One of the Reasons I Serve
Thank You, Dad
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
I just got home from setting flags on the graves at the base cemetery. When I turned on the computer, I found an email from my dad. He forwarded me the link to a story about himself and his four brothers. All five served during the Vietnam War. And all five made it home. Pretty damn amazing.
Belpre brothers all served in Vietnam
I ask you to take a few minutes and read the article. This is a story about my dad, my uncles, my family. As a child, I knew very little about my dad's service. Growing up, it was something I vaguely knew. No specifics. When I was about 19 or so, I was at one of the reunions where the brothers talked shortly about some of the good times they shared in the service and Vietnam. Some of them met by chance while in country and we able to share some spare time together. My grandmother told me later that evening that it was the first time she'd ever heard them go into any kind of details of their time in Vietnam. I truly felt special for having been there to hear that little bit. My uncle, who was still in the Marine Corps at the time, tried to talk me into joining that weekend. I remember telling him "no how, no way".
I joined the Army two years later. I won't try to BS you into thinking I had overwhelming notions of a family calling or anything like that. But that was part of my decision. Since then, I've been back to visit my dad (not as often as I should) and I've heard more stories. I've even shared some of my own. I don't have anything really that compares to Vietnam, but one thing I've learned as a Soldier is the common bond you have with people through common or similar circumstances.
My first duty station after training was the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii. I found out a short time after getting there, that after leaving Vietnam, my dad spent some time assigned to the same division. I've since been stationed at the 25th ID a second time and I honestly do feel the bonds of family there - even if only in my own head and heart.
So, on this Veteran's Day, I am finding myself not only reflecting on the gravesites where I placed small flags this morning. Not just on the veterans that have served our country for over 200 years. But also, I find myself reflecting on my own family.
I salute you dad. I salute you D-dad (as a child I called my Uncle Frank that). I salute you Uncle Steve. I salute you Uncle John. I salute you Uncle Dave.
I also want to salute my uncles on my mother's side. They all served, too. I salute you Uncle Lou. I salute you Uncle Jim. I salute you Uncle Joe.
And I thank God that you all made it home.
Belpre brothers all served in Vietnam
I ask you to take a few minutes and read the article. This is a story about my dad, my uncles, my family. As a child, I knew very little about my dad's service. Growing up, it was something I vaguely knew. No specifics. When I was about 19 or so, I was at one of the reunions where the brothers talked shortly about some of the good times they shared in the service and Vietnam. Some of them met by chance while in country and we able to share some spare time together. My grandmother told me later that evening that it was the first time she'd ever heard them go into any kind of details of their time in Vietnam. I truly felt special for having been there to hear that little bit. My uncle, who was still in the Marine Corps at the time, tried to talk me into joining that weekend. I remember telling him "no how, no way".
I joined the Army two years later. I won't try to BS you into thinking I had overwhelming notions of a family calling or anything like that. But that was part of my decision. Since then, I've been back to visit my dad (not as often as I should) and I've heard more stories. I've even shared some of my own. I don't have anything really that compares to Vietnam, but one thing I've learned as a Soldier is the common bond you have with people through common or similar circumstances.
My first duty station after training was the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii. I found out a short time after getting there, that after leaving Vietnam, my dad spent some time assigned to the same division. I've since been stationed at the 25th ID a second time and I honestly do feel the bonds of family there - even if only in my own head and heart.
So, on this Veteran's Day, I am finding myself not only reflecting on the gravesites where I placed small flags this morning. Not just on the veterans that have served our country for over 200 years. But also, I find myself reflecting on my own family.
I salute you dad. I salute you D-dad (as a child I called my Uncle Frank that). I salute you Uncle Steve. I salute you Uncle John. I salute you Uncle Dave.
I also want to salute my uncles on my mother's side. They all served, too. I salute you Uncle Lou. I salute you Uncle Jim. I salute you Uncle Joe.
And I thank God that you all made it home.
