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Happy Veteran’s Day From A Fellow Veteran

Hello Everyone!

As the newest member of the FightFast team, I have the unique privilege of sharing with you a very special THANK YOU to our great nation’s military veterans. From the moment that this country was born (and before) we have had brave men and women fight for our freedom at home and overseas. It’s an honor to be addressing so many of you today!

While we sometimes think it’s all men who do the work, I’d like to bring to light the contributions that women have made to our military. We often forget about the mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, girlfriends, and friends who stay here, supporting and waiting for their sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, and friends who go to war. The support that these women show our military is unparalleled. Women’s maternal instincts feed into the need we all have to have someone care for our well-being.

Women In The Military

And women are not just staying at home anymore. Rereading some of our military history makes my heart swell with pride for my gender. Before World War II, women were only allowed to serve as nurses and support staff, washing laundry and the like. World War I was actually the first time a woman could officially join the military. According to www.history.org and www.womensmemorial.org, of the 33,000+ women who served in World War I as nurses and support staff, 400 died in the line of duty.

The second world war brought with it the ability for women to join in other helpful roles such as mechanics, test pilots, administration, and ambulance drivers. Even though women were still not in combat, 88 of them were captured and held as Prisoners Of War. Shortly after WW2, Congress passed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, which allowed us permanent military status. For the first time, we were able to receive the same treatment and veteran’s benefits as men. This was also around the time that racial segregation ended, allowing the first African-American women to enlist.

In 1967, the cap on the number of women allowed to serve was repealed, along with the highest rank that a woman was allowed to achieve. This opened up the remainder of history for women to break boundaries and achieve things that had NEVER been possible.

Women have been POWs, been covered in blood that was and wasn’t theirs, and died in the line of duty right alongside the boys. They’ve also lead soldiers into combat, piloted combat missions and space shuttles, commanded ships, squadrons, hospitals, schools, and bases, healed, helped, and done a damn good job if it!

Words From A Fellow Veteran

My personal experience in the military was one that I cherish with all my heart. The people I met and places I went will stick with me until the end. I met so many amazing men and women during my service, and I keep meeting these incredible veterans even four years after receiving my DD-214.

When I was 19 years old, I felt stuck and unhappy. My older sister had joined the Navy as a corpsman, and while thinking about my future, the feeling that I could do that too just wouldn’t leave. I talked to my sister and really considered all the benefits and consequences for a whole three days before going to a recruiting office and getting my paperwork. Less than a month later, I was on my way to boot camp!

My rate (job) was Aviation Machinist Mate, working on aircraft engines. That would have been IMPOSSIBLE 75 years ago! I have so much pride for how far we’ve come!

And there are so many veterans out there who need to hear how proud of them you are and how much you appreciate them. We cannot forget that there are still veterans taking their lives every single day. Veterans who feel that their disabilities hinder them from being contributing members of society, or who don’t feel like they can live with the things they’ve had to do. These men and women need to hear that they matter and are appreciated and loved by our nation, TODAY.

From the bottom of all our hearts here at FightFast, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

Very Respectfully,
Dorothy Nelson (ADAN)

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467 thoughts on “Happy Veteran’s Day From A Fellow Veteran”

  2. I too am a veteran and wish to thank all who have served regardless of the job they performed. God willing, I will attend the veterans service at our county veterans park in Springfield, Ga.
    I am proud of my service and happy my name is on the wall that commerates all who have served since the civil war. May God bless them all.

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  3. Thank you for your service Dorothy. My two daughters were also in the Navy as Corpsmen along with their twin brothers, one of whom is still active. Bravo Zulu and welcome home.
    V/r,
    Jeff

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  4. I am truly proud of all the men and woman who serve our country. I have much respect for all. Each and everyone of you are a special breed and I am sure that God has a great reward for all of you.I greatly appreciate your service to our country and for all of Americas families.
    Thank you
    Angelia Page. 11/10/16

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  5. Being a Vet myself, I couldn’t not reply to your message. I feel no shame whatsoever in telling you that your words resonated with me so deeply and completely that my heart is still spilling
    quietly down my cheeks. There’s no
    blubbering at all. It’s just my eyes acknowledging the absolute verity of your well chosen words. You women are, and have been, appreciated from the moment I entered military service.
    I served “where we weren’t”, so I had little interaction with WAF’s.
    Be that as it may, several of my dearest friends are alive ONLY due to the excellence and expertise of the care provided to them by both male, and female, staff during and after MedEvac. (There go my eyes again.) I can, and do, thank and appreciate you for your service more than you can ever know.
    As a veteran of that TO during the mid, to late ’60’s, nothing of what you have said was ever said to me when I came home. Thank you from the bottom of our (I wasn’t there alone) hearts, all the way to the top (and then some!!).

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  10. You are so right we pray for our veterans and our military plus the police,without there service we would not have the freedom we have today.Thank You and God Bless You

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  11. THANKS: I was enlisted during the Viet Nam conflict. We were discouraged from wearing any military clothing off base. I am now touched by the appreciation for the military today. I hope and pray that our countrymen find real peace with God who is the CREATOR, and ultimate judge of all

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  13. Every night before I go to sleep I thank God for the men and woman of are armed forces . Without thier service and sacrifice the Freedom and Liberty we share today would not exist . Though there are no words that can truly express my love and thankfulness to live in this the land of the free and the home of the brave I will never forget to give thanks for those who stand watch guarding those prescouse liberties that have come at such a high cost well always remembering the sacrifice of our military personal in the defense of this great nation of ours so may God bless are militarily men and woman and may God bless this the United States of America .

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  14. We have to reflect on our troops and veterans everyday and say a little prayer for their safety and a prayer of thanks. Our Vets should be treated like royalty.

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  15. My husband is a Viet Nam vet who served as a military police officer in Germany during the early 60’s. I’m proud of his service and the service of all my fellow Americans who have expressed their patriotism and gratitude to their country by donating years of their life and facing the risk of losing it.

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  16. I to am a veteran 8 1/2 yrs. Many many moons ago and yes I say thank you to all the vets I meet.
    I also started my military career as an engine mechanic on jet engines then I went for the good stuff, Loadmasters on C-130 for the r minder of my time. GREAT JOB.

    HAPPY VETERANS DAY !
    I’m

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  17. I truely appreciate the role women have contributed in the support and security of our great Nation in the armed services. Thank you all for your service. God Bless you and God Bless America.

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  18. As a veteran and a father of a woman soldier, Thank you for your service. I charish all the years I servied in the military. Thanks again.

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  19. Thank you for all you’ve done for our country. I really appreciate you. God bless you.

    Sometimes we forget that women put their lives on the line for the country too. Thank you again and may God be with you.

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  20. Thanks to all our veterans without you we could not be free! Thanks to the family I have lost in all of Americas war’s.

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  24. I thank you for your service to me , and to our country !! I hope all the Best to you and your family! ??????☝?️??

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  29. Thank you for your service, young lady! I helped many young women advance their careers while on active duty. I took great pleasure in watching them advance up their pay grades. I remember when women were first allowed in the Navy. First one was an airman going for jet engine mechanic, boy it didn’t take long for her to realize she wasn’t capable of lifting the heavy hardware needed to remove and install jet engines in fighter aircraft. Back then, there was lots of resentment for women entering the Navy, primarily because they were not allowed on aircraft carriers. It took many years for men to accept the fact that women are going to do what it takes to prove they can do their job assignments just as well or better than men can. I remember one time while on deployment, I put a first class woman in charge of the avionics shop. You should have heard the men complain about that! I told them since I would have to write her appraisal after the deployment, and grade her for her leadership skills. she is going to be in charge and if they refused to work with her they will answer to me and the commanding officer. She was out standing in her performance and the men were quite surprised at how well she managed her responsibilities. I had 5 P3-C aircraft and they were kept at 100% mission ready the whole time of the deployment!

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  30. A heartfelt thank you from Robert and Renae in Santa Fe Tx WE appreciate your service and by the way good pick on your civilian appointment

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  31. I come from a military family which has served in various services since the Civil War when my great-great-grandfather served in the Union Army out of Iowa. He survived, came back home, got married and had 23 children – WOW! Luckily for me, my great-grandfather was his 23rd child or a lot of us wouldn’t be here today. My great-aunt was an officer in the WAC (Women’s Army Corps) during WWII while at the same time my Father was an Army Air Corps pilot. His brother, my uncle, died in a naval battle in the Pacific, fighting the Japanese. Two of my brothers are retired Coast Guard, one brother is retired Navy, I’m retired Air Force and my two sons are Air Force veterans. So, we believe in military service to our ALREADY GREAT COUNTRY. Thank you for your service also and may God Bless and Keep You and all your family!

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  33. Dorothy – Thank you for your service! It is great to hear that you have joined the FightFast team and can give a woman’s perspective and insight to protecting ourselves and our families. I am fairly new to self defense and hope to learn a lot from this blog! Jan

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  38. Dorothy;
    i am happy for you, and especially that you came back alive…
    I was in the British civilian communications area, and as such not allowed to enlist in the regular forces, but still admired those of you who could be on the battlefield.
    I hope you have a very successful re-integration into society, and I wish you all the best for your future.
    God Bless
    Stephen

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  39. Dorothy,
    This all needed to be said years and years ago and how well you have put it. From the bottom of my heart I thank you for your service to our Country.
    Most Sincerely
    Rod Mann
    MM2 (SS

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  40. Bless you. Even though I do not know you, I am proud of you and have utmost respect for your service and your testimony of all the brave women who have been so instrumental in making this a great country.
    With utmost respect.
    Mike

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  41. I joined the Navy went to UDT school in Virginia and continued my special training. Spent seven years total in Vietnam. After time in the hospital got the OK to return to a new command. Served for twenty five years and wish I could have stayed the rest of my life with this brotherhood of men and women that I feel were my only family. My 100% disability put me out for good but I will never forget the people I have met. Great to hear from a fellow Vet.

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  43. I humbly thank you for your service Dorothy. We men all too often overlook women in the military, thinking only of them as the ones at home waiting for their man to return. I am truly grateful for your sacrifice, along with all the other vets, whether they be male or female. Once again, thank you for your service.

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  44. Thank you for your service. <3

    I am a Navy Chief's (RET) wife of 30 years. He retired after serving 22 years as an MTC E-7.

    I am also the Mom of an Army soldier who got out after serving 6 years. There is a lot of Military on both sides of the family, Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy. I am proud of them all.

    God bless you for answering the call.

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  45. Thank you ,for I met some very good. Women doing a great job whenI was in the A F back on 49 to 52 thank you all. Al

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  46. Thank you for doing your part in protecting our Great Nation and making me and my family feel safe at night. I and hundreds of millions of Americans Love you for your dedication to our safety and our freedom.

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  47. As I read this message, my eyes well up with tears and my skin gets goosebumps and I’m so appreciative of all men and women who put themselves in harm’s way for no other reason than the love of their country. To all veterans, a very heartfelt THANK YOU!

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  48. While I complained then, my years in the Coast Guard were the best time of my life. At age 10 I was in command of a 40′, twin screw, twin engine boat in New York harbor. What other employer gives you that kind of responsibility?

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