True Story

[Buck Hartley, CMI]

Good for the Lt. Colonel!!!!!!!!

[Mark A. Timpani, CMI]

very nice!

[klott]

Touched my Heart, thanks Dale.

[Billy Boerner]

Thank you Dale

TSgt Boerner
United States Air Force

[Doug Edwards, CMI]

I live right outside Pensacola, the Cradle of Naval Aviation and home of the Blue Angels. We are blessed with numerous daily flybys and practice sorties with displays of their airmanship. Everyone here knows the score and most have come to not only expect the noise but love it. I have done home inspections outside the back gate which is near Sherman Field where they do their practicing and aerial stunts. I get a free Air show (its always free to go see them) every time.
When I was on active duty at NAS Pensacola, my office was a corner office with many large windows down two walls and got to enjoy the sound of freedom on an almost daily basis. Thanks for the post and the responses. If you have never seen the "Blues" and get a chance you owe it to yourself or if ever in Pensacola go to the Naval Aviation Museum aboard NAS, it to is free and operates off donations. You will be amazed and in awe of the displays and free guided tours. You won't even have to take a lunch even though it will take all day to see all of it. There is a complete restaurant inside that is a interior replica of the Officers Club from Cubi Point, Phillipines that was dismantled and brought to Pensacola after Mt Pinatubo erupted, covered the base in ash, virtually closing it down forever.

http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/

[Vince Santos]

Years ago, around 15, I worked at a company with a security guard who was in WWII. His name was Guy and he had no problem telling me stories about his time off shore. Some of the things he said seemed like they were taken out of a war film while others made us both laugh. This man was tough as nails too and you could tell he was probably quite strong in his day. Prior to knowing this gentleman I'd never heard first hand accounts of what it's like to be in various combat situations, have your buddy next to you die while you live or being in a situation where it's you or them.

To be honest some of his stories seemed almost too dramatic to believe but what do I know. During those years I gained a new respect for those who serve and while I don't like war I do know there's no greater gift than to have another man willing to lay down his life for you and yours.

BTW
I think it's unfair for anyone to call the letter writer a moron or whatever else he's been called. In his defense he was in fact just acting as an uniformed citizen.

Quote from the letter writer:

"I have been called un-American by an unknown caller and I feel that I must address that. I served in the U.S. Navy and am a Vietnam veteran. I love my country and respect the jobs that the service organizations are doing."

"Please accept my heartfelt apologies."


Tom Macrae, Peoria

[Russell Spriggs]

And, hats off to fellow veteran owned businesses here at NACHI!

Russ Spriggs
USA / USAF / USARNG
1973 - 1988

[Bob Electric]

Originally Posted by mboyett

Yesterday I attended the funeral services for my father-in-law at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery. 90 year old Mr. Wood served in WWII, Korea and 2 tours in Viet Nam where he received a Bronze Star, helicopter shot down and spent 2 days evading the enemy before being rescued. There's no telling what other stories he could have told but didn't, he kept most of them to himself. The honor guard, presentation of the flag, 18 gun salute and especially the playing of taps by the lone bugler on the nearby knoll were pretty darned impressive.

Never heard an 18 gun salute.

[Michael R. Boyett]

Originally Posted by Bob Electric

Never heard an 18 gun salute.

Well, I don't remember all of the protocols but I'm pretty sure 21 gun salutes are reserved for high ranking dignitaries only. I do know that there were 6 riflemen at the service and they fired 3 volleys. Now, was that by design or did one of the riflemen just not show up that morning...I don't know.

Here's one explanation:

Today, the national salute of 21 guns is fired in honor of a national flag, the soverign or chief of state of a foreign nation, a member of a reigning royal family, and the President, ex-President, and President-elect of the United States. It is also fired at noon of the day of the funeral of a President, ex-President, or President-elect, on Washington's Birthday, Presidents Day, and the Fourth of July. On Memorial Day, a salute of 21 minute guns is fired at noon while the flag is flown at half mast. Fifty guns are also fired on all military installations equipped to do so at the close of the day of the funeral of a President, ex-President, or President-elect.

Gun salutes are also rendered to other military and civilian leaders of this and other nations. The number of guns is based on their protocol rank. These salutes are always in odd numbers. For example, the Vice President of the United States, Secretary Defense, and Secretaries of the Army, Air Force, and Navy all rate 19 guns. The highest-ranking generals in the services (Commadant of the Marine Corps, Chief of Naval Operations, and the Army and Air Force Chief of Staffs) all rate 17 guns. Other 4-star generals and admirals rate 17 guns. Three-stars rate 15, two-stars rate 13, and one-stars rate 11.
At military funerals, one often sees three volleys of shots fired in honor of the deceased veteran. This is often mistaken by the laymen as a 21-gun salute, although it is entirely different (in the military, a "gun" is a large-calibered weapon. The three volleys are fired from "rifles," not "guns." Therefore, the three volleys isn't any kind of "gun salute," at all). Anyone who is entitled to a military funeral (generally anyone who dies on active duty, honorably discharged veterans, and military retirees) are to the three rifle volleys, subject to availability of honor guard teams. As I said, this is not a 21-gun salute, nor any other type of "gun salute." They are simply three rifle volleys fired. The firing team can consist of any number, but one usually sees a team of eight, with a noncommissioned officer in charge of the firing detail. Whether the team consists of three or eight, or ten, each member fires three times (three volleys).

[Doug Edwards, CMI]

Originally Posted by rspriggs

And, hats off to fellow veteran owned businesses here at NACHI!

Russ Spriggs
USA / USAF / USARNG
1973 - 1988

back @ ya and the others

USN
1969 - 1995

[Jerry Kelly, III]

I got this from an old friend of mine a while back Loved this story I put it on my website
If you like this one take a look at Operation Care package on my information page.
www.homeinspectionsbyjerrykellyiii.com