OT: Veterans Day
November 11th, 2018 at 9:01 AM ^
Hear, hear! Thanks to all for your service!
November 11th, 2018 at 8:35 PM ^
Long time reader but new member of the site. It was my great pleasure to serve as an Operations Specialist in the world's greatest Navy back in the day. My only regret is that I did not return to the Navy after attending UofM post-discharge as I had considered doing. God bless all the men and women who serve or have served and God bless America! Go Blue!
December 16th, 2018 at 11:09 PM ^
Best. Avatar. Ever.
November 11th, 2018 at 9:09 AM ^
OP - you need to comment in your thread so we can up vote it!
Happy Veteran's Day to all my fellow vets!! Looking forward to an event free Indiana game!
November 11th, 2018 at 9:23 AM ^
Definitely!
I served in the worlds greatest navy so I was never in a situation with serious threat, but even in the safest enlistments you are taken away from friends, family, and community, and it changes you. I recall when my enlistment was over going home and finding 'home' irrevocably different. I was different. Fortunately for me, I had a family and children to love and grow with, and provide me with a foundation to get my life back in focus; coming back to Flint in the late 80's to get my life in gear was challenging.
I was blessed but a lot of my brothers and sisters in the service were not. Scarred in one way or the other, maimed or even outright killed; I listened to the stories from the Google page and tears fell unbidden. As a youth I didn't think of the sacrifice we provided as that significant - you all know how kids are - but now as an adult I am more effuse in my praise and appreciation for those of us that served, but most especially to those who gave the last full measure of devotion.
God bless you guys...
November 11th, 2018 at 9:58 AM ^
"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave". Thank you for service.
November 11th, 2018 at 1:49 PM ^
For those who gave their tomorrow for our today....the debt can never be repaid!!!!! They should never be forgotten no matter Veterans or Memorial Day! We are FREE everyday because of them.Thanks to all veterans and active duty members!
November 11th, 2018 at 9:25 AM ^
My heartfelt thanks to all my fellow veterans, thank you all for serving.
November 11th, 2018 at 9:26 AM ^
Yes, very much appreciated. The only reason we can enjoy freely what we like to do with family & friends. Freedom is not free.
November 11th, 2018 at 9:33 AM ^
Thank you fellow veterans for your service. Also thank you to your spouses and children because without their support and sacrifice, we would not be able to do our jobs.
November 11th, 2018 at 1:41 PM ^
Much THANKS for your service Navy Wolverine. Words can never express the deep gratitude for what you and your brothers in arms have sacrificed along with your spouses and children. Just know that it does not go unnoticed.
GOD BLESS you my fellow mgoblogger!!!!!!!!
November 11th, 2018 at 9:35 AM ^
For those of you like me, I forgot to add that this happens to be the 100th anniversary of the end of The Great War. Also, for anyone who confuses Veterans Day with Memorial Day https://www.defense.gov/explore/story/Article/1675470/5-facts-to-know-about-veterans-day/
November 11th, 2018 at 9:40 AM ^
Thank you veterans for all you have sacrificed
November 11th, 2018 at 9:57 AM ^
USA!!!!
November 11th, 2018 at 10:54 AM ^
Ditto!
November 11th, 2018 at 10:12 AM ^
Thank you to all of my fellow veterans for serving and also sharing the maize and blue love!
November 11th, 2018 at 10:39 AM ^
Indeed. Thank you to all the Veterans who have given their time and service to keep us safe here at home. We all should be extremely thankful to all of those men and women, and that we are fortunate enough to live in greatest nation on this planet. May God Bless America!
November 11th, 2018 at 10:43 AM ^
Although the United States entered the "Great War" (now known as World War I) after it had already raged for 3 years, 116,708 Americans died in combat, according to some of the better available statistics. The United Kingdom lost 885,138. The largest number of KIAs were Russian (1,811,000) French (1,397,800), and German (2,050,897).
The Great War began because highly nationalistic states in Europe believed war was a preferable alternative to settling differences peaceably, especially after a young Montenegran student shot and killed the Austro-Hungarian heir to the throne and his wife in June 1914. Germany believed war would enable it to assert itself even more forcefully in Europe, especially after its overwhelming victory against the French some 40 years earlier. Germany and other states expected a similar 19-century style skirmish that might last a few months and end in a negotiated settlement. But with the advent of new weapons and the stalled German advance in the west that eventually settled into murderous trench warfare, the war lasted slightly over 4 years and cost 40 million military and civilian casualties (dead and wounded, and not including the 1918 influenza --- Spanish Flu --- pandemic).
And as regrettable as the reasons for its inception, the legacy of the Great War was even worse, given that it paved the way for another even more destructive European War only 21 years later.
What's the old Peter, Paul, and Mary song with the line: "When will they ever learn"?
November 11th, 2018 at 11:34 AM ^
And as regrettable as the reasons for its inception, the legacy of the Great War was even worse, given that it paved the way for another even more destructive European War only 21 years later.
This was far from an inevitability. Many emerged from WWI genuinely wanting war to never break out again. The League of Nations was formed for that purpose. The British and French desperately wanted to avoid war again and allowed Germany to stop respecting the terms of Versailles, while the U.S. disengaged itself from European affairs altogether.
Even the Nazis did not want a WWI rematch. Hitler's focus was on the east, where he wanted to bully the weak states there into giving up land, without provoking the Western Allies into war. Germany in 1939 was larger than it had been in 1914 and was no longer respecting Versailles. It had no particular reason to want revenge by that point, and Hitler himself thought a new war with France/UK would just be another mess. He simply thought he could keep adding land on the cheap. He was stunned when the UK/France declared war on him, saying only "What now?"
November 11th, 2018 at 10:58 AM ^
You're welcome
and
thanks to all other Veterans
November 11th, 2018 at 10:59 AM ^
Many thanks to all of you! God bless!
November 11th, 2018 at 11:05 AM ^
I sometimes feel guilty for being thanked for my service because I enjoyed every moment of my time in the Air Force. But a special acknowledgment to all my fellow vets and their own special sacrifice in their service of our great nation.
November 11th, 2018 at 12:32 PM ^
Same, I feel the exact same way. (Navy).
November 11th, 2018 at 1:52 PM ^
With all due respect sir....Please do not EVER feel quilty!!!
November 11th, 2018 at 11:14 AM ^
Yes. Thank you for your service Veterans. My family and I can’t thank you enough. My 2 grandfathers served in World War 2.
I’m lucky to be the grandson of man who went behind enemy lines in the Philippine islands with 7 men and secured an airlfield and he was awarded the Bronze Star.
November 11th, 2018 at 11:25 AM ^
Thanks to vets here on this board and everywhere!
November 11th, 2018 at 11:29 AM ^
MGoMarine here. Happy Veterans Day. Semper Fi!
November 11th, 2018 at 2:09 PM ^
Thank you Mgobloggers. It is truly an honor and a privilege to serve this great nation and to root for the Maize and Blue.
November 11th, 2018 at 3:48 PM ^
Happy Veterans day to all the other vets here.
November 11th, 2018 at 7:43 PM ^
Thanks for all your kind words.