Posted on 02/05/2007 10:42:45 PM PST by DollyCali
Awesome story behind your service during WWII Ex-Snook, appreciate you sharing it with us here - and thank you for serving.
Very nice post about you father Dolly, imagine you weren't able to get through that with dry eyes. Can tell you adored your father as I did mine.
Utoh...LOL:)
My mother's father was also in charge of fire watching in Maidstone where both of my parents grew up, I am not sure if this is how they met but they both as teens (13-17) did this in Maidstone under mum's dad.
Your parents look so young there, like kids. Part of that war was fought on your soil which brings it to a higher level of reality. Your country was heroic during that time.
Silly me, Dolly, it never registered with me that you are Navy. So, you followed in Dad's footsteps, and what a wonderful story of him that you told: memories to cherish forever. He sounds like a man who truly enjoyed serving others and enjoyed and loved his family to the max. I hope you know, although you lost him too soon for your taste, he gave you time of immense QUALITY.
He had a sweet smile too!!!
Dear Aqua. Alzheimer's is indeed a tragedy. Many prayers for your FIL. I have never seen such a devastating disease in my life... not in my family... but what I witnessed and related to in one of the nursing homes where my Mother lived for awhile.
My Mother absolutely loved the memory of working during the war at Douglas Aircraft. She was not exactly a Rosie the Riveter, but at first she was a messenger, then she worked in the parts department. The interesting thing was that the aircraft plant was covered by a camouflage "town," complete with "neighbors" talking across the fence. There was one actual attack in Santa Monica Bay also.
My father was a "planner" at Douglas but I only learned this decades later by searching family history records. My parents parted before I was born and he was never part of my life. I have never even seen a photo of him.
Anyway, I am also so proud of your father's and your husband's father's and uncle's service. May they all rest in peace yet know how grateful we are that they served our country.
Diver Dave, what an excellent experience, sharing your service stories with one from the Greatest Generation..
This gives me the opportunity... can't resist it ... to say that last year, the day after D-Day, I was shopping at Trader Joe's and saw a man come in pushing the shopping cart wearing his WWII hat. SORRY I can't remember the name of the ship, but he was there at Pearl Harbor. I also dropped my inhibition (which I have less and less of) and approached him with a "Thank you."
This launched into his story of how he was there, indeed, and then immediately went to medical school upon discharge. He still practices medicine and must be in his 80s. He was shopping for Christmas gifts for his office staff.
Dearest Dolly......I just keep reading and rereading. Thank you SO MUCH for the graphics and for creating this site! LOVE YOU!!! Bev
Words truly fail me in attempting to respond to your recounting of your experiences in WWII.
So, here is a heartfelt, yet feeble by comparison THANK YOU. More power to you; I thank God for your health and that He has truly prospered you.
You can save the entire thread by hitting (Bookmark) just above post #1. Then you can revisit it at anytime via your homepage.
As for saving the graphics, Billie can tell you how to do that. Right?
My uncle, now deceased, was also in the battle of the bulge...but, I think under Bradley. My uncle was a patriot and such a good man. He didn't talk much about the action he saw. God bless our veterans. We have them to thank for today's freedoms.
Thank you, WW2 Vet/FReepers: Invictus, Texican, Tommix2, wheelbarrow, Michael A. Marhevka, Bevlar, EdLinn
Well stated, Aqua. Mysterious are the ways of the Lord...
(((HUGS)))
Hi all.. just got in. Must feed pets & mom & will be back ASAP.. silly Josy is still outside running after "something"..
great Bible study tonight.. very nice people & loving, knowledgeable & intelligent teacher. MAKES it great~
Dinner at Chilis made it better...
Awe Dita.. sad story on your folks.. did your mom ever marry after you were born?
Hard to know all the parts of the story.. sometimes even the principals are misled, lied to etc & so their idea of the facts might be quite askew.
Well, should your dad ever 'appear', he will be proud to see & know what a fine woman you have become. His circumstances might be frustrating to accept but we can only answer to our own decisions & others must face up to theirs.
No, she didn't marry again Dolly, but I sure wanted her to. I embarassed her one time (probably many times, but I remember this one) when her "date" took us both out and I was jumping up and down in the back seat, shouting, "I want you to be my Daddy!!"
Hehe.
oh boy.. weren't you mommy's little helper now! She must have been very much in love with your dad & heartbroken over the situation as it unraveled. Did/does she ever talk about it openly with you?
Unfortunately there are a lot of young ones raised w/o the dads. Often the dads aren't even informed about the baby.. All have their reasons I guess & at the time it seems right
did you have a good male influence in your life (grandpa/uncle etc?)
going to check on mom's chow
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.