Share Your Story

my dad!

My dad is my step-father, but I was very young when my mom married him. He was in WWII as an Army Ranger and was a paratrooper. He was dropped in Normandy, D-Day........ He never talked about the destruction that he saw and he had many drops. But what he did do, is that he would talk to the dog.....a french poodle we had at the time. The dogs we had, was his counselor.....but I did over hear some of his stories to the dog and they aren't anything that I would repeat!!!! I also remember, that he still had nightmares!!!! He passed away in October of 2005....and had the Military buriel and 21 gun salute, that he deserved!!!!!! The only reason, why I knew what he was while in the miliyary, I asked. But he never, never told of any stories. He would tell me that it was between him and God!!!!! Amen!!

Patricia Bennett-Price
Buckeye, AZ

For the love of his country

My grandfather was a small man in stature standing barely 5 ft tall, when he was only 14 years old he decided he was going to join the service and go to war to protect this great country of ours. Back then I guess they didn't ask for much in the way of ID because he was able to get in and fought in WWI and came home a proud man. I look to my grandfather as a hero. He has since passed, but I will never forget the sacrifice he made for his country. Thank you pepere thibeault! I love you.

Michelle Clark
Merrimack, NH

Military and ALS

Im Shirley and my husband David served in Iraq on 2006 - 2007. When David deployed he was perfectly healthy, When he returned home from his tour he was diagnosed with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehriggs Disease. Now in 2011 he is totally dependent on me for everything. He went for being independent to being in a wheelchair unable to even hold a glass, He is dying. Its not a question of if but when.
The percentage of soldiers being diagnosed with ALS has increased to 110 percent. So Im asking you to support our veterans and your local ALS Association. Please make a donation of any amount. It will be used for a good cause. I know just how expensive things are for ALS patients.

Signed
Shirley and David O
Harvest, AL

Shirley Oyler
Harvest, AL

Coming Home

Recently, we attended the reception for a group of WW II veterans returning from a Flight of Honor trip to Washington, D.C. For those gathered at the RDU parking lot, the patriotic music and flags flying were a true testament to our love for our country, veterans, and all military as we stood on tiptoe and craned our necks to see the parade. We greeted several men from our small town of Fuquay Varina and took pictures with them. It was so exciting but I'm sure it didn't hold a light to the actual day when America heard that the war was over. My mom says she remembers that day well. She was at the corner store in her hometown of Duncan, NC. The news came over the radio. The war is over! She rode her bike as fast as she could home to tell her parents. They were so excited because it meant that Mom's older brother, Winfred, would finally be coming home. I can't imagine the joy they must have felt. From what I understand, it was not easy for the soldiers to adjust to civilian life after looking death in the face every day. She recalls that one time, months after returning home, Uncle Winfred was walking down the street in town when a car backfired. Uncle Winfred said that before he knew what had happened he found himself getting up off the ground. An automatic reflex, diving for cover at the gunfire like sound. In that day of hand to hand combat, I'm sure quick reflexes is what brought a lot of soldiers home safe to their families. Uncle Winfred passed away in 1983 but I know he was with us in spirit celebrating the return of those WW II Vets...his buddies. Welcome home.

Kimberly Dickens Rodriguez
Fuquay Varina, NC

My husband was on the USS Cole

Back on October 12th 2000 our lives changed when the USS Cole got attacked by alkida. My husband now has PTSD and suffers pain in his ankle and shoulder also has nitemares almost every night. It is very hard for those that have been in a war to comeback to there family's not the same person they were when they left. It is also hard for the spouse to be there for them when they need them the most. I love my husband and that will never change and I will be there for him when he needs me, sometime it is hard but I will be there. For those that have a veteran in your life please be there for them when they need u.

Wendie bower
Hutchinson, KS

WWII MY MOM

My MOM is 86 years old. Her memory is failing and words don't come out like she wants at times. She told me how proud she was of all the young men that fought in WWII. I AM PROUD OF HER. She worked long hours at a factory that made wheels for planes.Yes, she is a "Rosie the Riveter". She never claims the fame she so deserves. Her and many other women worked hard to support our troupes. She lost many classmates and friends to this war. When soldiers did come home, women lost their jobs honorably to give back to the men that had served their country. My mom is a hero to me and our country that she is so proud of. Heroes come in many sizes, shapes, color and gender. God bless them all!

Susan Cheesborough
Harlem, GA

If you don't know GOD, don't make stupid remarks! Great Email!

A United States Marine was taking some college courses
between assignments. He had completed 20 missions in Iraq
and Afghanistan. One of the courses had a professor who
was an avowed atheist, and a member of the ACLU.
One day the professor shocked the class when he came in.
He looked to the ceiling and flatly stated, "GOD, if you are real, then
I want you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you exactly 15 min."
The lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. Ten minutes
went by and the professor proclaimed, "Here I am GOD, I'm still waiting."
It got down to the last couple of minutes when the Marine got
out of his chair, went up to the professor, and cold-cocked him
knocking him off the platform. The professor was out cold.
The Marine went back to his seat and sat there, silently.
The other students were shocked and stunned, and sat there
looking on in silence. The professor eventually came to,
noticeably shaken, looked at the Marine and asked,
"What in the world is the matter with you? Why did you do that?"
The Marine calmly replied,
"GOD was busy today protecting America's
soldiers who are protecting your right to say stupid
stuff and act like an idiot. So He sent me."

The classroom erupted in cheers!
THIS IS GOOD, KEEP IT GOING!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

George Austin
gaustinplane@sbcglobal.net

Anonymous
Jesup, GA

My Hero

My hero, my Dad, Elbert D. Lewis, served during WWII on USS RENO in the South Pacific Theater under the command of Admiral William F. Halsey. Eventhough he already was married and had 2 children, me and my brother, when he was drafted, he served our nation proudly. His ship was bombed by Japanese planes and my Dad was injured and earned the Purple Heart, he was presented with his Purple Heart and other medals later...38 years later. After PRINCETON was hit RENO was alongside with other ships trying to put out the fires. It was decide PRINCETON could not be saved and RENO was ordered to sink her..That was a sad day for my Dad and the shipmates. RENO was later hit with a bomb by a Japanese plane and was damaged so badly that they abandoned ship in the middle of he Pacific..RENO was towed to Ulithi Atol and patched enough to get back to the States for repair. The men in the water were picked up later with no serious injuries..Daddy was drafted again when he was 80 years old and he replied by letter that while he would be happy to serve his country again perhaps he was past drafting age...We had a great laugh and 142 TV, radio stations and Newspapers picked up the story and interviewed him. CNN called him and wanted to come to his house and interview him but, he had a fishing trip planned. He had his 15 minutes of fame. Daddy wrote a book about his experience in WWII at age 82, another book about his youth at age 83. In April 2001, he died at age 86 while working on his third book, exactly one year after the love of his life,my Mother, died. I miss him every day.

Sherry Rose
Moundville, AL

WW 1 Joseph W. Sparks

My Grandfather was Joe Sparks and was in France during WW 1. He was due to go to the front lines to fight on November 13th. The Armistice was signed November 11th. A great man and a good Grandfather.

Charlsie Blocker
Mineral Wells, TX

MY PAWPAW

MY GRANDFATHER, SGT JOHN S LEE, SERVED IN BOTH THE KOREAN AND VIETNAM WARS. HE LIED ABOUT HIS AGE AND ENLISTED AT THE AGE OF 16 AND RETIRED FROM THE ARMY MANY YEARS LATER. HE WON A BRONZE STAR FOR PUTTING INTO OPERATION THE FIRST PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE RADIO STATION IN VIETNAM, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER MEDALS. GROWING UP HE ALWAYS SEEMED LARGER THAN LIFE TO ME. IT WAS LIKE I HAD MY OWN PERSONAL LIFE SIZED GI JOE. HE DIED SEVERAL YEARS AGO FROM CANCER THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE AGENT ORANGE HE WAS EXPOSED TO IN VIETNAM(AND YES HE HAD A LETTER CONFIRMING THIS). HOWEVER, HE WAS ALWAYS PROUD TO HAVE SERVED HIS COUNTRY, AND I WANT TO THANK HIM AND ALL THE OTHER SOLDIERS FROM EVERY BRANCH WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE MILITARY AND MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO LIVE IN A FREE COUNTRY. ALTHOUGH I WATCHED HIS HEALTH DETERIORATE OVER THE YEARS, AND WAS HEART BROKEN A FEW MONTHS BEFORE HIS DEATH TO REALIZE THAT HE WAS NOW AN OLD MAN, WITH A LOT OF HEALTH ISSUES, IN MY MIND, HE IS STILL MY OWN PERSONAL, LIFE SIZE GI JOE. HE WAS, IS, AND ALWAYS WILL BE MY HERO! REST IN PEACE!

Donna Williams
Roanoke, AL