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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In 1967, the cap on the number of women allowed to serve was repealed, along with the highest rank that a woman was allowed to achieve.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; My history and experiences are similar to yours. Mine was Air Force related. I joined in 1943 and continued active and reserves into 1973. My personal and professional growth seems immeasurable. I earned my rating of Pilot and over time held several slots, all good. As I continued I grew with the assignments and late in my time I became a unit commander (twice). My experiences and training meshed very well with my civilian fields in education–it was a two-way street. I retired after over 40 years of teaching, serving as a collage professor and department chairman. If I had to do it all over again, I would. There are those who have had some rough times in the military. I didn’t, I won.

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  5. Wow! Well said Dorothy!! Thank you for your service as well as all the veterans out there. Thank you very much for you selfless service to our country!!

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  7. Hey Squidly! Thanks for reminding all of us about our SISTERS -In-Arms! Many didn’t realize it at the time (1960-80’s) that Female Marines endured the SAME Boot Camp indignities, challenges (Mental and physical) and dangers as I and my Brother marines endured and overcame!

    Thank you for your service and the life saving maintanence you gave my Brother and Sister Marines and Sailor’s Aircraft. (Truth in lending here: After Aviation Structural Mechanic training at NAS Memphis, I was stationed at MCAS(H) Santa Ana, CA. for the duration of my enlistment, working on CH-46 Sea Knight Helicopters.)

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  10. Amen !!
    “Thank You” to All veterans, each and every one for your service, AND – as Dorothy noted, to the Families of each and every one !! Absolutely an integral part of the amazing experience living a military life is ~
    God Bless You All ,
    Bryan T. Bowen

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  13. yea i do understand there are alot of men and women that do not get the recognition that they deserve so i would be more than happy to send a great big huge thank you to all that have served and the ones that still are serving our country to make it the country that we are so grateful to live in today so i would be more than happy to say thank you and god bless you all.

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  14. There is no way that we can ever, ever say thank you enough to all the veterans, men and women, who have fought for us every way possible. And yes the Families 2 have watched and waited as their loved ones served our country for us even though many of them never returned home. It is my prayer every day that God blesses all of our veterans and their families. They are the reason that we are still Americans

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  17. Thank you Little Sister for your service to our Great Country. I had some of the finest females working with and for me while in the service. So yes, thank you to all our Veterans male and female.

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  18. USAF TSgt (E6) retired (Vietnam vet). Thanks for the article. Good times and bad. Events I’ll never forget. I was lucky. No PTSD.

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  19. As a military brat; then a military wife; and last but not least the mother of 2 sons in the military, I know and understand the hard work and sacrafice that you and the rest of our veterans and active military give from the bottom of your hearts each and every day to keep us safe and free. GOD BLESS YOU AND ALWAYS KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE FOR YOU AND PRAY FOR YOUR SAFE RETURN AS YOU LOOK OUT FOR US EACH AND EVERY DAY. Sincerely, Jan H.

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  24. From the bottom of my heart I truly want to thank all our women veterans for there service on this OUR veterans day.
    You all have done such a great job at what you do or no mater what you do you do a great job. Us fellows veterans can’t
    thank you enough. God Bless and Semper FI.
    Jim W5CJB
    Semper Fi USMC

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  26. Hello Dorothy,
    It was wonderful to read your email. I don’t normally reply to these types of messages, so consider yourself honoured with a ‘first’ in this respect.
    A well written article carrying a powerful emotional-punch that really can only come from a female. Well done!
    From an old chauvinist in New Zealand.

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  27. Thank you Dorothy!! Your services to our great nation are appreciated! God be with you and all other service men and women on this day and always. Prayers and love from my heart to all yours, Karen

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  29. I am a proud veteran who feels great knowing I am among some great men and women who served this country willingly or not but served none the less. I was not subject to some of the worst things that have happened to some but am damn honored to be considered with the ones that endured them. I feel the best that can be said is “ALL GAVE SOME, SOME GAVE ALL.”

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  31. Dorothy Nelson I thank you for service, and your courage to enlist in the military, Has I thank all my brother and sister in arm’s, I to am proud to have service in the 82nd airborne ranger in 1974 to 1977. And I thank all who service, and proud to be in the family of the military’s. I pray always for all, may God Bless us all, I thank him every day. Happy Veterans day.

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  32. Nicely written. Thank you for your service and most of all Thank You for coming back alive
    Doc Johnson
    HM3 USN/USNR
    2nd MAR/DIV
    1980-1985

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  33. Our great Country is only great because of the men and women who are willing to defend our Freedoms and allow this great experiment to continue to exist as the best country on the planet..the world often seems upside down and unstable but you have my undying support for defending our land along with promoting peace through strength. My gratitude may seem hollow for what many take for granted, but I want to express my unwavering support and thanks.
    Good Bless!- JR

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  35. Hi, Dorothy:

    Thank you for your nice letter. It is an honor and a privilege to be a Veteran. My nine years in the Air Force were time well spent, and I don’t regret it. I hope that soon we will forge some kind of National Service requirement for all kids to spend a couple of years doing something (not necessarily military) for the country. Fix roads, build bridges, upgrade the network infrastructure, etc etc. What do you think about the idea? A number of my old 1960s friends have approached me about this.

    Once again, thank you for your service!

    Roger Edwards, Yukon OK

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  36. I AM PROUD OF ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN IN THE SERVICE NO MATTER WHAT BRANCH. I SALUTE YOU. BE SAFE AND HAVE VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS. I’LL BE PRAYING YOU, THANKS AGAIN

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  37. First off, I for one am glad to informally meet one of our women that were in the military. Though I don’t know you personally, I am as proud of you as I am of my Brother who served in Bangkok But ended his tour of duty in NAM as a punishment by the Army cause he went over Chain of Command because while in Bangkok the Army brushed over an incident that cause a buddy of his that got killed and they did nothing to rectify it. But that’s another story for another time.

    Personally, my feelings are based on how from the very beginning had women in uniform, fighting shoulder to shoulder with their male troops. As a civilian, I salute you for your bravery and am proud to as a veteran and wish you the very best of luck weather you where you are or move on to new ventures.

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  38. I am 52, a student of history and I am proud to be an American. I have been an insulin dependent diabetic for 45 of my 52 years. My point is although I personally could never serve I am immensely proud of all who have that have sacrificed of themselves to the point of giving their lives to protect the freedoms to many in this Great nation appear to take for granted now.
    To all who have served, supported or lost someone who served, I extend my gratitude, and heartfelt thank you for protecting this nation I love.
    God bless each and all.
    With admiration and pride. PDV

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  39. My God! What a e-mail!!! I TRUELY feel as if it is one that I can wholly identify with. I retired from the Navy in ’98. A male 1st Class Petty Officer. I was married through most of my career ( 2 separate marriages) having children with both. When I was at sea, they were left behind to not only raise our kids by themselves, but also take on the duties of making sure all bills were paid, grass was mowed, household repairs were taken care of, and the list goes on. Oh! By the way, they also had full time jobs! One also went to college during all of this achieving her Master’s Degree in Psychology! Purely amazing! All I did was float on a carrier (USS Saratoga CV-60) and rebuild jet engines. Something I really enjoyed doing. Who gave more? Me or these women?
    I now have a daughter 26yrs old, who recently earned her Doctors Degree and is now in the U. S. Air Force, stationed in Virginia. Do I even have to say how proud I am?

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  40. First thank you for enlightment of woman in the service of wars past n present GB all, and a heart true to our vets all and active service men and women THANK YOU! God Bles and salute to ALL.

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  41. Every night….my daughter and I pray for the health and safety of our men and women in uniform… Thanks just doesn’t seem enough. We all MUST remember how and why we are still here in this great country… We only ask not to be forgotten and given our due support of a thankful nation.

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  42. Thanks Dorothy, it is great that you have spoken for the female gender and I bet with much pride. I have served with men and women of all races and very happy to do so. I was a corpsman striker and my mentor was African/American. He was very inteligent and kind. I really learned a lot from him and I miss him alot. When I was discharged I began a career that for the most part was for women. In the late 1960’s it was rare to see men in the nursing field. I had some really great teachers/instructors over the years and had a great time doing it. I was proud to serve and work with all of them.

    B

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  43. Well done sister. When I went into the Army back in ’71 the only women I saw were REMF’s or hospital staff (and thank heaven for them!). I’m quite glad things have changed for you since. Now if we can do something about the asshats whose only way to get any p***y is to take it by force, and either hand them their bloody nuts or do a better psych profile on folks enlisting. I don’t have any real answers, but something has got to be done about the current state of enlistment of gang culture. I understand they lowered the bar to fill slots, but maybe now they will quit letting in gang related ink ( yes sir, I swear I gave all that up to serve)- BS!

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  44. Hello Ms. Nelson, First of all I want to Thank you and your sister personally for your willingness to put yourselves into harms way to protect our freedoms!!! I hold all Military Personnel in the highest of regards, as well as respecting every man and woman who committed to serve in the fight for the American Liberties!

    TO ALL THE VET’S WHO HAVE AND THOSE WHO ARE STILL SERVING………H A P P Y V E T E R A N S D A Y!!!!!!!

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  45. American women are smart tough as nails.
    I am a vet and also grew up in a military family
    my dad was a career army enlisted man.
    WW 2 and Korea when I was a kid. I know how tuff my mom was. I am a vet served in air force on a flight line operating a crash truck with foam did not see any war time
    duty. To young for trendsetters in Korea and out of the military by the time Vietnam War started

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  47. Hello Dorothy,

    I for one, appreciate Those fine words. I know that there are many, many, others that feel the same way .

    Thank You!

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  49. I am a viet nam vet and to this day it brings me to tears when ever I hear a thank you for your service. I was and still am a very proud vet.

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