PRESERVING A MILITARY LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS The following Reflections represents CDR Thomas Nelson's legacy of his military service from 1970 to 1997. If you are a Veteran, consider preserving a record of your own military service, including your memories and photographs, on Togetherweserved.com (TWS), the leading archive of living military history. The following Service Reflections is an easy-to-complete self-interview, located on your TWS Military Service Page, which enables you to...
Service Reflections of CAPT Bruce Lake, U.S. Marine Corps (1965-1970)
PRESERVING A MILITARY LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS The following Reflections represents CAPT Bruce Lake's legacy of his military service from 1965 to 1970. If you are a Veteran, consider preserving a record of your own military service, including your memories and photographs, on Togetherweserved.com (TWS), the leading archive of living military history. The following Service Reflections is an easy-to-complete self-interview, located on your TWS Military Service Page, which enables you to...
SGT Zach Pierce, U.S. Army (2002-2008)
List the names of old friends you served with, at which locations, and recount what you remember most about them?:
Sgt Forrest Dane Cauthorn: 2/27 Wolfhounds, 25th Infantry; 2004-2007. KIA Iraq 4 Apr 2007. Dane was a lovable teddy bear whose enthusiasm for life was betrayed by his stoic nature. He never yelled; he always related to his soldiers. He was an awesome infantryman but never tried to be a hero or be the most tactically sound person. But he was so good at his job. Dane was never willfully the center of attention, but his presence was always top of mind, and he was always heard. Dane was generally quiet but always had some relatable insight or zinger to send home. He was what kept his father sane and grounded and will be sorely missed until the end of time.
SSG Victoria Ryan, U.S. Army (1973-1988)
List the names of old friends you served with, at which locations, and recount what you remember most about them?:
In late 1976, I reenlisted for my second tour of duty. I had chosen my next duty station as West Point, NY, which was close to my parent’s residence. The year prior, while I was stationed in Hawaii, my mother had undergone major surgery in order to amputate one of her legs that had been destroyed by osteomyelitis. Her diabetes had exacerbated the disease. The only solution was amputation, a risky endeavor because the diabetes could cause the procedure to end her life. The surgery was a success and in due time, she was fitted with a prosthesis.
SP4 Robert Kickenweitz, U.S. Army (1966-1968)
List the names of old friends you served with, at which locations, and recount what you remember most about them?:
Darkest Day for Blackhorse, SUOI CAT, By Robert Bob Kickenweitz. The 21st of May 1967 was a beautiful sunny Sunday morning, the day you were happy to be alive. I got up, put on a clean set of fatigues, and went to breakfast at the mess hall. Leaving the m ss hall, I noticed steam coming up from our tent as the dew from the night before was evaporating from the heat of the sun into little clouds. Yes, that’s just what we needed in South Vietnam: a little more humidity! After breakfast, I walked up to our chapel about one block from my tent for Sunday mass. Our chapel was located on the southwest corner of an intersection, with the 7th Surgical Hospital on the northwest corner, and across the street diagonally from the chapel on the northeast corner was the 37th Medical Group, and on the southeast corner was Regimental Headquarters.
SrA Diarra McCormick, U.S. Air Force (2011-2015)
List the names of old friends you served with, at which locations, and recount what you remember most about them?:
Unbreakable Bonds From Basic Military Training. It amazes me how basic training, hair, food, and running sparked friendships and a long-lasting sisterhood in arms, like the Energizer bunny. I served with Trainee Earleen Aranda and Trainee Sheri Lee Edwards at Lackland Air Force Base for Basic Military Training in 2011. These women had my back no matter what obstacles we faced. I have fond memories of them both.
SP4 Eugene Dawson, U.S. Army (1966-1968)
List the names of old friends you served with, at which locations, and recount what you remember most about them?:
Richard Henry and I connected during induction to basic training at Fort Polk, LA, in February 1966. During our first recreational break, we headed directly to the recreational center and checked out guitars and amps. We hit it off right away. He was the lead singer and rhythm guitar guy, and I was the lead guitar guy and backup singer. We were both assigned the same MOS, transferred to the same locations in California and Maryland, assigned to the same unit, 81st Quartermaster Platoon, and deployed to Vietnam together.
PFC Eugene Broyls, Jr. U.S. Marine Corps (1980-1990)
List the names of old friends you served with, at which locations, and recount what you remember most about them?:
My best friend from Chicago, Miguel Morales, and I joined the U.S. Marine Corps together. In boot camp, we were required to stand on our footlocker every evening, and when the Drill Instructor stood before us, we had to yell, “Sir, recruit (so-and-so) has no physical or mental problems to report, Sir!” We had to yell this loud and so fast that you could barely understand what the recruits were saying. Well, my friend Miguel’s bunk was right next to mine. Miguel, always the joker, whispered *watch this*, and when Staff Sargent Martinez came before him, he yelled, “Ra Ra Ra Ra Ra Ra Ra Ra Ra Ra Ra!”
Service Reflections of SGT Richard Gilpin, U.S. Army (1967-1969)
My draft board selected me twice for service while I was attempting to get my college degree. The first time in December 1966, I was able to receive a deferment through the end of the school year. Then, in the summer of 1967, I received the next draft notice and reported on August 27th.
Benedict Arnold: Patriot and Traitor
Two hundred thirty-five years ago an event took place which, had it succeeded, would have ended the American fight for independence. Before exploring that near disaster, see if you can answer these questions about the American Revolutionary War, all of which have some bearing on the event. Who was called "The Hannibal of North America?" Who built a fleet on Lake Champlain and fought British ships invading New York from Canada? Who led a small American army more than 300 miles through the Maine...
Vietnam War – The Battle of Hue
Another Leatherneck, a black-bearded machine gunner, led a charge up a mountain of rubble that had once been a stately tower, shouting: "We're Marines, let's go!". These episodes illustrate the battle of the Hue Citadel - a grim, struggle through the courtyards and battlements of the old imperial fort. The fight pits U.S. and Vietnamese Marines, determined to take the Citadel, against North Vietnamese soldiers equally determined to hold it. John Olson, a photographer with the Pacific edition...
Service Reflections of 1LT Frank Lavallee, U.S. Army (1966-1969)
PRESERVING A MILITARY LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS The following Reflections represents 1LT Frank Lavallee's legacy of his military service from 1966 to 1969. If you are a Veteran, consider preserving a record of your own military service, including your memories and photographs, on Togetherweserved.com (TWS), the leading archive of living military history. The following Service Reflections is an easy-to-complete self-interview, located on your TWS Military Service Page, which enables you to...
Many articles contained in this Blog were written by Together We Served’s former Chief Editor, Lt Col Michael Christy, and published in TWS’s Dispatches Newsletter.