11/11/2025
Every year it is a struggle to come up with something unique and meaningful for Veteran's Day.
So this year I outsourced it.
Given the prompt "If you could tell the world 1 memory you have about your time in service you wish to share in 1 sentence, what would it be," some of our wonderful Veteran's gave us the following (we didn't do so well on the 1 sentence part).
Happy Veteran's Day from Arbor North!
“As a Military Police in Vietnam my unit escorted convoys throughout the country. After each run we did routine maintenance on our vehicles which included washing. Mine was a V100 (tank on wheels). As I was cruising down to the river to hose it off I was stopped by some Major and given a ticket for speeding in Vietnam. My only defense was the road had no posted speed limits and my V100 could only go 75 miles per hour.”
S.Raciboski, 82nd Airborne 1969-71
“I remember spending a wonderful week off to get married to my lovely new wife, but then being given a week of ‘hard labor’ upon my return for not turning our marriage license in. Talk about one week of bliss followed by one week of torture!’ D Mercer, US Army Morse Code Operator in Germany, 1955-57
“I served in Japan as a Morse Code Operator. I remember being sent home on Emergency Leave and did not know why. My oldest brother had leukemia and died when I was home. I also remember Japan’s public baths – both men and women at the same time.” H. Moll, US Army 1952-54
“When I read your request at lunch today I began to cry. The November ’63 death of President Kennedy assignation in Dallas, Texas, a hundred miles east of the USAF base in Abilene, Texas was like a BOMB. The 100 men became quiet with tears in their eyes. It took several days for many of us to emotionally recover. Oswald reached his objective but was justly killed the same day. I hope to meet JFK in heaven.” L Mefford, USAF, 1962-66
“We stopped at a small FOB that had a pet monkey, and we all played with it despite the strict theater policy of no animal contact (it was a monkey, we didn’t really have a choice right?) Of course pictures ended up on Facebook because Soldiers have less than zero discretion. I got scolded good, and told that I would have to get a rabies shot (as punishment). Ducked it and miraculously I survived.” B Ganton, Army, 2010-14
“I remember the 9 day trip by boat across the Atlantic Ocean to serve 18 months in Germany. While there I was able to visit a family in Berlin that my family corresponded with since I was in High School. I was able to spend two one week vacations with them. What a wonderful memory.” V Jensen, US Army, 1952-54
“The little kids would follow us in Vietnam and we would give them candy bars” L Nicholson, Army, 1967-69
“I was in the medics and assisted on the birth of our first child.” M Swetland, Air Force, 1954-1958
“I was stationed in Tripoli, Libya, as we were finishing up after the Korean War. One of the local workers offered me tea, prepared in a rusty pot over a wood fire. I thought I might die from drinking it, but didn't want to offend. To date, it was the best darned tea I’ve ever had.” H Burleson, Army, 1953-1955
“At boot camp I was made Recruit Chief Petty Officer (RCPO). We had to march to our new home with our Chief marching with us. Once we arrived, I was issued the RCPO sword, strapped to my right side, and was given a Navy .45 pistol. I was told to use the sword handle first, and to only use the 45 when you believe all hope is lost.” T Sweet, Navy, 1960-64
"I had the honor of being the chaplain present at the dedicaiton of the first county Vietnam War Memorial in Kentucky." L Sellers, 1972-95
