I got to my unit in lakenheath about a year after Jolly 22 went down from a bird strike. When I got to the unit people were still telling their stories as if they had just passed away. Anyone in uniform knows that it sucks to hear about the death of your fellow service men and women, and thats a gentle understatment.
Aside from suicides and car accidents I had a guy i was working with from MARSOC. He was EOD. After him and his unit were done training us he went to Afghanistan. I found out 6 months later he was shot in the back by some guy in the afghan army as they were working with each other as allies.
Oh. And stories. Boy do service members and veterans have stories to tell on memorial day.
If you ever see a vietnam vet, i emphasize and implore you to thank them for their service. Any time ive lent an ear to a vietnam vet on memorial day, i have had to help unpack the most horrible stories a person could ever hear. I dont mind that, because someone has to. Its not like ive done this with just one or two, ive done it with many. Its usually them that initiates the conversation and holy shit its always just an extremely dark and wild ride.
Thank you.
https://www.usafe.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/748532/jolly-22-honoring-their-legacy/