Memorial Day: Remembering Dad

tslex · May 27, 2013

I wrote this post while smoking the only pipe of my father's that I own.
He was a WWII vet with a unique story, like everyone who served.
God bless all of you here who are serving or have served.
Suburban Sheepdog: Memorial

dervis · May 27, 2013

Thank God for men such as that. Thank you for that read. May every hero have such a good story told.

tbradsim1 · May 27, 2013

When you serve you don"t choose your billet, but you have served, the Heros are the ones that didn".t come back.

thesmokindragon · May 27, 2013

Since the American Revolution, more than 1.3 million American patriots

have lost their lives in the defense of freedom. Today, we will honor all those

who made this ultimate sacrifice.
Today, we can also honor and recognize the families of recent fallen heroes.
So today, let all our pipes blaze to honor all those men and women

crazypipe · May 27, 2013

gwtwdbss · May 27, 2013

Thank you to all that have and currently serve. Words cannot describe how much I appreciate you. :clap:

kashmir · May 27, 2013

Over the past year I've been chugging through Winston Churchill's six volume treatese on the Second World War. Each volume a phone book. Just finished the Fall of Singapore chapter. On this memorial day I pause to honor those brave men who fell in combat. Not just in WWII, but in all wars. Course I honor our men and not those of the enemy. An important distinction I might add, tho some may fault me in this.

pstlpkr · May 27, 2013

Memorial Day is the our most meaningful "holiday" as Americans.

It's is a derivation from the words Holy Day.

Aside from our religious holidays, Memorial Day is our most important.

When we observe Memorial Day we MUST remember the sacrifices made by our fallen for us.
Remembering Those That Gave Their Lives

yazamitaz · May 27, 2013

As a Desert Storm Vet I will silently smoke a bowl in remembrance to all of my brothers and sisters that didn't come back home. I salute you all.
Dan

dragonslayer · May 27, 2013

To my grandfather John S. Bruce Sr. who passed away in 1992, and was a pipe smoker when we stayed at the cabin – away from my grandmother

Yep, good old Half and Half.
He served on the USS Bunker Hill in WWII. The Bunker Hill was hit by two kamikaze planes on 11 May 1945 near Okinawa. 346 Sailors were killed instantly and 43 others were never found. My grandfather participated in the sea burials for the dead Seamen. They tied 5 inch shell casings to each body and slid them into the Pacific.
He was awarded a Bronze Star for pulling six seamen who were trapped and burning in the front gun turret.

pstlpkr · May 27, 2013

Strong resemblance.

A man to be proud of.

: puffy

:

checotah · May 27, 2013

Well, I was hoping to post pics of my Dad... sure wish it were easier....Guess I've gotta go read the instructions again.

tbradsim1 · May 27, 2013

You have his eyes, thank you for sharing this. The old cajun

checotah · May 27, 2013

OK, let's try this again...

Dad as an Army Air Corps Cadet, 1940.

Dad (center) and his P-38, "Lucille", named for my mother, on an Italian island, 1942

Dad "flying" his desk as Base Commander, Misawa Airbase, Japan, 1952.

checotah · May 27, 2013

Thanks, Brad.

trailspike48 · May 27, 2013

Course I honor our men and not those of the enemy. An important distinction I might add, tho some may fault me in this.

I couldn't agree more with this sentiment Kashmir. I've always had trouble with Clint Eastwoods "Letters from Iwo" in that it supposedly depicted heroism in the Japanese soldiers. I say supposedly because I have not and will not watch this movie. I do not carry any hatred for Japan or the Japanese, but I do not see any of those who have fought against the US as heros.
Great story tslex, I truly enjoyed reading about your father.

ssjones · May 27, 2013

What a great tribute to your father. I spent yesterday with my father, who is 93 and a WWII vet. He was also stationed in France Field in Panama during the war. I wonder if they knew each other? He moved to an infantry unit at the end of the war and did mop up on several islands but was unharmed. He stayed in the Army for 33 years, and fought in Korea and Vietnam. He retired after his last tour of Vietnam as a SGM. He is legally blind, but has a surprisingly sharp mind.

tslex · May 27, 2013

Al wrote
What a great tribute to your father. I spent yesterday with my father, who is 93 and a WWII vet. He was also stationed in France Field in Panama during the war. I wonder if they knew each other? He moved to an infantry unit at the end of the war and did mop up on several islands but was unharmed. He stayed in the Army for 33 years, and fought in Korea and Vietnam. He retired after his last tour of Vietnam as a SGM. He is legally blind, but has a surprisingly sharp mind.

Al, that's amazing. I think it is certainly possible that they knew each other. It was a big installation, but it's possible. Dad's name was Robert Kuntz (always called Bob). Besides what I have written, he might be memorable because he was VERY tall for the time - 6 feet, 4 inches.
Blessings on your father and please do see if there's a chance your dad knows him as that would be quite a connection across all these years.
Thanks to everyone who read the tribute to my Dad and thanks, too, for sharing some other wonderful stories.

tslex · May 27, 2013

Kahmir wrote:
Course I honor our men and not those of the enemy. An important distinction I might add, tho some may fault me in this.

Complicated and dififcult position in a world where enemies become allies and vice-versa.
It's interesting, too, that although I did not serve in the military, my jobs over the years have brought me into close and repeated contact with many warriors. I didn't find they shared Kashmir's view for the most part, and certainly not after a given conflict has ended.
It seems to me that wars are usually made to happen by national leaders, for their political ends, but fought by much lowlier men. most of those men pass their war trying to stay alive and trying to do their duty. most do both as well and honorably as they can. I think they're due our honor for that reason.
Exceptions abound I suppose, but this seems to me the general case.

fnord · May 28, 2013

Thank you all for these wonderful tributes to your respective fathers.
You've made this day just that more special.
Fnord

Memorial Day: Remembering Dad

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