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.
I am truly sorry to hear that. He sounds like he was a wonderful man and a great father. I am so very thankful for his service and for the service of your family. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
My condolances and respect.
I'm sorry to hear about your loss.
Halfway down the trail to hell
In a shady meadow green,
Are the souls of all dead troopers camped
Near a good old-time canteen
And this eternal resting place
Is known as Fiddler's Green.
Marching past, straight through to hell,
The infantry are seen,
Accompanied by the Engineers,
Artillery and Marine,
For none but the shades of Cavalrymen
Dismount at Fiddlers' Green.
Though some go curving down the trail
To seek a warmer scene,
No trooper ever gets to Hell
Ere he's emptied his canteen,
And so rides back to drink again
With friends at Fiddlers' Green.
And so when man and horse go down
Beneath a saber keen,
Or in a roaring charge or fierce melee
You stop a bullet clean,
And the hostiles come to get your scalp,
Just empty your canteen,
And put your pistol to your head
And go to Fiddlers' Green.
Wow.
Many thanks to your family.
Great Americans.
God Bless.
Thank you for celebrating his life with us in the history you have given us. Seems the entire family is carrying on the tradition and he must have been very proud of all of you, as you are of him.
I pray he is at peace. God bless you all.
Prayers sent
The 508 was part of the 82nd Airborne - correct?
Sorry for your trouble. Your dad sounded like a wonderful man.
God rest him, and may the Good Lord be good to you and yours.
I'm sure you are proud to have had him for a father as I am pleased to have had him for a countryman.
Prayers and God Bless.
God bless, comfort, and protect, each of you. Deepest condolences, and thanks, to you and your wonderful family.
Condolences to you and your family.
Prayers to you and your family.
DCB
Thank you for your family's service and dedication to this country. May the Lord comfort you in the loss of your father.
Sounds like an awesome guy!
Salute!
My deepest sympathies on the loss of your Dad.
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