November 12Nov 12 6 hours ago, BillyGoatHill said: Long line of veterans in my family (both sides) dating back for sure at least to the Civil War, possibly further if dad's genealogy search was correct. Not sure really why as there was never any pressure to join, it was just something that many of my family chose to do. My wife's family has a similar history also. Anyway, THANKS to all the Veterans (or family members) on here and everywhere else. It's cool to have this thread and share some stories & pics. Ensign Dad just after graduation from UT '57, and his ship USS Cowell in Sydney harbor some months later. He told me they were the first ships in the harbor since the war. Their money was no good with the Aussies, they wouldn't let them pay for anything. Bottom pic are some of my buddies and I from McChord & Pope AFB around '85-86. If you talk to Aussies today that remember the history they sound much the same. The gratitude they have for the Americans showing up to hold the line and keep Japan from making it to them is still echoed even now. Australians are a patriotic lot as a whole. The Kokoda Track in New Guinea is still an extremely popular trek across the Owen Stanley range that many Australians will do to pay homage to the Aussies who died fighting the Imperial Japanese Army across it and then back. I want to do it at some point to retrace the Americans who crossed it as well. Edited November 12Nov 12 by UpperWestside
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