Happy Veterans Day 2025

[OilStained]

To all Veterans - thank you for your service and sacrifices to our country.

USN Veteran MM3 94-98,
USS Constellation CV-64
Westpac 95 Operation Southern Watch

 

[skyactiv]

My dad was in the U.S. Army Reserves during Vietnam but never left U.S. soil. He has never cared to speak of his military service and has never taken advantage of any freebies, parking spaces, discounts.. because he served.

 

[CleanSump]

My dad was in the U.S. Army Reserves during Vietnam but never left U.S. soil. He has never cared to speak of his military service and has never taken advantage of any freebies, parking spaces, discounts.. because he served.

If you enlisted as Reserve and only spent initial training on active duty or went to more schools later (ACDUTRA), it wasn't counted for any Veteran benefits. Same with National Gaurd. You'd go to basic and schools, but that didn't count as Veteran status.
If you served one or more enlistments on active duty in regular service, then were discharged you were a Veteran who then could also join the Reserves or National Gaurd and then you were still a Veteran who happened to be in the Reserves or NG.
Many Reserve and NG were Federally Activated in the Gulf Wars and WOT and are Veterans based on activation status.

 

[CleanSump]

Oh, I left out of the above post:
There are Active Duty Reservists who are "Full Time Support", usually assigned at places that have reserve units. They're in reality, active duty, just have that R on their paperwork.

 

[Snagglefoot]

We went to the outdoor service today. I always starts with a bagpipe procession. It was well attended and because it was very warm out today parents brought their little kids with them.

 

[wwillson]

My Dad spent a year in Korea and a year in Vietnam. He never talked about Vietnam, but was very affected by his experience. When Veterans day came around he didn't want to be reminded. He was very loyal to our country and the flag, but I don't think he wanted to be reminded of what he saw when serving there. My Mom has told me a few stories he told her when he would write home. Not pretty, in fact, very ugly. Lots of death and destruction all around. Raw fear. In fact, he told my Mom that there was only a slim chance he would make it home. He did and of course I'm glad for that!

He never stopped serving, he did so much for people around him. We lost him a couple weeks ago. I will always remember the good man he was.

 

[Snagglefoot]

We had a neighbour who was in the Royal Canadian Armoured Core. When I was younger, he told me stories of how some his buddies were killed inside their tanks. Back in 1974 their was no real treatment for PTSD outside of heavy drinking at the Local Legion pub. It ruined his life and Nick died in 1974 at the age of 60. Lest we forget.

 

[crashz]

Veterans, thank you for your service!