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 Greetings! You are reading an article from The Mudville Gazette. To reach the front page, with all the latest news and views, click the logo above or "main" below. Thanks for stopping by! March 12, 2005 20By Greyhawk"Ever since the dark days before Pearl Harbor, I have been proud to wear this uniform..." Since word's getting around I guess I'd best put a post up about it. More later. Meanwhile, tantalyze me with job offers. Convince me to "retire". Posted by Greyhawk / March 12, 2005 7:43 PM | Permalink 9 TrackBacksHere's what's caught my eye this morning: Joseph Marshall of A Straight Shot of Politics has a great post titled In Lieu of Evidence in which he contemplates the limitations of journalism and blogging. My favorite line: As political blogging... Read More Grayhawk - Thanks for your service, and that of your family as well. Read More I remember how long four years seemed. I can only try to imagine 20. Please go by and thank Greyhawk for 20 years (twenty years!) of service to our nation. Read More B5 says all that needs to be said, but I'll repeat it: thank you, Hawk, and Mrs. Hawk. Read More Good luck GH, whatever you decide to do. Read More Greyhawk at Mudville Gazette has qualified for retirement from the Army with 20 years of service. Congratulations, and thank you for your service! He's not sure whether to hang it up just yet, since we still have work to do, but he's earned a respite... Read More My lack of blogging time over the past week or so has me behind in a number of areas and one of those is in offering a thank you to the milblogger Greyhawk. Seems he passed his 20-year mark in the military. Read More Michael at A Day In Iraq has a great post about the mundane being not-so-mundane (the meaning of Read More Go congratulate Greyhawk on his 20. Thank you Sir! Heck, the Shady Lady might have a chance at restoring some semblance of credibility if they did hire you. LW... Read More 31 Comments |
November 26, 2010America@war [Greyhawk]
I think anyone who's ever pondered the "comment" option - once only available on blogs and bulletin boards, now ubiquitous on almost any web site - will appreciate this:
The so-called faculty of writing is not so much a faculty of writing as it is a faculty of thinking. When a man says, "I have an idea but I can't express it"; that man hasn't an idea but merely a vague feeling. If a man has a feeling of that kind, and will sit down for a half an hour and persistently try to put into writing what he feels, the probabilities are at least 90 percent that he will either be able to record it, or else realize that he has no idea at all. In either case, he will do himself a benefit. That's wisdom from the past, captured for posterity at the US Naval Institute, shared via the web on the institute's 137th anniversary. From their about page:
"The Naval Institute has three core activities," among them, History and Preservation: The Naval Institute also has recently introduced Americans at War, a living history of Americans at war in their own words and from their own experiences. These 90-second vignettes convey powerful stories of inspiration, pride, and patriotism. Take a look at the collection, and you'll see it's not limited to accounts from those who served on ships at sea, members of the other branches are well-represented. I'm fortunate to have met USNI's Mary Ripley, she's responsible for the institute's oral history program (and she's the daughter of the late John Ripley, whose story is told here). She also deserves much credit for their blog. ("We're not the Navy nor any government agency. Blog and comment freely.") We met at a milblog conference - Mary knew (and I would come to realize) that milbloggers are the 21st-century version of exactly what the US Naval Institute is all about. Once that light bulb came on in my head, I mentioned a vague idea for a project to her - milblogs as the 21st century oral history that they are. "Put that in writing," she said (of course - see first paragraph above!) - and here's part of the result. Shortly after the first tent was pitched by the American military in Iraq a wire was connected to a computer therein, and the internet was available to a generation of Americans at war - many of whom had grown up online. From that point on, at any given moment, somewhere in Iraq a Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine was at a keyboard sharing the events of his or her day with the folks back home. While most would simply fire off an email, others took advantage of the (then) relatively new online blogging platforms to post their thoughts and experiences for the entire world to see. The milblog was born - and from that moment to this stories detailing everything from the most mundane aspects of camp life to intense combat action (often described within hours of the event) have been available on the web... And et cetera - but since you're reading this on a milblog, you probably knew that. And you know that milblogs aren't just blogs written by troops at war, that many friends, family members, and supporters likewise documented their story of America at war online in near-real time, as those stories developed. The diversity in membership of that group is broad, the one thing we all have in common is the impulse to make sense of the seemingly senseless, and communicate the tale - for each of us that impulse was strong enough to overcome whatever barriers prevent the vast majority of people from doing the same. Everyone at some point has some vague idea they believe should be shared - we were the people who, from some combination of internal and external urging, found and spent those many half hours persistently trying to write it down. But where will all that be in another 137 years? Or five or ten, for that matter. That's something I've asked myself since at least 2004 - when I wrote this:
Membership in the ghost battalion has grown in the years since, and an ever growing majority of those abandoned-but-still-standing sites are vanishing. Have you checked out Lt Smash's site lately? How about Sgt Hook's? If you're a long-time milblog reader you know the first widely-read milblog from Operation Iraq Freedom and the first widely-read milblog from Afghanistan are both gone from the web. If you're a relative newcomer to this world you may never even have heard of them - or the dozens upon dozens of others who carried forth the standard they set down. If you have a vague notion that something should be done about that, (a notion I've heard expressed more than once...) then you and I and the good folks at the US Naval Institute are in agreement. Preserving the history documented by the milbloggers is just one of the goals of the milblog project, the once-vague idea that we're now making real. And it's a big idea, if I say so myself - too big to explain in one simple blog post, so stand by for more. Likewise, it's too big a task to be accomplished by just one person. So if you're a milblogger (and exactly what is a milblogger? is a topic for much further discussion on its own) I'm asking for your help. All I'll really need is just a little bit (maybe just one or two of those half hours...) of your time, and your willingness to tell the tale. We've already made history, it's time to save it. (More to follow...) Posted 4:02 PM | Permalink |
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The Mudville Gazette is the on-line voice of an American warrior and his wife who stands by him. They prefer to see peaceful change render force of arms unnecessary. Until that day they stand fast with those who struggle for freedom, strike for reason, and pray for a better tomorrow.
 
 
 Furthermore, I will occasionally use satire or parody herein. The bottom line: it's my house. I like having visitors to my house. I hope you are entertained. I fight for your right to free speech, and am thrilled when you exercise said rights here. Comments and e-mails are welcome, but all such communication is to be assumed to be 1)the original work of any who initiate said communication and 2)the property of the Mudville Gazette, with free use granted thereto for publication in electronic or written form. If you do NOT wish to have your message posted, write "CONFIDENTIAL" in the subject line of your email. Original content copyright © 2003 - 2011 by Greyhawk. Fair, not-for-profit use of said material by others is encouraged, as long as acknowledgement and credit is given, to include the url of the original source post. Other arrangements can be made as needed. Contact: greyhawk at mudvillegazette dot com  Tending Distant Far from hearth and home, watching What tales we'll tell When things grim Some distant sunset, vision fading Saluting fallen friends whose names - Greyhawk, Baghdad, December 2004 |
Thank you for defending my family and my country for 20 years. God bless you and yours.
Thank you for serving your country so honorably these past 20 years. I have no idea if you plan to continue in the Army (you just got promoted, didn't you?), but whether you do or not, you have earned the respect of us all.
Thanks to the Mrs and the little hawks too.
I'm sure there are employers over-flowing your email to steal you away from the military............
God Bless and thank you,
Cheryl
GH;
Pass to the entire family:
Your service is deeply appreciated. Each of you has had a part in the 20 years of faithful service to the Nation. Each part you have been is important in the grand scheme of life.
Thank you and know you have been a part of historic events, that will make the World a safer place.
Congrats and thanks.
Thanks to the Family of Greyhawks! Job well done by all. You have all given so much to us in sharing your life as a military family.
Now, for a retirement job. I first got captured in your written word when you wrote, about Sept 11, that Bush flew in, had B52's loaded, folks willing and wanting to go.... you so brought that emotion of that day for you guys to my mind. I've been a fan since.
A retirement job for you -- become the written GI's story of the Iraq War in book form... you have the knowledge of the warrior, you have the skill of writing, and you got some young Cpl's, SGTs, LT, Captains that you nutured through the Milblogs, that have shared their words with us.
The story is there (probably several).. please capture it for us.
Thanks for these 20 years and thanks for the next 20 years, 'cause these young folks serving under you now, have a role model that will guide them through their 20 years.
Congratulations and well-done, my friend!
Thank you so much for all your years of service. You've been in the military longer than I've been alive! As a Air Force brat, I give many thanks to your family as well. God bless, and keep rolling!
Congrats! and thanks, to you GH for serving and defending our country, and to Mrs. GH for allowing you to do so.
I sleep peaceably in my bed at night and I have you to thank for it. I salute your dedication to God and country.
Semper Fi
Dad
Greyhawk,
Heard of your 20 years of service...
Our family...gives a big thank you to you and yours. Hat is off to each of you. Thank you for your service.
Rachelle
Greyhawk: It is with deep respect that I take this opportunity to thank you and your family for the years of service for me and mine. My God, we can never repay but we can support and woe be to the person who runs their mouth about our military close enough for this greyhead to hear.
And when the docs go to cut my foot out of their ass it won't be my foot they cut on either!
Yessir!
Hawk -- you're awesome.
Thank you for your service.
I hope you get a few terrific job offers.
Thanks for our many freedoms which many more in the world are now truly beginning to appreciate and understand.
Figured I'd let you sleep in before I stopped by...good luck on civvie street. Unlike Dean, I hope you get a huge number of great job offers,
Means there might be some hope for *me* when I hang up the flight suit in a couple of months!
[*insert big cheese-eating grin*]
Thank you. Thank you for 20 years of service. Thank you for MilBlogs, this site, and all you do for all those who serve. Special thanks to your family, who have supported and encouraged your service, and served themselves in a way few can understand or appreciate. It is not enough, but is all: Thank you.
Thank you! If I had a job to offer, I'd offer you one.
Thank you for your service, sir.
Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Greyhawk. Your service is appreciated and valued!
Signed,
USAF (ret) wife
Thank you for long years of willingness to stand "between your loved home and the war's desolation." I don't want to convince you to retire - I want *you* to choose your next twenty with full knowledge that you've earned that right - unlike so many of us who take our choices for granted. Regards to your family, the ones who live with and take pride in your choice, even when it complicates life (she says, remembering her days as an AF brat).
Many thanks for all your service. Congratulations on 20!
I hope you can blog full time, my life will be richer and more informed.
Thank you! As a military daughter (USN) and a military wife (USAF), I know what it's been like, and all I can say is THANK YOU!
GreyOne,
Now, you are officially "no longer young". When I reached my 20 yr point I was forced to realize that I could no longer do the same things I used to do. It wasn't that I couldn't keep up with the 19 yr olds, although that was part of it. It was that I couldn't match myself in what I used to achieve. I could still leave 50% of the troops behind on the PFT test. But there was no way I could do as well as I had done when I was 30 yrs old, and could throw an unconscious 200 pound man over one shoulder, and carry him 100 feet out of a burning compartment, wearing full firefighting gear, and breathing through two tiny rubber hoses from a grocery bag half full of oxygen on my chest.
If you choose to remain on Active Duty, good. If you are torn over leaving the profession you have given your life to, give that feeling away. There is no guilt in leaving. I agonized over this for the last 4 years of my career. But I don't regret leaving when I did. I only miss the service life as most would miss their good college friends after they graduate.
As you know, the Service is a harsh taskmaster. And that means it is a game best left to those who can continue to meet the physical challenges required to be the best. Sure, I can still think with the best of them. But then where would the young men who need to learn to lead and teach their younger shipmates get their opportunity to do so. If I reached 60 after hanging on for dear life, after denying youngsters the chance to do what I did, I (and our country) would live to regret it. Besides civilian life pays much better, and you get to spend it on your kids. I live vicariously through them, watching them grow to do the same things you and I have done as young men. They need the training in Life that we can give.
So enjoy whatever Time in Service you have left, Grey One. You've earned a long and happy second career opportunity. It will be as long as the first. And there will still be domestic enemies to defend the Constitution against.
My great grandmother's tombstone eloquently expresses my post-Service motto. "Remember dear ones, as you pass by. As you are now, so once was I. As I am now soon you shall be. So trust in God, and follow me." Welcome to the ranks of the careerists. Well done and Press on.
Subsunk
Congratulations!
I have 3 years left, and I have no doubt that 20 will be it for me. Unless of course I am still deployed and under stop-loss. Make no mistake, joining the Army was the best decision I ever made, and I'd ETS'd once to find I should have stayed in uniform, but 20 years is 20 years, and I feel the need to give my family the time and service and effort I have been privilieged and honored to give Uncle Sam, The US Army, and the American public. Good luck on your decision.
Congrats on 20 years. Thanks for your service.
One thing to remember. It's a hard life to give up. You've done things which really mean something. Nothing you do after will quite measure up. I know. I retired after 20 and still miss it. My reasons were good -- family, etc., but I miss the life and the sense of duty, and the knowledge that in some small way, I was really making a difference. What I do now is fun, and I like the people, and monetarily it's OK. But it really doesn't amount to a hill of beans in the big picture!
Think it through and if you decide to retire, more power to you. But there will be days when you regret it...a lot.
Again, thanks for being there for all of us.
Saying "thank you" to someone who sacrificed to protect me and my family is wholly inadequate.
But, Greyhawk, Ms. Greyhawk, and all the fledglings, you mean more to us than you will ever know. You are in our hearts and on our minds.
_______________
When the word got out I was retiring, I had several job offers. Different from you, I had been in a software support job, and therefore had lots of interaction with the "outsite world" while directly demonstrating my skills in the field.
I have taken a few minutes to draft some material on my experience as a headhunter (short, but instructive as it was), and how I saw what the years of military experience brings to the table. Right now, it's a 10 part post, and each post has links to the prior ones. If any one reading these has any input, fire away! The mostly civilian world doesn't realize how much of a broad spectrum we actually bring in their doors, and we military members sometimes don't even communicate the valuable skills we have practiced ourselves.
The Value of the Military Skill Set series.
If you know empolyers who need to read this, so they see what a deal they are getting off their years of paying salaries thru taxes, please do so. If we get more vets better jobs, it's a great thing all around.....
Too many people thatI know who retired cold turkey got sick, and died a slow death. Don't go that route. Keep doing what you love. Do what moves you. Follow your heart.
And, a thousand thanks to you, for your service to this great, great country.
Nor Hamlon
Grand Junction Colorado USA
Ol’ Hawk’s put in twenty
And to most that is plenty,
Enough for a man to retire.
But ol’ Hawk he’s still slogging,
Him and the Missus hard blogging,
Holding the feet of the world to the fire.
So we say bless you Hawk,
For all your rough talk,
And taking us all through the loops.
While back home Missus Hawk,
Keeps us walking the walk,
On our mission of backing the troops.
From a Vietnam Veteran. Thanks for your service to our country. And another big thank you for your fantastic website. Russ Vaughn gave you a fine compliment above and expresses my sentements also.
1st. Cav. Div.
RVN '71-'72
I know retireing is a BIG decision. The above friends have given you a lot to think about. Like"CURT" and others. Take your time. I know in the end you will make the right choice.