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If you enjoy your freedom, thank your veterans!
Welcome to all, especially VETERANS of yesterday, today and tomorrow.
The following poem (author unknown) is dedicated to all USAF Security Forces and all American military forces serving around the world.
"I Am The Flag"
I am the flag of the United States of America. My name is Old Glory. I fly atop the world's tallest buildings. I stand watch in America's halls of justice. I fly majestically over institutions of learning. I stand guard with power in the world. Look up and see me.
I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice. I stand for freedom. I am confident. I am arrogant. I am proud. When I am flown with my fellow banners, my head is a little higher, my colors a little truer.
I bow to no one! I am recognized all over the world. I am worshiped. I am saluted. I am loved. I am revered. I am respected, and I am feared.
I have fought in every battle of every war for more than 200 years. I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh and Appomattox.
I was there at San Juan Hill, the trenches of France, in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome and the beaches of Normandy, and Guam. Okinawa, Korea and KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam know me, I was there.
I led my troops, I was dirty, battle-tested and tired, but my soldiers cheered me and I was proud.
America has been attacked by cowardly fanatics.Many lives have been lost, but those who would destroy me cannot win.For I am the symbol of freedom --Of one nation Under God Indivisible With liberty and justice for all.
I have been burned, torn and trampled on the streets of countries I have helped set free. It does not hurt, for I am invincible.
I have been soiled upon, burned, torn and trampled on the streets of my country. And when it's by those whom I've served in battle it hurts. But I shall overcome for I am strong.
I have slipped the bonds of Earth and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon. I have borne silent witness to all of America's finest hours. But my finest hours are YET to come.
When I am torn into strips and used as bandages for my wounded comrades on the battlefield, when I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier, or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving parent at the grave of their fallen son or daughter,
I am proud.
| US Air Force Memorial -- Arlington, Virginia
Many a moon ago in the last century .... here we are training during Operation Safeside for US Air Force Combat Security Policemen at the Army's Fort Campbell (Kentucky) during the very hot summer months of 1969.
The US Air Force has since changed the name of the USAF Security Police to the USAF Security Forces. Great links below
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The US Air Force is using 9/11/2001
passenger Todd Beamer's words "LET'S ROLL"
as a logo on some aircraft.
Mary Drennan ..."If you don't care for your own life,
why should anyone else?"
-- A quote from a proud American
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South Vietnamese troops "chowing down."
Binh Thuy -- 1969
The photo of me above (1970) is at the check point
at a village
called My Ca -- very near
the perimeter of Cam Ranh.
"High Flight"
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds, and done a hundred things you have not dreamed of -- wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there, I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace where never lark, or even eagle flew -- and, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space, put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
-- John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
June 9, 1922 -- December 11, 1941
Click the map above and another window
will open with a much larger map of Vietnam.
VIETNAM PHOTOS -- CLICK HERE
... I trained with a bunch of great guys at the Army's Fort Campbell, KY from June to late Aug/Early Sept 1969 and became a USAF Combat Security Policeman ... We flew from Fort Campbell to Topeka, Kansas (Forbes AFB); and, from there we flew all together to Phan Rang, Vietnam in mid-Sept 1969 ... some of the security forces stayed at Phan Rang; others were spread throughout South Vietnam at various bases -- and we all did what we needed to do! I went to Binh Thuy, near Can Tho, till Feb 1970 ... when we all flew back together to the good USA -- back to Topeka, where we all went our separate ways as proud Vietnam Veterans to our respective Air Bases from which we were all TDY, which for me was Langley AFB, Virginia. I ended up going back to Vietnam, Cam Ranh Bay, in very early June 1970, assigned to the regular SP squadron there, till December 1970, when I was then stationed at Castle AFB, California.
Castle AFB is no longer active, but located there is the Castle Air Museum.  Of all our troubles big and small,
the worst are those that
don't happen at all (author unknown).
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