Never forgotten

[runfiveswife]

I would just like to say that one of the american hero's Vetrans, That is what we call them at work, We lost one yesterday, He served in World War 1 and 2 and he was a great person. He was very dedicated to this country. And he will be truly missed by his family at the Veterans Home. Thank you Col. we will miss you and love you. With all my love Alice.

[wallenba]

"Old soldiers never die...they just fade away"--General Douglas McArthur. Our eternal gratitude to him and Gods blessings on his family.

Thanks for caring Alice.

[Bad Water Bill]

We were talking about those vets and how fast they are answering the final role call at the range today. They will all be missed and in our prayers.

[Jumptrap]

We were talking about those vets and how fast they are answering the final role call at the range today. They will all be missed and in our prayers.

You know......these old Vets, were just a bunch of regular guys, really just kids at the time, whose generation got caught up in world events they had little to do with.

They were called to duty and willingly went and did their part, came home and went on with their lives.

Few of them ever gave much thought about it (serving) was just the thing to do. Obviously, the country owed them a great debt of gratitude, as did succeeding generations. And I think those veterans knew the citizens of our Nation were grateful for their contribution to our freedoms.

Now, that generation of WW2 vets is coming to it's end, the boys of Korea are in their 70's and early 80's and the early Nam vets are drawing Social Security. The folks who went to Grenada and the first desert war are veterans too....and with time, they too shall pass away.

I don't think we will ever forget them or what they did. And from what I see, the current generation of young men and women are just as gallant and dedicated to serving and preserving our freedoms and military heritage.

I make it a point to shake the hands of every soldier I see and thank them for serving our country.

Four of dad's brothers were in WW2, one served during Korea and VN and dad was stationed in Germany '57-'59. I never ever heard any of them say much of anything about their time served. It was just the thing to do. And that.......says a lot.

[ghh3rd]

I make it a point to shake the hands of every soldier I see and thank them for serving our country. I do the same thing. So many of them went through a living hell so we could continue to enjoy our freedom... and so many more were willing. They ALL deserve to be recognized as often as possible for their service.

Randy

[Morrison Machine Shop]

Don't forget Panama,and Somalia. This is the definition of a HERO!

*GORDON, GARY I.

Rank and organization: Master Sergeant, U.S. Army. Place and date: 3 October 1993, Mogadishu, Somalia. Entered service at: ----- Born: Lincoln, Maine. Citation: Master Sergeant Gordon, United States Army, distinguished himself by actions above and beyond the call of duty on 3 October 1993, while serving as Sniper Team Leader, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Master Sergeant Gordon's sniper team provided precision fires from the lead helicopter during an assault and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. When Master Sergeant Gordon learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the second crash site, he and another sniper unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. After his third request to be inserted, Master Sergeant Gordon received permission to perform his volunteer mission. When debris and enemy ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Master Sergeant Gordon was inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon and his fellow sniper, while under intense small arms fire from the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. Master Sergeant Gordon immediately pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft, establishing a perimeter which placed him and his fellow sniper in the most vulnerable position. Master Sergeant Gordon used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers until he depleted his ammunition. Master Sergeant Gordon then went back to the wreckage, recovering some of the crew's weapons and ammunition. Despite the fact that he was critically low on ammunition, he provided some of it to the dazed pilot and then radioed for help. Master Sergeant Gordon continued to travel the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. After his team member was fatally wounded and his own rifle ammunition exhausted, Master Sergeant Gordon returned to the wreckage, recovering a rifle with the last five rounds of ammunition and gave it to the pilot with the words, "good luck." Then, armed only with his pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon continued to fight until he was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilot's life. Master Sergeant Gordon's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit and the United States Army.

*SHUGHART, RANDALL D.

Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army. Place and date: 3 October 1993, Mogadishu, Somalia. Entered service at: ----- Born: Newville, Pennsylvania. Citation: Sergeant First Class Shughart, United States Army, distinguished himself by actions above and beyond the call of duty on 3 October 1993, while serving as a Sniper Team Member, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Sergeant First Class Shughart provided precision sniper fires from the lead helicopter during an assault on a building and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. While providing critical suppressive fires at the second crash site, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the site. Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. After their third request to be inserted, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader received permission to perform this volunteer mission. When debris and enemy ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader were inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader, while under intense small arms fire from the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. Sergeant First Class Shughart pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft, establishing a perimeter which placed him and his fellow sniper in the most vulnerable position. Sergeant First Class Shughart used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers while traveling the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilot's life. Sergeant First Class Shughart's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit and the United States Army.