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Thank you.....
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To all who have served, will serve and are serving now...
It is the VETERAN, Not the preacher, Who has given us freedom of religion. It is The VETERAN, Not the reporter, Who has given us freedom of the press. It is The VETERAN, Not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech. It is The VETERAN, Not the campus organizer, Who has given us freedom to assemble. It is The VETERAN, Not the lawyer, Who has given us the right to a fair trial. It is The VETERAN, Not the politician, Who has given us the right to vote. It is the VETERAN who Salutes the Flag, It is The VETERAN Who serves Under the Flag, I tip my hat and heart to you - along with a whole country.... A United people, All of us owe all of you.. The statistics are overwhelming defending what we are - by so few - or so many? I think it is many... - Over 25,000 deaths in the Revolutionary War - Over 625,000 deaths in our American Civil War - Over 405,399 combat deaths in Work War II - Over 116,516 deaths in World War I - Over 58,209 deaths in the Vietnam War - Over 36,516 deaths in the Korean War - Almost 6,000 deaths in the current War on Terror So, for this year's Memorial Day, I ask that go out and spend time in memory of a fallen veteran or thank the family of a fallen veteran. Simply - thank you, to all the vets. Those alive and those lost... None of you are forgotten. Ever... John http://reutterwerk.com/gallery2/main...serialNumber=2 |
Amen. Thank you John.
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Again,Thank You John...:usa:
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THANKYOU JOHN DUNKLE.... CHARLIE
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My Dad never said a word to suggest that I enter military service, but I'm sure he was very proud when I joined the USA in 1967.
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In the last few weeks I have learned more about my father's service in WWII including finding two pictures of him taken during the war he did not have in his collection, on a web page dedicated to the memory of the nose turret gunner on the same crew by his son.
My father was orginally part of the 10 man crew of the "Lady Esther" a B-24 in the 464BG. His plane and crew was selected to fly OSS covert missions into Yugoslavia and a ball turret gunner and bombardier were not needed. He and his bombardier joined up with the three surviving crew members of the "Pistol Packing Mama", all gunners, and 5 others formed the crew of "Stevonovitch II", piloted by Capt Lewis Perkins. All these men rotated home to the USA after completing their 35 missions in Feb '45. Back row: Capt. Perkins pilot , My father gunner, TSgt Eudaily flight engineer and gunner, Tom Graf Bombardier, Ssgt Dempsey gunner, SSgt Faniro gunner (Faniro was the first gunner in 15th Air Force to receive the Silver Star) http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/j...NOVITCHII1.jpg The "Stevonovitch II" aka Black (N)an continued to soldier on after these men went home. Two months later, flown by a different crew, it was shot down with 9 men lost on April 10, 1945. The war was all but over, it was supposed to be a milk run. The shoot down is one of the most famous photos of WWII. Dad never spoke of his time on this plane, I am guessing it's shoot down and loss of crew bothered him, perhaps survivors guilt. http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/j...Nshootdown.jpg |
thanks PETE what a storey...not many of the men in war ever told of the experances... i was told one though by ainfantryman...they were taking the city of BERLIN and he said the fighting was fierce taking the city room by room in the houses...HERCHEL HARRISwas my friends name said that as he was clearing a house as he steped around the corner a german soilder also stepped around the same corner...hershal said there they stood eyeball to eyeball he said it seemed like eternity the german soldier made the first move the german soldier took a small step to the rear hershal said it took him a secound torelize what was happening...hershal said he also made a step backwards he said they took oneone more step and both soldiers werearound the corner...hershal said he never went back around that corner left that house and went on...HERSHAL SAID HE WOULD NEVER FORGET THAT GERMAN SOLDIER WHO GAVE HIM HIS LIFE AND THAT HE ALSO GAVE THE GERMAN SOLDIER HIS LIFE.... And ive never forgot this storey as it was told to me.... charlie
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Some day I will tell you guys how having a broken lawn mower fixed made a connection that led me to the web page in memory of SSgt Dempsey, one of father's crewmates, where I found two pictures of my father. Some of his crew were named in the photos, he was not but he was clearly recognizable to me. With over 12 million men in uniform during the war and the passage of 70 years what were the odds of me finding this connection?
Even more amazing is the collection of video interviews on Youtube of my father's flight engineer and top turret gunner, the late Red Eudaily, here he talks about remembering those who were lost. I wish I had found these sooner and had a chance to meet him before he passed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xFnhlb7oNs |
My Dad, who turned 92 last week, also does'nt talk much about his service in the Pacific theater while serving in the army during WW2. He and a childhood buddy of his by the name of John Basilone came from a small town in New Jersey, Raritan. My father was in the National guard at the time of Pearl Harbor so he just stayed in the army. John Basilone joined the Marines. Google John Basilone Guadacanal and see just what these guys were made of. God bless America and all the servicemen who made this country great.
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Many, many thanks for sharing them with the rest of us... It puts a face on this day for all veterans who are remembered and revered for all they did - and continue to do today... Simply - thank you..!! John |
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I am sure this does not fully depict the hell he endured but it may give some understanding of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQV9RJUjzfo |
Pictures
Speaking of pictures, here's a coule of pictures of my old crew and our aircraft, 44-61843, an RB-29 we flew out of Yokota, Japan to various places we were not supposed to be. Cheers, Tom
http://www.rb-29.net/HTML/91stSRSHis...ans/01.00.html |
Something to ponder while we remember the fallen on Memorial Day.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.” Gen. George S. Patton |
Pete,
Every year as long as I can remember the town of Raritan, NJ. holds a parade and celebration in Sept. in the memory of John Basilone. It's quite an event and almost makes you feel as though you are back in 1942. We still have relatives there so we make the trip with my parents and enjoy a truly small town America event. I forget to mention my dear friend of 35yrs., Howard Donahue who flew B-17's in the 8th AF out of England during the war. He was only 20yrs. old at the time and flew over 33 missions as the pilot of this wonderful aircraft. I wish I had video taped his stories. He was a wonderful story teller and quite a character. He sold me my first Parker, which I still have, and taught me how to reload, drink bourbon and eat raw beef w/onions. He wrote a fascinating book on the Kennedy assassination, "Mortal Error". You can find his TV interview about his book on You Tube. I wish I knew how to provide the link but if anyone is interested you should be able to find it. I could'nt imagine being that young with that much responsibilty thrust upon me. They really were the Greatest Generation. |
My high school girl friends father was in WW2 in the Pacific and he joined at 15 years old, he told me how his older brothers had all joined and he asked his mother to give him permission and of course she refused so he forged a letter stating that he was sixteen with his parents permission... which was acceptable back then... well his Captain found out when he got to his first duty on a destroyer and they where in port...Hawaii... he said the Captain restricted him to the ship until he was 16 which ended up being almost two years before he stepped on Terra firma again. Charlie was a great guy and would tell stories about the kamikazes pilots and had a number of pieces of shrapnel still in his back and arms.
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I too had a recent discovery on the internet about my father and WW-II. My father served on LST-866 and was at the battle of Okinawa, although he NEVER talked about being there. I have done some serious family research since his death and I have uncovered his military records which included an accommodation he received from actions during the battle. My internet discovery has as much to do with me as with him, you see when he returned home I was a true baby-boomer with a brother and sister well into their teens when I was born. My birth was the cause of an argument between my parents; my father insisted that I be named after a shipmate of his from Minnesota that he survived the battle with and my mother objected, a man named Wallace Verner. Long story short, I was named Wallace Verner Lewis.
I was told this story but never anything about the man I was named after. Last week, while searching the internet I discovered the wartime roster of LST-866 and there on the roster was Wallace V. Ostlund born 1925 in Minnesota. I am quite sure this is the man who gave me his name. Sadly, with a little further research I found that he died 9 Dec 1977, that was just 9 months after my fathers death. It was my hope that I would get a chance to talk to him about my dad and why he insisted I be named for him, but that was not to be. When I was a child I think every male in my family and all of their friends were veterans of WW-II. In my life, I knew many, many men who survived that war........ sadly, not a one remains today. They may be gone but they are forever etched into my memory. I truly miss them. |
This is a great thread. I'm sure many of us Baby Boomers have a story to tell about family that served. My story isn't quite so inspiring. My Dad was an engineer for the Bridgeport Brass Co. and because of that he was kept out of the service as his position was deemed vital to the war effort. The Bridgeport Brass Co. during the war was running full bore making ship fittings and shell casings etc. In fact he met my Mom during this time when she was on the 50 caliber shell casing lines.
My now deceased father-in-law was Army Corps of Engineers and took part in D-Day. All I could get from him was that he was one of the first on the beach for obsticle clearing. He was a very religous man and I often wondered if his experiences in combat had something to do with that. After his passing we found many of his service records and citations. Men and Women of this era were truly a tough breed and I am full of admiration for what they did for us all. All the men and women who have served and are serving now are part of this legacy and all I can say is "Thank You".....:usa: |
My dad passed away last June---he was a tank commander served in Europe went in a couple of days after D-day and was at the Battle of the Bulge. He received two Bronze Stars for bravery in combat. He only told me one war story about his capture of a German anti-aircraft emplacement. After the war he never picked up a gun again, but he bought me my first shotgun and .22 and encouraged me to hunt and enjoy the outdoors. He was a kind and gently man, hard to believe what that generation did for us.
My father-in-law was a Navy pilot in the pacific, he flew a PBY. last year at the Ohio Collectors Show they had the exhibitors dinner at the Air Force Museum and we had cocktails under the wing of their PBY------very cool in that my wife and I could see the plane her dad flew in WWII. Craig |
This is definitely an inspiring thread. We owe such a debt of gratitude to all the men and women who have served and who currently serve our flag and our country and a very special prayer of thanks to those who died in the line of duty.
Let us always keep in mind that one does not "win" a medal of valor or bravery in wartime, rather, one earns it - never having vied for it. Today we are what we are because of all of those who have served. Thank you all. |
I Remember every day !
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I Remember every Day..Lest we forget !
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This was sent to me by William Faulk and I think this is as good a thread as any to post it for all to read and remember.
Cemetery Watchman My friend Kevin and I are volunteers at a National cemetery in Oklahoma and put in a few days a month in a 'slightly larger' uniform. Today had been a long, long day and I just wanted to get the day over with and go down to Smokey's and have a cold one. Sneaking a look at my watch, I saw the time, 16:55. Five minutes to go before the cemetery gates are closed for the day. Full dress was hot in the August sun Oklahoma summertime was as bad as ever--the heat and humidity at the same level--both too high. I saw the car pull into the drive, '69 or '70 model Cadillac Deville, looked factory-new. It pulled into the parking lot at a snail's pace.. An old woman got out so slow I thought she was paralyzed; she had a cane and a sheaf of flowers--about four or five bunches as best I could tell. I couldn't help myself. The thought came unwanted, and left a slightly bitter taste: 'She's going to spend an hour, and for this old soldier, my hip hurts like hell and I'm ready to get out of here right now!' But for this day, my duty was to assist anyone coming in. Kevin would lock the 'In' gate and if I could hurry the old biddy along, we might make it to Smokey's in time. I broke post attention. My hip made gritty noises when I took the first step and the pain went up a notch. I must have made a real military sight: middle-aged man with a small pot gut and half a limp, in Marine full-dress uniform, which had lost its razor crease about thirty minutes after I began the watch at the cemetery. I stopped in front of her, halfway up the walk. She looked up at me with an old woman's squint. 'Ma'am, may I assist you in any way?' She took long enough to answer. 'Yes, son. Can you carry these flowers? I seem to be moving a tad slow these days.' 'My pleasure, ma'am..' (Well, it wasn't too much of a lie.) She looked again 'Marine, where were you stationed?' ' Vietnam , ma'am.. Ground-pounder. '69 to '71.' She looked at me closer. 'Wounded in action, I see. Well done, Marine. I'll be as quick as I can.' I lied a little bigger: 'No hurry, ma'am.' She smiled and winked at me. 'Son, I'm 85-years-old and I can tell a lie from a long way off.. Let's get this done. Might be the last time I can do this. My name's Joanne Wieserman, and I've a few Marines I'd like to see one more time..' 'Yes, ma'am. At your service.' She headed for the World War I section, stopping at a stone. She picked one of the flower bunches out of my arm and laid it on top of the stone. She murmured something I couldn't quite make out. The name on the marble was Donald S. Davidson, USMC: France 1918. She turned away and made a straight line for the World War II section, stopping at one stone. I saw a tear slowly tracking its way down her cheek. She put a bunch on a stone; the name was Stephen X. Davidson, USMC, 1943. She went up the row a ways and laid another bunch on a stone, Stanley J. Wieserman, USMC, 1944.. She paused for a second and more tears flowed. 'Two more, son, and we'll be done' I almost didn't say anything, but, 'Yes, ma'am. Take your time.' She looked confused.. 'Where's the Vietnam section, son? I seem to have lost my way.' I pointed with my chin. 'That way, ma'am.' 'Oh!' she chuckled quietly. 'Son, me and old age ain't too friendly.' She headed down the walk I'd pointed at. She stopped at a couple of stones before she found the ones she wanted. She placed a bunch on Larry Wieserman, USMC, 1968, and the last on Darrel Wieserman, USMC, 1970. She stood there and murmured a few words I still couldn't make out and more tears flowed. 'OK, son, I'm finished. Get me back to my car and you can go home.' Yes, ma'am. If I may ask, were those your kinfolk?' She paused. 'Yes, Donald Davidson was my father, Stephen was my uncle, Stanley was my husband, Larry and Darrel were our sons. All killed in action, all Marines.' She stopped talking. Whether she had finished, or couldn't finish, I don't know. She made her way to her car, slowly and painfully. I waited for a polite distance to come between us and then double-timed it over to Kevin, waiting by the car. 'Get to the 'Out' gate quick.. I have something I've got to do.' Kevin started to say something, but saw the look I gave him. He broke the rules to get us there down the service road fast. We beat her She hadn't made it around the rotunda yet. 'Kevin, stand at attention next to the gatepost. Follow my lead.' I humped it across the drive to the other post. When the Cadillac came puttering around from the hedges and began the short straight traverse to the gate, I called in my best gunny's voice: 'TehenHut! Present Haaaarms!' I have to hand it to Kevin; he never blinked an eye--full dress attention and a salute that would make his DI proud. She drove through that gate with two old worn-out soldiers giving her a send-off she deserved, for service rendered to her country, and for knowing duty, honor and sacrifice far beyond the realm of most. I am not sure, but I think I saw a salute returned from that Cadillac. Instead of 'The End,' just think of 'Taps.' As a final thought on my part, let me share a favorite prayer: 'Lord, keep our servicemen and women safe, whether they serve at home or overseas. Hold them in your loving hands and protect them as they protect us.' Let's all keep those currently serving and those who have gone before in our thoughts. They are the reason for the many freedoms we enjoy. 'In God We Trust.' Sorry about your monitor; it made mine blurry too! If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under! Now If You are a patriot.....pass this on to spread the word for support of all our SOLDIERS and VETERANS ! |
To Echo All The Great Responses To This Thread Preceeding I Quote The Last Four Lines From The Old Ernest Tubb's Song, "A Soldier's Last Letter" that goes:
"At Night As She Knelt By Her Bedside She Prayed "Lord Above Hear My Plea" Protect All Our Sons Who Are Fighting Tonight And Dear God Keep America Free" An Old Sailor's Salute To You All, George |
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