Posted on 05/28/2004 8:09:36 PM PDT by redrock
When I was around 6 or 7 years old (funny how you really don't want to remember some things) my father got hurt while on the job.
The accident broke his spine in half...leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. I remember all the hectic days from that time...and I remember when he was finally stabilized...that he transferred to the V.A. Hospital in Long Beach,California.
I remember going to the V.A. Hospital for the first time.....being surrounded by so many people in wheelchairs...or on gurneys. Men with missing legs....or arms...or eyes. Being as young as I was...it was quite frightening.
There I was...a young boy....standing next to my dad...who still had bruises galore...and still had lots and lots of tubes coming out of him...and going into him. Here was my dad.....a person so full of life....who ran races with me all of the time.....liked to play catch....took me fishing.....looking like he had run his last race.
I thought (in my young boy mind) that my dad was going to die.
I guess that I looked the part of a scared little boy....because my dad grabbed my hand and pulled me close...giving me a hug as best he could.
Then he said quietly ( he had a tracheotomy) something that I didn't really figure out for a couple of years.
"Skipper....look around at this place. Full of old soldiers....sailors....and fliers. You are the luckiest boy in the world."
I didn't understand....but as the tears flowed...I just hugged my dad.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
My dad stayed in the V.A. for almost three years...(and afterwards would periodically have to go back for more surgery etc). Long about the second year my dad was there....I began to understand why he said I was the 'luckiest boy in the world'.
Here I was...surrounded by men who had landed at Normandy....or had jumped into France the night before.
Men who had fought their way up Italy.....
Men who had fought the Japanese at Guadacanal....or Iwo Jima....or the Philipines.
Men who had served on the U.S.S. Indianapolis.
Men who had fought at Chosen....or Inchon.
Men who had flown P-51's.....Corsairs....P-38's.....B-17's----B-24's.
Men who had kept their Nation and their families safe.
...and I got to talk with everyone of them...and learn.(although I'm not sure I was aware that I was learning...)
In short....I was surrounded by living History.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
And this weekend....You can be surrounded by History too.
Just take some time (an hour will do nicely) and visit the local V.A. Hospital....or Veteran's Home...or Nursing Home.
Visit...and hear first hand...the stories that the men (and women) are wanting to tell. Let them tell of the time off of Iwo that the Kamikaze's tried to sink their ship.....listen to them tell of the night's at Bastogne....let them pass on the stories.
You will be better for hearing them.
....and part of the American Story...will then become part of you.
My buddy invited me over to his Mom's for a Bar-B-Q cookout this afternoon.My wife went to San Antonio with 3 of her lady friends to do the Tourist thang.
You have a great rest of the long weekend, too ! :^D
BSA Bump
Can you post your recipe for tri-tip?
God Bless.
redrock
redrock
It's doing the Oregon *thang* here...raining like crazy!
I hope it lets up a little for Memorial services tomorrow.
Crossing fingers for rain to let up. :^D
Thank you for the Memorial Day pings, redrock. God bless.
The best tri-tip I have had is from Jeff aka JK Photo. So I am going to let him give you his recipe.
Warning : sometimes you have to make a donation to FR to get a copy.
"PLEASE REMEMBER ME"
Remember me, America, for I was once your son,
I fought and died at Valley Forge with General Washington;
I was there at Gettysburg on that tragic, tragic day.
When brother fought against brother - the blue against the grey.
I rode with Teddy Roosevelt on the charge up San Juan Hill.
Some came back to fight again - but I just lie there still.
I went to France with A.E.F. to bring the peace to you;
I was twenty-one and full of fun - I never saw twenty-two.
I am still here at Pearl Harbor since that December seventh day of infamy.
Lying silently with my shipmates on the U.S.S. Arizona at the bottom of the sea.
D-Day June 6th 1944, we hit the beaches of Normandy
And we fought uphill every inch of the way.
We routed the Germans and hurled them back,
But what a terrible price we had to pay.
I served on an U.S. submarine, the bravest of the brave,
Until a German depth charge gave us a watery grave.
I bombed the Ploesti oil fields; they blew with one big roar,
But in the attack we were hit with flack - I ll never bomb anymore.
In Korea I heard the C.O. shout We ll make it - I am sure we will.
I lost my life to try and take a spot called Pork Chop Hill.
Vietnam! Vietnam! When will we ever learn?
I am one of sixty thousand that never will return.
I left my town, my wife, my kids, my home, so cozy and warm;
I was killed in a scud attack in a war called Desert Storm!
And so in my eternity my thoughts are all for thee,
I ll never forget my America....
I pray she remembers me.
-John Dirusso
World War II U.S. Air Force - Combat Veteran
Great Piece!
A guy I know reads this poem at a miltary cemetary service here, every Memorial Day, he knows it by heart. It always gets me, right in the pit, when I think of all the sacrifices made for this country, through the years.
Grampa Dave knows a family who lost a (father?) in the Ploesti oil field field bombings of WWII.
The family dedicated a stain glass window for their son who was a pilot in an American Bomber who was killed in that Ploesti oil field bombings of WWII.
I don't think anyone in the family is still alive. That is another sacrifice that we seldom hear about. The sacrifice when a family lost a son or sons in battle, and there was no one left to continue the family line.
Last night we had a welcome back dinner for the father of one our close friends. He was in the Army in WWII and served in the Pacific. He tries to minimize what he did. According to him he and his buddies were just scouts. They found the Japanese snipers, the Japanese held up in caves and bunkers. Then, they notified their command to "handle the situation". One can only imagine how minimal his job was.
He flew in from DC yesterday after atending the service in DC for the new WWII memorial. He was in the first section of honorees for his service and his wife's in WWII. She was a translator for the Navy in DC. She died two years ago.
If we know of any of these incredible people who served in WWII, we need to thank them. We have two WWII Vets in our church. One was a navy pilot who flew off of carriers. The other lied about his age and joined the Navy at age 15. He served as a rear gunner in the Navy Dive Bombers.
thanks, FBD
"Tales of Bold Patriots!!"
(To be sung to Cream's "Tales Of Brave Ulysses")
You thought the Lib'ral DemRATS...would bring US down forever...
But we'll rise above Left's treason...RAT's wish violence on our own!!
Yes, the passion of the FRee...pierce thru LIES of bumblin' bureaucRATs...
As we shed our Lib'ral leeches...by slashing Fed'ral programs...
Power's wicked weilders torture...those who seek to live in FReedom...
The heroic Reagan's calling you to build a shining City!!
Next, you'll see Jewel's tanned body...dripping of Left's essence...
But her foolish statements're hollow...We Fight Fer Liberty!!
So when DemLib'rals gather...FReep down RATS' vile sedition...
Proudly FReep Dem Lib'rals...with the issues 'cuz we're Right!!
Once-mighty tyrant's nekkid...once FReedom's been delivered...
Sheeple want to inflict Justice...RATS'll do hard time or be buried!!
Our "game" is Righteous Justice...and we'll FReep DemRATS to Hell!!
Kerry knows folks cannot stand him...'cuz he LIED about his comrades!!
Purple Hearts fer mild abrasions...Hanoi Johnnie shirked his duty...
Fled home early...LIED to Congress!!
The Righteous rise up proudly...we'll Liberate THIS Country!!
Folks, you need to join the FReepers...as we stand against Left's Terror!!
Mudboy Slim (5/31/04)
bttt^
Memorial Day greetings, Commish!
Gracias, mi hermano...MUD
Will greatly appreciate the recipe for secret sauce for our Troop's BTOW (Big Trip Out West) in Jackson Hole.
I am a monthly contributor. Eagle's Up! as they say.
I don't have Jeff recipe right handy. I will Freepmail him with your reqest.
Jeff's recipe is the star of our local Freeper picnic.
I googled the name of my deceased brother-in-law and came across your “Lest We Forget” blog written on 5/28/04. You wrote about his helicopter accident that happened at sea on Feb. 1, 1980. Jim Hensley was only 27. He was survived by his young widow, who was his high school sweetheart, and their 2 year old daughter. His call name was Jim Bob Boy because he had a strong southern accent, being from North Carolina. He received a post-humus promotion to Captain. He loved to fly helicopters. He loved his wife and daughter. We all still miss him. (I lived at Kaneohe MCAS with my sister while Jim was deployed, then in Honolulu, then we returned to NC after the accident.) It was shocking to see your blog and read about Jim’s accident after all this time. It’s still so sad to think about, and it was such a tragic and freaky accident. My sister and her daughter are both doing fine — Jim would be so proud of them. So sorry to hear that one of the others from the accident has died. —— Semper Fi -——— Linda Morris
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