This tribute is in honor of the great men and women of our country who have given and continue to give so much of themselves by serving in our United States Military. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Joanne Welcome Page  Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Contact Joanne     Flying your flag on Memorial Day the flag should be briskly raised in the morning to the top, then lowered slowly to half-staff.  At noon, the flag should be raised to the top again. The History of Memorial Day In Memory of our Honored Dead History Channel's Tribute to Memorial Day Friends and Business Associates Who Serve or have Served in the Military  Special congratulations to friends and business associates who have given of themselves so unselfishly by serving in the Military.  I would like to include you here.  Please  for inclusion and my thanks.   Jim Ward - "I served in the Coast Guard and was in the original Squadron that went to Vietnam -- 1965 - 66.  We ran 82' patrol boats between DaNang and the North Vietnamese border.  The most common comment I hear is, "I didn't know the Coast Guard was in Vietnam."    Veterans Day official Site  White House Honors Veterans  The official site of the  Department of Veteran Affairs. Veterans' of Foreign Wars History of Veterans Day Veterans Day Proclamation California Department of Veterans Affairs California Veterans Board California Association of County Veteran Service Officers, Inc. California Veterans Memorial   ~ Join ~ American Legion Resources for California Vets   Honor Vietnam Vets Click Image The Wall is a commemorative book that showcases many of the famous photographs previously published in the 26-volume book series as well as special feature articles and photo essays documenting the history of The Wall, from its controversial inception in 1982 to its evolution as the most visited and venerated memorial in our nation’s capital. Americans Working Together for Vietnam Vets The Wall Photo Gallery Please support this organization, which helps Vets who are so deserving. Visit DAV and Stand Up For Veterans Homeless Veterans Video This video clip dated Sunday, March 25, 2007 from the CBS Evening News highlights the prevalence of homeless war veterans in America. On any given night, approximately 200,000 veterans are on the streets and about 1/3 of all homeless people in the U.S. are veterans. The key questions is: why?  Why are so many war veterans, those who lay their lives for their country, left homeless when they return? Click image Veterans Day at Military.com Reunite with your old buddies : Use the Buddy Finder The DUSTOFF Association for enlisted and officer personnel, aviation crewmembers and others who are or were engaged in Army aeromedical evacuation. Contributed by: Mr. Rusty Koehler - http://www.destinationSA.com  NCOA - Non Commissioned Officers Association Blue Angels Tribute - contributed by: Ms. Barbara Jones Paralyzed Veterans of America Operation Dignity for homeless Bay Area Vets Transition Assistance Online:  Military Talent, Civilian Careers   Click image Welcome Home Photos United States Department of Defense Department of Defense Index of Web Sites Defend America United States Military Personnel and Veterans ~ Armistice Day ~ In 1918, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month, the world rejoiced and celebrated. After four years of bitter war, the Allied powers a signed a cease-fire agreement (an armistice) with Germany at Rethondes, France on November 11, 1918, bringing World War I to a close. The "war to end all wars" was over. November 11, 1919 was set aside as Armistice Day in the United States, to remember the sacrifices that men and women made during World War I in order to ensure a lasting peace. On Armistice Day, soldiers who survived the war marched in a parade through their home towns. Politicians and veteran officers gave speeches and held ceremonies of thanks for the peace they had won.  Armistice Day officially received its name in the United States in 1926 through a Congressional resolution. It became a national holiday 12 years later. Congress voted Armistice Day a federal holiday in 1938, 20 years after the war ended. But Americans realized that the previous war would not be the last one. World War II began the following year and nations great and small again participated in a bloody struggle. After the Second World War, Armistice Day continued to be observed on November 11. In 1953 townspeople in Emporia, Kansas called the holiday Veterans' Day in gratitude to the veterans in their town. Soon after, Congress passed a bill introduced by a Kansas congressman renaming the federal holiday to Veterans' Day. Beginning in 1954, the United States designated November 11 as Veterans Day to honor veterans of all U.S. wars. 1971 President Nixon declared it a federal holiday on the second Monday in November.  Americans still give thanks for peace on Veterans' Day. There are ceremonies and speeches and at 11:00 in the morning, most Americans observe a moment of silence, remembering those who fought for peace. After the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War, the emphasis on holiday activities has shifted. There are fewer military parades and ceremonies. Veterans gather at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. to place gifts and stand quiet vigil at the names of their friends and relatives who fell in the Vietnam War. Families who have lost sons and daughters in wars turn their thoughts more toward peace and the avoidance of future wars. Veterans of military service have organized support groups such as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. On Veterans' Day and Memorial Day, these groups raise funds for their charitable activities by selling paper poppies made by disabled veterans. This bright red wildflower became a symbol of World War I after a bloody battle in a field of poppies called Flanders Field in Belgium. Frequently Asked Questions About Veteran's Day  Veterans' Day Poster Gallery Postage stamp honoring women in military service

~  Honoring All Who Served  ~ It is the VETERAN, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion. It is the VETERAN, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the VETERAN, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble. It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial. It is the VETERAN, not the politician, Who has given us the right to vote. It is the VETERAN, who salutes the Flag, who serves under the Flag, Eternal rest grant them O Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon them. Amen Listen to Lee Greenwood sing the all-time hit "God Bless The U.S.A." aka "I'm Proud To Be An American." This is one of the best videos I have seen in a long time and not a word is spoken.  REVEILLE    Veterans' Day National Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery's Memorial Amphitheater       Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans' Day Home Page The United States Flag   Flag Etiquette   Veterans' Day Teachers Guide  Embassy of the United States of America Dag Hammarskjölds Väg 31, SE-115 89 Stockholm The front view of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD Click here to read the story Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers fact sheet The Sentinels of the Tomb of the Unknowns Arlington National Cemetery The Battle of Iwo Jima   Guadalcanal  The Battle of Saipan Tarawa and The Battle for Tarawa     ~ Meet My Godfather, The Tarawa Marine ~ My Uncle and Godfather Max DeBiaso, right, enlisted in the Marines, second division in January 1942, spurred on by the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor.  He served through the end of World War II, first as Corporal, then as a Sargeant. He fought in hand-to-hand combat on Guadalcanal and Tarawa, which is located 2 degrees North of the equator, part of the chain of Gilbert Islands in the South Pacific.  At 92 Max's military experiences are still sharp memories and their details too vivid for the timid.  The Second Marine Division secured  Guadalcanal  despite the forbidding terrain of mountains, dormant volcanoes, steep ravines and a coastline with no natural harbors. Once secure they moved on to Tarawa, landing on Red Beach, just north of the ramp/dock the Japanese had built at the edge of the coral reef. As Max recalls, on the first day some 900 Marines were killed by the Japanese, whose rifles blazed from hidden bunkers and concrete towers all around the perimeter of the island, mowing down  Marines before their boots hit land. In the four days of combat 1,200 or more Marines were killed and more than 3,000 injured. For the next two or three days Max and the remaining Marines were joined by the Army, Air Force and Navy as they continued to charge the island through hailing gunfire and piles of their dead buddies. With iron-jawed determination, they braved the enemy's deafening firepower and  face-to-face combat. Eventually the Marines succeeded in getting close enough to drop grenades down the shafts of the enemy's concrete towers and into their bunkers, finally stopping the slaughter and securing Tarawa. It was about then the Coast Guard came in with assistance. After the gunfire ceased and the Marines took control of Tarawa, Max stayed on the island for two more weeks to bring in supplies and bury the dead Japanese soldiers, an unspeakable horror. Of the approximate 8,000 Japanese soldiers that had occupied Tarawa less than 100 were taken prisoner. The rest were killed in combat. Bodies sprawled on Red Beach at TarawaAnother enemy tried to take Max down, malaria. While battling the Japanese on Tarawa he endured thirty-six recurrences of this dread disease that he had contracted at Guadalcanal. After the dead were all buried Max was shipped  to a field hospital in Honolulu for treatment. Tarawa Red Beach The medics loaded him up with antibiotics and quickly shipped him to Sipan into more combat. But the ravages of scorching fevers and delirium forced him back to Honolulu for three weeks of medical treatment. As soon as he could roll off of his hospital cot he was shipped to Mare Island in the San Francisco Bay where he was quarantined for thirty days. In retrospect, malaria probably saved Max's life. He feels certain that had he been shipped to Okinawa he would have probably died there in combat. From Mare Island Max was given a thirty-day delayed transfer back to the 2nd Marine Division Base in Camp Lejuene North Carolina. Enroute to the base he returned home to Minnesota for a few days. In his freshly pressed uniform he cuddled a bundle close to his chest as he became my Godfather at my Christening in the Spring of 1944.  In November 1945 Max's tour of duty ended. Like thousands of other Marines his rank was dropped back to Corporal just before he left Camp Lejuene for the last time. For his heroic efforts he was awarded a medal with two stars for combat in the Guadalcanal and Tarawa campaigns, a Pacific War Zone Ribbon, an Honorable Service Button, and a Good Conduct Medal.  As soon as he was free, he headed home to Duluth, Minnesota. Arriving there on a Friday, he returned to work the following Monday at his regular job, a locomotive engineer for the Interlake Iron Corporation where he stayed until they closed in 1960.  Today (2008), Uncle Max and his wife Aunt Mary, a super lady pictured at right are very active. They have been married for more than 53 years and they travel extensively.  For the most part, both are healthy, energetic and active.  Max still works, drives his motorhome all around the country, loves Italian opera and is one of the kindest, gentlest, smartest men I have ever known.  This September Max turned 93.  If you would like to send him a note, you can email or snail mail it to me and I will send it on to him.  I know he would enjoy hearing from you.  Email:   Snail mail: Max DeBiaso c/o Joanne Gardiner, Advantage Realty - 3205 Whipple Road, Union City, CA 94587-1218. An excerpt from Tarawa on the Web:   "The 2d Marine Division, 2d Battalion 2d Marines deployed and spearheaded the ttack on Tarawa. The Japanese resistance was fierce, and the initial losses of the Battalion were heavy. Throughout the battle, Marines of the Battalion distinguished themselves: there were two Navy Cross winners and numerous lesser medals awarded for individual actions. The Battalion was again awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its heroic assault at Tarawa. The 2d Battalion conducted similar operations during Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa Campaigns of World War II."  The Battle for Tarawa    Photos of Tarawa  One Square Mile of Hell with photos by historian John Wukovits Marines on Tarawa The Taking of Tarawa Marines storming Tarawa   merican landing craft sunk at Red Beach Tarawa 1943   Humor of Marines on Tarawa          ~ My Other Relatives Who Served in the Military ~ My Uncle Ed Anderson, deceased, served as an Army medic in the S.W. Pacific in WW II. My Uncle Roy DeBiaso, deceased, served as a Ship Fitter in the Navy in WWII My Uncle Dominic DeBiaso, deceased, served in the Army in WWII My Uncle Dan DeBiaso, deceased, served in the Marines in WWII My Uncle Ed Sodergren, deceased, served in the Air National Guard in WWII My Uncle Marvin Hallett, deceased, served in the special forces in the Seabee's and was killed in combat on the front lines in the Battle of the Bulge in WWII My cousin Bob Severson, deceased, served in the Air Force for more than 25 years and fought in the Korean Conflict and other campaigns. My Aunt Vera Johnson, deceased, served as a civilian worker for the Navy and was stationed at Hickam Field in Honolulu, Hawaii when Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. She  remained on the island throughout the war and for many years thereafter. Hickam Field Hale Makai Barracks The 3,000-man Hale Makai Barracks, near the main hangars at Hickam Field, endures intense strafing.   The Bombing of Pearl Harbor Personnel Killed: Navy  2001, Marine Corps 109, Army 231, Civilian 54 Personnel Wounded: Navy 710, Marine Corps 69, Army  364, Civilian 35 Ships: Sunk or beached 12, Damaged 9 Aircraft: Destroyed 164, Damaged 159 Army troops wade ashore on "Omaha" beach June 6, 1944 D-Day Landing on Omaha Beach   V-J Day Times Square  New York August 14, 1945 "Uncle Sam wants you." History of Uncle Sam U.S. Army    U.S. Navy    U.S. Marines Corp  U.S. Air Force    U.S. Coast Guard    U.S. Merchant Marine Academy                        "Join Today" ~ A Day at Baltimore Airport ~ Dear Friends and Family, I hope that you will spare me a few minutes of your time to tell you about something that I saw on Monday, October 27. I had been attending a conference in Annapolis and was coming home on Sunday.  As you may recall, Los Angeles International Airport was closed on Sunday, October 26, because of the fires that affected air traffic control.  Accordingly, my flight, and many others, were canceled and I wound up spending a night in Baltimore. My story begins the next day.  When I went to check in at the United counter Monday morning I saw a lot of soldiers home from Iraq.  Most were very young and all had on their desert camouflage uniforms.  This was a change from earlier, when they had to buy civilian clothes in Kuwait to fly home.  It was a visible reminder that we are in a war.  It probably was pretty close to what train terminals were like in World War II. Many people were stopping the troops to talk to them, asking them questions in the Starbucks line or just saying "Welcome Home."   In addition to all the flights that had been canceled on Sunday, the weather was terrible in Baltimore and the flights were backed up. So, there were a lot of unhappy people in the terminal trying to get home, but nobody that I saw gave the soldiers a bad time. By the afternoon, one plane to Denver had been delayed several hours. United personnel kept asking for volunteers to give up their seats and take another flight. They weren't getting many takers.  Finally, a United spokeswoman got on the PA and said this, "Folks. As you can see, there are a lot of soldiers in the waiting area.  They only have 14 days of leave and we're trying to get them where they need to go without spending any more time in an airport then they have to.  We sold them all tickets, knowing we would oversell the flight.  If we can, we want to get them all on this flight. We want all the soldiers to know that we respect what you're doing, we are here for you and we love you." At that, the entire terminal of cranky, tired, travel-weary people, a cross-section of America, broke into sustained and heartfelt applause. The soldiers looked surprised and very modest.  Most of them just looked at their boots.  Many of us were wiping away tears. And, yes, people lined up to take the later flight and all the soldiers went to Denver on that flight. That little moment made me proud to be an American, and also told me why we will win this war. If you want to send my little story on to your friends and family, feel free.  This is not some urban legend.  I was there, I was part of it, I saw it happen. Will Ross Administrative Judge United States Department of Defense    ~ The WW II Memorial  ~ Nearly 59 years after the end of World War II, the National World War II Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, May 29, 2004. Field of 4,000 Gold Stars honors more than 400,000 lives lost during the war (Photo by Richard Latoff) Become a  Member of the World War II Memorial Society, enroll members of the World War II generation in the Registry of Remembrances, or participate in the Donor Programs.  You can write the memorial at: National World War II Memorial 2300 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 501 Arlington, Virginia 22201 Or call: 1-800-639-4WW2  Or e-mail: custsvc@wwiimemorial.com   Veterans' Day Resource Guide Veterans Organizations  Legion of Valor  World War I Memorial  National World War II Memorial  Spanish-American War Monument   Vietnam Veterans Memorial Korean War Memorial Civil War Memorial      Regardless how you feel about the war, I hope you will support our troops by  sending them a "Thank You" note.  They are giving up an awful lot for us. Remember a veteran with a e-greeting card or e-post card Coming Soon  A sand sculpture representing soldiers landing on a beach sits in Vierville-sur-mer, which was known as Omaha beach on D-Day. (AFP/Mychele Daniau)   Photo sent by Ms. Barbara Jones My heart overflows with gratitude and appreciation. With every beat of my heart I salute you all. Joanne Contact Joanne

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