Did not want to start something that looked like “I’ll give you that and raise you another one” but we all seem to have so much in common from our Father’s. Most of them who are nearly revered in these pages were WWII vets and by that also veterans of the Depression. These and most of their peers were outstanding to grow up with. I see the kids today that I work with floundering for role models.
Virgil... like your Dad, mine helped a lot of people and my Mom backed him up. He would pick up men on the highway in the winter for a good night’s sleep, a hot bath and a meal then take them to the bus station next morning and send them on their way. Dad lived on the road a lot during the Depression.
Oldmissileer... Dad taught us that a promise is a promise and you work your way through hard times and that we almost all have them.
Lorianne... Dad made his last garden on his hands and knees and delivered vegetables to shut-ins on his motorcycle carrying them in the side car.
Aliska... Dad was also a civil engineer with the Corps. We grew up building dams and stuff. The two men may have known each other. Dad was area engineer on the Upper Arkansas.
The lists of admirable similarities goes on. I said I thought every body grew up like we did and found that only a few have. Some of you are here. I wish that others could have known the great Dads some of us had. I know the world would be a better place for that.
You are right SEQ. That generation grew up in a time of great hardships and learned to practice loving kindness whenever they could.
Dad always helped people who could never repay him or return a favor. When he passed, the funeral home was packed for three hours and they all spoke highly of him.
..... PS. (I look like him now and people stop me and say "you're Eric's boy"....There's no higher praise.)
That was nice, Sequoyah101; it's very possible they attended some meetings and workshops together and did meet up at some point. Mine worked for the Corps immediately after the war and up until the year he died. He delayed his retirement, in part, to help me and my three children which I feel a little guilty about but he loved his work. I would give all that I have back to him if I could.
Mine was in the Rock Island District for the Corps. It still exists today. It was bounded by the St. Paul District to the north and St. Louis District to the south on the Mississippi and into the Iowa interior. I looked up the Upper Arkansas; it looks like Kansas City. It's hard to tell because they have divisions and then cities which seem to be the names of the many districts.
He was very humble, so I took it upon myself to boast a little about him.