MY FATHER DIED -- WWII VET AND MARVELOUS DAD

Vanity | 6 April 2006 | Mene Mene Tekel Upharsin

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

My dad died yesterday. He just quit breathing. We have been working with him in home hospice for quite some time and making him comfortable in the process. He didn't suffer excessively. My dad was a wonderful man and we ALL are happy and overjoyed for him at the same time we sorrow. He worked his whole life to teach the Gospel to the unbelieving and did so with complete diligence and faith. We have absolutely no doubt he is in Paradise awaiting the day of Judgement.

He taught me so many things much of which has been expressed here on Free Republic. I haven't always been the most congenial personality like he was. Dad was a WWII Navy veteran on a troop carrier in the Pacific theatre. Men like him fought and died so we can have the nation we have. I brought my flag to school today, I took down the Mexican flag (I teach Spanish) and proudly put the United States flag in its place (both are large flags) and informed the students that today -- that flag was going to hang on that wall the entire day in honor of the men who fought and died for this nation and it was going to stay there -- no matter what.

The most important thing the man taught me was to learn the truth and then stand up for it -- no compromise. I try to fulfill that desire he had for us every day I live. May God bless all of you -- we're going to need it soon.

[Salvation]

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[Emmet Fitzhume]

Prayers.

God Bless.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

My condolences on the passing of your father.

May all the servicemen and women in the U.S. Navy-and the Armed Forces-have his courage and good fortune.

-Godspeed, G.J.P. (Jr.)

Eternal Father

Navy Hymn

Verse 1

Eternal Father strong to save

Whose arm hath bound the restless wave

Who bids the mighty ocean deep

Its own appointed limits keep

Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee

For those in peril on the sea

Verse 2

O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard and hushed their raging at Thy word

thou walked'st on the foaming deep

And calm amidst its rage didst sleep. Oh hear us when we cry to Thee For those in peril on the sea

Verse 3

Most Holy Spirit Who didst brood

Upon the chaos dark and rude

And bid its angry tumult cease

And give for wild confusion peace

Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee

For those in peril on the sea

Verse 4

Lord guard and guide the men who fly

Through the great spaces in the sky

Be with them always in the air

In darkening storms or sunlight fair

Oh hear us when we lift our prayer

For those in peril in the air

Verse 5

O Trinity of love and power

Our brethren shield in danger's hour

From rock and tempest, fire and foe

Protect them whosesoever they go

Thus evermore shall rise to Thee

Glad hymns of praise from land and sea

Amen.

[Diver Dave]

He worked his whole life to teach the Gospel to the unbelieving and did so with complete diligence and faith.

An Evangelist and a Veteran. A great combination. Doing battle for the Lord and battle for his beloved country.

I offer a Salute to your Dad, and prayers of thanks for his witness.

May God comfort and bless you MMTU.

[investigateworld]

Sorry to hear of your loss.
My own Dad passed way several years ago, but I'm certain we'll meet again.

[Elyse]

I got goose bumps and tears in my eyes when I read about your Dad. My Daddy died 3 years ago in May. I could have written about him almost the exact words that you wrote about your Dad.

I'm sure they are in Heaven praising the Father and helping Him to prepare a place for us to join them. I pray that God gives you and your family the comfort and strength to get through the days ahead.

[Petronski]

Please accept my heartfelt condolences on the loss of a hero.

[Jeff Chandler]

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let Perpetual Light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.

[Zeppelin]

*****We're losing so many of our WWII vets, to whom we owe so much.*****

I try not to think of death as a loss, but that life is God's generosity in lending our loved ones to us for the time we have together, and is now calling them back.

Prayers for you and your loved ones, MeneMene. It never gets any easier, that's for sure.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

By the way, I'm sure your father would take pride in you today, and applaud how you're preserving his memory.

[pax_et_bonum]

I'm so sorry.

Prayers sent.

[lightman]

Eternal Lord God,
you hold all souls in life:
Give to your whole Church in paradise and on earth your light and your peace;
and grant that we,
following the good examples of those who have served you here and are now at rest,
may at the last enter with them into your unending joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God,
now and for ever,
AMEN.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Beautiful and perfect images. Thanks.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Thank you for the comments and the image. What character. Even Americans, when they disagree, can be civil. Hats off to you.

[patton]

God bless you and your father.

[8mmMauser]

Our prayers for his soul and for your faith and strength to build.

8mm

[sockmonkey]

Condolences offered.

My Dad USN Ret, a WWII vet passed away a year and a half ago. I think that there are many on this thread whose WWII Dads (and Moms) showed us by example that they earned by their sacrifices the title of the Greatest Generation.

May his soul rest in peace.

[sweetiepiezer]

Sorry for your lost. May God keep him in his tender care.

[COBOL2Java]

My prayers go out to you and your family. My father passed away just a few weeks ago on February 26. He also was a WWII Vet. Dad served as a radioman on the USS Barnes in the Pacific theatre.

Make sure that you contact the local American Legion or the VFW. They will arrange for a military funeral for your dad. For my father's funeral they did a wonderful job. His casket was covered with the American flag, and two sailors came to the burial. As his casket was moved from the hearse, the sailors stood and saluted. Both were members of the Honor Guard.

The senior sailor, an E-5, stood at attention in front of the grave, and the other, an E-4, went off in the distance to play taps. As taps began, the E-5 did a slow, smart salute. This is the military's final goodbye to a fallen service member. Then, the two came to slowly, carefully fold up the flag. The E-5 then brought the folded flag to my mother, and told her "On behalf of the United States of America, President Bush, and the Department of the Navy, thank you for your husband's service to our country." That was the point where I lost it.

My Mom, bless her heart, tried to give the sailors money, but they of course could not accept it. The E-5 said "Ma'm, I promise you that tonight, we will raise a glass in honor of your husband."

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Thank you for your post. My dad will be buried Monday in a Military National Cemetery with honors. Thanks to all for your kindesses.