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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In 1967, the cap on the number of women allowed to serve was repealed, along with the highest rank that a woman was allowed to achieve.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”

  3. Thank you my sister, from a four tour combat vet it’s what we do that makes us all stronger together as a team and family

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  4. To my knowledge no women in the family have singed up. I’d be proud if they did. Family history is Army, Navy, Marines and Army Air Corps. Military service dates all the way back to Civil War Texas Confederate Cavalry. As I chase the family tree into the past I suspect to find more that have served.

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  5. Awesome comments from a great girl! I live in Canada, and wanted to fly a fighter plane, but a ” funny noise” in my heart kept me out of the air. I have the highest respect for our military personnel, and any time I see them, I thank them for their contribution to our country. What a lot of today’s public doesn’t understand or want to acknowledge is the fact that hundreds of thousands of military people have died or been injured so we can be free. I thank all military personnel for their contributions to our way of life.
    David Rechlo

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  6. Dorothy-
    Thanks for the well written article and letter. There was a fair amount of research involved, and it will be something I pass on to others. As a fellow Veteran, I thank you for your Service and hope you have found a good niche. I finally found one that is literally in competition with my fresh ground coffee, as to which one I like more- My coffee, or my profession. It is good to get out and experience many new things you have not done, and carry forward the knowledge, experiences and understanding that only us Vets (dysfunctional or not) can bring to the table. My family and I wish you well in all your endeavors, and pray it is fulfilling- Paul

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  8. All Vets remember that your service to our country is appreciated more than you know. I served in the Navy flying F4 Phantoms during the Vietnam conflict. My time was spent with my squadron on an aircraft carrier in the Med. I never got to Vietnam .Just the luck of the draw.
    It is still hard today, even though that time was 50 years ago, to speak to vets who did serve in Vietnam about my efforts. But , I am still proud of my service because we were ready to go — 24- hours a day for any thing that came up in the Middle East during the late 1960’s to early 70’s.. So for those who served in a war zone then and those have recently served and are serving now, I salute you..

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  9. Dear Dorothy,
    Thank you for your support and thank you for YOUR service. I appreciate and support any woman who chooses to enter military service. It is a long known, if not so often stated, fact that women are every bit as qualified to do the job as men. I come from a mostly military family. Both of my parents served during WWII. My father was in the Philippines in the Army and my mom served at Pearl Harbor in the Navy. I was in the Army in Vietnam. My sister spent 23 years in the Navy and was all over the world. I also have two brothers who didn’t serve, but I don’t hold that against them.
    Thanks again for your letter and for being a Sister in Arms.

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  10. To all the veterans at Fightfast, thank you for serving this great country, and thank all of the folks at Fightfast for caring enough to do what you do.

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  11. From a Navy Airdale (enlisted ATN) who flew 300 ECM missions over Vietnam (Laos/Cambodia where it never happened) I applaud you and all our fellow veterans

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  13. Ms Nelson,
    We can never underestimate our women in the military. My parents best friends were a couple named Chuck and Lori, both Army vets in WWII (as was my Dad, WWII and Korea). Lori was a nurse in WWII and her field hospital was actually captured by Germans. She was one of the first females to be awarded a Silver Star. I was injured in Vietnam and the nurses there were absolutely amazing. When I got commissioned, I flew with women in Desert Shield, Storm, Provide Comfort, Yugoslavia and the Bosnia crisis. They were all great friends, officers and aviators!
    Our women today are serving at all levels, in virtually every career field all over the world. If anyone questions the role of women in the military, I suggest they Google Gen Lori Robinson, our Nation’s first female 4 star and combatant command, Commander!
    Scott

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  14. Dorothy , thanks for sharing the history of women in the armed services. Thanks to you and the other women and men of the armed services for your faithful unselfish service to our country and all the sacrifices made in your service. Happy Veterans Day!
    From an Air Force brat

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  19. Thankyou very much. My husbands aunt died from inhaling welding fumes because they needed women to build the Navy fleets to go into combat
    What a horrible death she had to bear ,so young,but the boys out fighting left only women to build these ship, etc. They were not enrolled as a vet, but knew in their hearts, they were the last lines of defense for our great Nation

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  20. On this Veterans Day, I want to Thank You For Your Service and to Be Willing to Put Your Life on The Line to Serve and Protect the United States of America!!! May God Bless and Watch Over YOU in Everything You Do, and once Again…Thank You For Your Service!!!

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  22. Congratulations!! This history is enlightening. Thank you. I’m glad you were able to do a job you were good at. I tested 98% foe mechanical aptitude and ability on a test once and I was told that I may get employment at an Auto Parts store!!! My Mom had a garage and cafe so I was able to work on cars and drive a tow truck as well as cook meals!!

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  24. Deep heartfelt ‘Thank You’ to all who have served and continue to serve. We owe you a debt that can never be paid.

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  25. From a USMC Nam vet, I thank you for your service to this great country. The 11th of Nov is also tribute to women as well. Happy Veterans Day.

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  28. I am so Proud of you and all of the men and women who honorarily served our country with dignity and grace. For you see one of those men is my son,
    Sgt. James W Powell Jr. Who gave 15 years of service to his country. So to all of you in the military who served and are still serving “thank you” from the bottom of my heart. God bless you all and God bless America ?????

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  29. In my opinion the nurses in areas of action have never gotten the kudos they deserve. In some ways their service required more bravery than they would have needed to be hair on fire gunship pilots. Find one and give him or her a heartfelt thanks tomorrow.

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  33. Women have been a major support to men since the beginning of time. it’s about time we support them. I didn’t serve actively I made in air refueling hose for the fighters during Vietnam war .l

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  35. Dorothy I’m not very good with words and nor is my spelling. But my heart , love and prayers go to you and each and every service manual and women that fight for our country. And to those that gave up their lifes for us . You all do so much for your country and I got to say those of you that come home should always have a home and jobs to come ho.e to. Why I say that is cause there are those that come home and they have no one to come home to , some are forgotten . Dorothy thank you for all that you gave for us and done for your service men and women God Bless you all ………………………. lol see I told you I wasn’t good at speaking.. THANK YOU

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  36. I can appreciate your taking the time to write and share this. The way our Vets are treated is a travesty and pathetic!!!

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  37. Thank you for your service! and thank you for taking the time to write all of that. I would like to add that, as a man who went from being extremely active, and looking forward to the best years of my life, to being on 100% disability, I too know those dark feelings, and thoughts of taking the 158 grain way out. I have no answers, except to say that now, 14 years later, I am still here, and the dark thought/feelings are not as bad, nor do they come as often.
    I beg all of those having these feelings/thoughts to PLEASE get some pro. help. and NEVER give up!!!

    I wish a happy veterans day to all vets, their families, and loved ones.

    P.S. please excuse the bad typing. I do not have use of all my fingers…

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  40. God bless you Dorothy, and all men and women who put their lives on the line so that the world will be a better place! Primarily because of the sacrifices you make for the greater good of others!

    Thank you and God bless you all!!!
    Sincerely in your debt,
    Don Marshall

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  41. Hat’s off to all the men and women who fight for our freedom! I have nothing but the upmost respect for each and every one of you! God bless America!

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  42. Nice piece, JetMech. Always did appreciate you guys on the flt dk in pitching seas, rain – flashlight in your mouth – working in the dark to get the jet in the air. And that was in peacetime! Thanks for your thought & your service. Congrats on new job. Goat (Phantoms, TCats)

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  43. As a child I met many veterans, mostly from WWII, Korea and a few from WWI. They told me about the WACS and WAVS (SP) and “Rosie”. Found out my friend’s mother was a riveter ! Her husband was a Marine Raider, a very tough man. I have felt I didn’t do enough, could have done more wanted to do more but the higher ups always say “Don’t Rock the Boat”in viet nam. I went out at night by myself as I couldn’t trust anyone. I wish I had a few good women to “walk” with then.

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  44. Hey Dorothy,

    From a fellow “squid”, I really appreciate that you took the time to write those heartfelt words. I retired from the Navy in 1998 and had an incredibly, non-stop exciting career. I was a Radioman (RM1 AW/NAC) that served on ships, shore, and after about 8 years in, became a TACAMO Commications Supervisor and flew for the remaining 12 years of my career. As I look back, like you I met some incredible people that profoundly influenced my life. Just about every time I go out in town today I see men and women in uniform and it does my heart good knowing how much each of them sacrifice everyday. I try to thank as many as I can for their service to their country because, let’s face it, being patriotic isn’t that popular today. My father served in the Navy and my mother in the Coast Guard during WWII. Although she didn’t talk about it much, my mother was very proud to have been able to contribute to the war effort back then when it wasn’t that popular a thing for a woman to do. In closing, just a quick “Thank You” for YOUR service to your country and Happy Veterans Day to you as well. God Bless!!

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  48. Thank you for your sacrifices. Awesome you took the time to validate men and women who have served our great country keeping it safe.

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  50. vets are the reason we have a free and prosperous nation. Thanks to all who have served and all who are serving. Semper-Fi

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