Greetings to all

[lilripple4vets]

Greetings, Everyone.... :D

It feels wonderful to finally make it on board. For a while there I was beginning to wonder if I was going to survive the registration process. Thank you so much, David, for your help.

Feel free to check out my bio to find out more about me.

Just checking in, I am
Nancy "Lilripple" Meek

[QM3steve]

Welcome aboard Nancy. Enjoy the company.

[Bill Farnie]

Nancy,
Welcome to the PF and your website is wonderful

[Jerry D]

Welcome aboard Nancy :a:

[lilripple4vets]

Thanks for the welcome and the kudos concerning my website. In cruising through the forums, I can see I might need to consider taking a course in speed reading. There's quite a lot to absorb.

My husband was a helicopter maintainence technician for the 1st Cav. He served two years in the service (Jan 66 to Jan 68) One of those years was spent in Nam (Sept 66 to Sept 67). He sweated it out in the 11th Aviation Air Assault Helicopter Support Group, 228th Batt. B Co. There doesn't seem to be too many around who was in his particular company, not that he's actively looking for any. Besides being addicted to the computer game "Bookworm", he only uses our computer to visit the Nascar race site and to check to see who won the lottery. Other than that, the computer is all mine to use for my poetry, tweaking my website and depositing my two-cents worth into a few forums. *cheesy grin*

Welcome home to all our Vets!

Nancy

[lilripple4vets]

Jerry....

The first shot of the Civil War was lobbed approximately 7 miles from my house. :-)

A LilRippleFromDixie, I am
Nancy

[David]

Welcome to the site Nancy :)

[b3196]

nancy
Welcome aboard...I have a good friend who was with the !st Cav in 67 with the same MOS.
Bob K

[DMZ-LT]

Welcome aboard !

[Boats]

Nancy this site needs more of you and we appreciate you picking our site to share your thoughts. A different perspective is always welcome. Welcome aboard.

[Jerry D]

so Nancy If Ft. Sumpter is only 7 miles from your house Charleston and the Hunley must be close by also :D some friends of mine marched in the funeral procession for the Hunley Sailors last year . "Paco" here on the site is somewhere near you in the low country just FYI . you all have a great week in Dixie! :4:

[catman]

Welcome aboard!

Trav

[lilripple4vets]

Thanks, fellas....

Boats....I have different thoughts alright. In fact, several of my friends have come to the conclusion that I am flying at a different altitude. :-O Thanks for your eagerness. Hopefully, I will find time soon to share some.

Jerry....Yes, we have the Hunley stowed away somewhere around here. And that funeral march turned out to be a real big todo. I wasn't able to attend, however. I suffer from PTSD (it's a long story) and just couldn't bring myself to mingle with all those strangers.

So, Paco lives closeby, eh? hmmmmm.......perhaps I've seen him. 'Tis really somethin'.....that people can pass each other on the street and have so much in common, yet never know it, because we can't read their minds. Perhaps it would help if we all wore T-shirts which displayed the names of our friends and associates........like: Patriotfiles.com ......just to mention one....lol

I hate to tell you this, but I can't hang out here any longer tonight. I worked all day and we had company most of the evening, so I'm really pooped. Plus, I have to get up at 5:30 a.m. to do it all again.....lol

But, before I go, I just want to leave you with one of my recent poems. My hope is that many of you can relate to it. My objective in much of my writing is to capture the thoughts and feelings of our soldiers and veterans and put them into poetic form. I apologize in advance to those who don't like poetry. But, hey......perhaps after reading one of mine, you may warm up to the art.



Have You Heard the News

I killed another man, our enemy, yesterday
as you drove home, humming along the way
as you turned the radio to your favorite song,
not to the news on how we were getting along.

I shot another in the head and watched him die
as you fell asleep later under a peaceful sky
as I examined another to ensure he was dead,
you rearranged the pillows beneath your head.

I ran for cover as you woke to use the john,
then shot another as your paper hit the lawn
as you drank your coffee, sparkling in the sun,
a car bomb exploded and we lost another one.

We zipped him up as you carefully washed your face
as you stared in the mirror for anything out of place
as his remains were being loaded onto the plane,
you plucked your nose hairs, wincing at the pain.

I lost a leg, my right one, and the vision in one eye
as you rinsed your coffee cup and toweled it dry
as you jumped in your car, ready for another day,
they saluted caskets in secret, or so they say.

Nancy L. Meek ~ October 15, 2004

Have a great day/afternoon/evening :-)

Perpetually praying for eventual peace, I am
Nancy

"Once I was sad, because I had no shoes......until I met a man who had no feet.".....author unknown

[lilripple4vets]

Originally posted by b3196 nancy
Welcome aboard...I have a good friend who was with the !st Cav in 67 with the same MOS.
Bob K

Hi, Bob.....thanks for the welcome.

Would your friend mind if you told me his name? If not, just ask him if he remembers Billy Meek. I have a photo of him when he was in An Khe if that would help.

Hittin' the sack, I am
LilSleepyRipple

[Jerry D]

Nancy: it definitely captured the old saying" we do more before 5am then most folks do all day !" good work :ae:

[Doc.2/47]

Nancy
We are honored by your presence on the site.
PTSD?T-shirts?Best go on down to the Vietnam forum an check out the PsycoVets an psyco vets store and activities.Good folks who'll tote your ruck an watch your 6 in a heartbeat.Pics of some geatherings on the gallery.

Good poem.Wrote one myself for one of my ole buddies.Generally try ta post it somewhere every year or so as a tribute to him.A little past due this year so I'll stick it here.Sorry.

Remember

I've fought.
I've killed.
I've done my best
But now a crimson tide
Ebbs from my chest
To wet the grass and stain the ground
While stinging flies swarm all around
And man-made Hell tears at the sky
Heedlessly,while I lay and die
Cold
And alone
Half a world away from home.

Oh God.The pain.The Pain.The PAIN!
Twists my body,sears my brain.
Gasping breath through gnashing teeth.
The hand I long to hold is out of reach.

But now the pain,the loneliness,the chaos
All begin to fade,
And I find to my surprise
That I am not afraid.
Now the darkness geathers.
I can no longer see.
My God.My Country
Remem...remember...


For Sp/5 Harry Suttler
KIA 17 Sept.1970 near Camp Bearcat RSVN
from Doc.

[lilripple4vets]

Thanks for your generous compliment, Jerry. So glad you picked up on how I captured that old saying. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about our soldiers fighting and dying while I'm over here wallowing in the good life beneath peaceful skies.

Truly grateful, I am
Nancy

[lilripple4vets]

Wow, Doc! What a powerful memorial poem you have painted. I can see the scene in my mind's eye. No need at all to apologize for posting it here. Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent. My favorite part:

To wet the grass and stain the ground
While stinging flies swarm all around
And man-made Hell tears at the sky
Heedlessly, while I lay and die
Cold
And alone
Half a world away from home.

Your buddy was truly blessed to have you for a friend.

PsycoVets!?? Gee, I feel at home, already....lol I will be sure to check it out, that is if I don't get lost. Please don't tell my husband, though. If he thought even for one second that someone other than him was watching my 6, he might punch their lights out.....lol

I have already viewed many of the pics in the gallery, which is quite a marvelous collection! One of these days, I would like to create a photo gallery for my website; but I'm still a wee bit too 'puter-dumb right now to figure out how to put one together.

If you aren't already a member, have you thought about joining the IWVPA? I think you should. Here's the addy so you can check it out:

International War Veterans' Poetry Archives
http://www.iwvpa.net/

Welcome home, Doc!......and Thank you for serving our country.

Taking these tired old bones to bed, I am
Nancy

[DMZ-LT]

Wow Hal , that was great. Thank you. I'll remember Harry with you.

[catman]

Nancy...check out your sight, very powerful, thank you for supporting us!!

Doc...do not have the words brother, keep moving!

Trav

[Keith_Hixson]

I'm glad you are aboard. Welcome!

Just remember one thing.

I'm the self-appointed, unofficial therapist for this site. There are some real wacko's on this site. Or should I say Psycho-Vets !
Be Careful!

Keith :D

[PHO127]

Welcome Nancy, I am the chief Psyco Vet and official greeter. OK now tell the truth, your real name is MaGill, but you call yourself LiL, But everone knows you as Nancy. :D

Welcome to the site.

[frisco-kid]

Welcome to the site. Looking forward to your posts and somemore of your great poetry.

Doc: A GREAT memorial to your friend. You're talented, Bro.

Here's one of mine to share.

Who Are You?

My Johnny, he came Home today,
From that foreign war, so far away.
And now my love, you're Home to stay.
That's okay.
My Johnny, he came Home today.

Where are your legs, with which you run,
When first you went to carry a gun?
I believe our Dancin' Days are done.
That's okay.
My Johnny, he came Home today.

Where are the eyes with which you smiled,
When my poor heart, you first beguiled?
Why did you have to leave Me and the Child?
That's okay.
My Johnny, he came Home today.

Where is your kiss, so warm and dear?
Why are your eyes still filled with Fear?
I sense your Pain, but see no tear.
That's okay.
My Johnny, he came Home today.

Why do you sit in your chair on wheels,
Unwilling to tell me how It feels?
Deep in your eyes, I glimpse the Wound that never heals.
Something is NOT okay.
DID my Johnny come Home today?

Tom


I wrote this poem a couple of years ago while thinking of a guy in my platoon that stepped on a mine on a rice paddy dike somewhere around Duc Pho.

[DMZ-LT]

Sandstorms. I am humbled by y'alls talent. You touch the heart.

[lilripple4vets]

Oh m'gosh! I didn't know there was so much talent in here. Tom, you paint a tragic and heartbreaking scenario. 'Tis so so sad, the effects of war on many of our veterans. It just makes me want to cry. Thanks for sharing.


PHO127....aka Chief Psyco Vet, thanks for the warning. I'll be sure to keep my eye on you. *cheezy grin*

Here's a poem I wrote in November. It was inspired from an actual battle event.

With huggzz to all, I am
Nancy



Fifteen Meters to Heroism and Counting

The explosion!
The odor of cordite still stinging the air,
Troopers on the ground, hunkered here and there,
Hot, sweating. . .expecting the small arms fire,
Mentally preparing for all hell to transpire.

The tracer round!
Hearts pounding as, suddenly, one rose,
A triggered frag grenade stuck to his clothes,
As he broke into a run, frantically tearing at his vest,
Yelling, "Grenade!" as it bounced against his chest.

Nancy L. Meek ~ November 21, 2004

[b3196]

Nancy
These guys are OK but, you havn't seen talent till you met me:xx:
Bob K

[lilripple4vets]

LOL.......Is that dancing banana a sample of your talents? Nice rythm.


Nancy

[Robert Ryan]

Welocme Nancy glad you are aboard

[MORTARDUDE]

Welcome Aboard !!!

Larry

[Robert Ryan]

welcome Nancy

[lilripple4vets]

Thank you, Robert and Larry. I'm glad I checked this thread. I thought at first it might have been dead.......gee, that rhymed....lol

I've been a bit quiet lately, having lots of pans on the fire. For example, you good people deposit posts faster than I can read them....lol

Gimme a few months to catch up and then I'll post something wise and/or witty.....lol

Huggzz,
Nancy