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In Memory of My Father on Memorial Day 2019

My father joined the Marines when he was barely 16. A country boy from Kentucky, he felt it was his duty to protect the USA, and he also wanted a way out of being a farmer, and to see the world.

After basic training, he was deployed to Iwo Jima and was shot in the leg within a few days after his 17th birthday in 1945. He was sent home to recover and when they discovered he had not finished hight school, they discharged him. He got his Purple Heart medal and after high school graduation, he joined the Army.

My father was a career Army man. He served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam (twice), and retired when he was 47 years old after serving 30 years. Even after retirement, he continued to advise and support the military community as a liason to Japanese officers coming to the USA to learn military strategy.

My dad was a peaceful man. He looked at his job more to promote peace rather than to engage in war. He often told us that he never wanted any of us or his grandkids to have to face the horrors he had seen. He spared us the details but they haunted him all his life.

My dad died in 1995 from complications of exposure to Agent Orange when he served in 1968-69. He died at Walter Reed Hospital on July 4th...very fitting as fireworks lit up the sky as we left the hospital to go back home without him. He had a full military funeral...the young men and women who volunteered to be in the funeral guard would have made him proud. They endured the extreme heat and did their duty professionally and with honor and respect to my mother and all of us. My brother has the flag that was draped on his coffin.

I am proud of my father and of all those who sacrificed a lot more than perhaps their lives to serve our country. I know there is a lot of animosity toward the military these days, but I also know there is a lot of good. I had the most interesting life as a military brat , and I saw the friendships my dad and others had with people around the world. The military not only changed his life, but through him, mine as well.

So, this memorial day, I honor my father and all those who served and are no longer with us. May we never forget.

thinktwice 8 May 27
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24 comments

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6

So dear of you to share that, and your dad would surely be proud that so many of us have been touched by it. Many thanks to him, and to your entire family.

6

It wasn't just the public that treated the Vietnam vets badly... my brother in law was drafted as a marine in '69 and was shot twice. A few years after he returned to the world his local hometown American Legion post would not let him march in the Memorial Day parade unless he cut his hair and shaved his beard. He decided to stay home and mailed them his 2 purple hearts... he also suffers the effects of Agent Orange. That whole Vietnam war was a tragedy for all who served and we owe them our respect.

Those who were there tried to let others know that is was a useless war and were branded as hippies and such...Your brother was the true hero and yet those who stood back wanted to dictate how to live in the country he fought for....the war was not about freedom...it was about control and dictating our rules.

5

I don't think there is animosity toward the military per se, I think it is more toward the military industrial complex. In any event none of it is directed toward our servicemen and women. At least not by anyone who is rational.

I think most of us here share that sentiment...the animosity is the manipulation of our service men and women bu the complex...the government...the one with the leader who does not know the sacrifice of service and yet chooses to gain in profit for himself and his buddies...it is a travesty when ANY servant of us all does this at no personal expense.

4

Thank you for a very touching story about you father. My father was also a soldier from 1945-1965. He was captured during the first week of the Korean War and was not released until Sep 1953. He passed away in 1996 and I still think of him and the story’s of war.

The stories my dad of the hardships endured during the Korean War were horrific...even if he left out the worst of the details...back then, there was no social media or even news coverage that could show it to the American people. As a man, I am sure your dad shared more stories...and never wanted you to have to go to war...your family must have been proud and thankful he got to come home...many never did! Much respect...

4

I appreciate his service to his country. I have never has a bad thought or word to our honourable service men and women. I share your pride in his life.

4

I hold no animosity towards vets or current military personnel,as the armed forces perform the important function of protecting us.However,it is the gutless politicians,many who have not served at all,and the constant glorification of war which offends me.Also,the faux patriotism which is constantly rammed down our throats,often from people who have never served,or,would ever put themselves on the line for our country.

I so agree...those who fake patriotism by supporting things that undermine it are the worst...they need to see what freedom costs and then they would not be so stupid as to support so many things ALL of our politicians have done.

4

Yes I can relate very much like my family long military history hard to explain to those who never experience it as a combat medic who flew air combat rescue you get a perspective of those who serve see their sacrifice for their brothers and respect at military funerals to see that watch movie " taking chance with Kevin bacon " on Netflix is a education for those who don't know

bobwjr Level 10 May 27, 2019
3

What a great tribute to your dad! He was quite the soldier! I don't think there is animosity towards soldiers. I have two nephews that are active duty Marines - two hard working, honorable men - attributes I'm sure that were cultivated in the Corps. Any criticism of the Military is mostly directed at leadership - as it should. Wonderful post - I hope his memory gives you happiness and strength!

It seems most of any animosity is from those who do not have direct experience with a military family or soldier...but isn't that par for the course for these same people who do not have direct experience with other "groups"? It is easier to blame or criticize from the outside in rather than if you are standing next to the person, side by side...thank you for your support. A very proud Uncle...

@thinktwice it's true... my entire family is proud of my nephews... both of my father's brothers were killed in WWII... so the military always was respected in my house growing up... we lived with my father's loss - it was deep and he never got over it really...

3

Your father was a real hero. Thank you for sharing his story. I joined the Army and was trained as an interrogator. However, I never was sent to war. You can be proud of your father and his sacrifices for our freedom.

3

Thank you, and thanks to your dad.

I joined the Army to carry on my father's tradition after he passed, unfortunately my physical (or mental) toughness wasn't what his was, and a leg injury lead too me leaving basic and coming home to take care of my mother instead. I hope he would have been proud of me for trying though. It gave me memories and an ethos of service I carry to this day.

I don't think the military is for everyone and not everyone can join...it is enough to support the men and women even if we hate the war and the policies of government. There are other ways to help our country, and it often starts by helping those closest to us in our own community and families. Dear friend, thanks for sharing...

3

Thank you to your father. May his sacrifice long preserve our freedom.

3

I am sorry about your father...

2

Very nice tribute! 🇺🇸

2

Beautiful Tribute, Linda. Thanks for sharing your Father’s history.

2

That's a lot of stripes ths that earned ! 🙂

His final rank was Command Sargent Major..E-9. That is a lot of stripes...I used to sew them on his uniforms for him... 🙂

@thinktwice good for you ! Great memories for you.. did he used to make you drop and do 20 ??? Lol

@Buddha not me...but the guys who tried to date me...lol...he also did a fine job of showing them his gun collection 😉

2
2

That was a beautiful tribute to your father and his life and also thanks for sharing insight into your life also,I can see why you are so proud of him and from your post he did raised a fantastic daughter whom he can be extremely proud of ,Warm healing hugs to you ,Best regards Roy

Thanks, Roy...he made me the independent cuss I am today! ha ha ha

Keep on cussing independently lol

2

Thank you for sharing .

2

Thank you for sharing this with us.

Ohub Level 7 May 27, 2019
1

Here's a little history about Vietnam more people should know about. After WWII many U.S. senators wanted to hang the emperor, Tojo and other war criminals. MacArthur however felt that there would be mass suicides if this happened. So he consulted Lord Mountbatten, the English viceroy of India, and told him that the UK bore much responsibility for the war. This little island controlled over 20% of the world's markets. The latter agreed.

So he, Mountbatten, went to Inchine to talk to Gen Le Clerc, DeGaulle's right hand man and told him what MacArthur had said. The French general agreed that it was the right thing to do, but he had strict orders from Paris to maintain the status quo ante bellum. The French wanted to maintain their business interests in particular their supply of rubber.

The Vietnamese people, inspired by Ho Chi Min, were zealous about finally achieving national freedom. They were one of the oldest nations on the planet, had their own language and culture, and fought bravely against the Japanese in WWII. In 1954, they soundly defeated the French at Diem bien phu and were ready to regain their country.

Here's why Ike gave his important warning at his farewell address in 1959. He warned to beware the industrial – military complex as he was pressured to send military technical “advisers” to Nam to start the snowball rolling. We all know what happened when JFK and LBJ took over.

I've written about the uncanny precocity of George Orwell and 1984. The purpose of constant war in Oceania was to destroy the products of industry so people could continue working and the economy thrive. It made absolutely no difference what happened to the products of industry or how many had to die to make it happen.

I've included a link to my book if you'd like to read more about Orwell.

[amazon.com]

To the written of this touching comment: I hope you don't mind my exposing this undisclosed bit of recent history. I hope you agree with old Biblical line: "The truth shall make you free."

I posted as a personal tribute to my father, the man...but welcome information that shows that these men and women are part of the plans of others in the interest of money and not the naive and simplistic concept we were brainwashed to believe: freeing people from _____, etc. War is never altruistic...there is always an underlying monetary or power play to gain more money...at the expense of all of us...thank you for respecting that we can honor the individuals while still protesting the system...as I said in my post, my father did not fault me for protesting the Vietnam war...

@thinktwice I know I would want to know as much as possible about the circumstances. That's why I included that little history.

1

Such a lovely remembrance. Thanks for sharing this. My dad enlisted in the AF and then transferred to the Army after about 6 years to participate in their Warrant Officer program (which was being discontinued by the AF). He served 20 years an did one tour in Vietnam. He died in March of 2013, succumbing to pancreatic cancer.

Like you, I was a military brat; born in Germany, and then moving every two to three years as my dad's assignments changed. My mom was a German national her whole life despite spending most of it in the US.

Travel was the best part of our lives...the worst part was worrying about my father and not having a father to participate in some of our lives...

@thinktwice My dad's only remote tour was in Vietnam. We were together the rest of the time. I am a little jealous of people who were able to grow roots in a place, but not too jealous. LOL!

@IAMGROOT Plenty of time to grow roots when you get older, my dad used to stay...he wanted us to grow wings first so we could grow our understanding of the world and other people...he took us everywhere...my sister and I plan on a trip to Vietnam to see the places he was back then...he took hundreds of pictures that we will use to compare.

1

Wow this is a super Awesome Story , I love it I hope he is having a Blast in the Afterlife. Thanks for sharing this

1

I honor your father, his life, and the sacrifices he made. I'm ex-military but only served 3 years in the Army. Sikorski wanted me to make a career of it but I only served one hitch.

It is not for everybody, but you got a taste. I am proud of all who served or support our military even if they don't agree with the government policies they must serve.

@thinktwice I was active Army 1964 through 1967. Stationed in Nurnberg, Germany. I was also able to do some traveling.

@DenoPenno My brother was born in Pirmasens...one of my nephews was stationed there as well a few years ago...traveling was one of the benefits that many people got from serving...see the world, change the world...

0

A great tribute. I saw somewhere you said your father taught at West Point ... he must have been respected by his peers and good at whatever role he had in the army.
Those medaks your father wears came at a high price paid throughout the rest of his life - he witnessed the horror of war and afterwards advocated peace. I think I would have liked him.

Yes, he did teach at West Point...I forgot the name of the course, but since he was in telecommunications, I am sure it had something to do with that...I loved when he would take us all to the campus...it is lovely along the Hudson River, especially in the fall...the cadets were quite smart in their uniforms.

He liked anyone that had common sense and decency...he would have poked at you and your fellow Brits for not spelling "correctly"..color/colour, etc. .ha ha...he had a wicked sense of humor...

@actofdog what? oh you mean in NY across from the campus...yes, the colors were gorgeous...lol...

@actofdog Annapolis is awesome as well...

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