Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Veterans Day 2020

Today is Veterans Day

One of our lesser holidays that we note each year, but always seem to forget the real purpose behind.

Often confused with Memorial Day but without the Monday Federal Holiday. 

Most banks Bank of America, PNC Bank, Wells Fargo are closed but TD Bank is open. The stock markets are open but the post office is closed. No wonder people are confused. 

Veterans Day is a Federal Holiday, one of ten in 2020, with Thanksgiving and Christmas to follow. It is observed in all 50 sates except Wisconsin all US Territories and the District of Columbia. 

So here's the refresher:

Memorial Day honors those members of the armed forces who died in the service of their country. 

Veterans Day is a U.S. legal holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars. In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in World War I, then known as “the Great War.” Commemorated in many countries as Armistice Day the following year, November 11th became a federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became legally known as Veterans Day.

Cedar's uncle, Dr. Richard Brown is one of many veterans in our family. Dr. Brown served in a MASH Unit during the Korean war. He shipped out in 1952 within weeks of marrying my aunt and graduating from medical school. His photo is below.

After the war he returned to the states and continued his medical career as the only doctor in the small town of Spencer West Virginia. Dr. Brown is a West Virginia native who graduated from University of West Virginia and was a fraternity brother of actor comedian Don Knotts.


Cedar's Uncle Richard W. Brown, MD Circa 1952 Korea

Dr. Brown retired to Florida in 1990 but will always remain a Mountaineer he and his wife Lois celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2017.

And so we say thank you to all the thousands of men and women who like Dr. Brown who have served in our armed forces.

The following is an outtake from the book "MASH - An Army Surgeon in Korea" by Otto F. Apel, Jr. MD, a follow medical doctor who served during the same time as my uncle. Just a reminder than its never too late to say thank you to a veteran or in this case a fellow veteran. His book was published 2 years before his death on November 9, 2000.

Korea was a long time ago.

Korea was a mountainous country far away and the war there happened a long time ago. Even now, time and distance separate us. Korea was far from my mind on a recent autumn evening as I drove from my office in the Ohio River town of Portsmouth, out the rural roads into the hills and farms and communities, to my house back up a country road away from everything.

In the Appalachian foothills of southern Ohio in the fall, when the leaves turn colors and the weather cools and the geese flock south, the mushrooms are out in the fields. As I turned up the country road toward home, I was followed by a man and a woman in a pickup truck. My wife Joan, saw them too. Neither of us said anything.

We left the gravel road and eased into our own lane, and the truck followed us. The lane nearly a half of mile of new gravel, rolled over the hills and up to the house. We stopped and the truck stopped about fifty yards behind us. I watched cautiously in the rear view mirror. The man got out, grasped a strand of barbed wire fence, pushed it down, and stepped through into the field. He was a tall, slender, clean cut man with thin threads of graying hair slicked straight back, and he wore a faded old army field jacket. He sauntered into the field. He stopped and searched the ground, strolled on, stopped and searched some more. He looked up at us. We looked at him. He dropped his gaze to the ground and continued his slow, deliberate about the field.

"Who is that?" Joan asked.

"I don't know," I said.

I put my car in reverse and eased back towards him. Several yards away, I stopped and stepped out. The man glanced up, unsurprised. He was a handsome man who appeared to be in his late fifties or early sixties, I looked at the truck and saw the woman starting at us. The man's clear eyes searched the ground as he ambled on over to the fence. He clutched something in his clean lean fingered hand.

"Can I help you?" I said. While standing cautiously on the other side of the fence.

"Naw, I don't need no help. I'm just out here looking for mushrooms.
 
"I don't know whether there are any mushrooms out there", I said. I glanced involuntarily to the fading green pasture.

"This your property?" he asked.

I said it was. Joan watched from our car.

He came a little closer until he stood several yards from me but still on the other side of the fence. Beneath the old, torn army field jacket he wore a plaid shirt and overalls.

"You Dr. Apel?" he asked.

I said I was.

"You the surgeon?"

I nodded. "Can I help you with anything?" I asked.

"You the one I read about in the paper a couple of months ago? The one who was in the MASH unit in Korea?"

I nodded.

He looked over his shoulder and quickly back to me. He smiled "You remember me?"

I searched his face. "I don't think I do."

He said his name and it did not ring a bell.

"I lived on Fourth Street all my life. Grew up there, went to high school four of five years behind you. I lived there all my life.

I could see that he held a mushroom in this hand; he pulled it up close to his face and studied it. He turned it, pinched it open as if he were dissecting it. Without looking up from his mushroom, he told me when he worked.

"I worked there ever since I got back from Korea," he said proudly.

In the silence of the evening , a tractor engine roared slowly over the field. A distant car with its lights on pushed down the country road.

You still don't remember me?"

For the life of me, I could not place him.

"I was in your MASH unit back in 1951. I was with the 17th Infantry, 7th Division. Was hit in the should near the Hwachon Reservoir. They brought me in and I seen you working there and asked if it was you. I said to the nurse, Is that man from Ohio?" And the nurse, she looked and said you was."

He lobbed the mushroom underhand out into the field.

"I was there in 1951 and '52," I said.

"I know you was," he said quickly. "You worked on me and next thing I knew I was back in Japan in one of them hospitals. I never got to say thanks, to you. Hadn't been for you, they tell me I woudla been dead."

I had to smile.

He scrunched his face. "Yeah, ever since I got back, I been meaning to come out here and say 'thanks' to you."

"That was fifty years ago," I said.

"Yeah," he said with a sheepish grin. I guess time just gets away for you, don't it? I been meaning to come out here and just never got around to it. Kept meaning to come out sooner or later. I thought today's as good a time as any."

I laughed warmly. "I appreciate it."

"Anyway," he said, "thanks for all you done."

We stood for a moment in silence. The cicadas screeching in the trees.

"Well," he said, "can't keep the wife waiting."

And with that, he turned and sauntered back toward his truck. I watch as he walked slowly, grasped the barbed wire, opened a place and crawled through. He hopped across the gully to the pickup and stepped in. The engine started with the roar of the rusted-out muffler, and he went on down the road. In a moment her was out of sight.

"You're welcome," I said.

Korea and the MASH were a long time ago. I have not been back since 1952 - except frequently when I have involuntarily jerked at a loud noise that sounded like artillery or when I have cried out in the darkness from a deep and vivid dream. Now even the thoughts and the dreams are less frequent. But all this time I have intended to go back. I have wondered what that was about and what we were doing there. I know it is a part of us and a part of me, and all these years I have intended to go back.

You can purchase Dr. Apel's book on Amazon in both hardback and electronic editions here.

We are proud of our family of veterans:

John MacEntyre, Continental Army 1776-1778

Samuel Studdard South Carolina Militia 1812-1814 Horseshoe Bend, Battle of New Orleans 

Nathan Edmonds, US Army Georgia Volunteers Seminole Indian Wars 1818

Samuel MacEntyre, US Army KIA 1863 Battle of Kennesaw Mountain

John Edmonds, CSA 26th Alabama Captured Battle of Gettysburg US Army 1863-1864

Ernest Lynn Duty,US Navy WW I

Donald Dufalt, US Marine Corps KIA 1942 Battle of Midway

Teman WilhiteUS Marine Corps WW II, Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart Battle of Midway 1942

Wallace Edmonds, US Army 1941-1943 Germany WWII

Simon Henry, US Army WW, II Korea

John Geiger, III, US Army Air Corps Germany

Milton Carney, US Marine Corps WW II, Korea

Richard W. Brown, MD  US Army MASH 1951-1952 Korea

Robert Brown, USAF Panama

Peter Carney, US Navy Iraq Afghanistan


 

75 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy Veterans Day! Semper Fi! I believe we should all celebrate Veterans Day by getting our cocks sucked while on duty. If anyone says anything just tell them Cecil said it was ok.

Anonymous said...

Thanks to all our veterans, current, retired and deceased. This country would not exist without you.

As for Wisconsin, you are no longer relevant. Go eat cheese and brats until you choke. You cannot claim “God’s Country” anymore! Thanks for flipping this election, morons!

Anonymous said...

3:24.....Really? Enough about Cecil! You’re jealous and obviously nothing is going to get done about it. Have you watched the movie Frozen? Just let it go. You derailed a respectful post with your babbling jealousy.

Anonymous said...

8:24. Guess you never were a Marine. We don’t let stuff go. We hold everyone accountable. If IA won’t investigate this maybe Channel 9 will. Stay tuned fuckers

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness!

Anonymous said...

909, even I stay away from Memorial posts. Tangelia already sent the video to Channel 9 and 3 other media sources. They won't show the video on TV cus its black people and of city politics. Cecil is connected to the right chocolate people.

God Bless the soldiers that gave 100% and the soldiers that continue to give 99%.

Anonymous said...

9:09..Good luck with that empty threat. They haven’t, and won’t do anything to him as you’ve seen. They’re (WSOC, WBTV, etc) not interested in petty office BS. Also you’d be wrong about me, I served and two of my children serve in the military. If that is the only itch in your britches, I’d suggest you get some cream and get over it. Same goes with the fund. If you gave money to that Ponzi scheme which sounded too good to be true. You all got taken, just like Siskey did to many. I’d caulk it up to a loss and move on. Live and learn. There’s bigger problems. Cecil will retire with a fat pension, a shiny knob, and a smile all the way to the bank. Promise.

Anonymous said...

Since we are still talking about Cecil, any news on the pledge fund?

Anonymous said...

fundpledge.com - only $5 a week and you'll get $10,000 after you retire.....don't listen to the naysayers

Anonymous said...

Cool!

Anonymous said...

As I drag myself off shift after a horrible night on the Charlotte streets, the only thing that disgusts me more than possibly seeing Amy Stukey getting ATMed on hidden camera is that fact that we hid a video of 3 gunman shooting AK47s into a crowd of people on BFR. They hit 9 people and we just release the video, now?

I think Jennings was waiting for the election so they couldn't use that footage in Trump ads.

Anonymous said...

Still waiting to see that Stukey video. She is so fine!

Anonymous said...

Ain't that fine but I'd like to see it too. Cheap porn!

Anonymous said...

Since we are talking about Stukey again, any word on the pledge fund?

Anonymous said...

What does Stukey and Cecil got to do with the pledge fund???

Anonymous said...

Who’s the CMPD officer that got charged with rape?

Anonymous said...

No one cares about that black hotdog.
No one cares about that rancid roast beef.
No one cares about that ponzi scheme for idiots.


I haven't heard about the cop that got charged with rape, either.

Anonymous said...

Speaking of being raped, what about the pledge fund?

Anonymous said...

Raped? You must be talking about Cecil bustin a nut into Veronica. You know she was wanting to dodge that one.

Anonymous said...

What’s the status of the girl in south that popped hot for marijuana after a accident? Heard she’s back on duty. So does that mean we can smoke up now?

Anonymous said...

Hey man. We can get our dicks sucked on duty. That means we can pretty much do anything. Thanks Cecil. We can get high as fook now!

Anonymous said...

Hey, this is supposed to be a thread about Veteran's Day. Who cares if Cecil got it on duty? Cause let me tell you, if you're not hittin' your Sgt., who's married to a DC, cause she's mad he's hittin another Capt's girlfried, while you're at your buddy's apt. while he's in another room hittin' another Capt's wife, then maybe you need to step up your game. And who ain't doing that shit on duty anyway?

So thanks to all the Veteran's, and I mean the real ones not the REMFs who are first in line at the damn Red Robin for all you can eat fries.

Anonymous said...

They let South Division officers smoke weed? Awesome!

Anonymous said...

Dude!!!

Anonymous said...

Speaking of weed, any news on the pledge fund?

Anonymous said...

Weed, BJ's, and wife swapping.
We should all be proud...

Anonymous said...

Ethics done gone out the window!

Anonymous said...

Is it true that the weed smoking south division officers stole the pledge fund ?

Anonymous said...

If they don't fire one officer for weed, then they cant fire any other officers. That's really sad.

If SWAT can take testastorone pills, then weed shouldnt be a problem.

Anonymous said...

I take the purple pills! That prepares me for my 3rd Shift BJ in my hidey hole!

Anonymous said...

What about the girl on VCAT who looks like a dude? Testosterone?

Anonymous said...

Speaking of Testosterone, any news on the pledge fund?

Anonymous said...

Remember, "Either you're SWAT or you're not!"

Anonymous said...

You can be on SWAT, get suspended for 90 days, and stay on SWAT!

Anonymous said...

"I'm SWAT and you're not!"

Anonymous said...

Pretty sure no one in this department got suspended for 90 damn days.

Anonymous said...

You can be on SWAT, have sex with your trainee in a cemetery while being a PTO, and stay on SWAT!

Anonymous said...

Maybe there's hope for you yet?

Anonymous said...

Speaking of getting suspended, anybody heard anything about the pledge fund?

Anonymous said...

SWAT, PTO, Trainee, Sex, cemetery, PLEDGE fund!

Anonymous said...

Speaking of speaking of things, anybody hear anything about the pledge fund?
(sorry, couldnt resist)

Anonymous said...

Outside of their swat bubble , swat officers are about as worthless as tits on an alligator.

Anonymous said...

9:57. Your talking about ancient history.

Anonymous said...

637hours, I completely agree with you. You can shoot a shotgun off in the police station by accident and stand in the street like a brainless zombie while your partner fights a person in the front yard and still keep your job on SWAT. Your last name can be Milikin.

Anonymous said...

I'm SWAT and you're NOT!

Anonymous said...

What about the girl on VCAT who looks like a dude?

Anonymous said...

Ain't she the one who shot herself in the foot?

Anonymous said...

Who cares about that chick unless you talking about the poor black man that got shot to death because of her?

What about that tribal chick that looks like Rikishi? You know the one...

Anonymous said...

I don't care about her cauz she was equally worthless when she was in A3!

Anonymous said...

Speaking of Rikishi, pledge fund news?

Anonymous said...

Who is the Sergeant who thinks he’s a teenage girl making TikTok videos? Talk about a professional leader. Stripes=Overpaid Do Nothing=Selfie Internet Videos. If only we all had the time to make videos. Great job, way to represent a department!

Anonymous said...

What is the latest on Vickie Foster taking over all the off duty and sending the cush secondary employment officers and sgt back to divisions?

Anonymous said...

If the command staff is any positive representation of the department then that comment made by an idiot about a Sgt. should be considered a compliment!

Anonymous said...

Professional leader, overpaid, do nothing...Take a look at most of the Lt's and Capt's!

Anonymous said...

Vickie Foster? Who's that?

Anonymous said...

Gerald Smith? Who's that?

Anonymous said...

Overpaid and doing nothing, what about the pledge fund?

Anonymous said...

Didn't Vickie Foster request gift cards for her retirement that was held at the solid waste department?

Anonymous said...

Gifts cards?...Pledge fund?

Anonymous said...

Fitting location for her retirement!

Anonymous said...

I got my pledge fund $$. I spent it all on hookers and blow.
On a unrelated topic... why does it burn when I pee ??

Anonymous said...

Funny!

Anonymous said...

Speaking of it burning when you pee, anybody hear anything about the pledge fund?

Anonymous said...

If Vicki Foster is really back at CMPD then Aryan Brotherhood Holmes twins and Micro Penis need to watch their backs. That Vicki will not stop until she gets them.

156 is that fat black guy that I always see on the news complaining about that pledge fund. He was just a school cop and was lazy for 10 full years until he retired. He should be paying back 10k...not taking it!

Anonymous said...

2:34. If there is documentation of bad blood between the twins and micro penis they should be good. They can always sue for retaliation.. personally sue, cause you know she got that money

Anonymous said...

More people need to start lawsuits!

Anonymous said...

Lawsuits?.....Pledge fund?

Anonymous said...

Is Amy working tonight? I need a quickie!

Anonymous said...

11:45, seems you are the idiot. Oh wait, you are that sergeant? Self explanatory comment then. What Lieutenant or above have you seen on TikTok? Sergeants are the closest to “leaders” in a department because they are closest to the troops. To have one of them make a TikTok video like a teenage girl is unprofessional. Monkey see, monkey do. People above have done other stupid shit but to make viral videos is beyond embarrassment.

Anonymous said...

I think we're gonna need a bigger boat!

Anonymous said...

Most the command staff don't represent themselves in a positive light much less the department! The idiots are one's who want to get promoted above Sgt. or promoted at all for that matter.

Anonymous said...

Cant the SWAT guys get along with the Others? Bunch of Bullies, Im telling JJ!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

10:20, You must be lacking confidence in your leadership abilities? The ones Mama Vickie gave you!

Anonymous said...

We ARE going to need a bigger boat!

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness!