A Salute For U.S. Expat Veterans - Happy Veterans Day

Ladies and Gentlemen.  We now start our program.  Please rise for the National Anthem as sung by the US Military Academy  Glee Club.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1MSd7dgyb0

Now again for our hearing impaired audience please remain standing for our National Anthem again by the Brass In Blue Air Force Band ((just an excuse to watch a YouTube instrumental version of the National Anthem)),

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rs65rq6D7U



Thank you Mr. President.

Now Ladies and Gentlemen, without further ado, it is my honor to introduce to you our guests of honor today - our United States Veterans!!  ((feel free to jump from your seat and cheer))

From the United States Army....

((cue the Army Song...right-click and select "open new tab" to hear The Army Goes Rolling Along play in the background while you enjoy the presentation.))

((ppppssstt..come on stage when I call your name))

lirelou, a.k.a. LTC Shaun Darragh, US Army (Ret.)


Colonel Darragh served in the United States Army from 1962 to 1989 starting from the rank of Private and rising to Lieutenant Colonel upon retirement from the Army.  He was stationed in Khánh Hòa Province and Pleiku City (Gia Lai Province) during 1968 as well as stationed at the Command & Control North (CCN) compound near Marble Mountain. *cough* *cough*



Please give a round of applause to LTC Shaun Darragh (lirelou)!

ancientpathos, a.k.a. "Sergeant" Ron Gann, US Army (Ret.)

Sergeant Ron Gann is retired from the Army with a greater than a E-5 grade.  Sorry no additional information could be found in his records in regards to which grade "Sergeant" Gann retired with: SSG, SFC, MSG, 1SG, CSM, or SMA but assumes retirement at greater than a buck sergeant.  "Sergeant" Ron Gann is now living in Quảng Ngãi Province.

Please give a round of applause to "Sergeant" Ron Gann (ancientpathos)!

Teacher Mark, a.k.a. John (or Mark) Doe, US Army


Teacher Mark served in the United States Army as a Medic, serving with various units such as: the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York; V Corps in Giessen, Germany; 9th ID at Fort Lewis, Washington; and a posting at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.  Teacher Mark loves to teach English and was last known sharing his passion in Bình Dương Province.

Please give a round of applause to "Medic" Teacher Mark!

That concludes our Army Veterans.  Next up, the Squids, I mean our fine Sailors from the Navy.

((cue the Navy Song...right-click here and select "open new tab"to hear Anchors Aweigh play in the background while you enjoy the presentation.))

Good_Man, a.k.a. Mark Loeser, US Navy

Mark Loeser served eight years in the United States Navy as a Nuclear/Reactor Operator as well an Engineering Watch Supervisor.  He also acted the capacity an Instructor at some Naval school.  He continues his career in the Energy sector working in both conventional and renewable technologies (solar, wind and biopower).  "Sailor" Loeser is currently in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Please give a round of applause to "Sailor" Mark Loeser (Good_Man)!

Wild_1, a.k.a. Howie, US Navy

"Sailor" Howie joined up with the United States Navy and served at least for a total of eight years.  He comes from a family tradition of brave warriors.  Modest to say the least, "Sailor" Howie views his service to our nation as simply "I did it for my country, and I did it for the men who were there with me."

Please give a round of applause to "Sailor" Howie (Wild_1)!

That concludes our Navy Veterans.  Next up our Marines!

((cue the Marine Song...right-click here and select "open new tab"to hear the Marine's Hymn play in the background while you enjoy the presentation))

johnnywastaken, a.k.a. Jarhead Johnny, US Marines


"Marine" Johnny is a Global War On Terror hero having served both in Afghanistan and Iraq with the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.  After serving in the the Marine Corps, Jarhead Johnny continues his service to our nation by working in the Federal government; A veteran and a public servant!  He is currently in Hồ Chí Minh City. 


Please give a round of applause to "Marine" Johnny (johnnywastaken)!

That concludes our Marine Veterans.  Next up is a group of Veterans with unknown branch of service due to Personnel being busy all day searching for some misplaced grid squares ((sounds better than "they didn't volunteer this information" doesn't it?)).  Since Air Force and Coast Guard hasn't been represented, let's play their songs:

((cue the Air Force Song...right-click here and select "open new tab"to hear the Air Force Song play in the background while you enjoy the presentation))

After you're done enjoying the Air Force Song, then you can hear the Coast Guard Song.

((cue the Coast Guard song...right-click here and select "open new tab"to hear the Semper Paratus ("Always Ready") song play in the background while you enjoy the presentation.))

lostvietdreamer, a.k.a. John Doe 2, US Veteran (unsure branch)

lostvietdreamer is a US Veteran who seved in Việt Nam from 1971 to 1973 between Vũng Tàu and Tây Ninh Provinces.  He enjoys Shakespeare; in fact contributed to the sub-theme of today's event.   "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers"

So let's hear it for our local thespian, lostvietdreamer!

perry88, a.k.a. John Doe 3, US Veteran (unsure branch)


perry88 is US Veteran who served during the Việt Nam War and is close to retirement age (about 65).  He lives in Rockville, Maryland, but "would like to live part of the year in Nha Trang".

Please give a round of applause to perry88! 

That concludes our litany of US Veterans.  We thank you for your participating in today's event honoring our fine men and women in uniform ((actually the list were all men)).  Okay, honoring our fine men who served our country in the armed forces.  By happenstance, they are expatriates living far from the America that they served.  So this day we have the opportunity to bring them back into our celebration; our gratitude that they stood vigilence on duty protecting the freedom we have....yadi yadi yadi...

((excuse me, who are those two gentlemen sitting there?  What?  Oh I invited them?  Ah yes, how can I forget?))...Ahem...

And how could America be free if it weren't for our friends who helped us during our years of vigilance?  We have today in our presence, two Veterans from our allied countries; the UK and Australia.  Please let me introduce them.

laidbackfreak, a.k.a. Sean, UK Army


"Soldier" Sean served in the Army of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.



Please give a round of applause to "Soldier" Sean (laidbackfreak)!

Flip465, a,k.a. Ian Wilson, Australian Army


"Soldier" Wilson is a Australian Veteran who served during the Việt Nam War as a soldier in the Austrlian Army.  He saw action in the present day Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu Province area. 

Please give a round of applause to "Soldier" Wilson (Flip465)!

With that, we are done introducing our Expat-Blog Veterans.  After the ceremony is done, there will be a group photo with the Veterans here.  After the photo shoot, anybody that wants to talk with any of our Veterans here, shake their hand, or salute them (via a "Virtual" post or PM) feel free to do so. 

As our Veterans are taking their group photo, "The President's Own" United States Marine Band will perform the "The Washington Post" for your entertainment.  ((click Youtube video link below))

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mxrh1CrMmTY

Okay Veterans.  We need to take a group photo.  So gather around here.  Okay...say cheese!

Nice shot.

Veterans!  On your feet!


 
Dismissed!

Enjoy the rest of your day. 

HAPPY VETERANS DAY!! HOORAH!!!!

Tran Hung Dao wrote:

Veterans!  On your feet!

http://www.hawaiiarmyweekly.com/storage … 50x300.jpg
 
Dismissed!

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Enjoy the rest of your day. 

http://riddlenationaz.erau.edu/files/20 … 00x500.jpg

What can I say? Anything more than a simple thank you would detract from the time it took to put this together.

To my fellow vets may all your days be spent with the knowledge of a job well done.

Thank you THD!

Thanks THD!

LOL, nicely put together.
Love your work THD

Tran Hung Dao wrote:

That concludes our litany of US Veterans.  We thank you for your participating in today's event honoring our fine men and women in uniform ((actually the list were all men)).  Okay, honoring our fine men who served our country in the armed forces.  By happenstance, they are expatriates living far from the America that they served.  So this day we have the opportunity to bring them back into our celebration; our gratitude that they stood vigilence on duty protecting the freedom we have....yadi yadi yadi...

((excuse me, who are those two gentlemen sitting there?  What?  Oh I invited them?  Ah yes, how can I forget?))...Ahem...

And how could America be free if it weren't for our friends who helped us during our years of vigilence?  We have today in our presence, two Veterans from our allied countries; the UK and Australia.  Please let me introduce them.

---

Love your hard work too :p and thanks for letting me know about the Veterans Day.

Hey, but I think Howie is in the US and he is collecting 100 football for you within today

Error. I was NEVER a member of Command and Control North, nor have I ever claimed to have been. I took Martha Raye there on two occasions in 1968-69 and went back up to see a friend of mine and look into getting a job there.

Again, I never a member of CCN, though we do belong to the same Association (the SOA).

But, yes, thanks for putting that together. Since it was obviously supposed to be a surprise, we salute your investigative skills, but it does help to run personal info by the 'awardees' first.

THD,
  I think most of us veterans appreciated your efforts, errors or not. Job well done!

THD,

Dang, you do have a lot of time on your hand! 

But, I thank you, nonetheless!    I will definitely get you your football now. 

For my part, I really wish you had taken the time to reach out to one of those families whose loved ones didn't return.  They are the one who paid "the ultimate price."  Their lives are the lives that were changed forever... 

God bless them, and God bless you.

Now, go take that Obama frame off!

Thank you to all service personell, neither I nor any of my immediate family have ever served in the forces but we all appreciate our freedom, thank for protecting what we treasure

lirelou wrote:

Error. I was NEVER a member of Command and Control North, nor have I ever claimed to have been. I took Martha Raye there on two occasions in 1968-69 and went back up to see a friend of mine and look into getting a job there.

Again, I never a member of CCN, though we do belong to the same Association (the SOA).

But, yes, thanks for putting that together. Since it was obviously supposed to be a surprise, we salute your investigative skills, but it does help to run personal info by the 'awardees' first.

My apologies Master D.  I misunderstood "I was at CCN" as being "I was stationed at CCN". 

lirelou wrote:

Lirelou, 1962-1989, US Army, PVT to LTC. Spent 1968 split between Dien Khanh (Khanh Hoa) and Pleiku. I was at CCN compound near Marble Mountain during Christmas 1968.

bta87 wrote:

THD,
  I think most of us veterans appreciated your efforts, errors or not. Job well done!

Hey I didn't know you were a Vet.  Should have said something in the preparatory thread (U.S. Veterans...Roll-Call.) and I could have made something up for you.  In any event, this is your day too.  Treat yourself out to the "Steak Box".

THD,
  Thanks very much for you very kind words and the great effort you put into making this day special. I try to keep a low "vet" profile you might say. Great job!

Wild_1 wrote:

THD,

Dang, you do have a lot of time on your hand! 

But, I thank you, nonetheless!    I will definitely get you your football now. 

For my part, I really wish you had taken the time to reach out to one of those families whose loved ones didn't return.  They are the one who paid "the ultimate price."  Their lives are the lives that were changed forever... 

God bless them, and God bless you.

Now, go take that Obama frame off!

We could do something for Memorial Day, which is really more appropriate.  But a no-can-do on the Obama request since he is the Commander-In-Chief .  It wasn't meant to be funny but I wanted a graphics of the Commander-In-Chief clapping (to lead by example for others to clap as well) after the National Anthem is played.

Happy Veteran's Day to all of the vets at home and abroad! I have to drive down a half-mile road from the highway to get to my office, and the local Boy Scout group has lined the entire road with American flags. It is beautiful to see as the sun is rising. Here is my favorite song sung by one of our nation's finest musicians: America the Beautiful - Ray Charles

Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" still gives me goosebumps.

Wild_1 wrote:

Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" still gives me goosebumps.

I agree and thought about using it in this "program" but it has been so much associated with 9/11 that whenever I hear it, I am reminded of that fateful day.

Actually I never liked the Lee Greenwood song. The lyrics "...where at least I know I'm free" offended me. I always thought: What do you mean by "at least". But back in the 80's my General loved it and demanded we stand whenever it was played. So as a loyal lackey, I stood.

It's far easier to sing than the Star Spangled Banner.

I took that phrase as, in even the worst of time, no Big Brother will tell me what to do or how to lead my own life.  It is why I abhor the Obama administration with their micromanagement tactics.

Regardless, they are still far better than what you have in Vietnam.

lirelou wrote:

Actually I never liked the Lee Greenwood song. The lyrics "...where at least I know I'm free" offended me. I always thought: What do you mean by "at least". But back in the 80's my General loved it and demanded we stand whenever it was played. So as a loyal lackey, I stood.

It's far easier to sing than the Star Spangled Banner.

Please elaborate Master D.  Maybe you hear something more to it than I do.  It might be a space holder to make "free" and "me" to rhyme since he sings each verse in a A-A-B-B (free-me-today-USA) rhyme scheme.



If tomorrow all the things were gone I'd worked for all my life
And I had to start again with just my children and my wife
I'd 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 as least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me
And I'd 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 and New York to LA
Well, there's pride in every American heart, And it's time to stand and say

that

I'm proud to be an American where as least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me
And I'd 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