Honor The Ghosts In Front Of You

[Jack D]

Note: The author is a homeless vet lliving in the Eugene Mission.

Honor the ghosts in front of you: The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore.

[MinelabMan]

Very nice read Jack, says alot!

[bigd]

Very well said, and sad to say too true. Thanks for submitting that Jack.

[The TINMAN]

Outstanding Jack ! These and all the others that have been posted this past week need to be shown, need to be shared and most of all hopefully they will get people to write and let those in charge know that they fall very short in their responsibility and duty to take care of our own !
Thanks for Posting that Jack.

I Salute You Sir !
The TINMAN

[JCWhite]

Thanks Jack.

[Jack D]

Originally Posted by The TINMAN

Outstanding Jack ! These and all the others that have been posted this past week need to be shown, need to be shared and most of all hopefully they will get people to write and let those in charge know that they fall very short in their responsibility and duty to take care of our own !
Thanks for Posting that Jack.

I Salute You Sir !
The TINMAN

If that salute is meant for me, Tinman, I'm not deserving. In fact, I changed my avatar so that folks here didn't think I was fishing for "salutes". I did serve 4 years in the Navy, but it was peace time (does "cold war" count? ) and no bullets were fired in my direction. My sons also served, oldest 3 years, Army and youngest 8 years Navy. Both served in peace time. We all came out unscathed. The worst I came out with is a minor bout of asbestosis from handling asbestos. Even that is not a problem and the doc says it likely will never be. When I think vet, I think "war vet". They are the deserving ones. They suffered and continue to suffer either mentally or physically or both. Their families should be included in that salute.....they also suffer the pain along with the vet. We don't do nearly enough for those "war vets" or their families. I'm not sure we can ever do enough. My time in the Navy was like a vacation. I saw 17 different countries and enjoyed them all.

Salute those that ducked the bullets and those that couldn't. They lived and died in hellish times that will never go away.

[Buster]

Very good read Jack D. That hit the spot . Makes you think alot. I can't count the times I told my wife that I would be home in a few minutes and showed up 3 hours later. Or the TDY's. But I sure I'm not the only one this hits home for. Thanks, Buster....

[gordiesgirl]

Thank you for posting this. I shared it with my son.

[EBCIII]

Thank you for posting this Jack. I will be honest IMO I think of "all" that have served are vets, and I still salute you, Beale.

[EPC Guy]

Originally Posted by EBCIII

Thank you for posting this Jack. I will be honest IMO I think of "all" that have served are vets, and I still salute you, Beale.

Ditto to what Beale said, Jack. You wore the uniform, and only by the grace of God, did you not have to duck the bullets. I salute you.

My wife served in the army for seven years - she was never in harm's way - but she served her country and believed in what she was doing. I love her and salute her..

My father was a career Air Force officer - he served three tours in Vietnam and was shot down over a country in which he should never have been flying in the first place. By the grace of God, he made it home. I salute my Dad.

I, on the other hand, was never in the military; I was always too busy chasing my dreams - I turned down an opportunity for an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in order to play baseball. Later on, I was too busy chasing the almighty dollar. I regret never serving my country in the way that all of you did. I can only hope that I never take for granted the sacrifices of all of those who had the courage and integrity to put our dreams ahead of their own.