Bengals kicker Shayne Graham supports our troops past & present

[BengalszoneBilly]

This Cincinnati Bengal realizes what Memorial Day is all about, and this Marine salutes him. I'd like to also throw a shout out to all the other members here that are currently or have served their country...

ArmyBengal, an active duty enlisted medic.

CombatBengal who I believe is an active duty Army officer.

cincyhokie who was an Army Combat Engineering Officer.

Sandwedge who I understand is a retired Navy officer.

Thumanation who served in the Canadian military.

Boobie Clark, who was a Navy Petty Officer.

generaldreedle, a Navy enlisted man.

RedsFan2 who was an enlisted Marine Sergeant as was I.

If I left any veterans out here, please post here and let me know. You deserve recognition.

Here's the article:

Bengals kicker Shayne Graham, whose father, Tom, served two years in Vietnam in the U.S. Army, is lending his celebrity to help another generation of troops.

Graham is selling Matt Maupin memorial dog tags to benefit the Yellow Ribbon Support Center and Fallen Heroes.

Information and order forms are available on shaynegraham.com.

The cost is $15, which includes shipping. Make checks payable to Yellow Ribbon Support Center and mail to the center, 700 S. Eastgate Blvd., Suite 430, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45245.

The tags also can be purchased at the Army Store on Route 4 in Fairfield.

The tags read:

SSG MATT MAUPIN

CAPTURED 9/4/04

RECOVERED 21/3/08

KILLED IN CAPTIVITY

TO EVERYONE

I AM NOW HOME

THANK YOU FOR

NOT FORGETTING

724 TRANS

The package includes two embossed, stainless tags, one 24-inch stainless beaded chain (normally worn around the neck), one 4-inch stainless beaded chain and two black rubber tag silencers.

Maupin, a former Glen Este High School football player, was captured April 9, 2004, when his convoy was ambushed in Iraq. His funeral was held April 27 at Great American Ball Park, followed by his burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

[Ickey44]

That's awesome. I would also like to thank everyone who has served, or is currently serving, in the military. I could not possible imagine all the sacrifices you guys make. You are all heroes.

[jjakq27]

That's awesome. I would also like to thank everyone who has served, or is currently serving, in the military. I could not possible imagine all the sacrifices you guys make. You are all heroes.

Ditto.

And please remember the ones that never made it home.

[BengalszoneBilly]

And please remember the ones that never made it home.

Absolutely. I was lucky enough to only have to give up four years of my life. Others, such as Sergeant Maupin, paid a far higher price.

[GregCook]

And please remember the ones that never made it home.

Absolutely. I was lucky enough to only have to give up four years of my life. Others, such as Sergeant Maupin, paid a far higher price.

Remember, whether draftees or volunteers, the American military has been the envy of the world for over 60 years.

This weekend is a great time to dust off that credit card and make a donation to groups that work with our disabled vets like Wounded Warrior at http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org or http://www.hireheroesusa.org/index.php. If you know of others, post them here, we're sure to find one that motivates us to drop a dime.

[BengalszoneBilly]

This weekend is a great time to dust off that credit card and make a donation to groups that work with our disabled vets like Wounded Warrior at http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org or http://www.hireheroesusa.org/index.php. If you know of others, post them here, we're sure to find one that motivates us to drop a dime.

Damn fine post ETD2008.

[cincyhokie]

Shane Graham is a good dude. Fellow Hokie.

Billy,

I served 8 years in the Army as a combat engineer officer. 1999-2007. OIF vet 2004-2005. Mosul, Iraq.

For the rest of you that have served and/or lost friends, family who served. You have all my respect. Here's to a good Memorial Day Weekend....

[BengalszoneBilly]

Shane Graham is a good dude. Fellow Hokie.

Billy,

I served 8 years in the Army as a combat engineer officer. 1999-2007. OIF vet 2004-2005. Mosul, Iraq.

For the rest of you that have served and/or lost friends, family who served. You have all my respect. Here's to a good Memorial Day Weekend....

This Marine salutes you too sir, and will add you to the list.

[Sandwedge]

Bengalszone Billy thank-you!! To the others that served, words will never mean enough!! To those who didn't serve, thanks you for your kind thoughts... I spent over 20 years of my young life and I'd do it all over again to protect our way of life!! God Bless each and everyone of you, God Bless this beautiful Country we live in..

Fair winds and following seas..

Wedgie

[BengalszoneBilly]

Bengalszone Billy thank-you!! To the others that served, words will never mean enough!! To those who didn't serve, thanks you for your kind thoughts... I spent over 20 years of my young life and I'd do it all over again to protect our way of life!! God Bless each and everyone of you, God Bless this beautiful Country we live in..

Fair winds and following seas..

Wedgie

Wedgie sir, (you were an officer and I'll always honor your rank) can you give us a few details of your service?

[combatbengal]

Shane Graham is a good dude. Fellow Hokie.

Billy,

I served 8 years in the Army as a combat engineer officer. 1999-2007. OIF vet 2004-2005. Mosul, Iraq.

For the rest of you that have served and/or lost friends, family who served. You have all my respect. Here's to a good Memorial Day Weekend....

cincyhokie, I've been in over 18 years, and served in OIF1. We worked our way from Kuwait to Mosul Iraq. I served as an XO for a Forward Support BN, and then moved on to assume the position as the Combat Health support officer for the division.

Few will ever understand the many sacrifices necessary in order to accomplish this mission in the face of the lowest desire to serve in two decades, low unemployment, and the ongoing combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. I’m proud to serve this nation, and salute those who have paved the road for those of us who are currently serving. I also salute the men and woman who are currently deployed to a hostile environment and those who are supporting them. One team one fight!

Shane Graham is a true professional! Thank you for your support.

Great post Bengalszone Billy! My best friend from high school is a 1SG in the Marine Corp!

[BengalszoneBilly]

Great post Bengalszone Billy! My best friend from high school is a 1SG in the Marine Corp!

OoooRah to my Marine brother, and a sharp salute from the tip of my cover to you sir!

[Sandwedge]

Bengalszone Billy thank-you!! To the others that served, words will never mean enough!! To those who didn't serve, thanks you for your kind thoughts... I spent over 20 years of my young life and I'd do it all over again to protect our way of life!! God Bless each and everyone of you, God Bless this beautiful Country we live in..

Fair winds and following seas..

Wedgie

Wedgie sir, (you were an officer and I'll always honor your rank) can you give us a few details of your service?

I graduated from Annapolis. Decided to go to SEAL training when I made Lt. I actually was interviewed by reporters as we "not so snuck up" on the beach in Somalia.. Spent time in Bagdad during Desert storm... I spent the last 5 years of my enlistment training young pups. I retired in 2002 as a Lt Cmder.. I've seen the Beauty of people and the worst of people... I don't think I will ever forget the many children I have come across that had nothing but dirt to eat.. I was stationed in the Phillipines for a time and the people there will forever be etched into my memories... Bill, I could go on and on with some stories of missions, but most seem like a lifetime ago.. Now I'm 45 and a home builder here in Washington... I will tell you and I'm sure most that serve know this, but I miss alot of the guys I served with, other officers and non-coms... Most people don't understand that bond...

[BengalszoneBilly]

Most people don't understand that bond...

I do sir. A couple years ago me and my brothers, officers and enlisted, (over 50 of us) from the Marines gathered together in Las Vegas for a unit reunion. It was the first time we had all been together since 1979. It was like nothing had changed between us. Wives excepted.

I'd like to add that the bond between brothers in arms is strong. I don't care what uniform you wore. When you signed up to serve, you wrote a blank check to our country up to the amount of your very life.

Shayne Graham is recognizing his fathers service in the Army, and for this I recognize Shayne Graham in this thread. I'm happy he's on our team!

[Defender]

If I left any veterans out here, please post here and let me know. You deserve recognition.

It looks like I'll have to be the lone flag bearer for the Air Force on this board: 1998-2006, including tours in Baghdad, and even worse, Thule Air Base in northern Greenland for a year. But before I get the "Chair Force" and "Uniformed Civilian" shots, be advised I was Security Forces for those 8 yrs, where we maintain a physical shape that isn't round and play with every weapon and explosive with the same regularity as any Marine or soldier. And when my bachelor's degree is finished in 12 months, I'll look forward to trading in my enlisted stripes for officer bars.

[BengalszoneBilly]

If I left any veterans out here, please post here and let me know. You deserve recognition.

It looks like I'll have to be the lone flag bearer for the Air Force on this board: 1998-2006, including tours in Baghdad, and even worse, Thule Air Base in northern Greenland for a year. But before I get the "Chair Force" and "Uniformed Civilian" shots, be advised I was Security Forces for those 8 yrs, where we maintain a physical shape that isn't round and play with every weapon and explosive with the same regularity as any Marine or soldier. And when my bachelor's degree is finished in 12 months, I'll look forward to trading in my enlisted stripes for officer bars.

FINALLY! We got ourselves an Air Force man with Defender. All services (short of the Coast Guard) are now represented. As far as the "shots" you described, there will be none. You signed the same documents we all did to serve our country. Also an early congrats on your degree and following commission. Are you going to be a pilot, or fill some other role? I know not all Air Force officers are jet jockeys. My cousin Byron from Stone Mountain Georgia was a member of an USAF Security Forces Squadron. He had as many weapons at his disposal as I did in the Marines.

[cincyhokie]

Shane Graham is a good dude. Fellow Hokie.

Billy,

I served 8 years in the Army as a combat engineer officer. 1999-2007. OIF vet 2004-2005. Mosul, Iraq.

For the rest of you that have served and/or lost friends, family who served. You have all my respect. Here's to a good Memorial Day Weekend....

cincyhokie, I've been in over 18 years, and served in OIF1. We worked our way from Kuwait to Mosul Iraq. I served as an XO for a Forward Support BN, and then moved on to assume the position as the Combat Health support officer for the division.

Few will ever understand the many sacrifices necessary in order to accomplish this mission in the face of the lowest desire to serve in two decades, low unemployment, and the ongoing combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. I’m proud to serve this nation, and salute those who have paved the road for those of us who are currently serving. I also salute the men and woman who are currently deployed to a hostile environment and those who are supporting them. One team one fight!

Shane Graham is a true professional! Thank you for your support.

Great post Bengalszone Billy! My best friend from high school is a 1SG in the Marine Corp!

Yep. The 101st Airborne. We went there to support the 2nd ID. FOB Marez. At the time I was with the 276th Engineers Virginia Army National Guard. I did all my active time with the 1st CAV at Ft. Hood a couple of years prior to that.

Right now I'm transitioning back to Cincinnati and UC to begin grad school then onto my Phd. Ironically, I'll be getting back into the Army on the medical side as a Captain again and a counseling psychologist. This will be in a few years.

Billy,

You mentioned the "bond" that service members experience. It's a hard thing to describe. All the friends, all the memories, I couldn't even begin to add them all up. Until you serve, you just won't understand that bond. It's special.

Good thread. Thanks for starting it.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Billy,

You mentioned the "bond" that service members experience. It's a hard thing to describe. All the friends, all the memories, I couldn't even begin to add them all up. Until you serve, you just won't understand that bond. It's special.

It truly was for me sir. I was just an 18 year old boy from Erlanger Kentucky attending NKU who by chance encountered a Marine Corps recruiter. Three short weeks later I found myself in boot camp at MCRD Parris Island South Carolina for eleven weeks. That was followed by three months of Parachute School in Lakehurst New Jersey, then to Camp Pendleton California for six. After that I was at sea for basically two and one half years. What's ironic is my father was in the Navy for six years and never once spent a night at sea! I was aboard the LPH-3 U.S.S. Okinawa (Amphibious Assault Ship) which now lies off the coast of San Diego, torpedoed in practice by a U.S. Navy Submarine:

As impressive as that picture is, at that time it was no longer a U.S. Navy ship. It was given to the U.S. Army and used as a missile launch platform. Since the Army was not much of a sea going bunch, it was towed out to sea and back for exercises. After the Army was done with it, this was it's demise.

Below is my cousin Army Staff Sergeant Steven Broome from Florence Kentucky who served in Afghanistan and was awarded a Bronze Star. I'm proud to be blood related to him.

I'd like to point out in this post by saying being in the military let me see the world. I went to Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines, Hong Kong China (back when it was a British Colony), Singapore, Atsugi, Tokyo, and Yokohama Japan, Okinawa, Perth Australia, and Mombasa Kenya in Africa. It gave me training to eventually become an F.A.A. certified aircraft mechanic which supports me to this very day, but most of all, it gave me a view of how ugly war can be.

I was in the failed 1979 raid to free the hostages at the U.S. Embassy in Iran back when Jimmy Carter was President.

Long story short the Army was on one freq, the Marines on another, as was the Air Force and Navy. When it came time to bug out due to us taking hostile fire, it turned into pure s**t. Many good men died that night, and were left behind. I was given the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal for that operation, but I'd give that up in a minute to have my brothers back. Those are the men I honor on this holiday.

[combatbengal]

Shane Graham is a good dude. Fellow Hokie.

Billy,

I served 8 years in the Army as a combat engineer officer. 1999-2007. OIF vet 2004-2005. Mosul, Iraq.

For the rest of you that have served and/or lost friends, family who served. You have all my respect. Here's to a good Memorial Day Weekend....

cincyhokie, I've been in over 18 years, and served in OIF1. We worked our way from Kuwait to Mosul Iraq. I served as an XO for a Forward Support BN, and then moved on to assume the position as the Combat Health support officer for the division.

Few will ever understand the many sacrifices necessary in order to accomplish this mission in the face of the lowest desire to serve in two decades, low unemployment, and the ongoing combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. I’m proud to serve this nation, and salute those who have paved the road for those of us who are currently serving. I also salute the men and woman who are currently deployed to a hostile environment and those who are supporting them. One team one fight!

Shane Graham is a true professional! Thank you for your support.

Great post Bengalszone Billy! My best friend from high school is a 1SG in the Marine Corp!

Yep. The 101st Airborne. We went there to support the 2nd ID. FOB Marez. At the time I was with the 276th Engineers Virginia Army National Guard. I did all my active time with the 1st CAV at Ft. Hood a couple of years prior to that.

Right now I'm transitioning back to Cincinnati and UC to begin grad school then onto my Phd. Ironically, I'll be getting back into the Army on the medical side as a Captain again and a counseling psychologist. This will be in a few years.

Billy,

You mentioned the "bond" that service members experience. It's a hard thing to describe. All the friends, all the memories, I couldn't even begin to add them all up. Until you serve, you just won't understand that bond. It's special.

Good thread. Thanks for starting it.

cincyhokie, have you spoken to my AMEDD recruiter about our programs to help with Med school? If not and you're interested, let me know. I'm the CDR for health care recruiting for Ohio and MI.

[ArmyBengal]

Nice thread Billy and great to hear Shayne doing something like this. People speak of the bond between service members and I can say I agree completely. Another thing is that regardless of how hard I have tried, there are just somethings civilians will never understand about what American service members deal with, especially during wartime. This is by no means meant as an insult to them, just an observation after recently returning from Afghanistan. I to have a little over 18 years in and am enjoying what will be my last assignment here in Sioux Falls, SD. There has yet to be a day that goes by that I don't think about my buddies and what they have going on. We talk and email each other and that friendship will be there until the day I die regardless of anything else that may happen. It's a bond that you just can't get working at the Sunglass Hut. (I do love that store though !!!)

Anyway, here's to hoping everyone has been enjoying this weekend and once again, good post Billy !!!

WHODEY !!!

[cincyhokie]

cincyhokie, have you spoken to my AMEDD recruiter about our programs to help with Med school? If not and you're interested, let me know. I'm the CDR for health care recruiting for Ohio and MI.

Thanks. I sent you a PM.

[generaldreedle]

This Cincinnati Bengal realizes what Memorial Day is all about, and this Marine salutes him. I'd like to also throw a shout out to all the other members here that are currently or have served their country...

ArmyBengal, an active duty enlisted medic.

CombatBengal who I believe is an active duty Army officer.

cincyhokie who was an Army Combat Engineering Officer.

Sandwedge who I understand is a retired Navy officer.

Thumanation who served in the Canadian military.

Boobie Clark, who was a Navy Petty Officer.

RedsFan2 who was an enlisted Marine Sargent as was I.

If I left any veterans out here, please post here and let me know. You deserve recognition.

Here's the article:

Bengals kicker Shayne Graham, whose father, Tom, served two years in Vietnam in the U.S. Army, is lending his celebrity to help another generation of troops.

Graham is selling Matt Maupin memorial dog tags to benefit the Yellow Ribbon Support Center and Fallen Heroes.

Information and order forms are available on shaynegraham.com.

The cost is $15, which includes shipping. Make checks payable to Yellow Ribbon Support Center and mail to the center, 700 S. Eastgate Blvd., Suite 430, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45245.

The tags also can be purchased at the Army Store on Route 4 in Fairfield.

The tags read:

SSG MATT MAUPIN

CAPTURED 9/4/04

RECOVERED 21/3/08

KILLED IN CAPTIVITY

TO EVERYONE

I AM NOW HOME

THANK YOU FOR

NOT FORGETTING

724 TRANS

The package includes two embossed, stainless tags, one 24-inch stainless beaded chain (normally worn around the neck), one 4-inch stainless beaded chain and two black rubber tag silencers.

Maupin, a former Glen Este High School football player, was captured April 9, 2004, when his convoy was ambushed in Iraq. His funeral was held April 27 at Great American Ball Park, followed by his burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Great post Bengalszone! I salute you sir for starting obviously the best thread of the day!

generaldreedle Navy 84-88.

[BengalszoneBilly]

generaldreedle Navy 84-88.

You're now on the list generaldreedle!

[Thurmanation]

Thanks alot BB.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Thanks alot BB.

You are welcome brother.