I AM HONORED TO HAVE A FRIEND WHO
SERVED IN THE 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION..OUR FRIENDSHIP STARTED IN HIGH
SCHOOL AND CONTINUES TO THIS DAY..HE REFUSES TO SHARE HIS STORIES OR HIS NAME
ON THIS BLOG AND I RESPECT HIS WISHES..ANYWAY, BACK IN 1969 I SKIPPED SCHOOL (ONE
OF MANY TIMES) AND DROVE HIM TO BRADLEY FIELD IN WINDSOR LOCKS..
BACK THEN THERE WAS A OBSERVATION
DECK WHERE ONE COULD WATCH THE PLANES LANDING AND TAKING OFF..I WAS THE ONLY
ONE PRESENT ON THE DECK..I WAVED AT THE PLANE AS IT ROARED PAST AND LIFTED INTO
THE SKY..HE LET ME KNOW VIA LETTERS TO HIS GIRLFRIEND THAT HE SAW ME OUT THERE
WAVING.. “I’LL NEVER FORGET THAT,” HE SAID..AND SO STARTED THE FIRST LEG OF HIS
JOURNEY TO THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM WHERE HE SERVED IN SUPPORT OF THE GREEN
BERETS..
NO MARCHING BAND AWAITED HIM UPON
HIS RETURN—NO WAVING FLAGS—LIKE THE MAJORITY OF VIETNAM ERA VETERANS ONLY A
GRATEFUL FAMILY WAS EAGERLY AWAITING HIS RETURN..THE MEMORY OF THAT TIME PLAYED
ITSELF OUT IN MY MIND ON SATURDAY NIGHT, THE 27TH OF APRIL, AS I WAS
AMONG THE HUNDREDS THAT HAD ASSEMBLED TO WELCOME HOME 120 WORLD WAR TWO
VETERANS..THEY HAD BEEN FLOWN TO WASHINGTON D.C. FOR THE DAY BY THE NORWICH
BASED ‘AMERICAN WARRIOR PROJECT.’ THIS WAS THE NINTH TRIP AND THE PROJECT HAS
FLOWN 938 VETERANS TO VISIT THE WAR MEMORIALS IN D.C...
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| ARMY VETERAN EARL COLEBUT-88 YEARS OLD AND STANDING STRAIGHT AS AN ARROW-A MEMBER OF THE MASHANTUCKET PEQUOT TRIBAL NATION..WITH MEN LIKE EARL AMONG THEIR NUMBERS THEY ARE A JUSTIFIABLEY PROUD PEOPLE..I CONSIDER MYSELF HONORED TO HAVE MET HIM.. |
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| ANOTHER WORLD WAR TWO WARRIOR FROM THE PROUD MASHANTUCKET PEQUOT TRIBAL NATION.. ANOTHER MAN WHO I WAS EXTREMELY HAPPY TO GIVE THANKS TO AND SHAKE HIS HAND.. I WAS HONORED TO MEET STAN HARRIS THE SECOND. |
I CANNOT POSSIBLY POST ALL THE
PICTURES—BUT I SHOOK HANDS AND THANKED AS MANY AS I COULD..MY EYES WELLED UP A
FEW TIMES AS RECOLLECTIONS OF FRIENDS PLAYED IN MY MIND AND ONCE AGAIN I SAW THEIR
FACES IN MY MIND’S EYE..I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT EVERYONE THERE WAS SOMEHOW
WELCOMING AND THANKING ALL THE VETERANS WHO HAVE EVER SERVED TO PROTECT THOSE
WHO COULD NOT PROTECT THEMSELVES AND DEFENDING AGAINST TYRANTS WHO WOULD SEEK
TO DESTROY THE GOD GIVEN RIGHT OF FREEDOM…
 |
| OUR VERY OWN HOME TOWN HERO-ED RICCIO JR... AN INCREDIBLE MAN WHO SURVIVED AGAINST INCREDIBLE ODDS.. I DID A POST ON HIM AND IT IS STILL THE HIGHEST READER NUMBER RANKING.. TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO READ ABOUT HIM IN THE ARCHIVES FROM MAY 2011 'WARRIOR-SERGEANT ED RICCIO JR.' HIS SON 'EDDIE' AT HIS SIDE |
I AM HONORED TO HAVE WALKED AMONG AND WELCOMED
THESE MEN, SHAKEN THEIR HANDS..
 |
| 'BELA' ALSO A VET..SERVED AS A BOMB-SNIFFING TROOPER |
 |
| THE 'PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS' PROVIDED A MOTORCYCLE ESCORT FOR THE VETS |
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| ME AT THE REAR OF THE LEAD BIKE OF THE 'PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS' I'VE MENTIONED THESE GUYS BEFORE NOTHING BUT THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR THEM. LIKE I SAID BEFORE-WISH I COULD POST ALL THE PICTURES BUT I AM JUST ABOUT OUT OF SPACE AS IT IS--SO UNTIL NEXT TIME-- STAY SAFE AND THANK A VET FOR YOUR WAY OF LIFE AND YOUR FREEDOM IT IS DEFINITELY NOT FREE THE MEN ABOVE PAID FOR IT MANY MORE PAID WITH ALL THEY HAD.. TILL NEXT TIME JIM |
5 comments:
Excellent post Jim! I have the upmost respect for our veterans, past, present and future. I hate the way the Vietnam vets were treated on their return home and while they were serving. Too many morons like Hanoi Jane at the time. I would like to say Thank You to all the vets that read this. Your service to our Country is very much appreciated and respected in my eyes. And Thank You to you Jim for your service.
Thank You Kevin--this was a tuff one for me--My write up got too personal and I didn't want the post to be about me-had to start over a couple times. I wanted it to be about these terrific guys. Still had to toss in some memories. Was a great time-didn't get home till around midnight. Good to hear from you. And your welcome-Jim
How the heck have I missed this!
(I've sent you an email so you'll know why I've been missing)
We've spoken before about my involvement with Vietnam Vets, so, this post was poignant to the point of my unashamedly crying. I can only but imagine that this was indeed a tough call for you Jim.
Well done mate, a beautiful tribute.
(Really undid me with waving your mate off - alone...... )
I so hope many more people read this than commented :(
Big hugs Jim!
Rose,Always good to hear from you--you're VERY right, it was a tough one-I was happy for these men and at the same time felt a deep sadness for the reception that awaited Vietnam vets. Many readers-US-85 France-28 Russia-11 Iran-10 Germany-9 and six other counties with 2(including Australia)..Everybody seems shy to leave a comment though. Oh well. Thanks for the visit-Jim
Great post Jim!!
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