War is NOT Pretty... Freedom is NOT Free

[toadilypeachy]

I've chosen a "Marine Corps Involvement in the Korean & Veitnam Wars" along with "Freedom is NOT free.. War is NOT pretty" theme. Because November 11th, 2008 is the 11th anniversary of the death of one of the greatest men I ever knew and THE greatest man I've ever had the honor of calling "Daddy", I wanted to pay tribute to him along with other Veterans of Wars.. Although my page does not showcase other branches of the service or other wars, I am deeply grateful and humbled by the dedication, honor and sacrifices ALL military personnel have shown in ALL wars.

Daddy was a loving husband, devoted & respected father, admired & adored Papa, and a Marine through and through. He was an humble Christian man with an unending sense of humor, kind eyes and a smile that would light up the darkest room. He was the eiptome of strength, valor, respect & loyalty. He served his country in Korea and Vietnam. One of the Chosin Few in the Korean War and a security advisor in the Vietnam War, Daddy saw atrocities of such magnitude that I can't comprehend how he remained sane but can understand why he shared so little of these wars with his family. He did not want these horrors to infect his family. Instead, he bore these nightmares alone.

One of the "things" I remember most about this part of  Daddy's life was his disgust at the Vietnam War protestors, mainly Jane Fonda. To come back from a war that he was ordered to participate in and to face the ridicule and hatred these men faced when returning back to American soil is something I hope this country NEVER does to another fellow American and serviceman. How shamed those Americans should feel! We all bear the weight of how many of these young men came back and later lived with, and are still living with, PTSD. Many are no longer "whole" but, instead, battle demons we can't even imagine everyday of their lives..The horrors they witnessed on foreign soil were only compounded by the lack of acceptance and the disgusting welcome they faced when returning home. Forgive us!! Please, FORGIVE us!!

Many years after both of these wars and almost 11 years after Daddy became a Marine in God's army, I am still in awe of and indebted to those that choose the military as their job. They may have questions and doubts about where they are sent, but they go. They go not only because they are told to do so, they go to protect our freedoms that we take for granted in this great country. They go to protect our borders. They go knowing they may never walk on American soil again. They sacrifice their life for us, complete strangers. They face atrocities many of us can't even envision. They come back as men and women we no longer know. Gone is the innocence.. Gone is the youth.. Gone is trust.. Gone is peace in their lives.. Gone.. Gone.. Gone.. Some gave/give all.. All gave/give some.. All stood true for the red, white and blue.. Some had to fall..

NO! War is NOT pretty... Freedom is NOT free...

I love you and miss you, Daddy, my beloved Veteran...

[eeyoremom5]

Nov. 3, 2008 at 1:22 AM

I want to thank you !!! My DH is just coming home from having surgery.... He has CANCER thanks to " AGENT ORANGE"

 

[patty625]

Nov. 3, 2008 at 12:45 PM

Your daddy would be proud Cheri.....(as tears roll down my cheeks)....what a way to honor your father.

Thanks to him and all others who have served...we are free.

You've done a really terrific job honoring such a great man and other men who served for us all.

Warm Hugs,

♥Patty

 

[patty625]

Nov. 3, 2008 at 12:52 PM

i just wanted to add that all of my four brothers served in the military (Marines, Army, and Navy) and when my brother was called to serve time a few years back in Iraq....my heart ached.  But, lucky for all of us, he returned home safe.  The day that we all met him at the Welcome Home party...i had an anxiety attack...it remains one of the most happiest and proudest days of my life...i was undeniebably relieved he made it back safe.  My heart goes out to those families who's loved ones do not.

It's amazing what these Men and Women do to keep us Free...and i will always be humbled by it all.

Thank you for honoring them and sharing with us a story behind your HERO!

[LoveNLollipops]

Nov. 3, 2008 at 1:56 PM

I know how you feel.... love you... leaving it at that!  HUGS!

[MemawBrie]

Nov. 3, 2008 at 2:06 PM

THANK YOU for writing this!! We have friends and family who served in Vietnam who had to face the mocking and name calling when they returned home.  It led to mental breakdowns, attempted suicides, and broken families.  I was so ashamed of people who dared to enjoy their freedom at the cost of the brave men and women and the sacrifices they made for their sorry butts! I PRAY the men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan won't have to face the same betrayal.

People seem to forget that military personnel put their lives on hold, voluntarily, in order to protect their freedoms. They treat it as cavalier as deciding which flavor of ice cream to order. These are real men and women who bleed the same color blood we do.  They miss their families, they get angry, depressed and love as passionately as us. The least we can give them is our thanks and respect.

[irishhillbilly]

Nov. 4, 2008 at 12:45 AM

I have friends who were in Viet Nam and I remember how people treated our guys when they came home. I was old enough to see how cruel people were and be angry about it. I worry that people may be heading down that road again. My bear and I ride a harley. Up until a few months ago a bunch of our friends who ride bikes would go to military funerals. Well not actually to the funeral itself but in the vicinity. There is this nasty preacher in Topeka who got a bunch of people together and would protest at these funerals. How heartless can you be. So the bikers would make sure that he nor his henchmen could get near a funeral. Finally the governor passed a law that said you couldn't protest at a funeral. My question is why would it have to come down to that?!? Don't people have any common sense anymore? And a preacher? It just made my stomach turn.

As far as I'm concerned it shouldn't matter whether you are for this war or against it. It is what it is so get behind our guys and women and support them the best way you can and if praying is the only way to support them then do that. And for goodness sake, before anyone makes up there minds about where they stand on this war why don't they talk to someone in the military. Someone who is actually there and can see what is going on. Most of the guys that we know that were there and are home now say that we are making a difference. And that means alot to someone in the miltiary. To know that they are accomplishing something. So that is what we should get behind.. Because they are protecting our sorry butts so that people can live in a free country where they can do stupid things if they so choose.

I wish we could have all met your dad. He sounds like the kind of person everyone could learn from and look up to. You are a great daughter.....

[grlyscorpio-115]

Nov. 5, 2008 at 9:53 AM

This is a beautiful tribute to your dad and all our soldiers. Thank you so much!

[fayette]

Nov. 12, 2008 at 3:40 AM

Thank you so very much for your page and sharing your memories. My mom shares her memories of WWll and I guess I have given my memories to my children.

I wonder sometimes when will some Americans realize how lucky they are that we have a military that will give their lives to protect our country?? Popular war or not?? The men did come home to a resentful country. Our men received no respect.

My husband to this day has never forgiven Jane Fonda...

Yes my husband went to Vietnam twice and I never did again see the "young" person I married. He was still that sweet person I married but never the same never quite so carefree.

My best friend's husband was sent during her last month of pregnancy and he was killed there, when she wrote to me to inform me that she had lost Danny she said;

I don't really remember you now but I think we were good friends.  I had shock treatment so I don't remember a lot of things. Danny was killed he is gone. I had our baby and named her Danielle Loraine after Danny.

I answered her letter but never did again hear from her. In that war we lost both Sheila and Danny. My heart breaks each and every time they come into my mind. We went to dinners together, the guys flew model planes in the park together we played games we did everything together and Danny was so happy over Sheila being pregnant (so many memories) my husband loved her husband and I loved her dearly. I still know what they looked like I see them in my memories. They were a beautiful wholesome couple and so good for each other.

I kept thinking that maybe someday we would run into each other and perhaps Sheila's life after Danny turned out to be alright???

In all we had three of our very bes friends lost during that war.

I will have to end this now because I cannot write more...You would think after all these years I wouldn't cry anymore..

[homeschool1]

Jan. 7, 2009 at 6:22 PM

Amen and Amen    Thanks to all who died defending our freedom and continue to do so.  I had a boyfriend who went to VietNam and died from Cancer due to Agent Orange.  I had two brothers who were in the armed forces, one in the army and one was in the air force.  My dh was also in Viet Nam.  Thank you for writing of your father and his service to our country.  I am sure God is smiling on him

[mamagoose524]

Jan. 9, 2009 at 9:47 AM

 My family is a military family too-- my father, my dh, and now 2 of my three sons.  People have no idea how much a military family sacrifices.  You're so right "Freedom isn't free,"  Thank you for this beautiful tribute, & God bless you.