Last time I was there, I was humbled to share viewing the Changing of the Gurad with a group of WWII veterans on a Honor Flight Tour.
He passed away earlier this year, on Memorial Day.
That must have been quite an honor, Bob.
The last time I mailed a “care package” to the guys and gals in the “sandbox” I had an elderly gent ask where the boxes were going. When I told him, he opened his wallet and paid BIG bucks for the boxes to go FIRST CLASS. I would guess that would be stateside until the APO address took over. The older guy spent close to $100 which made me ask why. He said said he was a WQWI vet and getting too old to shop, but NEVER too old to help pay the shipping. When we walked out together, I noticed his auto license plates “Pearl Harbor Survivor”. God Bless the guy as he’s already done his fair share of American duties.
My father, a WWII C-47 pilot in the China, Burma, India Theater, fell ill and passed away in 2002 before we could see the WWII Memorial together.
When I hear the argument between guys who served in different outfits, I would always reply that the contract said the government owned you and coming home in a box can happen to anyone. Bottom line - YOU SIGNED AND THAT MEANS YOU OFFERED YOUR LIFE FOR YOUR COUNTRY.
I heard a black cook turned into quite a Ma Deuce marksman at Pearl Harbor. In the military when things get bad...you do what you gotta do to come home. PERIOD. NO BRANCH OF SERVICE COMES INTO THE DISCUSSION WHEN THE JOB SAYS FIGHT OR DIE.