11-25-2009, 21:59
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#1
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: 11 miles from Dove Creek, Colorady
Posts: 3,924
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Giving thanks
In the cold gray of the morning in that forest frozen hard
A young and frightened soldier read a worn and treasured card.
He’d carried it since ’42 through Africa’s dark sky.
When he jumped in Operation Torch and somehow didn’t die.
Up through that “underbelly” that wasn’t soft at all.
In the grinder that was Anzio, he saw his buddies fall.
Then it was on to Southern France where the 509th fought well.
His card kept in his pocket as he fought his way through hell.
And now he shivered in this hole in Belgium’s countryside.
He pulled the crumpled card and read, his rifle at his side.
“Dear Son”, it said, “We hope you’re well no matter where you are”.
“We wish you could be home this day, just know how proud we are”
“On this day of Thanksgiving we thank the Lord for you.
We’re thankful for your strong young friends and all that you must do.
And while our fear is great not knowing when we'll meet again
We’re thankful for your courage in this fight that we must win.”
“As we gather round the table and give thanks for all we see.
You know our hearts are with you as you fight to keep us free.
Take heart dear boy, we love you so, and wait for your return.
We’ll welcome you with all our hearts, here where the home fires burn”
“Until that day remember that we’re proud of you dear Tom.
Have a good Thanksgiving.” It was signed “Love, Dad and Mom.”
And as gunfire rattled and the dawn turned into day
He quickly folded up the card and tucked it safe away.
The Sergeant roused the men and got them grumbling to their feet
His thoughts returned to home and past Thanksgiving meals so sweet.
But there’s no time for sentiment in the middle of a war.
And that was his Thanksgiving, in 1944.
So as you sit down on this fine day with family and friends.
Don’t forget the boys like Tom who rest in the Ardennes.
And all the ones who went before and all the ones gone since
Those men who gave all that they had and never shirked nor winced.
The ones who answered when the bells tolled clear, and loud, and long.
They stood and fought and died for you to keep this country strong.
Give thanks for their sacrifice and to their memory.
Give thanks for all they did for you to keep Thanksgiving free.
__________________
"...But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive."
Shakespeare - Henry V
Lazy Bob Ranch
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Utah Bob is offline
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11-25-2009, 22:08
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#2
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Georgetown, SC
Posts: 4,204
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Great post, Utah Bob. While I missed Christmas away from home - I never missed it as much as I missed Thanksgiving.
__________________
"I took a different route from most and came into Special Forces..." - Col. Nick Rowe
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ZonieDiver is offline
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11-25-2009, 22:26
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#3
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: 11 miles from Dove Creek, Colorady
Posts: 3,924
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ZonieDiver
Great post, Utah Bob. While I missed Christmas away from home - I never missed it as much as I missed Thanksgiving.
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I thought I was the only one.
One of the best Thanksgivings I ever had was in Devens in 68. A recently assigned Lt who had been wounded with the 5th took about 5 of us down to his parents place in Connecticut. Big New England colonial house right out of a movie scene. Big family that welcomed us with open arms. His dad had a great bar in the basement. After a few toasts he brought out his souvenir from his 101st days in WWII, a pretty much mint MP-40. Fortunately he had no ammo for it. 
A fine Thanksgiving that was.
__________________
"...But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive."
Shakespeare - Henry V
Lazy Bob Ranch
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Utah Bob is offline
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11-25-2009, 22:34
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#4
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Georgetown, SC
Posts: 4,204
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Unfortunately, my Thanksgiving memory is lacking - compared to yours. I was at Bragg - SFTG - the "Consolidated Dining Facility" did not open for lunch at the regular time. It was later - and "lifer's" families would be there. I found that sad - and refused to dress in "Greens" to attend - as did most of my barracks-bound classmates.
As time went by, and hunger mounted, we relented. Greens were donned. The "mess hall" was visited - and a wonderful meal was had. Families were still there. Officers were serving. I felt honored to be there - and small for having NOT wanted to be there originally.
It was - and is - one of my best Thanksgivings.
__________________
"I took a different route from most and came into Special Forces..." - Col. Nick Rowe
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ZonieDiver is offline
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11-26-2009, 12:46
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#5
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Area Commander
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Clay House Stuttgart, Germany
Posts: 2,675
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Nice poem Bob,
Just think of all of those people who didn't serve and who will never know what it was like to stand guard duty on some freezing Thanksgiving or Christmas night in some far away country.
A toast to all servicemembers on Thanksgiving.
Last edited by mojaveman; 11-26-2009 at 13:01.
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mojaveman is offline
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11-26-2009, 15:52
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#6
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Quiet Professional (RIP)
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Carriere,Ms.
Posts: 6,922
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Beautiful poem Bob, sure makes you think................
Big Teddy
__________________
I believe that SF is a 'calling' - not too different from the calling missionaries I know received. I knew instantly that it was for me, and that I would do all I could to achieve it. Most others I know in SF experienced something similar. If, as you say, you HAVE searched and read, and you do not KNOW if this is the path for you --- it is not....
Zonie Diver
SF is a calling and it requires commitment and dedication that the uninitiated will never understand......
Jack Moroney
SFA M-2527, Chapter XXXVII
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greenberetTFS is offline
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11-26-2009, 15:56
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#7
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: NorCal
Posts: 15,370
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And here's one for the 'memory boxes' of us older vets...C-rats peanut butter and crackers forever!
Richard's $.02 
__________________
“Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of (another)… There are just some kind of men who – who’re so busy worrying about the next world they’ve never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.” - To Kill A Mockingbird (Atticus Finch)
“Almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.” - Robert Heinlein
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Richard is offline
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11-26-2009, 16:53
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#8
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: 11 miles from Dove Creek, Colorady
Posts: 3,924
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard
And here's one for the 'memory boxes' of us older vets...C-rats peanut butter and crackers forever!
Richard's $.02 |
Oh yeah!!
Gourmet dining! 
__________________
"...But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive."
Shakespeare - Henry V
Lazy Bob Ranch
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Utah Bob is offline
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11-26-2009, 17:01
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#9
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Guerrilla
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: New England
Posts: 170
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The poem is beautiful and echoed in so many hearts.
__________________
"Eve was not taken out of Adam's head to top him, neither out of his feet to be trampled on by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected by him, and near his heart to be loved by him.”
~Matthew Henry
"Political correctness: A need to avoid stepping on toes that in reality should be blown off the foot." ~me
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kimberly is offline
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11-26-2009, 17:05
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#10
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Georgetown, SC
Posts: 4,204
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Thanks for the memories, Bob! (Hey, wait... oh...not "That" Bob! <g>)
C-Rations. Ham and MotherF...ers! I loved them. Put some boiling onions and tabasco in it...and wow! Besides, IF you liked them - you'd never go hungry!
Couple that with the fact that I don't smoke - and could trade my Marlboros - and I always ate well in the field.
__________________
"I took a different route from most and came into Special Forces..." - Col. Nick Rowe
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ZonieDiver is offline
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11-26-2009, 17:13
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#11
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Quiet Professional (RIP)
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Carriere,Ms.
Posts: 6,922
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ZonieDiver
Thanks for the memories, Bob! (Hey, wait... oh...not "That" Bob! <g>)
C-Rations. Ham and MotherF...ers! I loved them. Put some boiling onions and tabasco in it...and wow! Besides, IF you liked them - you'd never go hungry!
Couple that with the fact that I don't smoke - and could trade my Marlboros - and I always ate well in the field.
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Malboros!!!! You must have gotten the most recent C's.....We got Lucky Strikes in the "green label"...... They stopped making them with that label in 1944.... You youngsters where really spoiled........
Big Teddy
__________________
I believe that SF is a 'calling' - not too different from the calling missionaries I know received. I knew instantly that it was for me, and that I would do all I could to achieve it. Most others I know in SF experienced something similar. If, as you say, you HAVE searched and read, and you do not KNOW if this is the path for you --- it is not....
Zonie Diver
SF is a calling and it requires commitment and dedication that the uninitiated will never understand......
Jack Moroney
SFA M-2527, Chapter XXXVII
Last edited by greenberetTFS; 11-26-2009 at 17:15.
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greenberetTFS is offline
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11-26-2009, 17:25
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#12
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Guerrilla
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: New England
Posts: 170
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Quote:
Originally Posted by greenberetTFS
Malboros!!!! You must have gotten the most recent C's.....We got Lucky Strikes in the "green label"...... They stopped making them with that label in 1944.... You youngsters where really spoiled........
Big Teddy |
My dad started smoking Lucky Strikes in the Navy and never stopped.
__________________
"Eve was not taken out of Adam's head to top him, neither out of his feet to be trampled on by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected by him, and near his heart to be loved by him.”
~Matthew Henry
"Political correctness: A need to avoid stepping on toes that in reality should be blown off the foot." ~me
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kimberly is offline
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11-26-2009, 20:43
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#13
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Guest
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Bob, thanks that was wonderful.
This year is the first yr since my son left for bootcamp back in November '03 that he has been home. All the past yrs, he was either in Afghanistan or Iraq, supporting a team with his comm's.
He chose to stay at Bragg. His reason's valid. I was just happy to have him (and the guys he supports) CONUS safe, no bullets flying at them.
To all the rest of you. I wish you had nothing but a delightful turkey day.
AM.
ps...stay away from the turkey in the chow hall at Kabul. I have it on good authority that it is deadly.
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11-26-2009, 21:32
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#14
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Area Commander
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 2,952
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Quote:
Originally Posted by greenberetTFS
Malboros!!!! You must have gotten the most recent C's.....We got Lucky Strikes in the "green label"...... They stopped making them with that label in 1944.... You youngsters where really spoiled........
Big Teddy |
Last time I had them was in 1980 in Germany, Kastellaun to be exact. I got Chesterfields and matches with no heads  . We were hungry enough to actually be quite happy with out little tins.
Great Poem Bob!!!
RF 1
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Red Flag 1 is offline
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11-27-2009, 02:37
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#15
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Guerrilla Chief
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Ft Campbell
Posts: 555
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What I'm grateful for.
Nice poem Bob,
I'm grateful for all the Warriors that have given the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom. May GOD welcome them home and comfort those they left behind.
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" Being a sheepdog has never been about getting better bones."
Destrier
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