that always brings up one name in particular. Tony Yesces. Lynn was pregnant with his kid when news came he had been killed. He never saw the child or vice versa. They finally fenced that monument. But i learned to get over my anger when i realized as a kid i was playing on the statue of bucky o'neil, best known for the charge up san juan hill in cuba. And that was no different. Define "we", friend.
America needs to understand that our troops are not 'disposable'. Each represents a family; Fathers, Mothers, Sons, Daughters, Cousins, Uncles, Aunts... Our Citizens are our most valuable treasure; we waste far too many.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 39,301
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 39,301 |
34% of the guys in my graduating class have there names on the Wall.
The first time I shot myself in the head...
Meniere's Sucks Big Time!!!
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