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Jim Coulson's avatar

Good FbF. I alst=so was saddened by our senseless Afghan withdrawal, the loss of our Shipmates there and the way we've abandoned many of our Afghan allies.

In 1987 I had joined a forward deployed Navy squadron aboard the USS Midway. First voluteer department head in many, many years. The XO (soon to be CO) was my Maintenance Officer (to my AMO) in a previous squadron. His wife and he made me a member of their family, asking me (a bachelor) to babysit their kids a couple of weekends...a major messure of trust.

Newly married, I reported and was made a direct input MO. About 6 months after the XO took over as Skipper, his pilot flew them into the water on one dark, dark night on a low altitude (EMCON) departure. I had to give his Eulogy and pack his belongings. I was 31...tougher than combat and I shed more than a few tears in private.

His photo and bio still sit on my mantle as a reminder that "freedom isn't free" and in the blink of an eye a valued life can be snuffed out.

God Bless America, and have a good Memorial Day.

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Gman79's avatar

Full Bore Indeed. Several ago I gave a Memorial Day speech at my church. Plenty of Vietnam and Korea elderly vets in the congregation. I started by telling of the time my Father took me to the Viet Nam Memorial Wall, and walked down the panels until he got to April 1967, and he would stop and touch a name, tell me how he died, where he was from, married or single, and any other memories he could. It was so painful to watch my DAD cry (kids know Dads never cry). By the time we reached his last month in command there were 8 folks following to listen to each name. And even the ones that died in non-combat activities were given the same degree of tearful remembrance. I told the congregation I didn't have a wall for those friends who died while I was in service. But 5 names in 22 years was way too many. I told the stories of how they lived, and flew, and died. 2 helicopter mishaps, 2 fixed wings mishaps, and 1 alcohol related death. All good guys, all left grieving families and shipmates and they were just as valuable - and valued- as those names on the Wall. Got photos of 4 on the office wall, frozen in time, eternally young and seemingly bound for the Naval greatness they deserved. But God had other painful plans. And I still miss them every day. "Freedom is paid for with the blood of Patriots". Amen.

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