All Comments on 'It is The Veteran'

Perfect…just perfect.

Says it all.

Marvellous.Thank you.

Thank you

Very Well done!!!

Outstanding!

Great Story, thank you

Outstanding! Someone really gets it!

In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders fields

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

You made this Viet Nam war veteran’s day.

Well done. Thank you.

An easy five stars.

Excellent story,

Brought tears to my eyes several times as I remembered my father in law’s funeral with military honors. Thank you for such a good read and written with such honor for those who gave their all.

Wonderful!

In Australia we observe 2 days, ANZAC day (April 25), and Remembrance Day (Nov 11). ANZAC day is a day of ceremonies and services. We start with a dawn service then move onto a parade involving current service members and veterans from all services.

ANZAC day has become a day of remembering the sacrifices and service and is a unifying day. We celebrate the day with my fellow navy veterans and tell stories of our time in the service.

Thank you to all who have served, especially those who have been injured and to those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom, we salute you all!

Great! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Having spent 5 tours in Nam I understand what you are feeling even though this is a story about someone else. Thanks for reminding everyone what Memorial Day should be about

Thank you. You made me remember a lot of things and I’ve shed a bunch of tears as I thought back to both Vietnam and Germany.

This veteran says thank you

Well done and thank you

The prologue and poem should be broadcast on every station and printed in every newspaper on Memorial Day in honor of those who gave all

Excellent story

Thank you and welcome home

MACV Advisor 68-69

Excellent story! 5*

There's a grabber of there ever was one. As an ROTC commissioned engineer (Chemical Corps) I can identify with Rick (the younger) although I never was in combat. I knew other officers in my basic class who did go into combat and a couple who didn't make it back from Viet Nam. I can't identify with the emotions shown here, but I can appreciate their feelings and the close feelings I have for my country and those that fought for her. 5*

There's an easy 5 star choice.

My Dad served in WWII and was much like the man you write about. There were hints about his service while I was growing up and I saw the medals in his desk drawer. I know he talked about the service with some of the young men around us who had enlisted or been drafted -- nephews, kids from the church, a couple in a neighborhood.

But he didn't talk about it with my sisters or me ... not until he was in his 80s and we were preparing to bury my Mom in a Veterans Cemetary. And not much then, either. It wasn't until he was in his 90s that he gave us a copy of an interview he'd been asked to do as part of an oral history project, and then asked if we had any questions about what we heard.

He wanted to do the best he could, the most he could, and he wanted my sisters and I to grow up and NOT have to go to war.

To the admins. This should be reposted at the top of the list on 5/29.

Outstanding!

Needed to be told, and no one better to tell it. Kudos, Ronde.

Thank you.

Thank you. My dad was a WWll bomber pilot owner Europe who thankfully survived. A huge number didn’t. He didn’t talk much about it either. He stayed in the RAF until he retired so we all saw his medal ribbons though, and his wings, which he was entitled to wear. RIP Dad.

Bravo. Great timing. Should be required reading. Thank you.

Great story! Thank you from a veteran.

Not enough stars...just the prologue and epilogue had me in tears...it's the same in any country...thank you

A Jamaican Veteran

Outstanding, Not sure if you are a Vet or if you know one. I personally have a hard time with Memorial Day. I still ask that question why did I come back and not Dave. USN Vet

I normally don’t comment on stories but yours opened up a bit of my past that pretty well has stayed buried. I lost a fair amount of friends in that jungle paradise and I think it’s time to talk with those that survived.

Thank you

of the best on this site............Korea 1950

WOW. Very good story and the poem really hit the spot.

Wish there was a sixth star.

As a veteran, this was a terrific Memorial Day story. As a romance, it was a successful Daddy-hunt story. The story was built on his survivor's guilt and didn't really feel very romantic. The romance was the too often forgotten tribute to all our veterans, thanks for that.

Here in Australia, as well as in New Zealand, we commemorate ANZAC Day, 25th April.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.

Lest We Forget.

I enjoy most of your stories, but this one is the best so far. Thanks for honoring our vets. My Dad served 21 years and did 2 tours in SE Asia during Vietnam. He had 3 oldest brothers that served in WWII. Thankfully none of them were injured and all returned home. One of them was at D-Day. During the time frame after D-Day, he and a buddy both got food poisoning from food sent from home that they shared. Both were put in a military hospital. While in the hospital, their entire unit was wiped out. My Uncle was released, and then the hospital was hit and his buddy died. My Uncle rarely talked about his time in the service. I myself never served, but I definitely appreciate the time and sacrifice of my family members and others that did serve.

Well-told tale, but I wonder about the drinking age in the Vietnam War era. Also, there’s a difference between feint and faint. This author seems capable of evoking emotional responses across a wide range of story lines.

Thanks. Needed to be told.

Lest we forget.

Thank you.

As I read this story it reminded me of something I read in a newspaper some years ago. It was the story of an army veteran who was originally from one of the Latin American countries. He had enlisted in the U.S. Army, served his enlistment honorably and received an honorable discharge and then been caught up in an INS raid in his employment and as a result deported. He had not fought in Vietnam but had been in the Army and deployed either to Panama or possibly Desert Storm. It upset me because to my mind, if a foreign national is allowed to join our armed forces and serves faithfully and receives an honorable discharge he or she should have been considered to have fulfilled at least the minimum requirement to receive a green card or be granted citizenship.

Conversely, some years later I was visiting a friend in Virginia and visited the D-day memorial. There was a group of probably 25 to 30 couples in the group. The docent asked how many were veterans, and I was the only veteran in the group other than the docent.

I thought it wrong that of all of these folks who were born here and did not join the military, one foreign national who had served faithfully years previously and was stationed in harm's way had been deported.

Very well told

Thank you for writing

Thank you for this wonderful veteran story. Semper Fi from this old Nam Marine.

Excellent story with great characters! Thanks for writing it.

5

So thoughtful and true. People don't understand veterans' experience unless they've been there. Even simply being stationed far from friends and family for a long time affects you, even if you haven't necessarily seen combat. I think this is a piece that should be read in high school (well, minus the 'intimate' part!), because it puts such a human touch on history. As far as Memorial Day is concerned, I often also take a moment to think about the mothers and fathers who have lost children to war. They have to live with it every day, and that, too, is a great sacrifice.

Thank you

Exceptional Ronde, you write with the feeling of someone who's is a vet and you had me recalling things I thought I'd buried long since.

5*s keep the creative juices flowing man

Brings back a few memories for an old Army Nam vet! Thanks for the story!

Your best story yet and that is really saying something because you've shared many excellent ones. I'm not in the USA but you captured perfectly what we all owe to those who have served. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the emotion you stirred in me as I absorbed this story.

Wow you sure know how get emotions awake that had been dormant for a very long time. Well done!!!

Given his attraction and competition for Alice in high school, the part where he was reluctant to start a relationship after Ricky died was a bit of a plot stretch, as was his neutral reaction when he found out she married Rick while he was in the Army. I get why you tried to minimize it, but it didn't quite work for me. I absolutely loved the prologue and the sentiment in it could marry with today's general population. They wouldn't get what serving, combat or otherwise, in the military in far away lands. 5*

A very good Story, Brings back alot of memories to this Old Vet. 5 Stars..

Very well written with excellent advice as if written by one who has experienced the rigors of war and the knowledge life will bring if we listen.

I have never (thank God) seen combat but have trained many hours for it.

Well done my friend. I feel the pain.

I never served, but my father was U S Navy during WWII. He never saw action—he was among those lining up for the invasion of Japan when the war ended—but he knew plenty who did and was prepared to lay his life on the line if needed. Whether they saw combat or not, all who have served are due our deepest respect, regardless of the wisdom of the mission assigned to them by their civilian masters. We must always remember this. 5 star story.

A tremendous patriotic Romance. Plot shows real understanding. characters are rich and deep. 5*

Great story hits close to home for me

"...you're old enough to kill

but not for voting

You don't believe in war

but what's that gun you're toting?"

5-stars

I'm not a combat veteran but except for the descriptive sex (not knocking its inclusion) I consider this a very respectful story for Memorial Day and our Military.

Awesome fning story right on the money u r 10 stars

Amen, like those before me, amen.

Outstanding story for memorial day!

An excellent story. Luckily, my lottery number was 312 for the the draft. I had and have friends and family who are veterans; some lifers, some, like my best and oldest friends wife, a Filipino Navy Chief, serve their 20 and count the days 'til that wake-up.

I fear for the safety and sanity of our rank and file,today, in light of the questionable leadership of our military today with it's pervasive "WOKENESS" and DEI indoctrination.

Let's not forget the Navy's drag queen enlistment ad in the wake of Bud lite and Miller lite.

Great story!! You understand how a combat veteran feels, all those memories but they don't talk about it very much. Please keep posting your stories.

I understand. Been there done that, got the T-Shirt.

Awesome. Until you go through it you fon't know.

It was outstanding…

one hell of a story.makes me understand veteran family members better. thank you

Truly inspiring story

Sometimes it is good for us old farts to hear that in our younger days we weren't simply baby killers.

BTW good to see you back. The new stories are even better than the old.

THANK YOU

Thank You for reminding us all that while we try to forget, we never shall forget. It is something that shall live in our memories forever.

Thank You.

I think about friends who are on the wall as well as those who didn't die in combat. One died going to get his parents to show them his son. Too many and too young. Thank you, Mike

You handled the military/veteran parts quite well. Nicely done. Been there, done that. Vietnam.

Well done, and great job telling it "like it is/was". 5***+

Thank you for sharing your feelings about honoring the men and women of the armed forces. I hope that anyone who reads this story will be touched and will show gratitude on Memorial and Veterans Day.

According to Wiki quotes the poem is "It is the Soldier". Beautiful story.

I argie hole heartly , beside i live in country hasn't been in combate nearly 70 years since WWII.

The peaceorganisation is nessasery but sometimes you have to fight to stop tyranny.

Thank you.

Very good story. It certainly brings back a lot of memories. Some good and some not. I really enjoyed the story, it reads more like a personal experience narrative than a fictional story for the ‘net. Certainly a Five Star effort.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

All I can say is OOH RAHH!!!

Damn fine read!! Think I'll have it read when I die. I have an aunt that made a video about my dad and his time in the Air Force (Korea). Came out pretty good. Asked her if she'd start doing the WW2 vets before they all die. and try to get the Korean war and Viet Nam guys too. Sorry, hasn't happened yet.

KEEP IT FLYING!

Too old people

From a veteran, albeit in a different country, thank you.

Navy, but there's Army in the family. Thank you!

As a returned serviceman truthful and on point….

Some gave all…

Lest We Forget….

Great story. My dad did talk to me about the horrors of WWII. I can't say that I understood, but I think it helped him. I once asked him if he remembered the men he killed. His response was "Everyday".

He died s few years back, and I think he's finally at rest. We owe so much to our veterans.

Always remember...

Salute!!!!

And in the morning we will remember the..

Excellent story. I can just imagine this having happened to someone in real life. We done!

I read this again on Veterans Day 2023. This honors our veterans like few stories can as it is about the life and memories they live with

A sad but full of love story! A story full of truth, honor and humility! We can never forget the sacrifices made for freedom.

They grow not old, as we who are left grow old...

sooooooooo well done as i read through my tears, a gold star dad,,,,,,,

There is a particular ethos concerning conflict: old warriors and the way they speak of war

between themselves they would hardly ever share with "non-combatants". Our Memorisl Day is called Anzac Day and much the same things go on here as do in the U.S. Boozing, Bragging,

Regrets and remorse. Thank you for using your art and craft to remind us.

5 stars are not enough.

I’m one of those that went in as a kid and came out a man, 5 years Army. Biggest regret I have is getting out.

Thanks for your wonderful story!