Duty

[Helipilot]

Great RR Mike, Thank you so much for posting. It brought tears to my eyes and my sweet bride of 45 years shed some with me.

Roger
101st Airborne, I Corps, RVN, 68 & 69

[mikegc]

Originally Posted by Helipilot

Great RR Mike, Thank you so much for posting. It brought tears to my eyes and my sweet bride of 45 years shed some with me.

Roger
101st Airborne, I Corps, RVN, 68 & 69

Good evening, Roger. It's always nice to hear from a Screamin' Eagle! You guys had a tough time in your AO and I've a great deal of respect for your unit. I went right by Fort Campbell on my current trip and thought about the 101st's rich heritage protecting our country. My former CO, Mike, sent a boxed DVD set of "Band of Brothers" to Major Dick Winters to autograph. The former 101st major did that and also sent an signed photo of himself. It hangs on the wall in my office and is one of my most prized possessions.

Welcome home, Roger!

Mike

[mikegc]

Originally Posted by edsollen

Something got in my eyes as I read this report, Now were are the tissues?
I can only offer a heartfelt thank you for your service as well as your report.

Thank you Ed.

I'm currently traveling and I missed your post. Again, many thanks for your kind comment.

Mike

[mikegc]

Originally Posted by Haywood

I just found this today also. Thank you for your service! Thank you also for sharing your report and some of your memories with us.

Many thanks, Haywood, and you're certainly welcome.

Mike

[kitesurfer]

I'm one of the late ones too. i thoroughly enjoyed your ride report...the pictures and the story. Thanks for sharing.

[tasmith5]

Like many others, I just stumbled on this most excellent thread! Thank you Mike for sharing such an inspiring story! (The pictures are great as well!) Having served 20 years in uniform, your story gave me cause to reflect on my own experience, the lands I visited, and the many friendships that were made during that time.
Thank you for your service!

Tim
I CORPS Artillery

[mikegc]

Originally Posted by tasmith5

Like many others, I just stumbled on this most excellent thread! Thank you Mike for sharing such an inspiring story! (The pictures are great as well!) Having served 20 years in uniform, your story gave me cause to reflect on my own experience, the lands I visited, and the many friendships that were made during that time.
Thank you for your service!

Tim
I CORPS Artillery

Thank you, Tim & Kitesurfer! I appreciate you guys taking the time to read the ride report.

Mike

[phoneman]

Excellent read on friendship and honor among those friends. Thanks for sharing.

[jblausey]

Mike,

I had a moment to look at ADV today and found this. A gem of a RR and such a touching story as well. Saw you are in Norther CA. If you are still in the area I would love to offer you a cold beverage and a place to stay if you need one.

Thank you for your story and your service.

Cheers,

John

[High Country Herb]

I wasn't even born when you met Mike, but this still brought a tear to my eye.

Thank you for everything you have done for the cause of freedom, Sir.

[mikegc]

Originally Posted by jblausey

Mike,

I had a moment to look at ADV today and found this. A gem of a RR and such a touching story as well. Saw you are in Norther CA. If you are still in the area I would love to offer you a cold beverage and a place to stay if you need one.

Thank you for your story and your service.

Cheers,

John

Thank you, John, for your kind comments. I was in northern CA a little over three weeks ago but am back home in NC. I was very close to Petaluma, spending a couple of nights in Greenbrae before moving on. The next time I'm out there, probably next spring, I'll shoot you a PM and take you up on that cold beverage. I sure could have used it the other day . . . it was 106°!

Mike

[luni]

In the last year or so I got a sudden desire to track down people I had served with in the Big Red One. I didn't know exactly why but I wasn't comfortable with the idea of those people being a memory from something I did once. Lucky for me Facebook made it easy. You articulated what I couldn't. Even serving with other combat veterans on a daily basis only those men have the shared experience of where we were and what we did. Thank you for your service.

OIF 2007-2008 Baghdad Troop Surge (I'm on the right)


Now I have the privilege of leading my own soldiers and I'll be damned if I don't see a familiar looking PFC in a few of them. I can only hope I have the same impact my leaders had on me.

Wearing an All American patch now I'll be at Green Ramp to welcome back the Golden Brigade next week.

[mikegc]

Originally Posted by High Country Herb

I wasn't even born when you met Mike, but this still brought a tear to my eye.

Thank you for everything you have done for the cause of freedom, Sir.

Well, Herb, you brought a smile this this old soldier. Many thanks for taking time to read my year-old post. I served a long time ago and the experience sure gave me an appreciation for those who paved the way for me. Also, hardly a day goes by that I don't think about those serving now. It's nice to know "they have our backs."

Mike

[mikegc]

Originally Posted by luni

In the last year or so I got a sudden desire to track down people I had served with in the Big Red One. I didn't know exactly why but I wasn't comfortable with the idea of those people being a memory from something I did once. Lucky for me Facebook made it easy. You articulated what I couldn't. Even serving with other combat veterans on a daily basis only those men have the shared experience of where we were and what we did. Thank you for your service.

OIF 2007-2008 Baghdad Troop Surge (I'm on the right)


Now I have the privilege of leading my own soldiers and I'll be damned if I don't see a familiar looking PFC in a few of them. I can only hope I have the same impact my leaders had on me.

Wearing an All American patch now I'll be at Green Ramp to welcome back the Golden Brigade next week.

Wow, Luni, what a great photo! I totally understand your desire to reconnect with your Big Red One buddies! When you go through "the insanity," you never forget those guys who helped you get home. There's a connection there that will never be broken.

The 82nd is a fine division with a rich heritage. Your time as a grunt will be invaluable now that you're privileged to lead. The fact that you realize what your leaders did for you will be apparent to those you lead. I believe, sir, you'll be an officer of worth. "No mission too difficult, no sacrifice too great, Duty First" will go well with "All the Way."

My most humble thanks for your service, sir. Take care of your soldiers and yourself.

Mike

[biometrics]

I just found this thread... and I am awed. WELCOME HOME and thank you for your service, and for sharing this story... Thanks to ALL who serve and who have served.

from a brother in arms...

-John
U.S. Army (Retired) October,1967- February,1988