I too would like to state my thanks to all those that have served and that are currently serving. Both my parents where in the Army, and as my father used to say, they met, conceived, and got married in Stuttgart, Germany.
Military life is very different, and to all willing to go though that in service to their country, again I say thanks.
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/em militarysalute
"Goodbye, Jean-Luc. I'm gonna miss you... you had such potential. But then again, all good things must come to an end..." -- Q
My family's first experiences with combat were apparently with the Battle of Sackets Harbor. They had just come to the area a couple generations prior and had settled in when war reached their doorstep. A local skirmish at the "South Landing of Sandy Creek" left a group of Union soldiers unable to deliver supplies to the besieged Sackets Harbor through Lake Ontario (because the lake was full of British ships patrolling the coast). They had soundly defeated the British troops, but more would be coming, so they had to act quickly. They sent runners to the local farmers and towns and my ancestor and his brother were two of the first to volunteer.
They force-marched for three days to Sackets Harbor, hauling supplies and a gigantic anchor cable for the largest ship in Lake Ontario (which was currently harbored in Sackets). When they arrived, many of the farmers left the service of the militia, others stayed. My ancestor and his brother were among them.
They found themselves ordered to go out into the fields to retrieve 12-pound cannonballs for the defenders. Sackets Harbor had a large supply of 12-pounder cannons, but they had mostly 8-pound shot. They fired back the same ammunition the British were using on them, and still made use of the 8-pound shot by wrapping it in dirty laundry.
It's been an interesting battle for me to learn about, even if it's been the source of a lot of headaches for me the past couple years. It's also nice to know members of my family played a rather crucial role.
I didn't find out until after I was done with the Marines what my grandfather did for the Navy in WW2. One of his best friends spilled out to me a story of body retrieval from wrecked ships... And how he was amazed my grandfather was able to just get up in the morning and go to it. This was something that was breaking other seamen, but my grandfather stoically set to it with pretty much the attitude "Somebody has to do it."
My uncles on my mother's side were in the Marines. One of them ran into his cousin, they didn't even know they were both in until they were on the plane to Vietnam, looking at each other from across an aisle. According to the story, they each cocked their heads to one side and went "Hey! I know you!"
My father's oldest brother did everything he could to avoid conscription (meaning, he tried to stay in high school as long as possible). It didn't pan out. He wound up kicked out of school and got snatched up by the Draft. He's an odd sort, though. When he finds himself in a situation, he deals with it as best he knows how, he doesn't do like the majority of draftees did and try to mess everything up around him in an effort to get away faster. He wound up working E.O.D., and he's apparently still got some nightmares of some of the things he had to deal with.
Myself, I didn't learn much of this until I signed up to become a Marine. I went in to learn how to work on computers (skills which are fading from my memory, sadly). My mother was still convinced I would wind up on the front lines. I didn't get much help from my cousin (an aircraft mechanic in the Corps) because he was often too drunk to give me a straight answer, but he did give me the encouragement that, even skinny as I was, I'd do fine. I like to think I did. I never saw any action, but I did my best to make sure everything I worked with was in proper order (earning me a nickname from one of my coworkers, "6th Reich"). I like to think it was a positive experience for me, that it continues to help me in my daily life, allowing me to cope with difficult times.
To those who came before, I salute you. To those who continue, I salute you as well. Someone has to do it, and I'm glad there are those with fortitude who do.
My Stories
Look at that. A full-grown woman pulling off pigtails. Her crazy is off the charts.
That fellow in the middle looks rather dapper 
Hooyah!
@.MIDAS
BIG BROTHER MIDAS, Ice/Ice Dominator, 1314 Badges
* Any toon you see with Midas in the name is probably me
*
...commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in military service.
My family has always had a military tradition - both my parents were Air Force officers.
This is picture of my grandfather and his siblings (my grandfather is the man on the right):
So... for everyone who has served and lost their lives, I say thanks.
And to all the veterans out there, friends, family, acquaintances, and everyone else.
Thank you very much for your service.