Marine, FReeper/Lurker Goes to Final Rest

Vanity Post | Jan 30, 2002

[Apple Pan Dowdy]

As members of the FreeRepublic Family I thought you all would want to know that one of your avid FReeper/Lurkers passed away quietly at home on Monday night after a battle with cancer. Robert, my Father-in-law, was 79 and a Marine Veteran. Although he was never quite able to get up the nerve to post here, he avidly read and enjoyed all of your posts daily. He was a man who exemplified courage, strength and an enduring love to his family, his friends, and his country. He was proud to have had the privilege of serving his country for 41 years as a Marine Aviator, active in W.W.II as a flight instructor, then in the Korean War as a pilot (flying off the Yorktown) where he was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses and three Air Medals in addition to other Service Medals, followed by 20 years in the Marine Corps Active Reserves until 1983.

May I offer to you Freepers, as an important part of his online community, a salute which he would surely do himself if he were here. Robert will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Feb 6 and his soul will find peace with his Creator.

[Basil Duke]

He is in his eternal home, with my own father - for whom he well could have flown air support in Korea. Sorry about your loss.

[SERE_DOC]

Thank you Sir for your service and dedication to our great country.

I too have a father that served during WWII although in the Merchant Marines, and he served in three theaters of action, Pacific, North Atlantic, and Africa. Not a small feat.

He like most of those from that era doesn't talk about it, but during the holidays he opened up just a little (after years of prompting from my brothers and I) in front of my 23 y/o son, after which I told him he needs to record his life history (for the 1000th time) in some fashion so my son's children now of him, before he passes on.

[Bikers4Bush]

RIP

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Semper Fi, Marine! Your service to our nation is greatly appreciated. Now he guards the golden streets of Heaven...

[UCANSEE2]

Semper Fi, and God Bless!

[skeeter]

I'm sorry we didn't have an opportunity to get to know your father-in-law. May he go with God.

[Fred Mertz]

Sincere condolences to Robert's family and friends.

Rest in Peace, Robert.

[michaelje]

May God welcome him into His kingdom with open arms.

[gwmoore]

May you rest in Peace Sir!

Unlimited climbout approved

Thanks for keeping the Faith for Freedom

Greg

[spectre]

We'll be there in "spirit" when he is laid to rest at Arlington.

Eagles UP! God speed.

sw

[nimc]

APD, Freepers

He is another one of our country finest generation to leave us. So many of our generation are so proud and sad, hopeful, and in fear of the awesome responsibility of maintaining the quality of life and depth of our freedoms they gave so willingly to us. That is why so many of us are here after all, isn't it? So that we may preserve the heritage given to us by the endless rank and file of heros of our past. To them, we owe so much. To the next generation we owe everything in our power to preserve it.

If you know anyone from that generation, call him or her today and thank them. Promise them that their sacrifices are fully appreciated and that the best lesson we can teach our children is to understand what price was paid for our freedom and how awful life would be if it were taken from us.

I have never met your father, but I have met a few like him. I have lost all but one of my family members from that great generation, and he will hear from me tonight. He was 1st. Sgt Hq 1/6 2 MarDiv. Who fought his way across Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Titian and Saipan. He was decorated for the tank attack on Saipan where he was actually run over by a tank. On Tarawa while in hand to hand he was wounded by a Japanese officers sword while he was chasing another.

I have to ask myself, and maybe we all should, "What have I done lately?"

Rest in God loving embrace father, son, uncle, brother, friend, until we can hold you in our arms once again.

Excuse the long post…

[chs68]

My most sincere sympathies to you and all of your family on the loss of your Father-in-law.

I drive by Arlington Cemetery a lot. I live less than a mile from the Cemetary, and to me it is very hollowed ground.

I shall add your Father-in-law to the people I think of whenever I am near Arlingtonm Cemetary.

May God richly bless and comfort you and your family.

[Pistias]

May the Lord rest his soul, and give you and yours comfort in knowing he is in Good hands. Semper Fidelis.

[B-Chan]

They shall not grow old, as we who are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We shall remember them.

 

Lawrence Binyon, "For the Fallen"

[Britton J Wingfield]

Salute from a SeaBee.

[MadelineZapeezda]

Memory Eternal.
We are loosing so many great veterans each and every day. We must keep their memories and accomplishments alive.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Semper Fi to a fellow winger. Rest in Peace, Robert.

[YaYa123]

I'm very sad for your loss, and I appreciate knowing such a fine man might have read my words. I hope loving memories soon replace your grief. It's a sad reality to watch an entire generation leave us. I know it's a perpetual happenstance of life itself, but in the case of our fathers and mothers, those who lived through the depression, WW2, and so many cultural changes, it's doubly sad. Up to us now, to pass on their values, to the next generations.

[Nix 2]

SEMPER FI, SIR.

[RonDog]

FYI, ping.