Posted on 02/14/2007 8:25:14 AM PST by Paratrooper
My Father passed away on 12 Feb 2007. He was a retired Colonel. He started life as an a Army brat born at Ft Monroe, Va. His father was a career Army Officer and every paternal grandfather with the exception on one has served in the military back to the revolutionay war. Our family has served the military in every war with the exception of the Spanish American War in 1898. He graduated from West Point and started his career with the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Germany during WWII. He served in both the Korean(187 Regimental Combat Team ABN) and Vietnam Wars(MACV HQ) and earned the purple heart being wounded three times, once seriously leaving a very distinguished scar across his forehead. He had seven children, four boys and three girls. All four boys are career military and one daughter is career military. The other two daughter's husbands are or were Army Officers. When he got ill he had a daughter(Navy Commander)serving on the Iraq-Kuwait border, a son(Army LYT, SPC OPS)in Mindano, Phillipines, and a son(Navy Seal CAPT) in Columbia, South America. All made it back to bid him farewell before he died. He has one grandson who has served two tours with the 4th Infantry Division in Iraq. My son is following tradition and is starting Army Basic Training today at Ft Benning. He was a true professional and great father. As a West Pointer we say "Well Done" Dad, be thou at peace.
Prayers offered and may God Bless you and family.
While I am sorry about your loss, I am happy about the wealth he left you.
To quote country singer George Strait, "There's a difference between living and living well."
Sir, your father apparently lived well, as has the rest of your family and ancestors.
All Freepers and all Americans owe you all a debt of gratitude and our sympathies are with you today.
My father, too, was a larger than life career Army officer.
When he died, 12 years ago, I was an Air Force officer stationed at the Pentagon. Surrendering his retired Army ID card to the Army personnel shop was one of the hardest things I have ever done.
I had him buried at Arlington. Later that day I went to the O'Club at Ft Myer, bought a round for the bar, and toasted his memory. I then drove across the river and did the same thing at the Bolling AFB O'Club, where I was a member until I retired a few years later.
His death left a hole in me that I have never managed to fill back in.
My condolences on your loss.
I'm sorry for your loss and appreciate your father's devotion and sacrifice to this nation.
God rest his soul and grant you and your family peace. He is home, in God's hands.
My condolences to you and your family.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
My condolences to that fallen Rakkasan.
God Bless and keep you in your sorrow...Thank you and yours for a life of dedication and good luck to your brave son..
A distinguished life and career; a distinguished family. He was a blessed man and a great American.
My dad passed away in 2002. My Dad retired in 1968 as a CSM with the 82nd Arbn Div. after 24 yrs of service to this country. WWII, Korea, & Dominican Republic action.
Our old soldiers are leaving quickly these days. I miss him too.
PropBlast Joy to your fathers spirit and service to our great country...America! My father was a Jeep driver in WWII, and to talk to him is still my joy...God bless all those have given so much to give and maintain our freedoms!
Jim 82nd/SF
Prayers for you and your family.
I'm terribly sorry to hear of the loss of your beloved and heroic father. Thank you for sharing his story with us.
I'm so sorry, Paratrooper. Prayers on the way for your father's eternal rest, and for the consolation of you and your family.
Thanks to a patriot, and his family.
God Bless.
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