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A bucket of shrimp
A WELL-WRITTEN, HEARTWARMING STORY OF A HERO’S GRATITUDE____
They say old folks do strange things. At least, I think that is what young people say about us when they talk about us at all —which isn’t all that often. I think this is because we old folks are a bother. I think this must explain why younger people want to place us in nursing homes.
In any case, this story unfolded every Friday evening, almost without fail, when the sun resembled a giant orange and was starting to dip into the wide blue ocean.
Old Ed came strolling along the beach to his favorite pier. Clutched in his bony hand was a bucket of shrimp. Ed walks out to the end of the pier, where it seems he almost has the world to himself. The glow of the sun is a golden bronze now. Everybody has gone, except for a few joggers on the beach. Standing out on…
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Marine Dog – Lucca
Two Heroes!
Marine dog, Lucca, was given a wonderful tribute in the Parade Sunday magazine. After more than 400 missions in Afghanistan, no one had been hurt by an IED when they were with her. She was the only one that the Green Berets felt comfortable hugging after a tough day.
Mamma Lucca, as she is nicknamed, was injured herself. Handler Col. Juan “Rod” Rodriguez quickly applied a tourniquet and she was air-lifted to one veterinary team after another in all-out attempts to save her life. They succeeded, but Lucca lost her left-front leg in the action. You can see her honorary Purple Heart on her harness. Today she lives with her original trainer, Gunnery Sgt. Chris Willingham and his family. She continues to serve at VA hospitals and in schools.
Could someone please explain to me WHY this Hero’s Purple Heart is considered HONORARY??
If anyone is interested in adopting one of these dogs, check into – US War Dogs.org.
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Farewell Salutes –
Heroes R.I.P.
Stanley “Stosh” Bargy – Mattydale, NY; US Navy, Korea
G. Hayden Green – Anchorage, AK; US Army, Korea
Robert Harris – Plymouth, IN; USMC, Korea
Eugene Humphries – Shelley, ID; US Army, WWII, Aleutians & PTO
James Novak, Sr – Olathe, KS; US Army, WWII
Winfield Ruder – Wappingers Falls, NY; Merchant Marines, WWII
George Tillman – Perry, FL; US Army, WWII & Korea, SSgt.
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A rough background …
Pvt. Everett “Smitty” Smith, Camp MacKall, NC
RE-POSTED IN HONOR OF SMITTY’S 100TH BIRTHDAY
Everett Smith was born Dec. 12, 1914 and grew up across from the gentle waves of Jamaica Bay on an island one mile long and barely four blocks wide. This was the tight-knit community of Broad Channel, New York. He resided with his mother
young Everett and Mother, Anna
Anna on peaceful East 9th Road and spent his days between school, working and helping to care for his grandmother. Everett’s nickname had always been “Smitty” and so, the name of his fishing station came to be. In 1939, at 24 years of age, he married a woman named Catherine and she joined the Smith household.
boats on Jamaica Bay from Smitty’s Boat Station
News of Hitler and his rise to power filtered into the newspapers and radio, but the Smith’s still had the memories of WWI and their financial struggles in what would be become known as the Great Depression. The majority of the U.S. population held the ideal of isolationism in high regard and the Smith household agreed wholeheartedly. Everett was baffled by FDR’s election as his past political and personal records indicated both amoral and often criminal behavior. The president began to stretch his powers to the limit to assist his friend, Winston Churchill, but U.S. citizens were straining to survive.
On Oct. 30, 1940, Roosevelt spouted in Boston, “I give you one more assurance. I have said it before, but I shall say it again and again and again: Your boys are not going to be sent to any foreign wars.” My father did not believe FDR then and as we look back — he was right.
Grassy Point, Broad Channel – where Smitty would often tend bar
Everett received his draft notice in Sept. 1942. He would be sent to Fort Dix, New Jersey where he volunteered for the paratroopers. He would immediately then be sent to Camp MacKall, North Carolina for the start of his vigorous training. Smitty became part of one of the most unique army units of its day, the 11th Airborne Division, Headquarters Company, 187th regiment.
You’re in the Army now!
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Farewell Salutes –
Paul Cross – Virginia Bch, VA; USAAC, WWII, 152nd Artillery, 11th A/B
Gerald Dickey – Richfield, MN; USAAC, WWII Company A, 187th/11th A/B
Raymond Durr – Abbeville, LA; USAAC, WWII, Company E/187th/11th A/B
John Kozeletz – Coral Springs, FL; USAAC, WWII, Company B/187th/11th A/B
Howard Schleimer – Cleveland, OH; USAAC, WWII, 457th Artillery/11th A/B
Everett Smith – Broad Channel, NY/Hallandale, FL; USAAC, WWII, HQ Co/187th/11th A/B
Kenneth Staples – Stroudesburg, PA; USAAC, WWII, Company F/187th/11th A/B
Robert Teske – Fort Myers, FL; USAAC, WWII, 187th/11th A/B
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One of our fellow bloggers, Prior – that can be viewed HERE!! – was kind enough to put this together for Smitty____
Please click on to enlarge.
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Pacific Paratrooper 