Lest we forget - November 11th

[Pippen]

I know there are veterans we should honour from all wars....and I will be out there doing it tomorrow.

I saw this video 2 years ago and it really struck a chord for me.....although it's honouring our fallen in our most recent 'conflict'; while we remember those of years gone by let's also not forget the men and women who are in harms way today.

God bless all of you.....from WWI to the present who have served our country to afford us the freedoms we enjoy today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckfXr1EHO9U&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rK5ww3-bGeM&feature=related



Hats off to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve to this very day.

 

[Lipripper]

Amen Pip......
Ill probably be fishin but there will be no casts at 11 for a couple minutes. I will gander at the freedom that I do enjoy and understand the consequences of it .... If I am not fishing, Ill be with the litluns at a place we should be.


(edited after Al below me)

Damn rights..... God bless them

 

[alley cat]

I will at the Cenotaph and give thanks that my sons were the first in 5 generations that did not have to put a uniform on and fight.
I was the first in the generations who served in a peace time only role but was part of a UN rapid deployment force on standby for 4 months.
God bless them all !

AL

 

[dohboy]

i know i have my alarm set(i work nights) to wake up and honor the moment of silence, i used to enjoy the tudor house for having a few pints with the vets, but i have too work tomorrow so i just have to honor in silence

but i will honor those who have fought for us, and those who have given the ultimate scarifice for us, and for those still fighting for our Freedom

 

[otter]

For sure, however I am totally disgusted/dismayed with those young and old who dont wear that symbol of those who fought for freedom and cause past and present,the POPPY.

I reside in Kelowna and those people have not displayed the symbol of rememberance days prior or today NOV 11.

Shame

 

[IronNoggin]

Remembrance Day

He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbours
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew whereof he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For old Bob has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.

He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state.
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young.
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Someone who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?

The politician’s stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, though small.

It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier--
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end?

He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part,
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honour
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

May Hat is OFF to the Great many Men & Women who both served, and continue to do so today.

Life, as we know it, is ENTIRELY due to your valiant efforts! KUDOS more than Earned!!

Respectfully,
Matt

 

[Charlie]

Most Veterans do not flaunt they are a Veteran. Most don’t discuss, but will simply when asked, will answer yes – unless among other Veterans and those are usually limited conversations, as we mostly know when the name, date, or place is given what an individual went through.

It’s funny that my daughter, whom I am close, did not know I was a Vietnam Vet until this year when was asked to attend my grandson’s school as a Veteran. Until this, all she knew was I was a pilot in the Army, which made me a “Veteran.” So naturally, I get curious and decided to look some things up and just what the real numbers are for the different conflicts. There are many sources, with different figures; however, the end numbers are still close, regardless of source. If you are interested in U.S. military casualties, this one is probably the most accurate:
Congressional Research Service
Prepared for Members of Congress
American War and Military Operations Casualties:
Lists and Statistics

“A review of the composite data reveals the following.
· During the period between the Revolutionary War and the Persian Gulf War, it was the Civil War that produced the most American fatalities, when Union statistics and Confederate estimates are taken into account.
· World War II was the first war in which there were more battle deaths than deaths from other causes such as accidents, disease, and infections.
· With a total of 382 in-theater deaths, 147 of which were battle deaths, the Persian Gulf War was the least costly in terms of fatalities.
· The ongoing Operation Iraqi Freedom to date has produced more than nine times the number of in-theater deaths than the Persian Gulf War (which lasted seven months).

http://www.fas.org/press/_docs/RL32492.pdf

World War I: Approximately 6.8 civilians and 9.7 million military killed. There were approximately 37 million people killed in total. Canada had 64,944 military, 2,000 civilians for a total of 66,944 killed. United States 116,708 military, 757 civilians for a total of 117,465 killed.

World War II: Casualty statistics vary greatly estimates of total dead range from 50 to 78 million. Civilians killed totaled somewhere between 40 -52 million. Total military dead from 22-25 million. So, pick a number. But there were more civilians killed than military. Canada had 45,400 military, 0 civilians for a total of 45,400. United States 416,800 military, 1,700 civilians for a total of 418,500 killed.

I will skip the other wars and conflicts involving the United States, I would only just bore you! However, I will discuss “MY” war.

For my war: The Vietnam War officially began for the United States in 1965 and ended in 1975, that was two years after all US and allied personnel had withdrawn. Yes, I know Canada did not openly support the involvement in Vietnam, as they were part of the UN delegation; but nonetheless, the government of Canada did support the United States.

The Communist government in 1995 estimated that 2,000,000 Vietnamese civilians on both sides died, but did not allocate deaths between North and South. According to them, 1,100,000 North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong military personnel were killed.
For those that don’t know the reason for the Vietnam War, did NOT start for the United States in 1965. It goes back and takes its roots at the end of World War II. It was a French colony, called Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, & Cambodia). It was also occupied by Japanese during the war. The Viet Minh, was formed by Ho Chi Minh to resist the Japanese. Ho Chi Minh waged guerilla war against the Japanese, which was supported by the United States. So yes, during WWII North Vietnam and the United States were very much Allies!

Following WWII, French returned to take possession of their colony. Long story short, Ho Chi Minh didn’t want anything to do with that. Entrance to Vietnam was only permitted by the Viet Minh after assurances of independence. That all broke down in 1946 and started the conflict known as the ‘First Indochina War’. FYI… The first U.S. Marine entered Vietnam in 1949 (you’ll have to believe me on that). In Sep 1950, President Truman sent the Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) to Vietnam to assist the French in the First Indochina war.

Initially U.S. had NO, to little interest in Vietnam. Then comes the “Cold War”! There was a doctrine first spelled out in 1947 to isolate the further communist movements to stop the spread of communism. The doctrine of “contain” and “domino theory” was adopted and took an increased importance. This Identified the goal of Communism as to spread to capitalist states and the only way to stop it was to “contain” it within its current borders. This concept, along with the domino theory, which believed if one state in a region falls to Communism, then surrounding states would fall as well. These concepts were dominate in the guiding of U.S. foreign policy for much of the Cold War.

Well, then we have this, the French decisively defeated at place called Dien Bien Phu. After, comes the Geneva Accords which partitioned the country at the 17th parallel. The Viet Minh north, and the non-communist. Then this… Feb 12, 1955 the French turn over all major military responsibilities to U.S. Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG). Problems compounded well over tenfold! The U.S. is now held directly responsible for maintaining South Vietnam (which its government was very corrupt) as a “free” nation and not let it fall under communist control. So, that is basically how we got sucked into and stuck with that mess!

Now… these numbers really surprised me! It has always been believed that Vietnam was a “Poor Man’s” and often referred as “Black Man’s” war. I don’t know about that, but there were 7,241 Black or African American and 29, 272 White reported casualties during the Vietnam War, out of the a total 58,190 (which I believe is the most accurate number).

The first U.S. casualty 26 Sep 1945, yes 1945 – and it was OSS Lt. Col. A. Peter Dewey. The last 12–15 May 1975, 15 US killed during Mayaguez Incident. However, it was reported three Missing in action (MIAs) were killed by the Khmer Rouge in Democratic Kampuchea after that date.

One source indicates there were 47,424 combat casualties (if you note that is more than Canada lost in WWII), with another 10,785 deaths from non-combat, total 58,209 military casualties. Another indicates 58,267 KIA. My belief the first numbers are the most accurate.

I departed the U.S. Mar 22, 1968 spent time on Okinawa and then proceeded to Vietnam returning Apr 21, 1969. One article states, between 1965 through 1998 there were 57,792 reported killed in action (KIA) of the total reported of 58,267 KIA and other dead (including the missing) for the entire war. That is pretty close to the numbers I believe accurate. From January 1, 1968 through December 31, 1969, there were 28,208 U.S. military killed. That equates to 48.81% of ALL military killed in action during the Vietnam War happened during that two year time frame, and yes… I was there! Need to check those dates again?

The ONLY problem back then was the “POLITICS!.” We could actually see, but we’re ordered, NOT to engage, until fired on. All we were told or, knew it had to do with the “Paris Peace Talks”… thanks again, France! Think about that… You cannot engage, until someone actually shots directly at you! And again, that was in 1968 and 1969 when the U.S. was taking the highest casualties? To this day, if you ask any Vietnam Veteran… They will say, the war was NOT lost as believed… it was a war that we were not allowed to fight! Then the politically decision finally made to withdraw, was just a flat out insult to ALL the ones that gave their lives in the name of freedom! After all these years, I still have a problem with that one!

Now finally why in the world would I make this post on a Canadian website?

Well, this might come as a surprise for some, but you have “VETERANS” that just might be, being overlooked? I have only made reference to this once, but I served with some pretty damn good “Canucks” and guess what, it was in Vietnam!

“NOTE: On January 17, 1994, Senator Edward Kennedy read into the U.S. Congressional Record that 40,000 Canadians went to Vietnam. Senator Bob Smith, that same year, stated not only 40,000 Canadians served in the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam War, he also claimed that 400 Canadians were killed in action and 4,000 wounded.(Fred Gaffen "Unknown Warriors", Tracey Ariel "I Volunteered") Presently we have only 125 engraved on the Canadian Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The North Wall) in Windsor, Ontario. So we have many names missing. Since KIAs are listed on the Wall in D.C. according to Home of Record and not country of birth, it makes it hard to locate KIAs nationalities.”
http://www.canadianvietnamveterans.ca/CanadianCasualtiesSouthEastAsia.html

I hope that I have given enough information to realize, the Vietnam War was not just a United States “Political War,” it was very much a war to maintain the freedom for a population of real live humans, and many Canadians give their lives in support of that, and “YOUR” freedom

Now here is what I ask… and do me a favor search “them” out, and at least say THANK YOU! It is well overdue!

 

[scott craven]

My father-in-law (RIP) was a flyer in WWII, RAF wireless operator
He was a good guy, who would love to spin a tale or two
lot's of his bud's made the ultimate sacrifice, although he was fortunate
enough to make it back.

Thanks to those who have given so much...