Met a WWII vet today .

Extremely nice old gentleman . Marine , served in the Pacific . Said he drove Higgins boats . My Dad was a WWII combat veteran so those guys have a special place in my heart .

Yep. I respect the heck out of those guys. My pop was a gunner in a 5" 38 mount on the Nevada and Iowa. He didn't like to talk about it too much.

My dad was part of the 81st wild cats got a Silver Star. I do miss him.

My dad was a crew chief for the Q Queenie B-24 Heavy Bomber with the 445 Bombardment Group stationed in Tibenham, England. I am glad to say he is still with us at 98 years old and still lives on his own. I can't wait spend the day with him on Christmas day.

My father-in law was a navigator on a B-24. 451st Group, Shot down April 25 1945 over Linz Austria; repatriated May 10. Coincidentally, I saw your post was on December 19 and my father-in-law passed away December 19, 1991 - 26 years ago.

I try to speak to the older vets as often as I can, and at a minimum, to thank them. A couple of years ago while in the grocery store I spoke to a man who asked "How did you know?" I told him that I noticed his Marine Corps watch, and that my dad is a Marine who served in Korea. He said, "Me too. A lot of us Korean vets always get left out." I told him that I wanted to thank him in particular because I know what he went through from my own father's explanations. When I asked for a second handshake for an extra thank-you, I could tell that it really meant something to him. That event made me even more motivated to say thank you.

Particularly at this time of the year, I am thankful for the people who have gone before us and paid the bill for the many liberties that we enjoy. I hate the thought of so many families at home without their loved ones, either because they are serving in harm's way or are never coming home. We need to do everything we can for the vets and their families and to make sure that we preserve and cherish the freedom they bought for us.