Veterans Day 2011

[hotcorner4444]

Thank you to all who serve and have served. The words themselves are not enough, but they need to be said as often as possible.

Some baseball military veterans related sites:

http://baseballhall.org/news/press-releases/museum-celebrates-veterans-day-friday

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/hof/veterans_who_are_in_the_hof.shtml


As part of my own military service I contributed to Dave Tomlin's career by playing catch with him in AIT at Ft. Leonard Wood in 1969. The two us narrowly avoided losing a very expensive bulldozer over the side of a small mountain (we summoned competent help before its demise became fact) which likely would have resulted in us both still being in the army paying for it, which would have short circuited his career for sure.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Tomlin

[drfreeze49]

Thank you ...and Thanks for your service

[OakAth72]

Good post......and a raised glass in honor of our veterans.

[PillPop]

Ditto!

[bkeat23]

While I played for the base team at my 2 stations, the only baseball related items was playing in a league against Dennis Bennett in 80-81. He was the best hitter in the league by a mile, and played 1b. We walked him every time up if he game was close, even with the bases loaded.

I played more softball in my 4 years in the AF than actually doing anything brave. I humbly salute the fellow Vets that\\gave more and those that gave all.

[dyork56]

Hot Corner--

Great big thank you for your service and the service of others; it's appreciated more than you will ever know!

Funny you mention Fort Lost in the Woods--I'm from Crocker, MO which is, roughly, 15 miles from base...small world.

Thank you again and the links are great!

Mike

[hotcorner4444]

Mike:

Thanks for the kind words. I missed out on Crocker because it's not on the road to Waynesville (which was off limits to us) or Rolla.

Also in my unit was Len Boyer of Joplin's "Baseball Boyer Brothers." Big, strong and one of the funniest guys I've ever met. He introduced me to Ken when Ken came to pick him up for Christmas leave. Kind of surreal when he said "My brother's going to pick me up -- want to meet him?" To me he was a big star, to Lenny he was just his older brother and ride home. weird.

Herm

[dyork56]

Herm--

That is pretty cool. It's funny how we forget that they are "people" too...

I actually hijaked my dad's name today (he is the real dyork, but we use his name for all strat related stuff....my mikesblues name has been retired for a while now), but can remember my only brush with fame pretty fondly.

We were eating dinner in the restaurant of the dowtown St. Louis Mariott--the one by the ballpark--and my dad saw someone that looked familiar. We he thought nothing of it and went back to eating. The gentleman overheard me (about age 5 or 6 at the time) talking about baseball and walked over. It was Jim "Mudcat" Grant and he asked if I liked baseball. I told him I did and he said, "well, if it's ok with your folks would you like to meet a few people?" He walked me around the small restaurant and introduced me to several "old-timers" (I know one was Ron LeFlore) and they all autographed a Cardinal scorecard (we had just left the ballpark) and sat and talked with me for a long time. It was a really cool experience; one I'll never forget.

Thanks for sharing!! This is truly why I love the boards; great interaction with great people.

Mike

[modmark46]

A salute to all vets everywhere! And a special shout out to the USMC, and all Marines past and present, on this, the 236th anniversary of the establishment of the U.S. Marines. Semper Fi!

[2cityfan]

Thanks to all the vets out there.. Freedom is not free