You sound like me. My family is all military. Well a few are in other civil service jobs: police, fire Dept, nurses etc.. I think it's just a traditional for many of us. Just in my generation my Gradpa was a Marine, My Stepfather was in the Army as well as my Uncle's.My Aunt was in the Navy. My brother was in the Air Force then the Coast Guard. And my husband was in the Army. Thank your family for their service,! We love and support our troops!
Billy, huge respect. My Son is only 1 year older than you and served Australia in the ADF as a Grunt. He served in Afghanistan, we got him back a little broken, but in one piece. PTSD has kicked his ass, a broken couple of vertebrae, then a smashed foot after he returned finished his career. My boy served with distinction and I am so proud of him, but these songs bring back the real terror I felt when he was away. All love to you and your family mate.
Veterans wife, here. I wrote to him everyday when he was deployed. Married 40 years this year. Love my military man with my heart and soul. God Bless you Billy, and thank you for your service. You are my hero
I think the whole time I was in Navy boot camp I got 2 letters from my husband. No pictures of my 1 year old son, nothing. He said I called him every week, so what was the point? Still upsetting, but not surprising, since he was mad that I had joined when he got kicked out and didn't feel the need to get a job right away. My mom, on the other hand, stuck a snickers bar in an envelope and it actually got to me. CC called me into her office and had me open it in front of her. I guess she wondered what the heck it could be.
Have you listened to "If You're Reading This", by Tim Mcgraw? It is another super touching military tribute song, and one that'll send chills down your spine.
Shoot, I had an affectionate dad, and someone still starts cutting the onions there at the end of that song. You just feel how powerful that third verse is for the soldier of the song.
Thank you for your service my brother. I am a veteran of the Vietnam War. In the Summer of 1969 I received a small package from home. It was from my eleven-year-old sister who sent me a coloring book and a box of crayons. I didn't think much of it until I started coloring some pictures on the bunker line. Next thing you know all the guys wanted to get in line so that they could color a picture. It was absolutely amazing. I was a 19 year old combat Soldier and yet I and my buddies found joy in a coloring book. Keep the faith my brother.
Hooah hell yeah one of the best songs . I am the great niece of 2 wwii vets and that song makes me think of them they made it home and passed few years ago
Please do Arlington by Trace Atkins, Sleeping with the Telephone by Reba McIntire and Faith Hill (spouses side of deployments) and when I’m gone 3 doors down I’m both a spouse of a soldier a daughter of a sailor and granddaughter of a WWII navy coreman who was in Normandy so it’s my blood
I can definitely relate. I was 31B military police. We basically were mounted infantry. Driving around in Humvees and Mraps. Did our walking patrols, traffic control points, and convoys. It definitely is hard when you're in the sandbox or on a deployment in general. Separation anxiety, depression, stress etc.... the little things do help those care packages or letters. Because even if your overseas with your battles you're their risking your life and your still worried about the people home. Anyway I went on a rant lol ty for your service!! Ty to those who paid the greatest sacrifice of all their lives it is greatly appreciated because of you all we are able to do what we do and be able to be who we are today. Prayers to the families of those that paid the ultimate sacrifice and god bless all living veterans and ones still actively serving. HOOOAAHHHH!!!!
Love this song! I teared up too. Thanks so much for all your sacrifice and hard work all of you precious vets and current service men and women!!! Much love from Kentucky ❣️❣️❣️❣️
Also Kentucky. We're a big military state! Home of Fort Knox and Fort Campbell, homes of the gold vault and the amazing Screamin Eagles, respectively!!
Letters were GOLD! If you haven't served in a forward area, tired, stressed, with no real let up in sight, that letter, no matter who it's from is the boost you needed to know someone cares at home. And in your mind, just for a little while your home also. Thanks billy! OUTSTANDING JOB YOUR DOING WITH THIS!!
My younger cousin is in the Army, and also in special opts (Rangers). I was able to see him this weekend at our family reunion because he had a 4 day, but we celebrated Christmas in February because he was deployed. But, he's also stationed in Washington and we live in Oklahoma so we pack a lot of celebrations into his leaves.
I was just watching your reaction to I just came back from a war. The reaction finished and this one alerted. Hoping you're having a happy Memorial Day. God Bless America and thank you for your service sir.
I'm a mother, wife, daughter, daughter-in-law of veterans. Plus I have had ancestors in nearly every war this nation fought in. I am active in the Auxiliary to Sons of Union Veterans. I do everything I can to aid our vets and active duty members and to teach others of our history. I always thank veterans and military and honor them.
Thank you from a family of many generations that have served. I'm a vet, my father served, my son medically retired, my grandson is national guard. My husband is a 'Nam vet, his parents both served along with his aunt and uncle during WWII.
I feel you Billy, my dad never told me he was proud of me, served my country for 6 years and made 3 tours and waited for that letter from my father but it never happened. He ended up passing while I was deployed and never got to say “I love You” and I haunts me every day. Thank you for your time and effort Billy!
My dad served in the US Navy for 36 years. I remember him being gone more than he was home, and I had no idea the sacrifices he made until I grew up and truly understood. God bless our veterans ❤️
Thank you for your service and all of your sacrafices. I love you. We love you. I promise. That ur sacrifices aren't forgotten or taken for granite. Glad you came home. My daughter is a soldiers spouse.
Thank you so much for your service. Growing up in Fayetteville Nc (Fort Bragg & Pope Air Force Base) I remember writing a lot of letters in school for parents of fellow classmates during Desert Storm. I learned at a young age because of that how important those letters are and also how important our military is to our country. I love all your video's but I appreciate you making these video's on a today like today, when most RU-vidr's don't.
My dad was in the army for 21 years as a Diesel Mechanic, and mostly stationed in Fort Campbell, Tennessee. And he did 3 tours to Afghanistan. I can say that what he says is all true. Letters were very important to both him, and us. And I am only 13 at the time of writing this, but I know the feeling of all of that. I would also like to thank you personally, for your service Billy, and all of the vets who are reading this. I can say for everyone, we appreciate you.
Proud Army wife of a 20 year Ret. Army SSG... Been through many deployments and understood my role... it was insignificant to actual Servicemembers... My kids and I have nothing but the highest RESPECT FOR ALL WHO SERVE, PAST PRESENT FUTURE!! THANK YOU!!!
I just found this video, thank you SO MUCH for your service, as well as, all our armed forces for their service. Know that you are loved, and appreciated for your service. God bless you!
Another , my love of my heart. med vet. my son is serving . Four Brother in laws served.. Spent alot of my life. In Military Hearts.. Great times, Terrible times. Love them all. None are The same. But alive & Here..
Thank you for your reactions and give thanks to military families. My son was in the Army & like you was in the Infantry. It was the hardest thing to wait to hear from them. I will never forget when he came home on R&R. He broke down & told me about an event. You know what I'm talking about. 2 weeks later I took him to the airport, on Thanksgiving Day, to return to Afghanistan. My husband had to pull me from the window, while I watched my sons plane took off, not knowing if he was going to return. Thankfully he did, however he is a different person. It's a work in progress but he will get there. Thank you again!
Thank you very much for your service my father was a veteran. Americans like you help keep this country safe and America. Great song again thanks for sharing like the channel going to suggest it to my friends it’s nice to hear your perspective on these different songs
Navy brat here...daddy was a medivac in Vietnam who gave Uncle Sam 35 yrs of his life in Navy...I am 60 now, and mom and dad have passed on, and I have nothing but respect for our men and women who serve or have served and their families...with that I want to say THANK YOU BILLY for ur service
Thank you for your service Sir! My daughter served in the Navy on an aircraft carrier that was deployed to the Persian Gulf. She went in at 18 years old and served 4 years. I kept in very close contact from Boot Camp on. It's very hard on families. So Proud of our Military.
I had a military pen pal, started in school, kept it up until his family got so large he didn't have time to write.(never been happier to have someone get too busy to talk) I've never been so grateful for a program. They paired us with people who weren't getting mail, so they'd have someone to write to. We wrote through 2 and 1/2 deployments. Worth every second. I sent him care packages every holiday once I moved out. Wonderful man.
3:07 You taking your father's position in the Army. Sounds like a good way in changing the guard. A very honorable way to when the son enlists around the time his father finally retires.
I'm the daughter of a navy father and the aunt of an army nephew and the niece of 2 army uncles and a grand daughter to an army grandfather. I have so much love gor those that serve. Even if i dont know them. We held a Thanksgiving dinner a few yrs ago for the veterns. We fixed a full thanksgiving meal, had donations given of blankets and necessities for them, did hair cuts and shaves. It was a proud moment for me to be able to do even a little something for them for all they have fone for us.
Watching reaction videos, I observed that he is the only one who intensively analyzes the music and lyrics of the song and the content of the video in a minute level or piece by piece not only its general meaning.
You put your service off as nothing, like it is just a part of life, but your service means the world to my family and I! You are one of a force that allows my babies to stay safe as they sleep. I thank you sir for your service and sacrifice that most people do not have the heart to make. Thank you!!!!!!!! May God our heavenly Father bless you for your selfless choice. Thanks!!!
Thank you for your service Billy! My husband was a Marine in the Viet Nam war before we met. I wish I could've known him earlier so that I could've sent him letters from home. God bless you, God bless America.
I am the proud uncle of a Navy vet,who is still in reserves,and he is a wildlife conservation officer.I have watched from baby to a man,that I greatly respect.I know how it feels when he would deploy,and every so often,I have to send a message to him,and tell him how proud of him,I couldn't be more proud of him,if he was my own son.Because of his job in the Navy,and his current job of being an officer of the law,he has been,and still is in constant danger,but he serves with distinction,in whatever he does.And,I know,that there are many more like him out there,and I tip my hat to all of you.Thank You!
Thank you for your service. I am the daughter, wife & mother of veterans. At the end of your reaction to this video, you were talking to about how being in the military changes people. I didn't see it with my dad because I wasn't even born when he was drafted. I didn't see it with my husband because he enlisted and finished his service almost 2 decades before we met. But I did see the change with my son. He came out harder and angrier. I can usually talk him out of his anger, but there are times when I can't get through. It's tough.
Billy, tyfys!! I could not watch this full video, your face said so much with no words needed and it has yanked all my heartstrings. Having been a military spouse I have seen so many soldiers leave the airfield here at Bragg to board that c17 with no family hugging them bye and returning home the same way. I tried to show them they were not forgotten or unappreciated by sending them little personalized care packages inside the main box to my man and incl a note to try and keep their morale up. Yall go thru far more that only your battles can understand with you. Please never hesitate to speak of your military memories & stories bc I truly appreciate them and appreciate you being so raw with your emotions. I am praying for your fallen battles and brothers/sisters, their blood for my freedom is so mindblowing and the ultimate act of love & kindness.
My husband is a veteran. I met him shortly after his service in the USMC and the Army. The struggles are real even when married to veteran in my experience who still carries himself that way and he can't necessarily talk about it due to everything. I get it. I respect it. We thank you for your service as well as to others who have served.
Those letters are what keep us going and help us remember why we do what we do during the times we can't make those call. Something we can carry with us, pull out, and read when it gets near impossible to keep soldiering on.
Thank you for your service. My Grandfather, father, brother, son and now my grandson all have or are serving. I prayed and always sent letters or now emails. My son just retired after 20 years. Now his son is leaving. I remember my 6 year old granddaughter looked up at me from the stairs crying and asked me why she had to be a good little soldier and let her Daddy leave. It broke my heart. I told she needed to make beautiful pictures for her Daddy so he had something from home. Everyday she made him a picture. He video chat with her every chance he could. He was in Iraq for 18 months along with my brother. I will never forget her little face. My son cried when I told him. I never thought when my son retired and I was blessed with him being home that the next year I would watch my grandson walk out the door to do the same. Every night I pray for all service members to come home safely.
Love all your videos! My son and daughter are also army veterans! Thank you for your service! Love all our men and women in the military past present and future. Much love to everyone! ❤️
One thing I always looked forward to was mail call. If I didn't get a leter I was so heart broken, you are right letters mean so much. When my step son was in Iraqi war, he missed the first Christmas, I had a white tree with red white and blue, he had presents under it, it stayed up 3 Christmases and when he came home 3 yrs later we had his Christmas, then I gave him his tree. My husband is a Viet Nam vet, I a Gulf storm vet and my step son an Iraqi war vet, all of us was in the Army, now my grandson is in ROTC in HS. He's planning on going to the Air Force. His other grandmother is our county's oldest living female vet, she served in the Army when there was WACS, she was a nurse.
Thank you for serving our country and for sharing your own personal insights. I hope it encouraged friends and family of servicemen to take the time to communicate with them.It's a little thing that is really huge.
I’m a military brat. My daddy has missed 8 of my birthdays. He’s missed countless family holidays. It’s hard. I’m appreciative for the work that y’all do. It’s not easy work and I’m so grateful for all of the men and women who have paved the way for me to be where I’m at.
This Desert Storm mom wrote her son everyday. This brings all the fear back to my heart. But, it makes me understand the importance of the letters. My grandmother had 4 sons in the Navy at one time. Her stories helped me get it. Thank you for serving.
Thank you for serving our country thank you for our service your amazing I couldn’t imagine how hard it would be to leave my family behind I’m young rn I’m 16 but I have a gf and I couldn’t imagine never seeing her again
Been binge watching these videos of yours and I legit sobbed at this "story telling" ability. I love these. I don't watch TV or even RU-vid but I watch you. Love Our God, Family & Country!!
Love JMM..my dad and brother were Army. Uncle in Air Force. Another uncle in Navy. Grandpa was Merchant Marine in WW2. Son was nominated for Annapolis, but had hearing issue . Thank you and your family for their service.
I'm a huge fan of John's. He says he hears from people who have served thanking him for the song. I watched to hear verification of why. Thanks for serving and sharing this.
As a retired Air Force with several deployments, you never quite fit back in the civilian world. but when you meet a fellow vet you feel like you know them for years. In the end you are a brother and sister. Our infighting, best branch goes out the window.
I'm a proud Brother to two war vets... AIR FORCE and an US ARMY MEDIC one suffering from PTSD... my older brother lost a few friends and saved fellow soldiers lifes.
I am using my other half tablet saw this had to make a response. I am a proud Army brat! My Dad retired a year after I joined the Army I was also an Army spouse. My better half is a Navy Veteran it is tough being a brat but I was lucky to have my best friends move with me my sister's! Thank you for your service and your family! I had an awesome job welcoming new military brats into this world!
I am proud to say that my husband is a vet...and that I am a military wife...my daughter was born on the largest marine base in the country...it is hard, but I am proud of my husband. And I want to say thank you for your service as well as shining a light on the men and women who CHOOSE to serve our country. I will always have respect for u and anyone who does it.....be safe and thank you again for doing these videos.
Military Spouse to a very hard working Naval Officer. We’ve been married 7 years today and are currently 6 months in to a 12 month unaccompanied tour with him overseas. It never gets any easier for him or for me but I am so glad I get to be his support to help get him through one deployment after another and everything else the Navy throws our way. And thank you for your service, there’s a lot of life-long skills you learn from this life and it’ll always be apart of you.
I was a Navy wife for 2 years many years ago (the service was many years ago, the marriage still is!) Even together, the "duty days" when he was 24 hours on base got in the way of Christmas and our Anniversary - after changing wedding plans completely! Thank you for your service!
I have commented before but I am a Veteran I was in the Air Force. I was in late seventies (1978). I was a cook and that is a job that had just been opened to women. My mom used to send letters every day and also care packages. I looked forward to those letters and thank you for your service. I also have a nephew in the Army stationed at Fort Carson.
I appreciate your service, my dad was in ww2 an in his 80s seen him tear up when this song played an he new I didn't understand, I didn't go to Nam never been in Military high draft number! Many Thanks for sharing!
Those letters from home were the only thing keeping me "driving on" during some pretty tought deployments. 10 years in the Army Infantry, I'm proud to call you my brother.
Dude, found this video from your Home Free reactions - USN vet from the early 90s (between GW1 and GW2) and this song brings the tears. Thank you for your service and this reaction.
