Posted on 02/04/2007 7:15:40 AM PST by Heart of Georgia
My dad passed away February 1, 2007. He was a veteran of two wars, and he was truly a hero, but you couldn’t get him to agree to that, ever. He’d always say, “No, I was just doing my job.”
You could try, but a more patriotic man you would never find. During WWII and the Korean War, Dad was a builder of bridges and a mechanic for the planes he often times was heard referring to as, "a bucket of bolts."
He was born in Rosemont, West Virginia, the son of a coal miner. Not an educated man, he never thought of himself as very smart, but tell that to the USAF. He won an award for his invention of a valve that's now standard on all jet engines. And he devised a way to make one model work better mechanically by swapping out engine parts of another model. The Air Force deployed him all over the country, and at times overseas, to train others in this technique.
Above and beyond his service to this nation, he's my personal hero. A man dedicated to his family first and foremost. He's a true picture of what our heavenly Father intended fathers to be. There's not a time in my life when he wasn't there for me, and I know everyone in his life would say the same thing.
I am sorry for your loss. My Dad served in WWII with the Navy and later spent many years in the Coast Guard which involved serving in Vietnam as well. Today, he is suffering from Alzheimer's but my Mom is able and determined to care for him as she has for over 60 years. He had never spoken much about his wartime service until he got sick. I think it's that way with a lot of truly heroic men. Do what's required to protect your nation and your family and keep the horror of the details to yourself.
Just this week, my 16 year-old son told me that, once high school is finished, he thinks he might like to serve in either the Coast Guard or the Navy. That may or may not happen, but I'm proud of him for thinking of it and, if he does pick up the tradition, I only regret that his Grandpa will probably never really know.
May God bless you, and I know he'll look after your Dad, too.
I understand entirely what you are feeling now. I lost my Dad (Also an Air Force veteran of Korea) almost 12 years ago. Many of the memories that are painful now will make you smile, and sooner than you think. Keep your family close - especially your Mom. Prayers up.
"Duty is the sublimest word in the English language." Robert E. Lee.
Your dad did more than his duty. He did it quietly, unwaveringly, and well for an entire lifetime. In the invisible pantheon of everyday heroes, he stands tall indeed.
God bless you and your family during this time of transition.
My prayers are with you.
In a few days, I hope you look back upon what you wrote, it is beautiful. As much as your Dad was a hero, your love for him was just as grand.
God Bless
RW9
And bring you peace.
Prayers.
God Bless you....my daddy was a vet, also. I miss him everyday. Prayers for you and your mom and family.
Prayers, FRiend...losing a parent you are close to is so very, very hard....prayer for you and yours.
The great times you had with him, the joyous memories, the heartfelt lessons, those are all realities too. He sounds like he lived a splendid life and raised a terrific, loving family. You can be as proud of him as I'm sure he was of you.
Bless you all, and God grant you comfort.
God bless ...
I am so sorry. Our prayers are with you and your family.
My FRiend, you and your family will be in my prayers, I know the loss that you're feeling, because my Dad went to be with the Lord just last month, and for we who are left behind, it doesn't seem possible but reality insists that it is. All our grieving, all of our tears, none of it will bring back the ones we've lost, but we can be sure that there is a merciful God is taking care of them, and is taking care of us all.
You were blessed with good and loving parents who I suspect were very much like my own, you blessed them back by taking them home with you when they needed you most. Like your Dad, my Dad too was a son of West Virginia and served our Nation. Likewise, he never considered himself any sort of hero, he was doing his duty, as he saw it, just like yours.
I know that your Dad would no doubt tell you that this world stops for nobody, that he is no longer struggling with the ravages of time and/or disease, that he is a brand new man once again, because God Almighty has promised us that "all things shall become new". Your Dad expects you and wants you to live your life as best you can, to enjoy that life, to celebrate that life that he was instrumental in giving you.
It is a common thought when we lose our Mom or Dad, to say to ourselves "we'll never see them again", and in this earthly, temporal life, that is true with one exception:
Every time you look in a mirror, look a little more closely, because you're going to start noticing your Dad looking back at you. The essence of his life, his soul, his existence has always been part of you, and now you're going to be even more acutely aware of that. That too, is a blessing.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
May the Lord be with you.
MKJ
The daughter of a man like that is going to be fine.
Prayers for peace of heart. He will dry your tears and help you carry on.
Even in the midst of sorrow, let all the people praise You, O Lord ... let all the people praise You, now and forevermore, Amen ...
Remember that you are the product of all your father was. He will never be separate from you, since when you see yourself, you see him and know that he is always a part of you.
Peace, always.
From your account of your father's life, I will be adding him to my list of heroes too.
Oh, how I sympathize with you. My Dad on February 1st, 1987. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss him. He wasn't just my Dad but my biggest supporter and best friend.
Prayers to you and your family.
God Bless you and your family....sounds like a great one.
May God bless you and your family. Your tribute to your dad brought tears to my eyes. Reminds me I had better call my dad today.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.