Humbled!

[Timothy]

I pulled in my driveway yesterday after running some errands with the bride.  I'm unloading my truck and I hear behind me.. "So, what are YOU a Veteran of?"....I turn around and there is an elderly gent and his wife, he's wearing a USS Dogfish cap who'd seen my "Veteran" plates on my truck and followed me up the drive.

I replied in kind.."United States Navy, Sir!"...

Spent the next half hour reminiscing with a WWII Vet and his wife over his career in the Navy and his subsequent rise to Chief Petty Officer and instructor at the Sub School in Groton, CT.

I could do nothing but shake this fine mans hand and acquiesce to his sacrifice and service to this country and realize that my commitment of 6 years was nothing in comparison.

[crusader rabbit]

So, you got an opportunity to shake hands with a hero and hear him talk a bit about his history.  Sounds like a pretty neat way to spend a little time.  More of us should have the experience.

I'm just sayin'

[Badgersmilk]

Buy that man a beer and sit down for some GOOOOD stories!   

Dogfish wasn't even put in service until the war was over though...

[tombogan03884]

Hey BM, If I remember correctly DogFish was originally named "Squalus" but they changed it's name after it sunk off Portsmouth. I think it was 1939. It was the first time survivors were taken off a sunken, (still submerged ) Submarine.
It was raised and remained in service.

[Badgersmilk]

Hey BM, If I remember correctly DogFish was originally named "Squalus" but they changed it's name after it sunk off Portsmouth. I think it was 1939. It was the first time survivors were taken off a sunken, (still submerged ) Submarine.
It was raised and remained in service.

Which would mean that YEAH.  Timothy had better track down that guy and get some stories outta him!! 

[Sponsor]

[Timothy]

Dogfish could have been his last boat too...I didn't ask. 

[bulldog75]

After my first deployment in 2003 a salty old man at church started talking to me. I found out he was one of the bad a@@@@ that climbed Pointe Du Hoc. He died a few months later. His wife told me later that he never talked to anyone about it until she saw him talking to me about it.

[RTFM]

I could do nothing but shake this fine mans hand and acquiesce to his sacrifice and service to this country and realize that my commitment of 6 years was nothing in comparison.

Wrong Tim, we all played out parts if it is Reserve, Guard or Regular Service - 3 years or 30 - you are no less a hero than the ones that come before us.
Its there honor and sacrifice that we must uphold and to remember those that came before us as those that come after will remember us.

If someone serves - They are Hero. 
 

[jnevis]

Outstanding way to spend some time.  Living history is probably the best way to get the "real story."  Unfortunately a good portion of teh veterans either won't talk about it or have past with their stories gone forever.

Our command spent most of the day yesterday getting a guided tour of the Manassas battlefield.  Most of the group thought it interesting but we're really not putting the peices together.  A lot of the problems they were having in 1861 are the same things we deal with today, just at greater distances.

On a side note; another year not on the list for Chief.  6 out of 16 and I'm one of the 10 that didn't Next year I should be retiring about the time the list is released. 

[tombogan03884]

JNevis, Was that just a tour, or a "Staff walk" ?