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[Music]
Waitress>> Can I help you?
Soldier>> Just a cup of coffee, please.
Waitress>> Coming right up.
Waitress>> Oh there's no charge.
Soldier>> Thank you.
Waitress>> Here you go.
Soldier>> Thanks again.
Customer>> Thank you for your service.
Soldier>> Thank you for your support.
Mom>> Do you want to have your picture taken with a soldier?
Boy>> Can I take a picture?
Soldier>> Sure.
Mom>> All right. Smile.
Mom>> There you go.
Mom>> Sir?
My son would like to ask you a question.
Boy>> Are you a hero too?
That man said you were.
Veteran>> I just served as best I could.
Boy>> Can we take a picture?
Veteran>> Sure.
Mom>> All right, smile big.
What do you say?
Boy>> Thanks.
Veteran>> Thank you.
Soldier>> Thank you for your service.
Veteran>> Thank you for your support.
Waitress>> Can I get you a refill?
Announcer>> Welcome to USAA's Veterans Day Ceremony 2012.
Last Memorial Day thousands of Vietnam veterans and their familes gathered at the
wall in Washington, DC where a grateful nation began to thank them for their service on the
50th anniversary of the Vietnam war.
The man who leads this national 13-year commemoration
is retired Lt. Gen. Mick Kicklighter, a veteran of two tours in Vietnam, who has given a lifetime
of service to our country.
USAA is honored to welcome this great soldier and patriot. Ladies and Gentlemen -
Lt. Gen. Mick Kicklighter.
[Applause]
Thank you very much. That's a great honor and it's a great honor to be with you today.
General Robles, other distinguished guests and our honored guests today ... our Vietnam veterans
and all of our veterans and your families. It is truly a great honor to be with you and
to be able to provide you some information about our nation's program to commemorate
the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam war.
I'm also here on another very important mission and that is to present a certificate from
our Secretary of Defense and our chairman to USAA as they become a commemorative partner
to help this nation execute this very important mission. I'd like to ask our Vietnam veterans
to please stand, or raise your hand and let us thank you for your service from a grateful
nation: our Vietnam veterans.
[Applause]
I must tell you, after watching that film and your applause it got me a little choked
up so I'll do the best I can. Congress passed a law that authorized the Department of Defense
to organize or recruit partners and support events all across America and to assist our
nation, a grateful nation in thanking and honoring our Vietnam veterans and their families,
and especially families that lost loved ones in that war. Even though we're going to have
national and international events this commemoration will be very hometown-centric. We want to
go to where the veterans live and honor them in their hometown just as Fort Sam Houston
and Army North did yesterday for all the Vietnam veterans in this area and that was a wonderful
event. I know many of you were there.
One of the major ways that we're going to accomplish this going to hometown America
is by recruiting commemorative partners all across this great land. We're going to towns
and cities and corporations like USAA, universities -- Texas Tech is a commemorative partner,
schools, associations, military installations Fort Sam Houston is a commemorative partner.
We're going to active units, guard, reserve and veteran service organizations all across
America to get them involved, to help us thank and honor our veterans.
And this is a long program. This was a long war. And this program runs until 2025, 13 years.
Even though the focus of all of our effort will be on Vietnam veterans and their
families. At every event we want to make sure that we remember all veterans from all of
our wars and we want to especially make sure that we thank and honor the men and women
who are on today's battlefield and what a magnificent job they're doing and have done
throughout this war. Let's give them a round of applause.
[Applause]
Thank you.
Our nation truly needs commemorative partners like USAA to help thank and honor our veterans.
And your willingness to become a commemorative partners means a great deal to our nation,
to our veterans and to our committee. You bring over 90-plus years of dedicated service
to current and past service members and their families. This organization has more than
23,000 employees and 9 million members who have honorably served and have supported eligible
families throughout those 90 years. And many of our members and many of the staff here
are Vietnam veterans or the families of Vietnam veterans or part of this great organization.
And we know that you'll make a major impact all across America in helping this nation
lead and assist in reaching our veterans where they live.
We know that no matter what we do it won't be enough but we do have a chance to turn
the pages of history back and to right a wrong. As you saw on the film we selected Memorial
Day 2012 at the Vietnam War Memorial to announce to the nation that we're starting to commemorate
the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. Attending that ceremony was almost the entire national
chain of command: our Commander-in-Chief President Obama and Mrs. Obama were there, Vice President
and Mrs. Biden were there, the secretaries, the chiefs of service. It was a tremendous
turnout and I wish I had time to share some of the highlights from that but I've picked
a couple of quotes that kind of capture what we thought were the theme and the message
of the day and I'm going to quote a few lines from a poem written by a Vietnam veteran
Albert Nahas, a retired Army colonel.
And I quote: "It mattered not what politicians argued. It mattered not what history would
reveal. We had no expectations but to serve where duty called us and we asked for no rewards
except a nation's thanks."
And then the last quote I'll use to kind of capture what we're trying to do is a quote
from General Fred Wyan. If any of you knew General Wyan you knew what a wonderful leader
he was. He served in World War II in China, Burma, India on General Stillwell's staff,
one of the toughest theaters in the war. He commanded an infantry battalion in the Korean
War and at one point was totally surrounded by the Chinese. He led the 25th division in
Vietnam; he later became the two-field force's commander and he was the last four-star commander
of all forces in Vietnam and he was selected to be the 27th chief of staff of our Army.
And this is what he said: "What particularly haunts me, what I think is one of the saddest
legacies of the Vietnam war is the cruel misperception that the American fighting men there did not
measure up to their predecessors in World War II and Korea. Nothing could be further
from the truth."
It is a great honor and privilege for me to be here today to present to USAA a certificate,
as I said earlier, signed by the Secretary of Defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff to officially designate USAA as one of the very first corporate commemorative
partners. We'd also like to present them our commemorative flag which you can see on the
screen behind me. We hope to have these flags in more than 15,000 communities.
There's a lot of symbolism on this flag but I think the most important message is across
the bottom, and it says, "A grateful nation thanks and honors you," Our Vietnam veteran,
for your service, your valor and your sacrifice." We hope that every time a Vietnam veteran
and their family see this flag all across America they will know that a grateful nation
truly remembers, thanks and honors them during their 50th anniversary.
And now if Major General Kamiya will join me at the front of the stage I'd like to present
USAA with a certificate that officially designates this organization and their flag.
[Applause]
On behalf of USAA, sir thank you, and we're honored.
[Applause]
The fact that you are a commemorative partner now means a great deal to our nation,
especially to our veterans because they know who you are and what you stand for. Thank
you and God bless you and God bless America.
[Applause]
Announcer>> And now, recording artist Kory Brunson singing his thank you to our military
"We Know You're Out There."
[Music]
Have you ever looked, at the face of 10,000 heroes
at the same time, while they looked back at yours?
Into the eyes of every soldier ... that left their home to keep us safe,
and tried to find the words to say?
As I stand in awe of you.
I'm amazed at what you do.
The pride you show.
And all the choices that you make ...
for me and my family's sake.
I need you to know ...
We know you're out there ...
We thank God for you.
Blood, sweat and tears.
For the Red, White and Blue.
We know you're out there. That there's a price you pay.
We put our kids to bed, in a peaceful land to lay their head.
Because you're out there ... Are you lonely for the ones you left behind?
Did you leave your home, to stand guard over me and mine?
Well, our hearts are with you there. You should know, you're not alone.
So just be safe, and hurry home. As I stand in awe of you ...
and everything that you've been through the sacrifices made.
And all the chances that you take. for the love of these United States
We gotta stand and say ... We know you're out there ...
We thank God for you. Blood, sweat and tears. For the Red, White
and Blue. We know you're out there.
That there's a price you pay. We put our kids to bed, in a peaceful land
to lay their head. Because you're out there ...
From the sands in Iraq ... To the shores of Japan.
At Normandy, and Vietnam. Every diehard, red-blooded ...
American woman and man. We know you're out there ...
We thank God for you. Blood, sweat and tears. For the Red, White
and Blue. We know you're out there.
That there's a price you pay. We put our kids to bed, in a peaceful land
to lay their head. Because you're out there ...
We thank God for you. Blood, sweat and tears. For the Red, White
and Blue. We know you're out there.
That there's a price you pay. We put our kids to bed, in a peaceful land
to lay their head. Because you're out there ...
We know you're out there. We know you're out there.
We know you're out there.
The road to todayís ceremony ran through Annapolis. Both of our hosts are U.S. Naval
Academy graduates. Drew Higgins pinned on Marine bars in 1998. He served 8 years, deploying
six times to four different continents. He now serves as a Director of Product Management
for the Home Event. Travis Peace was commissioned a surface warfare
officer and served on the USS Bataan. He finished his five year stint in the Navy as a nuclear
engineer aboard the USS George Washington. He, too, serves as a Director of Product Management
for the Home Event. Ladies and Gentlemen, please give a warm welcome
to Drew Higgins and Travis Peace.
Good Morning everyone! Weíre honored to welcome our distinguished
guests and all those watching online and on the Pentagon Channel.
Yes, it is our honor and privilege to welcome you all today.
And pleaseÖanother round of applause for Mr. Kory Brunson. Nice song.
Kory has been busy lately, opening for Dierks Bentley and Lynyrd Skynyrd among others. And
the song you just heard, ìWe Know Youíre Out Thereî has been a big hit for Kory.
Special note: Koryís father-in-law is a Vietnam Vet too. Weíll hear more from Kory in a moment.
Considering all of the USAA leadership having served in the Army and Air Force, itís
not often they let a couple of Naval Academy grads speak around here ... so weíd like
to take this opportunity to recognize some of our buddies and shipmates serving today.
So before they cut the mic on us, weíd like to recognize my former shipmates
on the USS George Washington and all the others haze-gray-and-underway over in the 7th fleet
... as well as those lucky enough to be stationed on the West coast ... I hear those are some
rough billets in Hawaii and San Diego), to those over in the Norfolk area (especially
the dirty nickel ñ the USS BataanÖ my old stomping grounds), all the way to the guys
in HSC-8 flying their helos around 5th fleet. I had to throw in a shout out to
my pilot buddies.
And while weíre on the subject of pilots, my former occupation in the Marine
Corps, letís not forget the Marines from squadron ***. Of course Iíd be remise to
leave out (insert other Marine shout outs here). [End with Oorah].
Well Drew, we need to give a shout out to the other services as well. Right?
Good call, Travis thatís probably best for our health. Letís remember our brothers
in Army green ...
... the Air Force blue.
And our buds in the Coast Guard. Iíve had a few buddies who are BIG FANS of
the coast guard rescue units ñ we celebrate you this day.
Our theme today is Inspiration Among Us ...through the hour; we want to share
with you many inspirational stories where veterans, veterans among us, have truly been
inspirational.
Letís begin, as any patriotic program should with honoring the flag. You just heard
Kory Brunson with that opening number, We Know Youíre Out There,
(nicely done Kory)
And Kory will continue with the National Anthem, but first, the Pledge of Allegiance.
Recent legislation has stated that Veterans may salute or place their hands over their
hearts ... as you prefer.
Ladies and Gentlemen ... please rise.
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for
which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Great job Kory ... thanks so much for helping us out today.
Like many of you watching we understand the hardships encountered through military
service, not just the hardships encountered by us, but also the families. To all the wives,
husbands, children, parents, grandparents, and siblings holding the family together,
today we also recognize you and the sacrifices you make every day. Thank you.
We have several special guests with us today representing the military, and weíd
like for each of them to stand and be recognized ... as you rise, please face the audience,
and audience please hold your applause until all are introduced.
Ladies and Gentlemen ... thank you for your service and thank you for being here today.
Also in attendance we have many employees serving in the National Guard and
Reserve. Those of you in attendance both here or in our regional offices please stand and
be recognized.
We are also fortunate today on Veterans Day to have some very special guests.
From the Warrior and Family Support Center receiving treatment at Brook Army Medical
Center ... we have our truly inspirational heroes.
We have wounded warriors who have been injured in the line of duty. Duty that has changed
their lives forever. Let's have them stand as they are able and receive our appreciation
for their sacrifice and their service.
Thank you all for being here today.
As we speak of inspiration today, certainly the active duty military are doing
a tremendous job. On Veterans Day, itís only fitting that we take some time and see how
our military grows and presents new opportunity to the finest young people this nation has
to offer.
The Coast Guard is engaged in missions and good work every day. Weíre out there
rescuing people. We're protecting the ports. We have four crew members who are on watch,
ready to go, kinda like a firehouse. We have two pilots, a flight mechanic and
a rescue swimmer. I am Lt. La'Shanda Jones, Iím a MH-65 Dolphin
helicopter pilot for the United States Coast Guard
and Iím stationed here in beautiful Los Angeles, California.
Search and rescue is service, it doesn't matter if it's two in
the morning and the marine layer is in and the visibility
is low. We will put those goggles on and hop in
the aircraft and we will go look for you, where ever you are. And we will keep
looking until we find you. And thatís what I love about being a pilot
in the Coast Guard. I lost my mother at the age of two to
suicide and I was adopted after that. And towards
almost 16 years old, I went into foster care because of some things that
were going on at home. I would cry every night. And I would be upset. Woe is me. You know,
why is this happening? After a while, I said Okay, La'Shanda, you gotta stop crying. You
gotta come up with a plan. You've gotta do something. Thatís the only
way youíre gonna turn it around. I didnít know that the Coast Guard was a
lifesaving service. Knew nothing about the mission so it
was really a blessing that I ran into Senior Chief and learned about the Coast Guard
because it's completely changed my life and I canít imagine doing anything different
right now. He started telling me about the Coast Guard
and the Coast Guard's missions. And about the CSPI program, which stands for
College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative
and one of the things that you get out of that is a full scholarship for your last two
two years. That's pretty much how I learned about the Coast Guard. I signed up that day.
And the rest has been history. The person who shifted my focus
towards aviation would have to be Lt. Jeanine Menze.
I knew I had to meet her. She took me up on a C130 flight.
And from that moment I knew by meeting and seeing her
that I could do it. Jeanine was there when I got my wings so
that was a very, big, big day for me.
Lt. La'Shanda Jones is a very driven, focused officer.
A very studious pilot. She represents progress. She's really good at inspiring
youth. She's out there just trying to help young people
figure out what they want to do. And inspire them to just be their best.
It feels great to be an inspiration.
It feels great for young women, and even young men, to look up at me.
And say wow I've never seen a woman whose flown. I've never seen an
African-American woman whose flown. Also lets me know that I have a
responsibility that comes along with that. To be a leader and to be a good
role model, which I fully take that on. It's awesome that I get
to serve in this in this awesome uniform.
No matter where you fought, how old you are or where you've even flown
we are all a small part of a bigger piece that would do what it takes
to defend this nation and
its ideals. My mother would be extremely proud and I
feel like maybe that's why I've been allowed to go through
some things and make it out on this side of it and be successful - I am
so blessed because I know my mother's looking over me.
And I know I am going to be just fine.
That is an inspiring story. We are lucky to have Lieutenant LaíShanda Jones
with us today. Lieutenant Jones ... please stand and be recognized.
Now Travis, I want to take a moment to talk about Army-Navy football
God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains,
From the mountains,
to the prairies,
to the prairies,
To the oceans,
To the oceans,
white with foam
God bless America,
My home sweet home.
God bless America,
My home sweet home.
This is my country!
This is my country!
Grandest on earth!
I pledge thee my allegiance,
America, the bold,
For this is my country
to have and to hold.
America!
God shed His grace on thee, on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
America!
America!
Ladies and Gentlemen ... excuse our exuberance ... we were overcome and had to sing. We hope
you enjoyed it. And what better place to lend voice to the patriotism of the day ... than
here at this wonderful ceremony. It is my pleasure now to introduce Major General Jason
Kamiya.
Jason Kamiya has been with USAA for two years following a 33 year career as an Army officer.
He has served in a variety of leadership roles to include command of a joint service/multinational
task force in Afghanistan.
He is currently responsible for one of USAAís largest organizations, Financial Foundations.
He is a native of Honolulu and the son of a World War II veteran.
Ladies and Gentlemen ñ please welcome, Major General Jason Kamiya.
Ladies and gentlemen please forgive our exuberance; we were overcome and we just
had to sing. We hope you enjoyed it.
It is my - what a day to lend voice to patriotism at this wonderful ceremony and it is my pleasure
to now introduce Retired Major General Jason Kamiya. Jason Kamiya has been with USAA for
two years after a 33-year career in the Army where he served in a variety of leadership
roles including command of a joint service multinational task force if Afghanistan. He
is currently responsible for one of USAA's largest organizations: Financial Foundations.
He is a native of Honolulu, Hawaii and the son of a World War Two veteran. Please help
me welcome Retired Major General Jason Kamiya.
Thanks for that. How about another - one more big round of applause for the Coast
Guard Academy Cadet Singers.
On behalf of Joe Roble's president and CEO of USAA is it my distinct privilege to welcome
all of you to our 2012 Veterans Day celebration. While we pause to officially recognize this
special day in our nation's history we know that here at USAA every day is Veterans Day.
Consistent with our mission we strive each day to be aware of the unique needs of the
military community. And because of that awareness we are pleased and proud to celebrate special
military holidays like Veterans Day.
I don't think it will be presumptuous of me to say that nearly every one of you have at
least one veteran in a very special place in your hearts. My dad, like most veterans
of his generation, returned from World War Two to begin the long road of assimilation
back into the society he so valiantly defended. Raised in Hawaii in a sugar plantation community
amongst Japanese and Filipino immigrants and with only limited formal education he was
a man of very simple means.
While serving as an infantry man in World War Two he rose to the prestigious rank of
private first class E3 and was awfully proud of it. Upon discharge from the Army for wounds
sustained in combat he worked as a busboy at the Tripler Army Medical Center dining
facility until he saved enough money to put himself through business school. He tells
a story of him pacing up and down in front of the business school, trying to summon enough
courage to submit his application and his tuition deposit, so nervous, so shy, and uncertain
about the path to which he was committing himself he told me that he wished there was
someone to talk to, someone to help make this life decision simple and easy.
For three days he walked up and down in front of that business school, returning each day
to home with application still in hand. Finally on the fourth day he drummed up enough courage
and submitted his application.
For the next 30 years Dad worked for the same small insurance company. He did underwriting
and sold, serviced auto, property and life insurance. He advised on investments and commercial
and real estate properties. I guess in today's lexicon you would call him a walking integrated
solution.
Dad didn't die a rich man earlier this year but he did pass away knowing that he helped
his family and many other people, many of whom were veterans like himself on the road
to financial security and peace of mind. Like most veterans to their offspring Dad helped
shape my character by word and by deed, and of all the lessons he taught me the one that
matters most to me is the one that says, "True honor lies in the giving rather than in the
receiving." Dad lived this to a fault as I believe many veterans of his and follow-on
generations do.
I know in my own career in life I try to live and breathe it too. When you really pause
and think about it this is what makes me love the job I have so much, and this is what makes
me love the associations I have with people like you. As employees we hold ourselves accountable
to an organizational culture that promotes doing the right thing because it is the right
thing to do, and going above the norm because it allows us to play to our fullest potential.
And in doing so we place high premium on collaboration, on transparency and the subordination of self-interest
for the good of the whole. I believe these attitudes fit hand-in-glove with the military,
with veterans and their values.
On this special day of special days it is fitting that we pause to salute the millions
of veterans and thank them for their courage, sacrifice and service. We know that the ranks
of our veterans will swell over the next several years and that each day thousands of service
members like my dad 70 years ago will face enormous social and financial difficulties.
Let's be sure to use this day to reaffirm our commitment that regardless of enormous
complexity and obstacles we will remain at our very best to help veterans secure a bright
future through the freedoms they secured for all of us. Yes, today is Veterans Day and
every day at USAA is Veterans Day and it's all of our jobs to keep it that way.
Now it comes time to meet our keynote speaker for today who has traveled
an unusual but undoubtedly inspiring path.
He's earned an MBA at Duke, taught in
behavioral sciences and leadership department at the U.S. Military Academy,
was the company commander for the Warrior Transition Unit at West Point,
was the Army Times 2007 Soldier of the Year
and won an ESPY for best outdoor athlete in 2008.
Remarkable in itself
but simply amazing
when you consider
it all happened after
he lost his sight during a deployment to Iraq
seven years ago.
Ladies and gentlemen please join me in
welcoming Captain Scotty Smiley.
Thank you.
I can't believe the welcome, that you all are amazing. I'm humbled and
honored to be here in this Veterans Day celebration. This organization is one
of the best organizations I know.
I first want to thank
the many veterans in this area and then the veterans that work
for this organization
and the services that they have given because I know we all would not be
here if it wasn't for you all so thank you so much.
As a veteran, many times when I'm struggling and and I'm down
on myself I use inspiring motivational stories.
And so if you would go with me to a scene in where I'm
on Camp Muir on Mount Rainier.
The day prior
is a sunny, beautiful day.
We'd just started from Camp Paradise,
hiking up the ravine,
little squirrels crossing the pebble creek,
birds in the air flittering fluttering,
the trees were beautiful and green, the pine was in the air.
We couldnt have asked for a better day to climb.
We all passed the pebble creek none of us getting our feet wet --
important when you're on a frozen mountain.
We finally make our way up to Camp Muir and we spend the day resting.
Well after the end of this day seated around the
campfire, warming ourselves, warming some water
for us to fill our canteens up
the lead climb guy says "hey guys,
we're going to get you to bed at eleven,
or we'll get you to bed here shortly and then we'll wake you up at 11:00."
So I'm pumped, heading back to my tents with my buddies
"Man guys is awesome.
I'm going to get well over 12 hours of sleep."
They go, "what?
No it's called alpine sleep."
Well it's sad to say, I don't know if was the nervousness, the excitement or the
amount of hydration that I had done:
I got less than two hours sleep that night.
It's time to really wish people would decipher between eleven pm and eleven am.
Well this evening we couldn't have, again, asked for better evening to climb.
The moon was out, the stars were shining,
we all had lamps on our foreheads to see where we're going.
And as I began trudging up the mountain, attempting to summit that mountain
my legs just began to get exhausted.
My core began to tire.
My arms
begin to give out.
As we had summited through Disappointment Cleaver, this huge rock face
I knew my body was done.
I sat on my backpack, looking up at the lead climb guy and said,
"I don't think I can make it.
I don't think I can make it to the top."
Well I'll take you to a new scene several years earlier
when I was attending the United States Military Academy.
We were educated, trained and inspired
by men like Lieutenant General Chrisman,
General John Abezaide,
just phenomenal leaders.
But for me it was a life-changing experience.
You know, and seeing how I was a little spoiled growing up -- my mom always did our laundry
and,
you know, fortunately the Military Academy did our laundry also so
I made it there.
However,
our freshman year, at least the beginning of our freshman year
when we were cadets -- oh, excuse me --
we weren't cadets; we were "new cadets".
A new cadet is a rank,
and ranked definitely below cadet.
We also found that it unfortunately ranked below the commandant's dog.
We didn't have much to live off of but we fortunately were told we did rank
above the Naval goat,
so there's a little bit of love there.
But one of the duties we had to do was to deliver this laundry to upper classmen
in rank order, know what they did, know where they lived, and
trust me, my brain was fried.
I remember moving at 120 paces per minute down the hallway,
not running but moving out
with this big bag of laundry.
And granted I'm this 210-pound twisted steel sex appeal kind of
guy, I'm
the stud,
and this female
about a foot shorter than me stops:
"Halt, new cadet."
"Yes ma'am?"
"I'm not a ma'am,
I'm a sergeant."
"Yes, sergeant." "Where you going?" "I don't know." "Is that one of the floors
you're on?"
[Fake sobbing]"No, no ma'am,
sergeant."
And I just began to weep and cry.
And as pathetic as it may sound
I was broken.
And after she picked her jaw off the ground in shock and awe
she told me go to back my room.
She told me to figure out if this was the place for me, if this is where I
wanted to be.
And so I did.
And I had to think: Was the Army meant for me?
Were the values
that were taught here at the Academy my values?
Loyalty,
duty,
respect,
selfless service,
honor, integrity
and personal courage.
Were these values the values that I believed in?
I made a decision that day "Yes they were."
hey're the same values that my parents, my mom and dad espoused in me every single
day and my brothers and my sisters,
the values that I sought to heighten and to better in my life.
So I made a decision to stay at the Military Academy,
to push on, to make good friends,
to have a blast
and just enjoy my education.
And as the 47 months quickly zoomed by, as that
young female cadet had told me several months earlier
I now found myself
in a bit of a change.
I'm in charge of 45 men
in Mosul, Iraq,
where we're not only securing
the Iraqi people
but we're helping rebuild,
whether it be redistributing gasoline, electricity,
helping rebuild parks, schools.
I remember handing out soccer balls to hundreds of kids.
It was awesome to see the work that we were doing.
But every day tragedy would hit,
whether we were hit by improvised explosive devices, bombs in the road,
shot at by snipers.
I lost my company commander,
Captain Bill Jacobsen, Jr.,
on December 21st
in the Mosul mess hall bombing
along with 21 other men and women in the United States Army, wounding
hundreds.
It was hard.
And on April 6th of 2005
I found myself in front of a
car that looked suspicious.
The lower back of the car was a little lower than the front.
Single man in the driver seat,
head was clean-shaven, gray shirt down to his wrists,
innocent man.
But the suspicion of the vehicle
brought my attention, so I cordoned him off, surrounded him,
parked my vehicle 25 to 30 yards just to his south, nothing in between.
And I'm in the striker vehicle, we looked studs, had guns.
But the suspiciousness of this vehicle
again drew my attention.
And you can't just shoot anyone and everyone otherwise a lot of us would have been in
trouble -
just because you're scared.
And so I yelled at the man,
"Get out of your vehicle."
He looked over his left shoulder,
0:08:23.739,0:08:25.289 raised his hand and shook his head no
and put his hands back on the steering wheel.
I yelled at him again;
he responded in the same manner,
shaking his head "no"
and let his foot off the brake
and began pulling away.
So when I raise my rifle up to my shoulder, shot two rounds in front of
his vehicle
and then my world my black.
I woke up
two weeks later in Walter Reid Army Medical Center
blind the rest of my life.
My life was changed forever.
That split moment, that split time
my life was changed.
Now
I was in a real crux:
was the Army something that I believed in?
Was the service and the sacrifice that I had given,
hundreds and millions of people had given before me worth it?
But it was the men and women by my side,
my leaders,
Lieutenant General Brown calling me every other day, seeing how I was doing. My boss,
my company commander seeing how I was doing.
My wife constantly by my bed,
massaging my feet - and yes it
did feel good,
I miss it,
but it was that support
it was that support
that in the end gave me the decision that I still wanted to serve
and still wanted to serve my country as I'm doing today.
And as that service continued
I was able to work with an amazing leader, Lieutenant General Robert Van Antwerp
at Accessions Command,
then get my master's in business administration from Duke University,
then go back to my alma mater and teach leaders
just as we have here today.
It was,
pardon me for saying,
it was amazing and it was awesome.
And so I bring you back
to Mount Rainier.
I'm blind.
Every struggling step that I was taking,
every step that I was taking was on my own.
And again, it was that independent me that didn't want to trust my fellow comrades
or bide by how they told me to step
because I was an infantry ranger; I knew what I was doing.
But it was those steps and those values that I returned back to
that I knew, hey, I had to
trust in them, I had to give them recognition
and abide by what they told me.
And at the end of that day
I was finally able to be
14,410 feet on top of that mountain
and I felt like I was on top of the world.
And it was awesome.
And so in closing
I want to tell you all:
we all go to trialing and struggling times, whether it be economic,
physical, mental, spiritual
but it's standing behind the values of the organizations that we work for,
standing beside the men and women that we love, our friends and family,
and especially our faith
that enables us
to conquer all things.
And I know that we all here today will be able to do all things
if we stand behind those values and stand behind each other.
I just want to wish you all
a thankful and happy Veterans Day
and I appreciate so much all that you give us and the military community and all the
support that you constantly have given.
Thank you so much. God bless you.
Thank you
Captain Smiley and thank you for your sacrifice and your continuing service.
As Captain Smiley has shown us, sacrifice comes in many forms and many times is unexpected.
On this 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Vietnam War, letís remember a story
that is steeped in sacrifice and selflessness...
August 26, 1967 was a very bad day. Air Force Major Bud Day,
flying in his F100 Super Saber, call sign Misty One,
was shot down on his 65th mission over North Vietnam.
He ejected into a dense jungle canopy, his arm broken in three places
and a knee badly sprained. Capture was immediate.
And then began a horrendous challenge to not only survive
but to continue the fight. His test would last for
five years and seven months.
Bud Dayís training for his test began in 1942.
At 17, he quit high school and joined the Marine Corps.
World War II had begun. I was real small. I was
underweight, under size, under everything,
but the services were desperate. The Marine sergeant gave me a dime and
sent me across the street to buy some bananas. So I ate bananas until I tweaked my weight
up four, five or six pounds and off to San Diego.
Serving in the South Pacific until the war ended,
Bud returned home to school and to earn some money.
So one of the difficulties was I was also in love with Doris and
it was 1946. Then I joined the Guard and got a
direct commission as a lieutenant. Korea began to heat up about this
time and Bud knew that war was approaching. He heard that the
Air Force was calling people to duty. So he thought it through.
Having been a ground pounder in World War II,
I was interested in a different mode of transportation and
I thought flying jet fighters would be great and I became a very early jet pilot
and was in the fighter business to stay. Korea saw Bud complete two tours
as a fighter bomber pilot. Life settled in for a while.
But staying in the Air Force reserve while running a growing law practice
kept Bud well attuned to the military life. By the mid-ë60s,
Vietnam became a well-known name and Bud wouldnít sit this one out.
The final test preparation had begun. We took a really bad hit
in the aft end and the airplane just felt like it stopped,
so I did everything I could, so I hit the ground and was in really bad shape
and captured within maybe a couple of minutes. Things were really bad from there on.
Iíd been trained all my life to be a warrior. Later in the POW camp, was a lot of brutality
and skull fractures, broken legs, arms, backs, combinations,
very oppressive environment, starvation food.
Theyíd brutalize you for just nothing and very high stress. But getting the right
line up resistance also meant that somebody was
going to get killed along the lines
but that was just the price you had to pay to walk out with your heads up, too.
And that day finally came.
Bud Day did walk out with his head up like so many of the POWs
and into the happiest day of their lives. Bud was promoted to colonel
during his time as a POW and afterwards, he received the Air Force
cross and the Medal of Honor from a grateful nation.
Ultimately, Bud became Americaís most decorated airman
ever. Now he serves as an inspiration to many and
a hero to all. You have to recognize that
you represent a lot of other people who did not get the medal.
Now that youíve been inducted into a unique hall of heroes,
you will always be required to live a little different.
Being a hero doesnít come easy to Bud but he still remembers and recognizes it in
others. Weíre a volunteer force. These kids are
accomplishing some incredible acts
of heroism out on the battlefield and we in the Medal of Honor Society
were delighted when the first medals came out and still delighted
that people are now getting medals. Beyond medals, beyond bravery,
beyond inspiration. Bud Day has passed every test
and in the end, gives us one credo to remember on this
Veterans Day. Simply put:
Continue to love your country.
An overwhelming story of sacrifice ... and tremendous service.
Colonel Day holds nearly 70 military decorations and awards, most for combat actions, and is
the highest decorated living Air Force officer. He is also a well-known lawyer and was instrumental
in obtaining Tri-Care for Life for millions of military members and their spouses.
Colonel Day and his wife Doris are with us today and continue to inspire great respect.
And now, as this hour draws to a close ñ letís bring back the Coast Guard
Academy Cadet Singers.
Every year, we like to close our Veterans Day Ceremony with the singing of
the Service Songs. As the Coast Guard Academy Cadet Singers sing your favorite service song
... please stand up, join them, and help celebrate our Veterans, both current and former.
First to fight for the right,
And to build the nation's might.
And the Army goes rolling along.
Proud of all we have done,
Fighting til the battle's won.
And the Army goes rolling along.
Then it's Hi! Hi! Hey!
The Army's on its way,
Count off your cadence loud and strong
For where'er we go,
We will always know,
That the Army goes rolling along.
From the halls of Montezuma
To the shores of Tripoli
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land and sea.
First to fight for right and freedom,
And to keep our honor clean.
We are proud to claim the title of,
United States Marine.
Anchors Aweigh, my boys, Anchors Aweigh.
Farewell to foreign shores,
we sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay.
Through our last night on shore,
drink to the foam,
Until we meet once more.
Here's wishing you a happy voyage home.
Off we go, into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun.
At 'em boys, give 'er the gun.
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,
Off with one hell-uv-a roar!
We live in fame or go down in flame,
Hey, nothing can stop the U.S. Air Force.
We're always ready for the call,
We place our trust in Thee.
Through surf and storm and howling gale,
High shall our purpose be.
"Semper Paratus" is our guide,
Our fame and glory too.
To fight to save or fight and die,
Aye! Coast Guard, we are for you!
Well Travis ... I think we held things together pretty well.
Not counting your singing ... it went very well.
Well no one has to listen to me much longer ... I just want to wish everyone a
great Veterans Day.
Me too ... everyone drive carefully and if youíve ever been inspired by a Veteran,
thank them this weekend. Thank you.