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.
Sometimes I worry that we don't deserve families such as yours.
Best wishes to you and your wonderful family...I wish you could thank them all for me.
My 85-year old father also was career Army, retired COL, Signal Corps, WWII vet with the 31st Infantry "Dixie" Division in New Guinea, Moritai, and Mindanao. Two Bronze Stars about which our family knew nothing until just a couple of years ago. A modest, unassuming, and generous man with a PhD and 10 years as a professor at George Mason University after retirement from the service. Graduate of Auburn, USC, and George Washington University. Smartest man I've ever known, and my role model. All three sons service academy grads (1 USMA, 2 USNA), his late brother USNA '41 and career Navy, two nephews with 20 years of service as military doctors - 1 USAF, 1 USN - and a granddaughter-in-law an Army Reserve nurse (CAPT) & a great nephew USAF pilot (CAPT).
You're a Virginia resident -- your father to be buried at Arlington?
A prayer of solace for you, Paratrooper. You have a rich legacy from your Dad, and you are carrying it into the future.
My gratitude to you and your family for protecting America for so many generations.
Paratrooper
Our deepest condolences to your family. What a legacy.
As I read through the comments, I note that many other Freepers are proud to be a part of the country that is willing to serve, and if necessary, to die, in support of keeping this country free.
Like others - my family also has a long tradition - my Dad did 22 years in the Navy, retiring as a Master Chief. One brother served in the Army, another in the Marines. I did 30 in the Navy and Navy Reserve before retiring 2 years ago. Now - I have a daughter in the Army Reserve, a son at the Naval Academy, and another son going into the Army in a few months. I have a nephew who is a Captain in the Army Rangers. The legacy continues.
During the Revolutionary War, when trying to recruit sailors to serve on recently commissioned ships of the new Navy, John Paul Jones said, 'Sign on and sail with me. The stature of our homeland is no more than the measure of ourselves. Our job is to keep her free. Our will is to keep the torch of freedom burning for all. Heed my call. Come to the sea. Come sail with me'.
In the movie "Bridges of Toko Ri", RAdm. George Tarrant asks: "Where do we get such men?" The answer is that as long as families raise children to patriotic values and love of country - we will have a never ending supply of patriots. But if we ever become like Europe - too environmentally correct to have more than 1 child, too wussified to teach them patriotism, we will be a nation that will cease to exist.
Thanks to everyone on this thread that has served, and thanks to those who might not have served - but is willing to extend gratitude to those who have served!
Mike
Hand Salute!
Thanks to all who replied to my post. Reading your messages brought me to tears. My Dad was also a paratrooper, he served three tours with the 82D Abn Division. He will be buried at Arington. He lived a full life and was active to the end. He was driving his car two weeks ago and pulled over because he did not feel well, he waved a passing car down and a lovely lady called 911. He was admitted to the hospital and a day later he had a massive stroke to which he would not recover. He was also a ladies man to the end and had two women on each arm when he was ill in the hospital! He died peacefully Monday night while we were singing Amazing Grace to him.
What a proud and patriotic American family. Well done.
And so the Greatest Generation loses another of its heroes. My sincere condolences to you and your wonderful family of patriots.
May God Bless You and the Your Dad.
It certainly sounds as if your father lived his life in accordance with the Cadet Prayer which I have taken the liberty to send your way. May God bless your father's soul and bestow His grace upon your family.
"God, our Father, Thou Searcher of Men’s hearts, help us draw near to Thee in sincerity and truth. May our religion be filled with gladness and may our worship of Thee be natural.
Strengthen and increase our admiration for honest dealing an clean thinking, and suffer not our hatred of hypocrisy and pretense ever to diminish. Encourage us in our endeavor to live above the common level of life. Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never to be content with half truth when the whole truth can be won. Endow us with courage that is born of loyalty to all that is noble and worthy, that scorns to compromise with vice and injustice and knows no fear when truth and right are in jeopardy. Guard us against flippancy and irreverence in the sacred things of life. Grant us new ties of friendship and new opportunities of service. Kindle our hearts in fellowship with those of a cheerful countenance, and soften our hearts with sympathy for those who sorrow and suffer. Help us to maintain the honor of the Corps untarnished and unsullied and to show forth in our lives the ideals of West Point in doing our duty to Thee and to our Country. All of which we ask in the name of the Great Friend and Master of men." --- Amen.
Godspeed, Soldier...
His new address: Mansions of the Lord
My condolences.
A trooper to the end. Peace.
Prayer bump
My Great-Great Grandfather was in the 4th Ohio Vol Cav for 4 yrs, 1861-1865.
I can't remember exactly. I'll ask my cousin. I'm thinkin' Ohio Valley something, but maybe it was Ohio Vol something or another.
My condolences for your loss. From your description your father was a first rate AMERICAN may he rest in peace.
My condolences to you and your family.
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