Memorial Day Weekend Thread. Got a story? Got a relative you want to honor? This is the spot.

Memorial Day Weekend Thread. Got a story? Got a relative or friend you want to honor? This is the spot.

This post was last modified on June 1, 2018

CO2Insanity: Tired of the CO2 BS and all the other BS in the US and the world.

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  • Went for a ride on this B-24 Liberator for Memorial Day. They also had a B-17, P-51 2 seat trainer, A-1 Skyraider, T-6 Texan and couple of planes I am unfamiliar with (2 seat Russian and some plane from Canada).

    https://youtu.be/fMhb53pv0wk

    You get a new respect for the men who flew on these noisy, smelly, vibrating aircraft. Just having to listen to it for hours on end must have drove some of them crazy. The poor bastard in the ball turret had it worst I figure. Trying to maneuver around inside (you can walk around and check it all out once the plane is off the ground) was something else for an old geezer. Then toss in people shooting at your ass while you're a sitting duck and holy moly.

    I went to see these back in about 2001 and a B-17 WW2 vet was there. I talked to him for awhile (mostly he talked, which was good). He said the flak over Germany was so thick you could about step out of the plane and walk on it.

    • I have never liked flying in an airplane but I would go anywhere in a UH-1 Huey. I saw those things come in all shot to hell, puking oil and smoking like an coal fired locomotive but they got to the ground. Two of my cousins were Huey pilots in Vietnam and some of the stories they told me would curl your hair. I'm no lightweight but those pilots were crazy as a bedbug.

  • Interesting Memorial Day map of Americans who have died for their country since 9/11, by county:

    https://www.axios.com/map-hometowns-of-americas-fallen-servicemembers-since-911-3d64f6a3-fc0b-421d-8dbb-06a6b94a1b66.html

    Notice all those dark spots in Michigan. I've often remarked that Michigan has a history of going off to fight that is second to no other state. In the Civil War, take a look at how many Michigan men died... and Michigan was barely more than a backwoods frontier state at the time. We are ornery people here. Ornery, easily offended, and eager to fight. Remember General Custer and his Last Stand? Yep, he was a Michigan guy. "What do you mean the Indians have us outnumbered ten to one and we should turn back? That sounds like a damn good fight!" Two of his brothers were with him at the Bighorn massacre and they probably agreed. They talk about Texans and their guns but I wonder if Texans are anywhere near as well armed as Michiganders. I go on a three-day golf trip every summer where we stay at a cabin in the woods and it sounds like the invasion of Normandy every evening. Everybody (except me) has something to shoot with. I'm surprised the vehicles' suspensions don't bottom out from all the armament the guys bring. They've got everything except rocket launchers out there. A couple years ago a nearby farmer showed up to see what kind of war had broken out in the woods, and he was armed too. He wasn't coming to complain, he was coming to participate! When he found out we were only shooting at targets he was a little disappointed but he joined right in and started blasting away at the target with the rest of them. I don't participate in that. I am instead famous for being able to peacefully sleep in a recliner ten feet from where Armageddon is taking place.

    • Lol...New Mexico may be a sparcely populated state but we are a proud state and a lot of good men have been killed in wars over the years. We don't hear many gunshots out here in the sticks but the brother who lives in Albuquerque says it sounds like WWIII is starting on New Years Eve. Goofy fools fire whatever kind of weapon they have up in the air at the stroke of midnight to celebrate the new year. They don't understand that what goes up must come down!

  • I don't watch CNN but they did a good job with this. President Trump honors fallen veterans at Arlington ceremony. And if you notice Trump never says me or I, he always says we and us, something the Obummer rarely did. He was always saying I did this or me, me, me.

    https://youtu.be/UKN8QClWTFQ

  • I'm done folks. Gotta go check on mom, fix something to eat, then relax. Been a stressful day like all Memorial Days are but there was some laughter, a few tears shed, but it has been a good day. God and guns folks, that is what built this great country. Hug your loved ones, see y'all tomorrow.

    https://youtu.be/tdk5JIYn3Ko

  • I can't stay long, I have to be in town at 9am to speak at our Memorial Day celebration. Then the parade where the entire town lines the main drag to cheer. We may be a small town but we are a proud town!

    All the businesses on the main drag will be flying our flag, many of the homes will be flying a flag. And we will have an opening prayer and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Gotta go, time to shower and shave then head in.

      • Who you calling an old fart you old fart!

        It was a great ceremony. I know the commander of an Air Force base not far from here, several of them, and every year I call up and ask it they could do a flyover and I have never been refused. This morning the Chaplain had just finished the opening prayer, the national anthem had just started and here they come! I bet they were under 300 feet and hauling ass! I did my little speech then the only Korean vet here came to the podium and that old man blew my speech away! One simple story of what the solders faced in Korea and it brought tears to a lot of eyes, including mine.

        Our little monument is on the library property, not a lot of room for parking. 60, 70 people has been the norm but today the parking lot was full of people! I don't have an exact count but I am betting close to 300 people were there. It was awesome for this little town. Then we headed down the street to watch the parade. People were lined up on the sidewalks, blocking entrance ways to the two convenience stores, they were packed in to watch.

        And this is a little county in eastern New Mexico with a population of about 1700. And us old farts got to ride in a 1967, fully restored 1967 Cadillac convertible with a few younger veterans with us to lead off. I think I did a good job if I do say so myself and it was a great morning.

  • For my uncles cousins who went served came home and taught us all what was expected. To S Sgt Dale White, Michelle and the kids miss you. They are taken care of. Rest my brother we have those here who are left. We’ll see you one day.

    For Mark Andrew Wells, we are still amazed at what you did. We are as proud of you today as the day the knock came at the door.

    To all those who have love ones who gave it all, there are those of us who will not forget the pain and suffering you feel.

    • I tell people all the time they need to understand only two men have died for you. The first was Jesus, who we worship. The second is the American soldier, who we honor.

  • One of my favorite WW2 stories. I was watching a program on Tobruk 2-3 weeks ago. The Aussies held it like forever and then some. One Aussie was out on the front lines when someone started shooting artillery. He jumped in a shell hole. A few seconds later 2 German soldiers jumped it. When they realized who everyone was they started duking it out. The shelling started again so they quit fighting and covered up. When it stopped again the Aussie said "Bloody Italians." The Germans got it and they all started laughing. They shook hands and everyone went back to their lines. I guess no one liked the Italians much..lol

    • I have read several stories about American and German troops, calling for their own peace at Christmas during WWI and WWII. The higher ups on both sides didn't like it but what were they going to do about it? They would swap things like cigarettes for a little food, things like that, then shake hands all around then head back to their side of the line. And no fighting that night.

      One story I read tells of one Christmas when the Germans started sing Christmas songs and the Americans could hear them. When they stopped the Americans started with Silent Night. Then the Germans, then the Americans. They swapped songs for about an hour, and no fighting that night either.