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Thread: We Honor Your Service

  1. #1
    Registered User mandolin breeze's Avatar
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    Default We Honor Your Service

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  3. #2
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    Default Re: We Honor Your Service

    Thank you to all of our Veterans for their service!
    Chuck

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  5. #3
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: We Honor Your Service

    I'm of an age to remember when the experience of military service was much more widespread among the (male) US population. I was drafted in the fall of 1965, served two years in an infantry company that only left Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs, for a brief "TDY" at Ft. Riley KS. As one of the few college grads in Co A 2nd Bn 61st Inf, and having some prowess on the typewriter, I got installed as company clerk, and churned out orders and reports until discharged as a Sp5.

    What I got was exposure to a diversity of fellow draftees, and a few enlistees, that I would never have otherwise experienced. Black, white, Latino, from all over the US -- even Guam -- educated and school dropouts, working class, middle class (few rich kids, unsurprisingly). Officers, NCO's, enlisted personnel, a mixture I never encountered in my small-town NY youth, or at my Ivy League school. I squirreled away my modest pay, enough to buy a slope-shoulder Gibson J-50, a Muse 5-string banjo built by Ode, and an Appalachian model Autoharp from Harry Tuft's Denver Folklore Center. I picked when possible, at the service club and elsewhere, met some good Denver musicians like Mary Stribling and the late Dave Ferretta, put in my time doing the best I could, and welcomed my "ETS" in November 1967.

    Now our service people are self-selected, volunteering, not "unwilling conscripts" as many of us Vietnam-era soldiers were. As such, they merit more admiration, perhaps, than a draftee like me, who wouldn't have chosen to enlist if circumstances were different, but who "did my duty" and gladly returned to civilian life. I can give them the automatic "Thank you for your service" respect, but when it's offered to me, I feel a bit of an impostor. As Townes Van Zandt wrote:
    "He only did what he had to do,
    And now he's growing old."
    Allen Hopkins
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  7. #4

    Default Re: We Honor Your Service

    I was in the final 1974 draft lottery, #35. Graduated High School at 17, so I was in college. My father was Air Force, Korean War. My father's father was a Marine, WWI.

    That year I really wrestled between a war that I hated and my duty to country. No one was drafted that year and I was relieved. I honor all who take their duty to serve their country seriously and especially those who went through hell for our sake.

    My father-in-law was a Naval corpsman with the Marines in the WWII Pacific Theater. From him I have a first hand account of the terror and the resulting debilitating injuries to mind and body.
    1989/2019 Ike Bacon/Barry Kratzer F5
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  9. #5
    Registered User Mando Mort's Avatar
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    Default Re: We Honor Your Service

    A big thank you to all who have served our country and made it possible for us to spend time learning to play the mandolin.
    "All of us contain Music & Truth, but most of us can't get it out." - Mark Twain

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    Default Re: We Honor Your Service

    I grew up believing military service was what you did, that it was a small price to pay for the blessing of living in this country. I still feel that way.

    I was an Air Force medic back in the 60s.

    David Hopkins

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    The older I get, the less tolerant I am of political correctness, incompetence and stupidity.

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    Default Re: We Honor Your Service

    There are organizations who provide musical instruments to Veteran's Hospitals. Seek one out and give them that old beater you have in the closet.
    Silverangel A
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    Default Re: We Honor Your Service

    I served in Vietnam which I strongly believe was a senseless war and what makes me sick is that there were over 40,000 deaths of US serviceman 22 years old and younger !

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  17. #9

    Default Re: We Honor Your Service

    i appreciate all of you who served. Thank you.

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    Default Re: We Honor Your Service

    In my area there is a Military base, a Coast Guard station and a submarine building shipyard - all within just about 3 miles of each other. Needless to say, there is a lot of military presence and military pride on our streets.

    One of my fondest memories is being about 5 years old and watching a Veteran's Day parade that processed just just up the street from our house. At one point I saw a small group of old men marching together. When I asked my father (who served in WWII) who they were, he told me that they were World War I veterans - and for some reason it had a profound impact on me that continues to this day.

    My old radio boss (who passed away about 10 years ago) was born in Maryland in 1913 and often recalled the Civil War veterans who lived in his neighborhood.

    Those of us who live in the U.S. should have much to remember and be thankful for on this holiday. Like SOMorris above - 'thank you' to all who served. I salute you.

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  21. #11
    Registered User T.D.Nydn's Avatar
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    Default Re: We Honor Your Service

    I graduated high school in 1973 and I drew in the '73 &'74 draft high numbers,past 300 so I wasn't going anywhere. My brother in law served in Nam though,,my father in law joined the Army at 17 to see the world and then W.W.2 broke out,,he was a marine that went down on the U.S.S.Vincennes during a kamikaze attack,he sat wounded in shark infested waters for 3 days,survived that,went to Thailand to repair and in 2 weeks is back storming a Japanese island,,he lived to almost 90 and went on to accomplish many great things,,I've talked to him a lot about the war,,and he always got pretty emotional about it,,it basically ruined this awesome guys life..

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    Default Re: We Honor Your Service

    I graduated in '68, draft number 2. I enlisted in the Navy, did overseas time in an ammo depot, and worked on Appolo 9. Also worked for 20th Century Fox when filming Tora, Tora, Tora. All in all quite an experience. Drove the shuttle boat going to the Arizona memorial. Still get emotional when I talk of that time. 75% of passengers were Japanese and would kneel, pray and cry on the memorial. Often wondered how many have gone to Hiroshima or Nagasaki and prayed and cried. I am sure some have. It was impressive in the 60's how many Japanese came, it was very expensive then for them.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

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    Registered User kookaburra's Avatar
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    Default Re: We Honor Your Service

    Quote Originally Posted by Greg P. Stone View Post
    I was in the final 1974 draft lottery, #35. Graduated High School at 17, so I was in college. My father was Air Force, Korean War. My father's father was a Marine, WWI.

    That year I really wrestled between a war that I hated and my duty to country. No one was drafted that year and I was relieved. I honor all who take their duty to serve their country seriously and especially those who went through hell for our sake.

    My father-in-law was a Naval corpsman with the Marines in the WWII Pacific Theater. From him I have a first hand account of the terror and the resulting debilitating injuries to mind and body.
    I was involved in that one also, had a high number. I joined several years later on my own.

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  27. #14
    Kelley Mandolins Skip Kelley's Avatar
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    Default Re: We Honor Your Service

    God bless all who have served!

  28. #15
    Registered User mandolin breeze's Avatar
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    Default Re: We Honor Your Service

    Wouldn't it be cool if the Naval officer pictured pickin' his mando happened to chime in here! Would love to know his story and I'd love to know what song he's playing.


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  29. #16
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    Default Re: We Honor Your Service

    I believe he's a member of "Country Current," the Navy's country and bluegrass band. They're really quite good. Check this out:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MwiOlGaDSc
    David Hopkins

    2001 Gibson F-5L mandolin
    Breedlove Legacy FF mandolin; Breedlove Quartz FF mandolin
    Gibson F-4 mandolin (1916); Blevins f-style Octave mandolin, 2018
    McCormick Oval Sound Hole "Reinhardt" Mandolin
    McCormick Solid Body F-Style Electric Mandolin; Slingerland Songster Guitar (c. 1939)

    The older I get, the less tolerant I am of political correctness, incompetence and stupidity.

  30. #17
    Registered User mandolin breeze's Avatar
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    Default Re: We Honor Your Service

    Thanks DHopkins! They rip . . . WOW


  31. #18
    Registered User mandolin breeze's Avatar
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    Default Re: We Honor Your Service

    Sign me up!


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