We all gave some - and some gave all -

 US Veterans day 2017:

This is a perspective for the many citizens who have never considered or served in The US Military. First, most who served in the US military considered it a calling or duty. Thus why it is referred to as serving your nation! 

I served in the US Navy in 1960's.  We operated with many different nations Navies and Merchant Marine! This includued British, French, Dutch, Italian, Greek, Packistan and Hatit - plus several minor ocurrancees. This does not make me better or whatever as many may think. Like most of us it was required or expected.  We did our job! 
 "Can Do!" is the Navy Motto!

All my 3 Uncles, an Aunt, my father, my wife's father and my step-father served in WWII. One of my brothers also served in the Navy as well as one of my sons in the USMC. So we respected the opportunity to serve our country!

Later in life, I have run onto many who also served.  The one thing that generally comes thru is the sense of camaraderie and trust! The one thing that military training did for most people = was to learn teamwork, discipline and self-pride {in cleanness, moral character, performing our duty} which generally carried over into civilian life later.

One thing that I learned was to respect authority, follow orders, and once trained to properly perform the caring out my assigned duties. Getting up a 06:00 every day and having assigned workstations led me the build better Character. 

 If you go anywhere with the proper mindset and determine to make the best out of where ever you are - you will generally succeed!  This goes for any type work or job striation {not just the military}.  This is why many employers like to hire ex-military

Since WWII returning veterans have been the backbone of technical jobs in the USA. That transition has benefited the nation, providing millions of skilled mature workers who know how to follow orders and perform the duties assigned!  This is where many of your technicians, repair, and other trained former military personnel came from.

One thing I learned was that no matter whatever the job or assignment, it was important to support the overall mission.  An example with which I was familiar with serving on 3 Destroyers at sea {with 175,000 nautical miles at sea in all the major oceans}, is the importance of supply support.  There are no gas stations at sea, a destroyer had to refueled about once a week either by AO Fleet Oilers or from a Carrier underway. Sometimes we would refuel from a Port Facility, somewhere in the world.  Then there were also both General Stores {food - etc} or Ammunition as needed brought out and on to the ship.

Since we were front line units some thought the supply chain was not as important - but this could not be further from the truth! Everything or everyone needs support if they are going to carry out their planned mission{s}. 

Let's look at a Fighter Pilot or any other scheduled technical activity.  Here again, it is necessary for the supply team to support the prime mission or else it will stall, or fail! Therefore there are no useless people because it takes a team working together to achieve a satisfactory result or complete a mission!


The support and transition of people into and out of the Military has been vitally important to the nation.  

Thank you to all who served and stood in the gap! 

Thanks to all Veterans and those who supported the troops...