Happy Mem. Day- TX Exes, all of our troops!!

M

MissouHorn

25+ Posts
I would like to say a great big Hookem' Horns thanks to all of our Texas Exes, and to all of our troops, past and present, who are proudly serving our country and fighting for our freedom. Our freedom to barbecue, wash our cars, mow the lawns, and lastly, to be in the company of our family and friends on this day of remembrance.

Last but not least, this thanks goes to all of those troops and their families, who gave the ultimate sacrifice during this war and previous ones, for everything that I mentioned above.

I am proudly currently serving for the freedom of our country, but I also am just as proud to be a Texas Ex. I would like to ask all of my fellow Horns to reflect something of military reference for me, so that I may in turn share it with my fellow soldiers, i.e. your military service, no matter how short-lived or irrevelant you may think it is, the service of a relative or friend, etc.

Thanks in advance
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One year when I was in college, we had to interview a veteran and write a report on them for a class that I took. My boss at the time was not just a boss to me, but more like a part of the family, as he and my deceased grandfather had worked together for many years. They were both veterans of World War II, and my boss had been a glider pilot. He flew his glider over the beaches of Normandy and landed troops and supplies behind the enemy lines. I have never enjoyed writing a paper more in my life, because for me, this assignment brought the reality of the bravery and the sacrifices that these men make to life. I think days like today truely touch the lives us all in ways that unfortunately many take for granted. Many people think of it as just an extra weekend day to bar-b-que and drink beer. For me, I remember my grandfather and my friend, and I'm overwhelmed with pride and gratitude and I'm humbled by the fact that I could never be thankful enough. To all who serve or have served our great country, I would like to express the appreciation of myself, my family, and all of my descendants for the freedoms we enjoy and the nation in which we live. God Bless and Hook 'Em!!
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This is a day late, but, I think, appropriate to the OP's request:

I was drafted into the Army in '59 after one year at UT, and stationed in Germany. The Army was different in those days, with many misfits, etc., and many of the NCOs and officers were abusive because of lowest-common-denominator thinking, i.e., if one enlistee in the company was a fuckup, treat everyone as fuckups.

There was one major exception. His name was William Roush and he advanced from Lieutenant to Captain while I was there and became my company commander. He was motivated and very intense, yet respectful to the troops, and in turn was widely respected and admired.

One Saturday morning during the regular inspection, he came across my UT ID in my wall locker. We talked for about five minutes, and it turned out that he was a UT graduate. This was in June '61 and the only conversation we ever had.

Last fall (2007), several times in a 2-month period, I had flashback memories of Captain Roush, wondering how his life had gone, etc. It was strange because he kept popping into my mind when I hardly knew him.

On February 28, 2008, while reading the Houston Chronicle, something caught my eye on the edge of the page: it was an In Memoriam for William Roush, who had been killed during the Tet Offensive in Viet Nam on Feb 28, 1968. Dead 40 years! His list of accomplishments and military medals was stunning; he was truly a hero.

I was thunderstruck reading this, and to this day wonder how it happened that I had been thinking of him for several months and then reading the notice of his death.

RIP William Roush, you were a good man and a good soldier.
 
I put my flags up twice a year. On Memorial Day for the guys I knew that didn't make it back. And on Veterans Day for the guys like me that did.
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