Monthly Archives: September 2022

Vet Encounters

Navy Vietnam

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Now I love this one Navy Man. Roger here, he served us from 1969-1973. He was a second class Boatswain's Mate. He served on the USS Denver LPD-9 amphibian ship. He had plenty of time with the Marines on ship as this ship was used well into the 1990's by the Marines. He also served on the USS Navarro APA-215 Troop Transport. Vietnam veteran welcome home Roger.
Great Shot of the LPD-9 Denver. The Captain served on one of her sister ships LPD-5 USS Ogden.
USS Navarro APS-215. Troop transport. This ship took Marines to battle in the Pacific during WW2 and later again to Vietnam. What history and Roger served on her.
Vet Encounters

Coast Guard WW2

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I had the pleasure of meeting this patriot and he shared with me the service of his Father Wayne Wood.  His father served us in the Coast Guard during WW2.  Fascinating history of his Dad’s ship which was an Ice Breaker in the Arctic.  It’s heavily armed ship was used to capture German weather stations that were established to aid the Germans in predicting the weather to further strategic moves in the war. This ship took down and captured these stations and on one occasion captured a trawler that was resupplying these stations.

USCGC Eastwind (WAGB-279) was a Wind-class icebreaker that was built for the United States Coast Guard. Completed in time to see action in World War II, she continued in USCG service under the same name until decommissioned in 1968.

Eastwind was the second of five Wind-class of icebreakers built for the United States Coast Guard. Her keel was laid down on 23 June 1942 at Western Pipe and Steel Company shipyards in San Pedro. She was launched on 6 February 1943 and commissioned on 3 June 1944.[1][2][3]

Her hull was of unprecedented strength and structural integrity, with a relatively short length in proportion to the great power developed, a cut away forefoot, rounded bottom, and fore, aft and side heeling tanks. Diesel electric machinery was chosen for its controllability and resistance to damage.[4]

Eastwind, along with the other Wind-class icebreakers, was heavily armed for an icebreaker because her design was crafted during World War II. Her main battery consisted of two twin-mount 5 in (130 mm) deck guns.[1] Her anti-aircraft weaponry consisted of three quad-mounted Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft autocannons[2] and six Oerlikon 20 mm autocannons. She also carried six K-gun depth charge projectors and a Hedgehog as anti-submarine weapons. After the war her aft 5” mount was replaced by a helicopter deck, and by 1951 her forward mount had also been removed.

Eastwind ferried 200 US army troops which captured the last German weather station in Greenland, Edelweiss II, on 4 October 1944. She also seized the German trawler Externsteine, which was resupplying the base. Externsteine was later commissioned in the US Coast Guard as USCGC Eastbreeze[5] and later commissioned as the US Navy ship USS Callao.

 

Vet Encounters

Marines Motor T

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Meet Corporal Alan he served us all 1997 to 2001. A Marine Motor T 3533 Dragon Wagon truck driver. You got to love the Marine Corps pride tattooed into our arms Captain and Corporal. There is a lot of pride in earning the "EGA"
Not many Marine Officers get tattoos unless they are mustangs. I always said that one day all of us Marines would not be in uniform and that we should let the whole world know we are Marines. This is how many of us chose to do just that.
Vet Encounters

WW2 Veteran Navy

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Meet Ray, WW2 Navy 1943-1946.  Ray served as a 3rd Class Petty Officer operating pumps on sea going Dry Dock Repair ship. These ARD Ships were critical to repairing battle damaged ships.  Imagine they towed these dry docks across the ocean to be deployed in the war zone. Ray is now 97 years old and still active meeting and greeting and making friends.  It was an honor to meet him. Now check this video out about the ships he served on.

Vet Encounters

Air Force & Police

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Meet Mike, he started his public service career with the Air Force serving as a Security Forces Police Officer 1984-1988. Mike then served with the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office, worked on the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force and now serves as Nephi’s Police Chief. That’s 38 years of service to our nation and State.

Vet Encounters

Army and National Guard

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Meet Wes on my left he is a retired Army veteran who served us all in the most difficult places on earth. He serves us today with the Traveling Vietnam Wall. Wes served us on duty as a Staff Sergeant from 1991 to 2017. He served in Iraq with 10th Mt. Division in 2005. Wes also deployed with 111th combat engineers Delta Company 3rd Bn 144th Infantry Division in Afghanistan 2007-08 -2012-2013! He and Dean on my right travel the country setting up the wall for all to see.https://www.americanveteranstravelingtribute.com/
Command Post, Events, Events Now, Patriots, Previous Events, Vet Encounters

Never ever forget 9/11

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This is the one of the most difficult weeks for all Americans. All Americans have a connection to that tragic day on earth when we all witnessed what evil humans would do to others.  But we also witnessed what humans would do for one another when confronted by such evil.  I pray that those I spoke with these last days at events I attended get through this week.  But that the young people I spoke with who were to young to remember or did not live through that day learn just what happen.  As painful as it is, we must tell what happen and we must share those experiences with future generations.  Sharing and  remembering those tragic days not only help us all heal but it should  unite our spirits of strength in unity as one.  As it has been said and I believe united we stand divided we fall we are Americans and that should say it all.  May god bless those lost and those who live today to tell what happen and who must continue to heal from what happen that day.  God Bless keep the faith.

I know it is hard to watch but share it and talk to those who need to know what happen and all that changed that day.  The good the bad and the ugly.  Let us heal, talk and share your feeling about it all.

Command Post, Vet Encounters

Outstanding Dedication

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You can not put a price on honoring our Gold Star families it is the right thing to do. South Jordan Utah's Honor is clean. What a great effort that was made from start to finish to bring this memorial home.
I beautiful monument one of hundreds being built across our great nation.
We can not state this enough
For all to see and read, I trust that parents will bring their children around to see and teach their family why this is here and what it represents.
Patriots everyone of them, All of those who have been effected by the loss of a loved one in the line of duty.
The dedication was very well done, the speakers were well presented.
Sturdy but with a hole through the granite in the shape of a soluting member of our armed services, it might represent the hole in all of our hearts for the one lost and all those who must go forward without one of their own.
Solemn but with dignity
The memorial is even more touching at night when you are alone with no distractions.
I can not thank the city, the buinesses and individuals who have done so much to make this possible and for the sarifices of the families which this memorial represents. I had to wear my uniform for all those who could not be here in their own uniform.