Nov 11, 2008
Ten-Word Tuesday. The Veterans Day Edition.
Bossy never really thought about it this way before, but her father is a veteran. That’s him, third from the left. Actually that’s not Bossy’s father, that’s the character Hawkeye Pierce from the TV show M*A*S*H. But Bossy’s father and Hawkeye Pierce are exactly the same in that they both have dark hair and drink gin—and both joined the army to serve in a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) in Korea, although for Bossy’s father it was after the Korean War was over.
Bossy never thinks about her father as a veteran, because he has spent every other minute of his life not in uniform marching against wars. But likely it was his army experience and his respect for military personnel that made his anti-war stance stronger.
And about his experience? Bossy’s father said many of the depictions in M*A*S*H are correct. They got the awful conditions correct. The mud, the latrines, the freezing cold, the homesickness. They got the humor correct. And the incessant drinking.
Which brings us to today’s Ten-Word Challenge. In exactly ten words, can you tell Bossy about a family member or friend who is a veteran? How about someone who is serving now?
And don’t forget to check back later today for the most colorful heroes on the web!
Grandfather invited to WW2 monument unveiling. Proudest moment of life.
Uncle Larry. Returned from war but was never the same.
Everyone was wrong age at war time. No heroes here.
Bossy’s cousin Adrian is in the Navy. Lucky, lucky Navy.
Cousin, Navy Seal, Every Deployment is a SECRET, Miss Him
BIL, Joined Navy As Enlisted, Will Retire as an Officer
Dad protected Selma marchers during his MP training, totally awesome
Abe. He was an amazing artist/teacher, my first enabler.
Cousin in Afghanistan. Canadian military. Second tour and miss him.
My dad – my hero. Navigator on a B24 in WWII.
Grandfather: Chased Pancho Villa, early to WWI, shrapnel at armistice.
Grandpa: WWII Paratrooper, jumped behind enemy lines in Bastogne, Belgium.
Paul Allen. Iraq HERO. Missed by many. Rest in Peace.
My dad came to America by joining the US Navy.
Uncle George. Served in Vietnam. Taught me coolest card tricks.
Jackson volunteered as drill sargeant – No deployment for three years!
May God be with those that serve across the pond.
My Jv that jumps the pond with the Air Force. (WPAFB) Ohio
Papaw wrote his sweetie as planes flew over to Normandy.
Younger sister. Navy. 8 months in Gulf. Couldn’t be prouder!
father-in-law former navy pilot. still anal. good direction..
My dad. 85. Army vet. WWII. Greatest generation, greatest dad.
Dad in Air Force, never went to Vietnam. THANK GOD.
Grandpa WWII pilot, Dad Vietnam infantry, Sister & BIL Gulf War.
Dad was in the air force during the Korean War. After training, his unit was sent over to Korea, but Dad couldn’t get clearance quickly because his own father (emigrated from Russia) had served in WWI in Europe – and the USAF couldn’t determine which side he was on!
Eventually they determined he wasn’t an enemy, but not before the unit had shipped. And in Dad’s place, they sent the unit’s trainer! Dad got promoted and spent the rest of his service training new airplane mechanics.
Me!!!! Hubby!!! Son 1, Son 3, we all served, Army.
My dad and three brothers in WWII–Grandma’s the hero.
brother. gulf. iraq. dad. vietnam. grandad. WWII. they’re all sweeties.
My West Pointer grandfather was a Brigadier General in WWII.
Superman, a sniper for 3 years I’m stuck with camo.
Dad was drafted into WWII. Still won’t talk about it.
Dad is Korean war vet and said it was COLD!
Uncle Bob WWII, injured in tank accident, couldn’t have children.
Bro-in-law Sgt. Hook, at age 19 earned Purple Heart in Iraq.
Dad. National Guard called during Berlin Crisis. Away one year.
Dad joined Army during depression for luxury of regular meals.
Daddy, 2 Uncles, WWII, Vietnam and Korea. Family in Desert Storm.
Vietnam changed my uncle forever–and not for the good.
Husband’s grandfather. WWII, Korea, Vietnam. Buried at Arlington. Dearly missed.
Dad, WWII, learned to sleep on march, and anywhere else!
My badass Grandpa fought at Pearl Harbor.
Husband is missed. Afghanistan has no gin, beer, nor sleep.
Korea: pacifist dad ordered tractor detail: plow fields. Saved families.
Here is where I go to honor heroes daily: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/forces/casualties/
Dad, WWII, 17, Grandma agreed, one condition:
ABSOLUTELY NO TATTOOS
Grandfa in WW2. Frostbitten toes smell funny even years later.
Dad was decorated WWII pilot and POW. I miss him.
Nephew’s back from Iraq, safe. Words can’t express relief, joy.
precious boy flying AF Iraq Afganistan Kuwait – we’re all praying!
Dad served in Navy during Korean War..passed in May..miss him bad
Cousin missed the birth of baby 1 and baby 2.
Dad is a WWII vet. Still goes to Navy reunions.
nephew. Marine. boot camp on 9/11. Iraq. thankfully home safely.
Grandpa WW2 South Pacific he didn’t like talking about it..
BIL Roger, 5 kids, 2 years in Afghanistan, now retired
Marine BIL served in Iraq twice. Thank God he’s back!!
Friend. Veteran (defended), cop (protected) freedom. But gay. Can’t marry.
Two grandfathers, dad, brother, husband, many friends – all my heroes.
My Dad was a cryptographer in the Army Air Corps.
Dad and his older brother both survived Normandy invasion.
But what he remembered most? Terrible seasickness the whole way overseas.
Uncle Tony served in Vietnam. Died to young. Miss him.
Dad drafted, mom pregnant with baby 5. Who’s the hero?
Jerry Sweet was Navy, he said they didn’t respect humans.
Admiral Kimmel was my fourth-cousin twice-removed.
Dad: 20 + years career Air Force. Former Republican – not anymore.
Antony Davies, USMC, 18, Iraq. Hopefully he’ll be a veteran…
My SIL and all service men and women. Thank you for your service.
Now I’m off to a parade, then a National Cemetery
FIL, Career Army, used Army issued Socks till he died!
My MIL is 88…was in the Waves in WW2!
Father killed in Vietnam. Can’t give much more than that.
Grandpa, drafted, WWI & WWII Navy. Miss him & his pound cake.
Uncle, aunt, cousin, friends. Some fought, they all stayed safe.
Son, Iraq. Army Intelligence. Only one year left. Keep breathing..
Grandfather escaped Bataan death marches, later recaptured. Uncle wounded VietNam.
Dad and uncle both proud marines corps Vietnam veterans. Hate war. Loved them.
(They’re worth 13 words.)
Dad served during Korean war. Worked on Agent Orange. Hmmm.
old boyfriend: marine. kindest, gentlest man suffered horrors with honor.
Granddad landed at Normandy, June 8, 44. Pushed through to Battle of the Bulge. Two Purple Hearts, died before the D-Day Memorial or WWII memorials were complete.
Dropped bombs in Iraq. Then pregnant wife is MY hero.
Cousin goes to Baghdad this month. Pray he stays safe!
Brother in Vietnam…forty years later, PTS rears it’s head.
Grandpa got sent to France and never saw any fighting.
Two Grandpas; one WWII, one Korea; both pilots, both gone.
Neighbor man. Vietnam. Went through HELL. Still fights the war.
Navy dad. No fighting but partied his way around world.
Both gradfathers, father, father-in-law, brother-in-law, husband.
Brother. Will retire from Air Force in May. My HERO!
Uncle flew daylight bombing missions over Germany during the 2nd World War. Couldn’t finish watching the movie “12 O’clock High”. Too real!!!
My wonderful Dad says, “Once a Marine, always a Marine.”
No kamikazes hit Dad’s ship. Him: grateful. Childhood Me: disappointed.
Navy SEAL brother currently serving in the sandbox. Hoo Ya!
my Uncle is on the Viet Nam Memorial in DC.
Stepbrother in Afghanistan. Good friend in Iraq.
Father in law in WWII, gunner in fighter plane
pray for peace!
Mom was codebreaker in WWII; became a pilot. She rocked.
Uncle shot in Vietnam. Healed and became General’s driver.
My dear Father, Marine in WWII, miss him terribly so.
Gotta do 2 for the two men that most influence me…
Grandpa liberated Dachau with 42nd Rainbow, never spoke of it.
Dad served in Navy in late 60s, learned a trade.
Hubby – USAF pilot. Dad, Brother, Future SIL- MS National Guard.
My dad — Vietnam veteran, hero, proud to be a soldier.
dad, alaska for vietnam? mp nephew goes to mosul january.
Dad served from Vietnam to Gulf War I. Doesn’t miss it.
Dad, Berlin airlift, giving candy to hungry East Berlin kids.
Dad, says he appreciates every shower he gets to take.
Dad worked intelligence in Vietnam; his stories are still classified.
Iraq: three cousins currently serving. Air Force, Army, Air Force.
Dad was in army – late 50’s after Korea. Thank God.
Grandpa Clarence the Korean War Vet. Awesome tattoos of blue.
Dad was in Viet Nam. He survived. We are lucky.
My husband is a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy. He is still active duty and has been in for over 14 years. He is currently living in TN while I’m with the kids in VA because with the economy, nobody wants to buy my house. To top it off, his housing allowance decreased substantially to TN rates while we are still paying NoVA prices! Go Navy!
Father signed after Pearl Harbor. Stationed in Lyon. Oh laaa ..
Husband currently in Navy, we adopted Army soldier in Iraq.
Great Grandfather, Grandfather, Father and Fiance are all U.S. veterans.
Dad was in Navy for ‘Nam; talks about it rarely.
Hubby shot in Afganistan, 15 years of Army, true patriot.
Father–in-law lucky to survive frontline of Battle of the Bulge.
Clarence. Korean Vet. The best looking grandpa in navy uniform!
My husband, served for eight years, thnkfully during peace time.
Sarah
Seattle, WA
military family: father = Air Force – husband = Navy – father-in-law = Navy
Dad drafted to Vietnam. Purple Heart. Never talks about it.
Dad, Navy, Vietnam. SS Simon Lake, Still influenced every day of life.
Grandpa was a vet, his big toe got shot off.
My wonderful husband..Navy…too many months away from us.
My dad served proudly before/despite don’t ask, don’t tell.
Daddy was a weatherman on USS Ranger & Ticonderoga during Vietnam.
Grandpa Anderson
World War II
purple heart & 2 oak-leaf clusters
father-in-law drafted for Vietnam six months into new marriage
Think father-in-law and Bossy’s dad are same guy.
John Balaban, hero, conscientious objector and poet of Vietnam War.
Grandpa – WWII
Daddy – Vietnam
Uncles – Army
Brother – Marines
Brother – Navy
Great-granddad, dentist, WWI trenches. Bomb hit just him, didn’t detonate. Dead.
This one goes to 11.
WWII-Gentlest uncle, gave bombadier his flight gear as protection, died because if it.
My father was an Air Force pilot. He flew in the Berlin Airlift and The Cuban Missile Blockade. He helped to end WWII and prevent WWIII. Gone west April 1987.
WWII Vet Grandpa Wiebenga gave me bombadier ring. So sweet.
Uncle Tony was in the Vietnam War and earned 2 bronze stars and a purple heart we are proud to hang in our house tonight. (his gift to us on his passing) We’re thinking about him a lot today. We miss him.
My niece is in the U.S. Army, but is being discharged due to a shoulder injury. Once she has been rehabilitated, she plans to go back in.
Happy Veteran’s Day!
Other grandpa wanted to be pilot in WWII: bad eyesight.
Uncle taught Vietnamese villagers how to defend themselves: horrible dysentery.
Daughter and granddaughter of Marines. Will always be forever grateful.
Dad served in Vietnam, I’m grateful he made it home.
Did you know that one of your boyfriend Barack’s favorite shows is “MASH”? (The other is “The Wire”.) Just sayin’.
My grandfather (84, still living) served in the Air Force during WWII along with his brother who died when his plane was shot down over France. Dad volunteered during Vietnam but they wouldn’t take him because of his flat feet! Thank God.
PS: That’s 10 words, right? Sorry. Totally not paying attention today.
What a patchwork quilt of American stories this Veterans Day.
Dad-enlisted Navy.Proud man..
Father in Law-lied about age to enlist (at 16)-Brave soul.RIP papa Bill! Great Uncle Kenny-ace WWII fighter pilot and total dare devil till his last days.
Hubby-Marine devil dog.
BIL-Navy after High school
we are all the better for our Military.
Some gave all.
Go USA!!!
Lisa
coastal nest
Dad: ROTC, New Mexico, Germany, Veterans for Peace
Dad… Fifth Marine Division…. Iwo Jima……. never talked about it
The Husband, 3 time middle east vet. I love him.
father-in-law went to vietnam. different man came home.
Cousin Danny killed in ‘Nam. I’m too young to remember.
Nephew flies C5, husband merchantmarine WW2, father ArmyAF machinist WW2, BIL Navy submarine Vietnam, cousin armypilot Vietnam
Dad flew B-24 bombers over Germany. Shot down, enterned.Switzerland.
Father-in-Law on a ship in Gulf during Bay of Pigs.
My husband goes under water for months at a time.
Uncle, WWII; Brother,’Nam; Son, USN Desert Storm; all safe.
Brother is sniper in Iraq (currently on leave). PTSD needs to be addressed, and he does NOT want to go back.
Brother JAG in the Navy following footsteps of Dad, uncles.
My stepdad is not only an American hero, he’s mine, too.
Thanks for all the wonderful stories.
Thanks to Grandfather, Uncle Larry, Adrian, Cousin, BIL, Dad, Abe, Cousin, Dad, Grandfather, Grandpa, Paul Allen, Dad, Uncle George, Jackson, JV, Papaw, sister, father-in-law, dad, Dad, grandpa, Dad, 4dbirds and Hubby and Son 1 and Son 3 (!), Grandma, brother, grandfather, Superman, Dad, Dad, Uncle Bob, Sgt. Hook, Dad, Dad, Daddy & 2 uncles, uncle, husband’s grandfather, dad, badass Grandpa, sorely missed Husband, pacifist dad, no-tattoos dad (did that promise work?), Grandfa, dad, nephew, precious boy, dad, cousin, dad, nephew, grandpa, BIL Roger, Marine BIL, friend, many male relatives of Jennifer, cryptographer dad, seasick Normandy invasion dad and uncle, Uncle tony, dad, Jerry Sweet, Admiral Kimmel, Dad, Antony Davies, SIL, FIL, MIL, fathr, grandpa, Uncle & aunt & cousin & friends, Army intelligence son in Iraq, Bataan death march escapee dad, dad and uncle, dad, old boyfriend, Granddad who landed in Normandy on June 8, then-pregnant-wife (and her appreciative husband), cousin, brother with PTSD, grandpa, two grandpas, neighbor, navy dad, another Jennifer’s many male relatives, brother, uncle who couldn’t watch High Noon, wonderful Marine dad, kamikaze-survivor dad (that’s my own dad, Frank), navy Seal brother, Uncle on the Wall and stepbrother and good friend and father-in-law, codebreaker/pilot mom (no kidding she must have rocked!), uncle, father, Dachau-liberator grandpa and dad, hubby, dad, dad, dad, candy-giving dad, shower-appreciating dad, classified-stories dad, dad, Uncle Clarence with awesome blue tattoos, dad, husband in TN, husband, father, Mackenzie’s generations of servicemen, dad, hubby shot down in Afghanistan, father-in-law, Clarence (related to Uncle with blue tattoos??), husband, military family, purple heart husband, dad, big-toe-missing Grandpa, husband, dad, daddy, Grandpa Anderson, father-in-law, John Balaban, TS’s military fam, Great-granddad in WWI trenches, gentlest uncle who gave away his flight gear, father, Grandpa Wiebenga, Uncle Tony and niece, other grandpa and anti-dysentery uncle (good for him!), Marine family, Dad, Lisa’s family, Veterans for Peace dad, Iwo Jima dad, 3-time middle east vet husband, father-in-law, Cousin Danny, nephew & husband & father & BIL & cousin, dad, father-in-law, underwater husband, Cara’s men who are all safe, sniper brother — hope he doesn’t have to go back to Iraq!, JAG brother, step-dad, and all named and unnamed who served.
And thanks for this opportunity to think a little about each of these people and to appreciate your love for them.
Dad finally told us about Korea last summer. He’s 80.
Me. Coast Guard – Hawaii, California, Connecticut. Beautiful, but never home.
My husband is former Navy and served on a carrier.
My Dad, Poppy, cousin Steven are all veterans–Thank You!!!!
Husband – Navy – Cuban Missile crisis. Dad – WWII – bombadier. Me – proud!
Two uncles, one Korea, one Vietnam, they are my heroes.
Father – army, me – Army, Brother – Army, Father in law – Marine
My father, World War Two, gentle soul, very cruel world.
Reruns of M*A*S*H made me want to be a nurse.
Tom Johnson. Funniest guy ever. Never talks about Vietnam War.
Great Uncle Jimmy, WWII in Navy, survived two ships sinking.
Dad. Like yours. I was born in MASH unit
S.Korea
Brother leaving for 4th tour. He’s only twenty-five. Not fair.
How you think when the economic crisis will end? I wish to make statistics of independent opinions!