Re: New Story: Saturday will be emotional for Mac Lain family

I was a cadet from 1982-1986, finished with a commission into the Army Corps of Engineers. In '84 as a member of the Clemson Rangers, we split duties for Color Guard at football games with the PR's. One of the most humbling, and proudest, moments of my life was standing on the 50yd line and hearing nothing but the National Anthem. Total silence from 80-something thousand fans. The south upper deck looked taller than any mountain I'd ever seen, and everywhere I looked it seemed everyone was staring at us.
I only got to do it once. We rotated the duty around so others could experience it. I'll never forget it, and remember the feeling at every game I go to.
Today, I'll attend the tailgate at the Underground hosted by the ROTC departments and renew friendships with guys I haven't seen in years. One of our classmates, and still a close friend of mine, BG Ed Jackson will give a shout out on the big screen from A'stan. I'll be at my seat when the PRs march the colors onto the field, I'll salute the flag, but I ain't taking my sunglasses off

allorangeallthetime52®

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Nov 21, 2014, 11:29 AM

Great story and well done SteeleHood. As an X military myself, this day at Clemson, or any day around the country that our soldiers are being appreciated, it causes me to swell with pride and busting full of emotion b/c I've been there and done that. Its a pleasure and an honor for me to show my appreciation and respect for our men and women that are willing to give their everything without our country having to ask or force them to lay it all on the line for our country and for the freedom we feel is worth dieing for to keep our families safe and free.

When I came back from Nam in 1973 it wasn't like that. The public opinion toward us guys coming back state side was night and day comparing today from back then. I've never even come close to harming or killing a child in my entire life and I wouldn't knowingly or willingly. War is just what the definition of the word was meant to be, death and destruction. And innocent civilian men, women, and children will never completely go untouched 100% of the time of a War in their homeland. But like I've said, I've never in 63 years harmed or killed a child or a civilian in the name of war or for any other reasons that I'm personally aware of. But the Vietnam war did bring the worst out of Americans towards our own coming back home from that horrific war. I've heard the distant calls, and the whispers coming from our own, baby killers while in uniform here in cootlumbia and in my home town of Sumter, and that honestly turned me cold, hard, and feelings of hate towards any of our own that I saw wearing those peace symbols, shouting make love not war. And it still affects me today watching an old movie of those times. Those love making peace symbol wearing sumbitches wasn't the ones getting shot at almost daily.

The soldiers, the fighting men that were dieing and getting blown into small pieces wasn't the ones that made that war, we were the ones asked, and at that time some were forced to die in that war. I still get pisssed, but I must be getting soft and more tolerant in my older years b/c, this post is the very first time I've ever spoke about that war in public form or any where else out side of my close personal family members, and only a very few have I ever discussed it with. War absolutely sucks, and nobody prays to go to war. But without our very brave men and women willing to lay it all on the line in the past and the future for our country, and less powerful countries we call friends. Our post on here today could have easily been written in German if not for the brave men and women that have gave their lives for our country. I personally salute everyone that has served even in the very smallest way, and God bless our United States Arm Forces!!!

For anyone that will be at the game Saturday that are disappointed and fed up like most of us with the way this season has been. Please remember that Saturday isn't a Booooing day!!! Its a FB Saturday to show appreciation and respect for the ones that has lost way more than a game, and to show appreciation and respect for the ones that are willing to lose more than a game. I'm very proud to be an American, USA, USA, USA!!! And if the Good Guys or Georgia St guys score any points, Just stand and cheer USA. Just show that you're sincere and willing to make Saturday a happy day of Peace and appreciation!!! And please, please, please don't booo Cole, Please let him finish his very small amount of time he has left at Clemson without our own causing him to feel any worse than I'm sure he already feels. Goooooo Tigerssssssss, and God bless the good ole US of A, USA USA USA!!!!