George Washington gives GI's a gift...

[fishinfarmgirl]

Today in history good old George Washington placed the order of the purple heart.

Thank you George!

I have a tender spot for vets. Especially Viet Nam vets since that was a war I was all too familiar with and it caused so much pain in this country. I'm thankful that there is finally coming a time where those who served our country are getting some long due recognition!

I still tear up when I converse with those who have served. The things they have experienced are beyond my comprehension.

THANK YOU VETS!!! I appreciate what you did and have done! You are all heros in my book!!!

L

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[John Bridge]

You're welcome. Don't get all gushy about it. :D

Sergeant First Class John Bridge, U.S. Army

[cx]

That's one medal I never had any desire to win. Only ever got shot at once. They missed. Several landings that could have been considered crashes, no serious injuries.

Happy to have served.

Petty Officer Second Class, Richard K. Chaplin, USCG.

[Hobbit]

Happy to have not received that award also....Plenty of opportunity--didn't happen!:)

Chief Warrant Officer, Howard R. Peacock, U.S. Army (Ret.)

[John Bridge]

Well, I guess I'll have to tell you guys and gals about Sergeant Rock. For all you youngsters, Sergeant Rock was an old time comic book character, a real macho guy.

I was assigned to Hq. Company, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division in Viet Nam in 1967. I was the brigade personnel staff NCO (personnel sergeant), truly a rear echelon type dude and certainly no hero. We were in a forward area, though, and got shot at with mortars and rockets almost daily.

I shared a hootch with several other NCOs including our brigade supply sergeant, a fella by name of Smith. He was a hell of a nice guy, always joking around, but he was scared to death.

Everybody is scared, of course, but you learn to deal with it and go about your business. Smith had a hard time dealing with it. An indication of his nervousness was that he wore his flack jacket everywhere he went when no one else bothered with the things. They were just too damned heavy and sweaty. It was so obvious that Smith was nervous that someone dubbed him "Sergeant Rock," and the name stuck, so instead of Smith, he was now "Rock."

One night Rock was over playing poker with the MPs (military police) whose tent area was sort of adjacent to ours. He was walking back when a barrage of mortars crashed through the rubber trees that shaded our sleeping area. He was disoriented, not completely familiar with the surroundings, and looking for a place to take cover could find nothing he deemed suitable. He finally arrived at the intersection of two low sand bag walls and did the ostrich routine. He hid his head in the corner with his derrier facing outward. Whereupon a mortar hit the ground about fifty feet behind him, and a very small fragment of shrapnell hit Rock in the left buttocks. (The flak jacket only went down to about the waist.)

Rock (scared beyond his normal level) limped over to the evac hospital and turned himself in, whereupon his wound was treated and he was released. Rock would be seen the following morning (and every day thereafter) walking around wearing two flack jackets, a second one laced to the original in a manner that would offer protection to both cheeks of his lower anatomy. :)

But is was policy for the evac (mash) medics to list all wounded, no matter the severity of the wound, to recieve the Purple Heart. Now, most guys who got scratched would decline the honor, not comfortable sharing it with the dead and severly wounded. I myself declined once when I was wounded while running away from the enemy (looking for a place to hide during an early morning rocket attack). Running nearly naked, I had stubbed my toe and torn part of it off. :D

But Rock did not decline, and a couple months later a company formation was called. Usually, none of us would show up when a formation was called, all of us effectively outranking whichever reject lieutenant happened to be headquarters company commander at the time. But everyone attended this formation, and I can still see Sergeant Rock proudly marching forward so the c.o. could pin the medal on him.

And at the very moment when the lieutenant was about to do the deed a guy in the rear yelled out, "Pin it on his ass, lieutenant, that's where he got hit. :D

Sergeant Rock simply could not cope with the constant fear he suffered and was ultimately evacuated to the rear (Saigon). I ran into him when I was leaving the country. He had a clip board and he was inventorying the booze in the Long Bin NCO club.

And he didn't look scared. ;)

(Smith is not Rock's real name.)

[jjwq8]

Gentlemen,
My hat off to each and every one of you. The more so that you may have been drafted into service.

I have been fortunate that as the result of the sacrifices and efforts of yourselves and others like you I have never been required to serve.
Thank you.

[fishinfarmgirl]

It's an honor to among you all! Thank you again for your sacrifice! (left this last night but it disappeared this AM)


John~ That's a great story. Never imagine the Purple CRoss going to scratch victims or those with shrapnel in their butts...but I'm sure he paid his dues along with the rest of you!

I'll bet you've got a BOOKS worth of stories like that one. I'd imagine you get to know the crazy guys you're serving with pretty darned well living in such close quarters as over there. How coudl you not???

I can just see the CO with two flack jackets strapped on! What a picture! ...and what a time!

Thank you all again! SINCERELY!

Linda

[John Bridge]

Linda,

I mentioned in that other post you have going somewhere that I'm no hero, and I didn't sacrifice a thing. I was a career soldier at the time. I was doing my job. I do NOT want to include myself in that group of very brave people who actually did something to merit praise.

[smee]

Hey Guys -

I think for everyone who endures war of any kind in any form deserves a thanks. Yeah, there are lots of 'smiths' and there are lots of guys just doing their duty, and a few who because of events and circumstance rise above the rest.

All of us couldn't have what we have without all of you who serve in armed forces.

Whether you deem yourself a hero - on some level big or small you are one.

thanks doesn't seem quite an appropriate enough word - but, it's what one feels - thankful. An awkward word for an extroardinary sacrifice.

In that you have my respect.

linda aka smee.