... Spent the day with my Dad today ...

... And also spent the day thinking about you veterans past and warriors present ... Thank you all ....

[Nathan]

Thanks Hellcat. And thank you to your dad. A classic fighter pilot.

[ZRX61]

Stopped by a MickyD's this morning,ordered my food & was waiting. Next guy in line was a former Marine. He was having ahard time getting the spanish speaking server to understand his order (she got mine wrong 3 times). She finally got it & as the guy was sorting thru his money to pay, a women about 3 back in the line jumped forward, swiped her ATM card & told the guy "Your money is no good here today Marine"

[Robbie Stuart]

I was thinking about my dad too. LT. Charles Stuart 363rd Fighter Group.




God Bless All Our Vets!

Robbie

[fotobass]

Yesterday, while waiting for a church service at a convent to end so i could photograph the women who had been nuns for 50 years (8 of them) and 60 years (9 of them), I found myself speaking with a man who was waiting to pick up his sister (who was, in fact, a Sister).

Ends up he was a radioman on a B24 in the 8th AF (wasn;'t thinking, so I forgot to ask what unit).

Today, in an effort to help my 6 and 7 year old sons the importance of Memorial Day. We went to a local cemetery where a Revolutionary War veteran is buried, then drove down to Greenlawn Cemetery where Eddie Rickenbacker is buried. Ended up speaking with a USMC veteran of WWII, who was visiting his wife's grave. He laughingly pointed out to us that, while he clearly was not dead yet, some overzealous flagplanter had put a flag over his headstone-to-be.

And that man has got a solid grip in his handshake, I can tell you.

[Jack Cook]

Believe it or not I don't have any good photos of my 3 lost cousins.
The MOF has a good photo of Don in their Aces collection but so far haven't cut lose with a high res scan for me

[sdennison]

Yah, put Pop in that loop as well. Miss you, Sir.

But to all, past, present, and unfortunately future, thank you from all of us.

[sgt hawk]

Neighbors had me over for Hamburger's Beer and Hot dogs. (Only Vet in the Hood) Brought my Book (Black Jack Logan) Biography of Cival War General and Senator from the part of Illinois I grew up in, and the Senator resposible for the legislation creating Memorial Day. (He copied it from the Southern States that had set aside the first week in May as Confederate Memorial Day) and Made it a Holiday for all Veterans who had given their lives for the Country. He was also responsible for "Cyclorama Painting" (that huge circular painting "The Battle of Atlanta" that is down at Grant Park). Just a little History from an Old Guy>
Sgt Hawk

[Second Air Force]

I'm really enjoying this thread, Hellcat. Since Memorial Day isn't a Holiday where I work anymore, this will have to take the place of visiting the cemetery.

Here is my father in North Africa sometime after the Kasserine Pass battle. Dad is standing next to a buddy (I think his name was Cpl. Bloch or Block). Dad was in the First Armored Division doing post-combat tank retrieval and repair. One of the few things he used to like to talk about was seeing the P-38s, Hurricanes, and Spitfires fly over later on and how they made the guys feel a little safer. He didn't care at all for the fragmentation bombs the Germans dropped on his area at night.


Here is a photo of all the young men from our Parish who served in WWII.

Dad is fifth from the left in the middle row. I have three uncles in this picture, and Ellen and I are related in some way to probably 95% of these men. All this from a tiny Nebraska farm community of a few hundred people. As the caption states, the photo was taken after the war at the funeral of Leonard Kathol who was KIA.

Thanks to all the protectors of freedom.
Scott

[b29flteng]

Spent the weekend getting affairs in order for my Dad who is in final stages of congestive heart failure. WWII vet.... I won't be around much until it's over. God bless our fallen vets.

[Ztex]

My pop...at work in 1945...

He served only with the Texas State Guard...was exempt for WWII...but he still went to work for the cause...from Real Estate to Riveter.

Gone five years now...

[Second Air Force]

Spent the weekend getting affairs in order for my Dad who is in final stages of congestive heart failure. WWII vet.... I won't be around much until it's over. God bless our fallen vets.

Ellen and I send our thoughts and prayers, John.

[Robbie Stuart]

Spent the weekend getting affairs in order for my Dad who is in final stages of congestive heart failure. WWII vet.... I won't be around much until it's over. God bless our fallen vets.

I too will keep you in my thoughts & prayers.
Robbie

[T33driver]

I'm lucky that my 80 year old (former USAF Air Defense Command aviator) dad is still with us and good to go for back seat T-33 sortie for Memorial Day parade flyovers. He hung tough in the turbulent air and even let me wear his original 433rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron hat for the occasion. He mentioned Memorial Day got him thinking of his F-89 squadronmates that were lost in the Cold War and for that matter the guys that are still around. Here's dad and I after the sortie.

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