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Post by LPIN working Lady on Mar 7, 2019 16:50:52 GMT -8
This poem was written by an unnamed Soldier. The following is his request. I think it is reasonable.....
PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your small part to pass on this small seed or remembrance
Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 1:46 pm
A Soldier's Christmas Poem
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE, IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE, AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.
I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE, NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.
NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND, ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS, A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND.
FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY, I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE, CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER, NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.
WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I 'D JUST READ? CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?
I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT, OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.
SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY, AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.
THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR, BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE, ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.
THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE, I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY.
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE, "SANTA DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE";
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON'T ASK FOR MORE, MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY HOME."
THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP, I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.
I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT, THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT.
THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE, WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA, IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT. "MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."
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Post by Pat on Apr 7, 2019 15:30:26 GMT -8
This is a short story, of one of the many experiences, I had during my struggle to answer the question Why Vietnam? Why did I go? Was it right or wrong? I don't know. Here is a web site I made about the Vietnam war.
I will also upload a video of some of my Vietnam experiences. hopefully I can figure out how to do this.
I was in Vietnam 1966-1969. I served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam with 3rd battalion 4th marines "L "company, 2nd battalion 7th marine and CAG3-1-9 (civil action group) My most dramatic memories are of the CAG unit. It's when I 1st started to question why we were there. I wondered if we were fighting for the right side. We had some children ages 8 to 12 that were house boys to us. They also would watch our stuff when we were out on ambushes or patrols. The PF( South Vietnam Popular forces) were stealing our stuff when we went out on ambushes and patrols.
One day when we got back from an ambush a camera was stolen from one of the Marines in our group. The kids told us who it was. Our guy went over to get his camera back and that started a physical confrontation between our CAG unit and the PF soldiers. I was the Sargent in charge of the unit. That made it my responsibility to make peace. That did not work out very well. The next thing I knew the PF soldiers surrounded our location with guns pointing at us. I called my Lieutenant and explained the situation to him. He got a hold of their commander to calm the situation down. The results were that our house boys were charged with being VC and sent to prison. I was mad. I was hurt. Those kids were as close to me as if they were my own kids. That was when i asked my self "What Happened" shortly after that i was back in the USA and out of the Marines. I got involved with a anti Vietnam movement and became a protestor. The war ended and I went on with my life.
I put Vietnam in a hidden part of my brain but those kids being taken away would pot up at times. That's when in 1995 I went back to Vietnam to find the CAG village and see if I could find my kids. I went out on my own (not legal at the time, before diplomatic relations ) I started in Saigon( Ho chi min city) and traveled from Ho Chi Min city to Hanoi. I found the village near Hue city. I asked about the kids. I had pictures and names. The response I got was please do not speak about the children. I did meet the brother of the PF Sargent that I worked with while in Vietnam during the war.
From there I moved on to Hanoi and back home to the states. The journey was extremely emotional, dangerous, and probably really stupid. Their are lots of reasons why I should have never made it back home. I think to myself which was the scariest, the trip in 1995, or my time during the war. To this day i am not sure. I wont go into all the problems I ran into in 1995. Their were several situations that I was in serious trouble. Somehow I managed to find my way home.
Today I still haven't figured out, if my involvement in Vietnam was right or wrong. I do however feel today both Vietnam and the USA have but it behind them. We both caused a lot of pain and are both guilty of doing some horrible things. Today I watched the 1st episode of the Vietnam PBS movie. I cried! Thoughts of Vietnam do that to me. Thank you for making this movie. Let's hope this is the end of a long and complicated story about Vietnam. All sides have things to be sorry about. All sides also did what they thought was right at the time. For me I don't regret the experience. I hold no grudges against the Vietnam people. I actually have love and respect for them. I don't hate the protestors or do I feel guilt for my role in the Vietnam war. I am now 70 years old. I was 18 when i went to Vietnam. In someway whether for good or bad Vietnam has been part of my life for over 50 years. Like many of you out there It will always be part of my life. Like you I will also continually be asking myself was it right or wrong. I will never get a definitive answer to that.
Peace
Pat
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Post by Admin on Aug 4, 2019 8:45:43 GMT -8
Note from Admin: In 1965 I joined the Marine corps to go fight the war in Vietnam. That was the same year that Barry McGuire came out with the song. I was a troubled 18 year old high school drop out. A disturbed trouble making hoodlum was my way of life. In the 70's after I got out of the Maine corps. I became a protestor of the war. At the same time I became a follower of a movement known as the Jesus people. Jesus and was my life. During this time, I was attending a prayer meeting. I was surprised and a bit shocked when I learned that Barry McGuire would be the main speaker. He also moved from the life of rock and roll to a follower of Jesus. 50 years later Barry McGuire is still following Jesus. ME! I decided that drugs were more to my liking than Jesus. I got over the drugs. MY new SIN was Ladies of the evening (Prostitution was my new Jesus.) Eventually I met a lady and married her. I got a middle income job and A wife. For the most part I led a semi "Normal life" I wasn't perfect but was content and stayed out of trouble. While married I left the world of Prostitute. The 1st and 2nd Marriage both failed. When out of the Marriages I went back to my new Jesus, Prostitution. Today, I still love the topics of LPIN and the Brothels. I find them adventures and exciting although due to my age and health issues They are not about my Penis but more of a brain orgasm for my mind.
Back to Barry. His song was written in 1964 and 1st aired in 1965. The words could be written today and would still fit the world of today. We still hate our neighbors, Racism is alive and well, and the Blood of war is still everywhere. We see it in El Paso and cities like Chicago 422 murdered last year. Be headings happen around the world, the song of 1965 still holds true today. Barry MCGuire found Jesus and still follows Jesus today. Myself and the world have pretty much forgotten about Jesus. We are about greed and countries fighting stupid wars. I don't see that changing anytime soon.
Eve Of Destruction
lyrics P.F. Sloan
The Eastern World It is explodin' Violence flarin' Bullets loadin' You're old enough to kill But not for votin' You don't believe in war But what's that gun you're totin' And even the Jordan River has bodies floatin'
But you tell me over, and over, and over again my friend Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
Don't you understand what I'm tryin' to say And can't you feel the fears I'm feelin' today If the button is pushed, there's no runnin' away There'll be no one to save With the whole world in a grave Take a look around you boy, It's bound to scare you boy
And you tell me over, and over, and over again my friend Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
Yeah, my blood's so mad Feels like coagulatin' I'm sittin' here, just contemplatin' I can't twist the truth It knows no regulation Handful of senators don't pass legislation And marches alone can't bring integration When human respect is disintegratin' This whole crazy world Is just too frustratin'
And you tell me over, and over, and over again my friend Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
And think of all the hate there is in Red China Then take a look around to Selma, Alabama Ah you may leave here for four days in space But when you return it's the same old place The poundin' of the drums The pride and disgrace You can bury your dead, but don't leave a trace Hate your next door neighbor, but don't forget to say grace
But you tell me over, and over, and over, and over again my friend You don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
No, no, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
In the 1980s, McGuire left the music industry, and settled for a time in New Zealand with his wife, Mari. He returned to the United States in the 1990s, teaming up with Terry Talbot and recording as Talbot McGuire.[6] The duo released four albums between 1996 and 2000.
In 1990, he published a novel co-written with Logan White. A paperback, In the Midst of Wolves, told a story about a group of bikers who come to know God. He did a brief stint with The New Mamas and the Papas in 1997–1998.
As of 2006, he undertook engagements which include a few songs and talks on a mixture of topics, by both McGuire and his wife. The McGuires reside in Fresno, California, but also spend part of every year in New Zealand.
On March 12, 2008, McGuire appeared on the Australian music comedy/game show, Spicks and Specks, performing an updated version of "Eve of Destruction", with new lines such as, "You're old enough to kill / you just started voting" and "... can live for ten years in space". The reference to "Red China" was also removed. In 2009, McGuire released "Eve 2012", where the text had been modified to reflect contemporary problems (mostly environmental problems) rather than the problems of the 1960s.
In 2008, McGuire teamed up with former member of the Byrds, John York, for a live tour called "Trippin' the '60s", which McGuire describes as "taking the songs and the truth that was in those songs from the 1960s and bringing them into the present moment... It's not a cover pack, it's us singing songs that we sung with a lot of our friends that aren't around anymore to sing them."[7]
On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed Barry McGuire among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.[8]
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WalterBrennan Wisper Semper Fi
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Post by WalterBrennan Wisper Semper Fi on Sept 4, 2019 16:57:05 GMT -8
I haven't always been a Proud American. In fact I haven't always been an American. I was born in Germany and lived in Paris France until the age of 7. I came to the good old USA not knowing English at the age of seven. I walked by a Marine corps recruiting office and saw the Marine dressed in dress blues. That's the day I knew I wanted to be an American and a Marine. Unlike many of you I wasn't born an American. I chose to be an American. Through out my life I have had the opportunity to visit many countries from most of Europe and much of the Orient. My conclusion was that coming to America was the best thing that ever happen to me. We have our faults but their is no country in the rest of the world that compares to the greatness of America. So laugh at me, call me silly or just a call me a fool but having seen the world I am proud to have chosen to be an Amarican.
If tomorrow all the things were gone Id worked for all my life And I had to start again With just my family by my side Id thank my lucky stars, to be livin' here today Cause the flag still stands for freedom And they can't take that away And I'm proud to be an American Where at least I know I'm free And I won't forget the men who died Who gave that right to me And I gladly stand up Next to you and defend her still today Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land God bless the USA From the lakes of Minnesota to the hills of Tennessee Across the plains of Texas, from sea to shining sea From Detroit down to Houston, to New York to L.A Well there's pride in every American heart And it's time to make a change That I'm proud to be an American Where at least I know I'm free And I won't forget the men who died And who gave that right to me And I gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land God bless the USA And I'm proud to be an American Where at least I know I'm free And I won't forget the men who died And who gave that right to me And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land God bless the USA
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Post by Gary Senice on Sept 14, 2019 12:03:20 GMT -8
Thank You Gary Senice!!!!
10.3K subscribers Our founder, Gary Sinise, has spent the last four decades supporting our active duty service men and women, veterans, first responders, their families and caregivers, and those in need. It's this commitment that he considers his true calling in life. And the reason that he’s written his memoire
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Sonny Cher and Chasity
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Post by Sonny Cher and Chasity on Sept 14, 2019 14:14:02 GMT -8
Sonny Cher and Chasity
Why am I posting about Sonny and Cher? They did not fight in the Vietnam war. Cher is a whacked out liberal and Sonny was a republican Congressmen. Chasity/Chaz was a very confused child. Was she a he or a she? She/he was Both at different times in her/his life .
I 1st saw Sonny and Cher on American Bandstand in the late 60's. I can remember thinking to myself what a strange duo. Sonny reminded me of a Beatnik and Cher reminded me of an Indian squaw. When they opened their mouth and began to sing I Got You Babe as weird as they looked when they opened their mouth to sing you could hear and see the chemistry between the 2 of them. I became a big fan. This was, at the same time my wife and I began falling in love. We were a strange couple ourselves. I was a born again Jesus freak. My girlfriend and future wife was involved with a religious group known as Baha'i. Anyway! things fell into place and she became a born again Christian and we became husband and wife.
Sonny and Cher went on to have a very popular TV show that projected love between the 2 of them. At the same time my wife and I fell deeply in love. We often compared ourselves to Sonny and Cher . When they broke up we were heart broken. Then not much later, maybe 6 month or so. My wife and I had our 1st divorce. She joined the Army and I was A pot smoking drug taking addict. During this time I also got to go see Sonny and Cher in concert in San Diego Ca. Great show and Cher is really hot in person.
We all moved on Sonny became a Congress man. Cher became a super star. I said bye to Jesus and had a 30 year career in the phone company. My wife said bye to both the Baha'I and the army. We re-married but the love never came back. I was just Her Little Man . We divorced again. This time for the last time. I haven't seen or heard from her since 1980.
What I did learn was although a Republican politician Sonny was a strong believer in speaking up. He expresses this in two songs that I think also express some of my views. Laugh at Me and The Revolution Kind
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