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| For Memorial Day - Put some memories of those who stood tall - here |
| 2007-05-28 |
| The link here is just to war memorials.org as articles need a link. With so many people posting here who served or know somebody who served or is serving and maybe a few who died in the cause... On this day, Rantburg needs a place to post memories of the brave heroes. So, post away. |
| Posted by:3dc |
| #12 To My Grandpa...who served in one of the first ever Combat Engineer units in the US Army - under Patten, and later brought our family to California. Props to Grandpa! To my namesake uncle, who was shot down and KIA over Bastogne. Bless them both. |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2007-05-28 23:53 |
| #11 To my mother's first husband. He got his family out of Germany to Australia, then joined the US Navy and fought all the way up the Pacific. Afterward he came to New York City, where he went to college on the G.I. Bill; he and my mother got their degrees in Occupational Therapy together, then married. He gave her a complete vocabulary lesson the night before she started working at the VA hospital -- translated from the medical Latin, because she didn't know those words in any other language either. The cancer was diagnosed six months after the wedding, and he was dead within three years. I don't know whether he was here long enough to become a citizen, or if my mother swore her own oath as a widow. His family name is Fuchs. I don't even know his first name, or any of his relatives; I didn't even know Mama'd been married before until a few years ago, and she only told me that much. They weren't uniformed soldiers, but on Memorial Day I think of all those involved in hiding and protecting my mother and her family in Holland, and the labours of my mother and grandfather for the Dutch underground (Mama ran messages, Grandfather Berg forged documents in his beautiful lawyer's hand and created hiding places behind walls and under floors for those who had no right to exist), and the Jews of Palestine who did all they were permitted to support the British war effort... and much more that was unwanted from Jews, but needed nonetheless. And to dear Fred Carroll, who has survived two wonderful wives after he didn't freeze to death in Korea, whose drive, creativity and loving kindness are an inspiration to all who know him. Also to all the men and women of VFW Post 7696, which doesn't have a building because there have always been more important things to spend their funds on. To all the young men and women I know who have chosen to serve and protect. The neighbor's boy at Annapolis, hoping to become a SEAL; the ballet company's manager's daughter, who made Marine ROTC on her first try; my niece's best friend, heading to Al Azhar University in Cairo to learn Arabic -- she's not sure if whether she'll end up at the CIA, FBI or DoD, but she knows she needs to add herself to the fight somehow. Our future is in their very capable hands. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-05-28 21:30 |
| #10 to unknown relative in the revolution and civil wars. To my grandpa on the front in Belgium in WW-I. To my uncle who went in D-Day +3 and was at the Battle of the Bulge and then on into the Ruhr, To my dad who was 10th Mountain in WW-II in Italy, To another Uncle in the Marines at Chosun Res. and then Vietnam. To my dad's cousin who was OSS in WW-II ending up at Potsdam then other similar stuff until he retired after the cold war ended. His last words to my dad were "Pray for me as I am going to hell". To the Aussie doc who fixed me up as a kid - He survived the Battan Death March and was tortured everytime he fixed up a pilot. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2007-05-28 20:55 |
| #9 To all who served our country, who sacrificed in small ways and in large ways so that we could live safely and in peace. To those who gave their lives on behalf of others when they could have turned aside instead. To Dad, who came home from the south Pacific in a body cast; to uncle Buffy, in the front row of paratroopers at Normandy and again at Bastogne; to uncle Charles who was among the highly decorated there after several weeks of hell. To Uncle Joe and cousin Larry at Pleiku. To Chuck whose marriage dissolved while he held watch deep in the missile launch facilities. To Larry's son Andy who served in Desert Storm and again in OIF, to my husband who served in a different way. To the families - husbands and wives, parents and children and all loved ones - of those who served and died. Your sacrifice also made our peace and safety possible. And to all the groups in small towns across the US who came together today to honor our heroes. To the scout troops who pledged the flag, to the local band that sweated in the heat and the singers who attempted the high notes, to the VFW and others who came out to honor their buddies with a moment of solemnity. |
| Posted by: occasional observer 2007-05-28 17:23 |
| #8 To Dad, 101st Airborne, Viet Nam. Don't know the details. He still won't talk about it. But I found the Bronze Star in the closet when I was 14. And I'm still in awe. |
| Posted by: Black Bart Ebbang5005 2007-05-28 15:51 |
| #7 To Mom, who served in Washington, decyphering Japanese naval code until the end of WWII, and to Dad, who fought across Europe with Patton's 3rd Army. May your rest in Heaven allow you to see old friends and comrades, share old memories, and enjoy old jokes. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2007-05-28 14:54 |
| #6 To my cousin, Lance Coporal William Clyde Northington Co.A 9th Marines. He was killed March 19th, 1969 in the A Shau Valley. He was awarded the Silver Star for his actions in retrieving wonded Marines and in charging, with two others, a Vietnamese machinegun postiton and neutralizing it. His Company Commander, Lt. Fox, continued leading his men although sereverly wounded by mortar fire. He was awarded the Medal of Honour. May we always remember them. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2007-05-28 14:45 |
| #5 My uncle Ronnie. Korean vet and later a family man of unequaled character until his passing. Always a brought a smile to my face as a child and still serves as an example. No offense Ronnie, but I hope its a long time before I see you again. And to a couple of relatives still with us. My father, I will never forget the story he tells about suntanning on the deck during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Now spends his days riding his motorcycle in and around Sturgis. See you in Arizona Pops! My brother, after finishing a tour in Iraq decided to stay in sandbox, this time with the FBI. Still there, clippin AQI and collecting large files on corrupt Iraqi generals and politicos. You're still a pompous jock! I'll see you when you get back. You can beat me up for old times sake. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2007-05-28 14:32 |
| #4 To my bud Gus, Air Crew Chief USS Forestal, Killed by terrorists in the Philipines at onset of Gulf War 1. I'll never forget. You were a true friend and great Patriot. Thank you for all you taught me and for serving our country with pride and distinction. May God bless you and your family. |
| Posted by: SCpatriot 2007-05-28 13:59 |
| #3 Oliver Blackwell, Seaman, USS Hartford, Civil War John S. Alling Jr., Medic, 101st Airborne, Tay Ninh Vietnam Robert R. Maynard, Pvt, 2nd Inf Div. Normandy France The Men of 1st Battalion 102nd Infantry, CT National Guard, Normandy France Christopher Deangelis, ET2, USS Stark, Persian Gulf. Charles Turner, LT, Attack Squadron 155, USS Ranger, Gulf War William Costen, LT, Attack Squadron 155, USS Ranger, Gulf War |
| Posted by: Pappy 2007-05-28 13:56 |
| #2 To my late father, 1st Mar Div in the Pacific in WW2. He survived and made it home, raised a family, did great things. Many of his buddies did not. To my great grandfather, Bill Fox. Enlisted in the army in 1899, served in the Phillipines. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2007-05-28 12:42 |
| #1 To my Dad, sailor and gentleman, a role model I can't begin to measure up to, rest in peace, Ft Rosecrans Nat'l Cemetary. To my late Uncle Hack (Harold) - who was a Marine in the So. Pacific in WW2, and remained a Marine til his death in Fernley, NV, rest in peace, Uncle. To my late great-Uncle, Eugene Salet, Soldier, and Statesman, rest in peace. |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-05-28 12:26 |