FR Canteen Pays Tribute to A Patriot on his Passing/In Memoriam T/4 Harvey E. Rookus(Old China Hand)

Serving the Best Troops and Veterans in the World! | 27 March 2013 | The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Pro...((HUGS))...he had a good, long life, and we are blessed that his suffering was short. He would have been 90 in May.

[Old Sarge]

Good Afternoon, Folks!

I’m using a bunch of ping lists today, so if you get a double-tap from this post, sorry in advance.

Last night, The Bride presented chest pains radiating up to her neck. We bundled her up and ran her up to the VA hospital, where they got her in the ER after midnight and started in the routine of monitors, nitro pills, and getting her admitted.

Today, after nowhere near enough sleep for either of us, Sarge is heading back up to the VA to see her, with a change of clothes and an update on the prognosis. Hopefully we’ll hear good news today.

[Tax-chick]

Thanks for letting us know, Old Sarge! I’ll praying for you and the Bride.

[no-to-illegals]

Sarge, prayers up for you and Mrs. Sarge. Lord, what a week. Have been burning up the prayer line this week Sarge. Certain our Father, in Heaven, will not mind me coming in with more prayer. Will be praying Sarge for both of you and for your Bride’s full recovery ... Please keep me informed.

[luvie]

Prayers for your bride!!

[Marcella]

Saying a prayer for the bride and for you. Keep us informed.

[Silentgypsy]

Prayers up and continuing for The Bride and for your strength and peace of spirit. Please keep us informed.

[luvie]

Love that one!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Prayers on the way for The Bride, you, and the family.

Glad you acted quickly.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning/afternoon, E...((HUGS))...is Bo able to go running and playing back at the lake, yet?

Enjoy your Thursday.

[beachn4fun]

I worried about signing in late, but when I looked at the sign-in list a friend had come in drunk and signed in everyone he knew at 3AM.

LOL

[yorkiemom]

Prayers going to the Bride. Let us know how she is doing when you get back.

[Kathy in Alaska]

500 of us were put into the #2 hold of the Liberty ship SS George Davies, with bunks up to seven high. We joined a 98 ship convoy on the 24th of January 1944 headed for we knew not where. We did get three meals a day, but had little room for much else. I remember nothing about the eating or latrine facilities, but we were not allowed aft of the bridge of the ship. We were allowed on deck at any time, although at night there was NO SMOKING. Any lights showing at night invited drastic action like a gunshot to put the light out. Our ship was the last ship in the 2nd column from the right, but there was no ship beside us in the first column.

Because of no other ship being in the next column, we tended to wander about a bit. One of our escorts came alongside and told us by blinker "to get back in column and stay there". Since our ship had made two trips into Naples Harbor and had shot down 5 German planes they really didn't care and proceeded to tell the escort to "bug off and leave us alone". The escort ran back up to the Commodore of the convoy and told the boss what we said. We were told off and all the officers on the Bridge did was laugh about it. The only light showing on the ships at night was a dim 'Blue light' on the stern. I went up on deck one night and went up to the bow in time to see that blue light about 50 feet away. Panic Time. There were about four LOs (Landing Craft Infantry) in our convoy and most of the time they looked like submarines, being more under water than above. We were at sea for 21 days as we zigzagged all over the Atlantic Ocean. Our first clue as to location was when we saw the Rock of Gibraltar.

[fatima]

Getting ready for Easter.Everyone come to our house for a giant Easter Egg hunt.((((Hugs))))

[fatima]

Oh No,We’er gonna say some prayers Sarge.If it’s a heart attack it usually shows up in the blood work right away.((((Hugs))))

[E.G.C.]

Getting ready to head out to the lake right now. :-{}

[Kathy in Alaska]

About one week out of Bombay, India, we were given a smallpox vaccination. We arrived in Bombay 20 March 1944 at 3:30PM. In checking my records before we got off the ship they found no record of my smallpox vaccination so I was given another one. We were put on a train for a four day, three night trip across India (through the Bengal Jungle to Calcutta). The train was made up of third class coaches with wooden benches along the sides and the middle. Believe it or not I slept in one of the luggage racks over the benches.

From the train we went by truck to a Replacement Depot at a town called Baidyabati, located on the West bank of the Hooghly River. There was a military hospital to the south of the camp and a British jute mill on the north. The British had a compound where we could go and get Citrus drinks and small sandwiches. They (the British) bowled on the green and had some fierce tournaments. Our barracks were made from Bamboo with mud walls and thatched roofs. The beds were hand made with rope woven back and forth to make the springs. We did not have mattresses, but only GI blankets. Every morning I woke up looking like a waffle.

[RebelTex]

My condolences, Kathy.

May the Lord bless and comfort you and your family in your time of grief. And may the Lord embrace and receive your father’s soul into his Heavenly Kingdom. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.

[beachn4fun]

Every morning I woke up looking like a waffle.

LOL

Believe it or not I slept in one of the luggage racks over the benches.

That was probably more comfortable.

[beachn4fun]

Because of no other ship being in the next column, we tended to wander about a bit. One of our escorts came alongside and told us by blinker "to get back in column and stay there". Since our ship had made two trips into Naples Harbor and had shot down 5 German planes they really didn't care and proceeded to tell the escort to "bug off and leave us alone". The escort ran back up to the Commodore of the convoy and told the boss what we said. We were told off and all the officers on the Bridge did was laugh about it.

LOL. I can just imagine.