VETERAN’S DAY
In my own small way, a Thank You to each and every person who has served in the military to help protect my way of life…
“Ole Top”
by Chuck Hall
I never got to meet him, Nor serve in his command. But I knew many like him, Who bravely made their stand. From what the “Bandits” tell me, He dearly loves the Corps Took real good care of comrades, And took that one-step more. ‘Twas up in frozen Chosin, When things looked bleak and bad. He used his strength and wisdom, And everything he had. For those who fought beside him, Who never will forget. He gave them will and courage, Resolution, faith and grit. The Corps has many heroes, And stories they all tell. “Ole Top’s” a hero in my book, He served his hitch in hell.Night Intruder Lament
__Author Unknown
I have a story to tell you A story of men bold and brave Have fought, and some died for their Country With a brightly burning plane for their grave. On an island we called Honshu With the broad, blue Pacific all around We set up our tents and our shelters And dug holes for our safety in the ground. At night, when day fighters are sleeping And we call Hacksaw for a fix The Heavens are filled with our thunder And the roar of our Baker-26. On a cold moonless night in December The order was read with a sigh And a happy-go-lucky young pilot Took his plane and his crew out to die. They went with a smile all unknowing ‘Twas only a Korean patrol Too bad that their duty included Their answering God’s Final Roll. Moonshine gave them their vector Surveillance to the Yalu and back They say the last words they transmitted “We wish we were back in our sacks.” One hour stretched into seven It was no time to jest or grin We knew as we waited and listened Another Night Intruder had augured in. There was no one to see and report it No help from a searching patrol Just three name scratched from the roster Who will no longer answer the call. So lift up your glasses my buddies In honor of those who fought the fight The sleep you enjoy out of danger Is because of the boys who fly at might.#####################################################################
I wish I could include so many other links for wonderful Veteran’s Day salutes, but that would be impossible – here are a few –
Pierre Lagacé and his cousin Joe pose us questions about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at:
CJ did a great job with:
And, concerning our future generations:
http://allaboutmanners.wordpress.com/2013/11/08/the-inquisitive-child-a-remembrance-day-poem/
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Farewell Salutes –
Dorothy Baldwin – Devonshire, England & Arlington, VA; British Army nurse, WWII
William Benson – Clearwater, FL; US Navy, WWII & Korea
Alexander (Sandy) Cameron – Toronto, Canada; CSTJ, CD, AdeC, Colonel
Thomas Camp, Jr. Washington DC; BrigGeneral, US Army, WWII & Korea
August Genge – Niles, IL; US Army, WWII
Charles Nardoni – Chicago Heights, IL; US Army, Korea & Vietnam
Ted Okita – Chicago, IL; US Navy, WWII
David Polzin – Toronto, Canada; WWII
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Posted on November 11, 2013, in Korean War, Uncategorized, WWII and tagged Army, family history, History, Marines, Military, Military History, Pacific War, Veteran's Day, veterans, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 93 Comments.
Carl, Thank you for the Veterans Day remembrance, even though I am getting to it a month late, it is still important and relevant. Also thank you for stopping by my blog and “liking” one of my current posts. I do appreciate the time you spend with me. Hopefully you will find other aspects of my blog that gives you something. Please take care, Bill
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I’m sure I will, Ham.
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Nice piece for Veteran’s Day! I am so far behind on reading blogs! should have read this long ago.
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I understand, the same often happens to me. No problem, I welcome your visit whenever you get here.
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This site is a wonderful homage to Smitty. I raise my glass to Smitty and give thanks to all who selflessly serve to further freedom on earth. Paulette
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Thank you very much,I only wish Dad was here to see it.
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“Ole Top” was a glorious poem, gpcox. Captures the essence indeed… My tardy salute to Smitty….
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Thank you, Koji. I’ve missed seeing you here; but so happy to hear you were off having a good time. Did you get a chance to visit the cemetery on Veteran’s Day?
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Unfortunately, no, I did not have the time. I only managed to visit with dad on Veteran’s Day as my relatives gave me so many perishable foodstuffs from Japan that my kids and I spent the day delivering… 😦 And as emailing isn’t possible, Marge Johnson (the WWII Marine’s widow) passed away a couple of nights ago…
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Very sorry to hear about Marge Johnson; I’ll say a prayer.
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Wonderful Salute !
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Thank you, Robert.
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Thank you dearly for stopping by my blog Bleacher Boy, I really appreciate it. I was wondering how you found it? I’m always curious to find how my viewers find so I know how to publicize. I hope you like a kid’s view on all things baseball instead of just the same media. I just want to say, this is a very good post.
-David S.
http://bleacherboy.mlblogs.com/
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I found you on the Reader, I don’t recall which Tag.
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A belated “well done” for Veterans’ Day, GP.
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Thank you, Rafe.
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In saluting those who have fought for country, and those who have paid the supreme price, we trust that no future generation will ever go forward to do the same without the utter conviction that their cause is right and honorable, and that conflict is the only resolution.
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I hope you’re right. Thank you for stopping in, Colonist.
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Happy Veterans Day to you!
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A wonderful tribute!
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Thank you, Elizabeth – always good to see you.
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We salute the fallen, and pay tribute to all who served their countries so well. What a shame world leaders are still playing their war games, and calling on yet more young people to shed their blood while they, the politicians, strut their foolish time on the political stages of the world.
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You said it, Maureen. Thanks for stopping in and stating your view.
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Thank you for serving.
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I wish I had, my father, son, aunt, uncle and cousin did though, I am merely reporting what data I can. There was one incident I was involved in, but we’ll leave it at that.
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Well thanks for your part and your family’s as well. My dad, grandfather, uncles, brother-in-laws, brother, and son-in-law have/are serving. I understand the sacrifices involved.
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Please thank them all for me. I mean that from the heart, not the hollow jester I hear so often.
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I will.
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I have nominated your blog as the most influential blog. If you wish to accept it (and I understand if you cannot), here is what you do:
1. Display the Award on your Blog.
2. Announce your win with a post and thank the Blogger who awarded you.
3. Present 10 deserving Bloggers with the Award.
4. Inform those who you nominate via Comment in their Blog. The Comment should contain a link back to your blog so they know who nominated them.
You will find the award posted at my blog:http://mholloway63.wordpress.com/2013/11/11/most-influential-blogger-award-nomination/
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I am truly honored, Maryann, but I must decline today, just as I have in the past. I do not even have an About page, because nothing in this site is about me; therefore I do not deserve the awards. I sincerely hope this will not endanger our friendship.
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No problem. I knew when I made them that some of my favorite sites would not be able to accept. No change here.
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Thank you for understanding, it means a lot.
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I had a chance to sit down with my Uncle David last week and listen to him talk about his service in Korea. He was part of Charlie Company. His stories absolutely gave me chills with what he endured. It was pretty stunning. I had heard him talk about it before, but not like this. He was wounded multiple times and they kept sending him back. When it was all said and done his records were lost and he was never even given a Purple Heart. It truly was the forgotten war for him.
What you do here is a ministry. Keep up the good work.
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Thank you, Forester – those are powerful sentiments. I am hoping you will add some of the stories Uncle David told you, unless you post them yourself – then give us a link. There must be some way to get him his Purple Heart; does he remember names of witnesses or commanders?
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gpcox – Thank you for helping us never to forget with this blog. You tell their stories in a way that makes it easy to remember. Thank you.
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Thank you, Judy. You’ve been with me from the beginning, like Pierre Lagace and I hope ALL the readers know how much I appreciate them.
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So beautiful the poems and the sentiments. May God Bless them all…past, present, and future…those that would find it in themselves to take up the courage to defend their country in the name of freedom and liberty and justice for all.
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Thank you, CJ. I hope you receive numerous clicks on your powerful site from the link I posted.
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Do you have any more information on August Genge from Niles, Illinois? I lived in that town from my first birthday through the fourth grade, but my memory for names has always been poor. It would be a great delight to me to find out my family knew him.
A great post. With such a debt we have incurred to these brave folk, we owe them nothing less than to carry their memories and their stories to new generations.
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I’m afraid, my information is limited to what the relatives post in the obituary and sometimes they are more interested in getting every relative’s name in the paper rather than info on the deceased; in this case the info was found at – the Chicago Tribune. Perhaps more can be located there if you check back for past obits. Good luck.
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Sadly, his family was from the “south side” of Niles, while I hailed from the north. Pity – many surnames of his family are Polish (Chicago has the 2nd largest Polish population of any city in the world, Warsaw being first), and I had a re-enacting persona dedicated to the !st Independent Polish Para Brigade, of Arnhem (“A Bridge Too Far”) fame. It would have been quite a treat for me (and I would hope, his family as well) to send him off with Polish military representation.
But I will honour him in remembrance, just as you have done here as well. Thanks, for him, from me.
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When I check around for veteran’s obituaries, Chicago & DC always have the most. DC I can understand, but it seems those that served from Illinois, all went back and didn’t retire to Florida. I’ve never been there, but that says a lot about their people and the state. Thanks for reading, John.
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Well, having been born and raised in the Windy City, I think Illinois is a fine state, and Chicago the best city in the country. Then again, I am just SLIGHTLY biased…. 😉
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It seems you have good reason to be and others seem to agree as well.
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Beautiful post, it did bring a tear.
ted
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Then I succeeded! Thanks, Old Poet – it means a lot.
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Classy post, thanks for helping us remember!
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Thank you very much.
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As I tell every vet I meet: Thank you for your service.
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This is so beautiful. Thank you.
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It is certainly all my pleasure – glad you enjoyed it as well.
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Wonderful to read! Thank you for all your incredible posts.
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Thanks, good to see you again.
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A beautiful tribute to all those who sacrifice to protect us and our American way of life.
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Thank you, Linda – that means a lot. I agonized for a month over which poem, which picture?
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Thanks for a great tribute to all veterans.
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The mere act of going and obeying orders earns them our thanks.
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Few are heroes, but all have served. It’s a shame serving your country has become a concept relegated to memorials.
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Maybe it’s the ‘something solid to hold onto’ concept. Some can only imagine what military life is like – hero or not. Many heroes do their heroic deeds in a state of mania or trauma and can not even remember the event. A memorial is solid and represents ideals. (don’t know if I’m explaining myself correctly – but there is my opinion.)
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You’ve expressed it perfectly.
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Funny – I was just on your site reading, when I saw the notification button light up and it was you! The same wave-length?
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Psychic brothers!
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I am deeply touched by this post! A great salute to all the brave ones.
Warm greetings from Germany
Dina
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Thank you so much, it seemed to take forever for me to decide exactly what to post on Veteran’s Day.
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We’ll never forget their service.
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I certainly hope not. They deserve the tributes.
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Thanks for sharing those poems. I also love the images especially the one with the veterans in a V
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I liked that one because it includes everyone right from the beginning.
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Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
Honoring all the men and women who served, are serving and will serve. Hats off the them ….
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You honor me with this reblog; I sincerely hope your readers enjoy it.
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I know they will … as much as I did!!!
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Thank you, so much – for the VETS!
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TY for this very touching post!! Reblog!! Saluting them …
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Thank you, Dr. Rex.
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Anytime ……. 🙂
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Night Intruder Lament is a very fine poem. It has an unusual air, no remorse but a matter of fact, the call of duty, sums up so well in the closing para. I salute!
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Thank you, I thought it had the feel of a soldier’s voice.
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Absolutely, I said the same but in too many words and probably obscure.
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Reblogged this on This Everyday Australian.
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I am honored that you feel this post is good enough for your readers. Thank you, sir.
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I’m grateful to you for such a fine testimony to our veterans. My grandfather died before turning 40 in France in the First World War on the day my mother turned 9 years of age. Thank you!
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We all salute his service.
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Was honored to spend time last week with a 93 year old vet who was captured at the Battle of the Buldge. As a much younger vet, I was in awe. Great day, great post!
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Very nice of you; any stories from the WWII vet or yourself are very welcome here. Veteran’s Day is for you – have a great one!
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Yesterday, as we watched the UK Remembrance Parade on TV, we heard that work had started on the new Korean War Memorial.
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Now, that IS good news. The men didn’t wait 63 years to answer the call, they should not have had to wait 63 years for a memorial.
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Our Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day (Nov 11th) have been greatly on my mind too.
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I’m happy to hear it – having people remember is my goal.
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Thanks for the link.
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You deserve it for all your hard work.
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a tall , straight salute
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Back atcha, Carl.
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