I am proud to know and be friends with a great group of people called veterans. Ullman Fortenberry, now 87, a lifelong friend and resident of Haleyville, Alabama, was an inspiration and mentor. I became a ham radio operator and a pilot just like Ullman. Ullman is very special, he was not just a B-17 pilot in WW II, he was the air mission commander who led his squadron on a bombing mission which leveled the Mercedes plant in Stuttgart Germany.

Ullman has visited the Mercedes plant in Vance, AL where an entire wall is covered with a mural featuring a blown up aerial photo of the Mercedes plant on the ground following his mission. "From The Ashes to Alabama" is the theme of the welcoming center and museum. This is a photo of the pilot who put them in the ashes. 
 Without veterans, I would not be able to write this to you.

This story below was forwarded from Washington D.C to me by one of my former Vietnam roommates and West Point grad Sam Wyman. We send each other little, see each other even less often, but we still have a very strong unbreakable bond formed from being soldiers together. We lunched together with my first roommate in Vietnam, Mick Guttau, in July at the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association annual convention in Philadelphia.

 If any of you have ever been to a military Funeral in which taps was played; This brings out a new meaning of it.

During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captaind decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment.

When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate Soldier, but the soldier was dead. The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier.

It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army.
The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial, despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted.

The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate. But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician.

The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the Bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform. This wish was granted.

The haunting melody, we now know as 'Taps' used at military funerals was born.

The words are:
Day is done. Gone the sun.
From the lakes. From the hills.
From the sky. All is well. Safely rest.
God is nigh. Fading light.
Dims the sight. And a star.
Gems the sky. Gleaming bright.
From afar. Drawing nigh.
Falls the night. Thanks and praise.
For our days. Neath the sun.
Neath the stars. Neath the sky.
As we go. This we know.
God is nigh.

I too have felt the chills while listening to 'Taps' but I have never seen all the words to the song until now. I didn't even know there was more than one verse. I also never knew the story behind the song and I didn't know if you had either so I thought I'd pass it along. I now have an even deeper respect for the song than I did before. Remember those lost and harmed while serving their Country.

Also remember those who have served and returned; and for those presently serving in the Armed Forces.