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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In 1967, the cap on the number of women allowed to serve was repealed, along with the highest rank that a woman was allowed to achieve.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. Dorothy ,your contribution to our country can never be denied you and every woman that ever served as a vietnam vet I know what it’s like to be shunned by your country. God bless you for everything you have contributed and all the women like you.

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  3. Thank you.
    In Australia today we refer to this day as Remembrance Day.
    On the 11 hr on the 11th day of the 11th month we shall remember them.
    For those that gave and continue to give the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom of all the people.

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  6. From an old Viet Nam brown water navy vet, “Thanks for your service” and thanks for your willingness to assume the duties of a responsible citizen after your formal service, your years in uniform, are done. For those who accept their responsibility to our country, it never ends. BZ, Maam!

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  7. I cherish the experiences, the friends (both male and female) and comradery, that those who never served will ever understand. I still stay in touch, with several of the soldiers I served with, in my 24 years, in the U. S. Army. I think almost daily of the friends I lost in Vietnam and Desert Storm, knowing they give it all. Some in this great country of ours, loose track of the substantial sacrifices made by our Veterans. Hopefully tomorrow Veterans Day, will jog their memory and they will realize that Freedon is not Free. It comes with a very high price indeed.

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  8. Dear Dorothy Nelson first and foremost thank you for your service! I am proud of you and all past,present and future military personnel who have served,serving or will be serving. Without all of you this nation would not survive. Many have given the ultimate sacrifice, their lives so that the rest of us can lead a free life. Again thank you for your service.

    With respect, David Tucker

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  9. Dear Dorothy. Thank you for (Your Service) As a member of the army from 1969 to 75. I will never forget. Thanks to all VETS every were.

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  11. Hi Dorothy
    Fine words of examples of all these younger vets who should be ‘thought of’ ‘prayed of’ and ‘believed in’..they are the future of the military fighting machine from every task needed to keep a unit primed and ready.May these younger vets gain experience through people like yourself and prayed for to soldier on in these dark times.Im a uk Citizen and spent many years in the middle east including libya where i made very good friends with the militia protecting oil fields…i had more fun with them when they included me in thier Ak47 practice than i did at work ha ha
    A regimental fighting unit will always overcome with the guidance of experienced vets like yourself,May god bless you and all you serve with along with the british forces and may peace one day be god given.My prayers and thoughts to all servicemen and thier families

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  12. bless your courage and compassion my sister. your a blessing to our entire planet. your heart is huge! shine on and keep lighting our path with your love! thank you for compassion.

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  16. Thanks for your service.
    I too am a female retired MSGT in the Marines, who started out as an aviation electrician . It is so different being a female veteran. We don’t fit the
    usual veteran idea.
    Regardless, all veterans need to know they can receive help from the VA. They are not fast, so as soon as you transfer out of the service and into the civilian world you need to apply for your VA status. Additionally, the American people could do a much better job of appreciating our veterans.

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  18. Blessings upon you Dorothy, and thank you for serving and protecting our Nation’s people! Given that you followed somewhat in your Sister’s footsteps, you might want to look far back amongst your ancestors to find yet others of both genders, to see if among them are other gallant ladies! My reasoning is that courage is an issue of the heart; the function of the heart is circulating blood; and life is in the blood; therefore your blood ancestors may likely have demonstrated courage in their lives as well!! It may prove a hidden treasure worth finding!!!! Semper Fi !

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  19. Thanks, you are so right about women and how they have been overlooked in so many ways. Thanks for your service and all our service men and women. Thanks for taking the time to reminding us about the roles of women and how important they are to us. God Bless, and God Bless the USA.

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  20. Anytime Dorothy,and I love to very much thank you and all the women that gave and sacrificed everything for our way of life,many times again thank you and all the women that served,all of you deserve the purple heart of life.Much love,Michael.

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  21. First, let me thank you for being an American patriot. I understand the roles, women played at home and abroad, as well as working as welders, machinists, etc., during our wars, when most of the able bodied men were in combat. Women veterans are truly brave and deserve all the respect as anyone. Thank you so much, for your words. They comfort me, in my darkest hours, and help me to cope.

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  22. As Vietnam era vet with four and a half years active duty, I must honestly say that my time in the Air Force was less satisfying than what you seem to have experienced. Attending a tech school to learn how to maintain and repair ground equipment that supports aircraft was less an education than what I learned from meeting and working with my fellow Americans from everywhere in our country. Ethnic differences aside, our country is so vast that I was able to recognize various culture differences even though all of us were born and bred Americans.

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  23. Dorothy, thank you for your service to our country. I too served and thank every one who has and are currently serving. Fight Fast is an awesome company and I hope you enjoy the company your around.

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  25. You and all people who serve are so awesome and deserve the best America can offer, I love your blog and absolutely we need to find ways to really get through to all showing how amazing and admired they truley are. God bless each and every one!

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  26. To a Veteran from a Veteran,

    Thank you Dorothy, for your eloquent words! Thank you for your service and…thank you to all Veterans everywhere for all your sacrifices and dedication.

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  28. I served over 7 years in the Marine Corp and had some good friends that were Women Marines. They were given the same type of training as we got and made fine soldiers. In the Corp we were told that every Marine is your brother regardless of their gender, we are all one family – a Marine is a Marine. Semper Fi

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  30. I would like to thank you for your service, and for the fine words you wrote. My first mentor was a Marine, and he was not only a mentor, but a friend to the end. I have nothing but respect for the men and women that have served; I chose not to, but many of my relatives have. I am eternally grateful to them, and you.

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  32. A hearty AMEN!

    My father who turns 91 on January 26, 2017 served as an infantryman in World War II in the Philippines and after the war served in the occupation of Korea. 1944-1946. He’s doing very well at his age. Acts more like a man in his 70’s. He still lives where he was born and still mows the grass with a push mower. We have 2 hilly acres with a a lot of trees. He even runs the snowblower in the winter!

    Thanks to all who served!

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  34. I remember the nurse that helped when wounded in Nam, she was very caring and helped a very scared17 yr old. Thanks for your service. Semper Fi! Sgt USMC

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  37. Thank you for your service and this very informative piece! I am not a veteran, but my dad and uncle served in the Navy and I am very appreciative of all veterans! My little brother, as well as his son are both graduates of West Point, and my nephew still serves today! So I have a special place in my heart for all those who serve, and believe all who return wounded deserve much better than they have the last 8 years! Thanks again for all you did and do!

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  38. My respect and compliments to Dorothy Nelson for her thoughtful blog post and my thanks for her service, Veterans are a wellspring of national honor, and a source of inspiration for younger generations. The comradeship, dedication and fighting spirit of the nation’s veterans served well in times of conflict. The national populace would do well to emulate their magnificent example.

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  40. From that very special place in my heart thank you for all the hard work. The hard things, the hard paid sacrifice. That you and so many other have done for us.

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  42. To those who are currently serving, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your commitment to the safety and security of this great nation. To those that have done their service and returned home, know that the vast majority of regular citizens like myself are both honored and humbled by the mental and physical sacrifices you have made defrnding America and our freedoms. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be getting through each day but we not only want you, we need you. Without your wisdom, experience and guidance the young people of today are destined to repeat the mistakes of the past. Finally to the families of ALL of those that we have lost, your sacrifices are not forgotten.

    God Bless You All

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  44. Dear Dorothy; You have done your research very well ! Once people have tasted True Freedom (Life , Liberty, etc.) …there is all ways some evil lurking in the shadows that wants to steal that gift of FREEDOM from you….(foreign OR domestic). The veterans who did service to this country (of ,for, and by the people) will never be forgotton, and the tribute paid on Veterans Day is a constant reminder that the price of that Freedom is allways hanging by the very same people that fought for it, served to maintain it, and yes gave their lives for it. This Must Be told to the next generation; so they also can appreciate the sacrifice of so many to preserve what we cherish so deeply. SO a big THANK YOU Dorothy !! We have the time to Honor those who gave to us our FREEDOM, we must protect this freedom or we will lose it forever. Jim

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  46. I want to thank all of you that serve in our Military. I had two brothers that served in the army. God Bless all of you

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  50. My family has served on Carriers subs, & on the ground pounding boots. Personally the commitment of service in the face of certian death, still run to help a fallen brother in trouble odds are out the window , and bring em back. Amazing commentment to service that I can’t express into wordz. Still Greatful 4 Uall find peace within, your worth it. THANK YOU for your Commitment for us.

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