Delbert Reese

[segsarge]

His name was Delbert Reese. He grew up in Esther, MO and he was my friend. Esther, MO isn't even on the map anymore because it was consolidated with a bigger town on its border. They renamed the whole place Park Hills. I was just a kid, maybe 11 or 12 and Delbert taught me to play basketball. He and my uncle used to let me go with them in Delbert's 59 Chevy when they went fishing.
One day my uncle told me that Delbert had joined the Army and would be gone for about 2 years. I knew that America was at war in Vietnam. But my uncle said Delbert was going to be a medic so I figured he'd be OK. Every few days I'd ask if there was a letter from him. That went on for around a year.
My uncle came to the house one afternoon and told me that Delbert was dead. I couldn't/wouldn't believe it. He was a medic, he was supposed to be safe. Of course I asked how it happened. Seems Delbert was in the middle of a firefight at some long forgotten battle that didn't even have a name, just a number. Soldiers were wounded and needed help badly. He left his position to try and save his buddies lives. They were like his brothers and he was there for them. He was shot and killed as he tried to reach them.
Delbert is buried in Woodlawn cemetery. I went there today to place an American flag at his grave and I'm not ashamed to say I cried, just like every year when I go there. I also placed the Flag on my great uncle Roy's grave, a veteran of WWI.
Many people think of Memorial Day as an excuse to BBQ, get an extra day off work, eat, drink and be merry. To me it's a somber time to reflect on friends and relatives who paid the ultimate price. We owe them all our way of life and what freedoms we still have left. May they rest in peace. Thank you Delbert you're my hero.

[bigjohn]

Too many don't realize the cost of freedom or they wouldn't be giving it away so freely.

Memorial day is for those that didn't make it back and not for those of us that did. Lost entirely too many friends and brothers in arms in the quest of our freedom.

Rest in peace Delbert and the rest who gave their all.

[trapperw3]

AMEN

[krank]

Went with my Mom and Dad to the country cemetery that I buried my little brother at. (they didnt know what to do when he passed so I offered a plot out here) Put out some flowers and said a prayer.

We have a little memorial in the Adrian City park. Each brick has a Veterans name on it. Some living most gone. Our family has several bricks there. The VFW has the whole road lined with flags.

Had a great uncle George. He lost his leg in Normandy. We have pictures of him marching with his Garand and a picture of him smoking a cigarette in the hospital with one leg. He came back home and went out and bought the biggest V8 he could find. It was a present to himself for not dying. George also decided that he was never going to use the outhouse again.(I guess in the Army he learned what a flush toilet was) Everyday he hopped in his sedan and drove crazy fast to town that is 15 miles away. All the locals knew to get out of the way because he was coming in hot. When he got there he was looking for a public toilet to take a crap in. It got so stores would put up their closed sign when they saw him coming. After his glorious movement he would go to the liquor store and buy a bottle. Back home he flew. He would park on the other side of the barn where great Grandma couldnt see him. He would guzzle his booze and listen to the radio. He threw all of his bottles in a pile. His brothers would haul them off before Grandma found them. Both his brothers were also Veterans of WWII but they came back okay. What ever happened to George kinda remains a mystery as the family hides what a drunk he was but somehow he settled down and died of natural causes. He was a piece of work.

You hear about flag burners and protesters but your just have to understand their brains are just fried. I think the majority of Americans appreciate our Veterans.

[bigbob]

Don't exactly know why, but on this weekend I think of that worthless bitch Jane Fonda and those of her ilk, and how Vets come nowadays as "Hero's" But when I came home we were all "Baby Killers".

[bigjohn]

Hanoi Jane is a waste of oxygen. She thinks she can just say sorry and everything she did will go away. I still think she should have been on trial for treason.

[krank]

They make a jane fonda urinal target.

[segsarge]

She is just a no-talent Hollywood actor's kid who was trying to get attention. I've heard all her excuses for doing what she did, she was drunk, she was so tired she didn't know what she was doing or she got tricked by the North Vietnam government. Fact is, she knew DAMN GOOD AND WELL what she was doing. It was a planned act of treason. Wanted to get her name in the headlines and sold out this Country and damn fine soldiers to do it. It outraged millions of people, and rightfully so. But, it got her name in the spotlight.
She should have been put in prison for the rest of her worthless life. Saying "sorry" doesn't cut it.

[tickranch]

My ex-wife told me one time while we were still married, that she was going to borrow a jane fonda work out video from someone she worked with. I told her that if she did & brought into the house, that she & the video would go flying back out the door. She didn’t bring it home!

[bigbob]

May 29, 2024 5:25:06 GMT -6 krank said:

They make a jane fonda urinal target.

I saw one! Almost passed out from dehydration using it! LOL

[bigbob]

Be fun to stuff her bony ass in a Tiger cage for a few months.

[bigjohn]

Agree Bob.

[tjm]

May 27, 2024 9:09:08 GMT -6 krank said:

I think the majority of Americans appreciate our Veterans.

I don't. I think most of the "thank you for your service" that I get are as fake as they can be. Or maybe it's just that still recall the name calling and being spat on in airports and bus stations. People whose parents behaved that way and who have grown up without the draft and with zero investment in the country simply can't be taken seriously. The only "thank yous" that I take seriously are those of other Vets or their families.

Bad mouth Jane all you want and I'll join in, but truth is she represents the majority of USA citizens, just look at our elected leaders. Three of the last four Presidents could not have been elected if 'we the people' had any respect for the country.

[krank]

Today is the D-day anniversary....

[segsarge]

The landing in Normandy, France was a huge undertaking. The sheer number of troops and equipment is amazing. The bravery and courage of those soldiers was unbelievable. Over 6000 Americans lost their lives that day.
Vietnam was the first "televised war" brought to the American public via their living room TV set. The enemies of the USA saw a chance to divide the nation with propaganda and the soldiers paid the price for it. It left them bitter (and rightfully so), dejected and forgotten.
Those in charge at the time played right into it by ending the draft and let the enemies take control of public opinion. Very few of the people today have served in the military, even less see actual combat. They are clueless when it comes to things like duty, honor and self sacrifice. Remember that those who spit and cursed the military then are in charge and running the Country now.
When I do get someone who says "thank you for your service" I tell them "thank you, it was my honor." And yes, most of the time it comes from other vets of their family members.

[krank]

I know one guy that was there. He recently passed. He told me he was stringing telephone wire in the middle of all that. Later he retired from SWB.