MEMORIAL DAY

[Bob23]

A Happy Memorial day to all you fellow Compac-ers as we remember those who gave all so we could enjoy freedom. May we never take it for granted!
Bob23

[newt]

The freedom we have should never be taken for granted. I still tip my hat to every serviceman I meet.

[Craig Weis]

Hear here. CELABRATE MEMORIAL DAY THANK A VETERN.
No finer people then a veteran
Bless them all. And thank you.
My heart felt best to all.
Lord watch over Jasen Covert. A career Marine. Afghanistan, third volunteer tour.
For myself: Let me add.

CIB. Combat Infantryman Badge. Awarded to a person who had been in a
firefight or contact with the enemy. On a dress uniform, it is a
silver rifle on a blue background surrounded by silver trim. The first
and often the most meaningful award given to an infantry grunt because
it told the world I had humped and fought.

If you've been to Nam a saying goes, "This guy don't mean nothing to
you. After Nam, every day is gravy for the rest of your life. Live it
that way!" Liberals don't think like that.

Vietnam is billed as the war that America lost. Even McCain said that!
I thought he was wrong. Yet, in retrospect, Americans went to Nam to
give the South Vietnamese a chance to construct an army and a society
with which to stop the spread of Communism from North Vietnam. I think
we did give the Vietnamese their chance. We just couldn't build their
political and social institutions for them. When Saigon fell, the bulk
of the American troops had long been withdrawn. America couldn't win
a war for a country that didn't want to fight for itself.

When in Vietnam, America forces didn't lose any major campaign or
battle. The enemy was able to inflict tragic losses to small groups of
American troops at platoon and company level, but Americans devastated
whole regiments and divisions of the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese
Army. Even the 1968 Tet offensive was only an illusory victory, one
that was measured in days and hours for the Communists and which cost
them horrendous losses. Spades raised to depress the muzzles to less then
zero and firing anti personal shells from 105 and 150 Howitzers and in fact,
after that offensive, the enemy's ability to wage a major campaign was
destroyed and the Viet Cong ceased to be a viable force throughout most of the
South Vietnam.

Americans were sent to Vietnam to prevent the domino effect, countries
collapsing and being taken over by Communist governments. After
Vietnam, and eventually Cambodia and Laos, succumbed to Communism, not
another country in the world fell to Communism. Shortly after Vietnam
was united under one Communist government, it fought its two Communist
neighbors, China to the north and the Khmer Rouge [sp?] in Cambodia to
the west. Communists started eating up other Communists.

Perhaps the most important lesson that America learned from the
Vietnam War was not to get into situations such as that again. Before
Desert Storm, when Americans were unsure of our role in the Gulf
region, President Bush reassured the country that "this will not be
another Vietnam!" Vietnam draft dodger President Clinton had the
specter of Vietnam looking over his shoulder when he sent troops into
Haiti. This is also true of the missions in Somalia and Bosnia.

By learning the lessons of Vietnam, America may have saved the lives
of many of its present and future young men and women. In that regard
alone, Vietnam was an American victory.
Still stuck in the old days.

"It's best to sit in the chair of the victor. Not the defeated."
A favorite skipisum indeed.

Proud to be one of the 56,000,000 people or 46% who did not vote for Barry Obama. Buck Ofama.

[HideAway]

Skip,
I think you explained better than anybody I've read about what happened in Vietnam.  It was lead badly by our government but we accomplished much with our generation paying the price.    I truly believe those that did not make it back would want those that did to enjoy this life fully.  This is why HideAway will be flying the biggest American flag I can find off her back stay all weekend to honor those who gave up so very much for us.   Matt

I would not give up on Obama just yet.   After all he is facing some of the biggest challenges our country has ever experienced - we are Americans first and we need to work together now.   That being said he does worry me recently.

[payperboy]

Hey Skip well said. Best explanation of a war that is still so hard to understand today. Thank you very much for your service to a nation that still has a little a freedom left.

[Bob23]

Men:
   I was hoping to keep Mr. Obama out of this thread; it was meant as a tribute to the men and women who gave thier lives for our freedom. But we do have freedom of speech, eh?
Bob23

[Greene]

Thank you to all the men and women who have served for our country. 

Mike and Brenda

[bmiller]

Thank you vets. My son will very soon have the title of vet and will take advantage of the GI bill.