Memorial Day

[etumukutenyak]

My grandfather spent one night in the US Army, before they released him under Roosevelt's rule (new father, older age). He always claimed he thought he was going to die, because "the fire went out".

My father failed the draft physical, or else he would have gone into the Marines and been sent to Vietnam as a second lieutenant.

My partner spent nine years in the Army, 3.5 on active duty in the Medical Service Corps and 5.5 on inactive ready reserve.

There are other ways to serve this country, by donating blood or volunteering at shelters, or by becoming a firefighter or EMT. We are all thankful for those who have already given, and remember the fallen.

Comments

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

Defense contractor?

My father's side of the family was Navy or Coast Guard for many generations until ours. My brother worked for a NASA contractor and then became a missionary and I worked for defense contractors.

[etumukutenyak.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes -- that's a good one. My partner went from active duty to civilian contractor doing the same job essentially (research). Plenty of those folks in this area. ;-)

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

My dad failed the physical during WW2. Instead, he went to work in an ammo factory. I wish I had thought of asking him how he felt about not being sent over.

[etumukutenyak.livejournal.com]

If I had to guess, I'd say a mixture of relief and disappointment. Still, he was supporting the war effort, so he shouldn't be considered a slacker. ;-) In WW2, a lot of people did a lot of behind-the-scenes work.