Hats off to all the Veteran's out there.
Special thanks to my husband who served 26 plus years in the Air Force and the North Dakota Air National Guard!
Here he is during basic training back in 1973.
Thank you to all the Veterans and the families that support them!
Far Side
Far Guy is a Veteran he was in the Air Force and the North Dakota Air National Guard for 26 plus years.
He was always going places in planes.
I knew when he was leaving but the return home could take place at anytime ...usually days late.
One time he took a camera with him and took a selfie .
Then he took a photo out of the canopy.
Happy Veteran's Day to my husband and all others who have been or are now in the Armed Forces. Thank you for your service!
Far Side
Thank a Veteran.
Thank you to all the Veterans, especially, my husband, my nephew Ben, my Dad, and my Uncles Arthur, Andrew, Arnold, Hugo, Dennis and Delbert.
Far Side
Many many thanks to all the Veterans!
Someone hung a picture of a flag on my Dad's door at the Nursing Home.
February 1951 just before my Dad left for Korea. That is my Mom in the photo. I am there too...just not born yet. Dad would be gone for 14 months.
Along with Dementia Dad has been diagnosed with PTSD... sometimes he relives his time spent in Korea..I wish he could forget that part of his life...
My husband was in the Air Force/ Air National Guard for over 26 years. He often says that he served enough time for a couple of people. Being an Air Force/Air Guard family was not easy. So with that thought I would like to thank my husband for the time he served our country during the Vietnam Era and the Gulf War. I would also like to thank the spouses and children that kept the home fires burning for their Veterans.
Far Side
Sometimes family history retold by others needs to be backed up by facts. For years we all thought that my Dad's brother Hugo recuperated in California.
Here are the facts from his Honorable Discharge paper.
Inducted April 16, 1942 at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. He was 28 and 2/12 years of age and was a farm laborer, blue eyes, brown hair and a ruddy complexion. He was 5 feet 9 inches in height. He completed 2 years and 20 days service.
He was a Rifleman qualifying with the M 1 Rifle
He was in the Sicilian Campaign
Decorations EAME Medal, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal
Wounds received Shrapnel wound in buttocks, left leg and ankle
Hospital Tuscaloosa Alabama dated 2 May 1944
Left U.S. 8 June 43, arrived North African theater 22 June 43; left North African theater 5 July 43; arrived European theater 10 July 43; left European theater August 43; arrived North Africa theater August 43; left North African theater 15 Oct 43; arrived U.S. 24 Oct 43
Honorable discharge button presented at Northington General Hospital Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He spent 193 days in the hospital.
He was part of Company K, 157 Infantry in the United States Army.
My Uncle Hugo was a quiet man, who only spoke when it was necessary ...and when he spoke it was important so you better be listening. He limped especially in the winter. I have many memories of him. He married Aunt Mia and they raised Mia's Grandson together. Hugo had no children of his own but Grandson Joe was like a son to him.
Uncle Hugo 4 Feb 1914 - 25 Oct 1987
Thank you Veterans!
Far Side
Thank you seems so inadequate but it is the best I can do...Thank you Veterans from all wars in all branches of the United States Armed Forces. Thank you to those that served at home and in far away lands. Thank you to those who died protecting our freedom.
Thank you to young soldiers and old soldiers who read this message today. Thank you!
Air Force Flag
Far Side
There is a park in town called Deane Park.
There is also a plaque at the park.
The placque resides on a large boulder.
Now for the rest of the story.
Deane was born January 10 1896 and he died at the age of 22 on November 10 1918. Exactly 100 years and 1 day ago.
Deane graduated from Park Rapids High School in 1914. He attended college but then joined the service. He was training to be a flying cadet when a influenza epidemic swept through the training camp in Berkley California. The ladies of Berkley assisted with the care of the soldiers. Deane died of influenza and pneumonia. He was in his last 12 weeks of training to be an aviator and scheduled to go to France. His body was returned for burial in Park Rapids. He was survived by his wife, his parents and step mother, a half brother and a half sister.
His father was a banker and very prominant citizen of Park Rapids.
The Flying Cadet program was the prototype for the development of our Air Force.
During World War I the cadet was under the age of 25 and had at least two years of college, was physically fit and morally sound.
Can you imagine in the early years many of the young men had never seen an airplane or been in one.
Hats off to all our Veterans. Thank you for your service.
Today is the day to thank all the Veterans in our lives. Those that serve now and those who have served. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Air National Guard, Army National Guard at home or overseas….THANK YOU!
Far Guy
My baby brother, my nephew, my dad and my husband. Thank you all!
Luckily these family members made it home.
My Paternal Grandparents were not so lucky. Five of their twelve sons were in the military.
They all returned but one.
My Uncle Arthur is buried in the Sicily Rome American Cemetery in Italy. He was 23 years old when he was wounded and died during the invasion of Italy.
Some gave all.
First of all thank you to all the Veterans out there men and women who all make our country safer. Many people don’t know the personal or family sacrifices that a military family must make.
Far Guy is a Veteran 26 plus years….some years were easier than others.
We are still searching for this photo. Far Guy found the negative and scanned it. The original photo was put away so well neither of us can remember where we put it. I think I put him in charge of it but since I didn’t write it down and have him sign and date my statement…it doesn’t count.
He was always flying off someplace. Half the time I had no idea where he was, he would call home “Collect” and I would ask where are you now? One time I sent a camera with him…and he took this selfie. (Way before selfies were popular.)
Far Guy in the back seat of an F-4. No he does not know how to fly.
He went to California via goodness knows where and it took him the better part of a week to return home…California via Idaho…via Montana via Arizona…after daily phone calls I finally said call me from the base if you ever get back home. Some of the guys lost all their baggage when a baggage pod came apart over the Pacific Ocean…some how most of them ended up at some golf classic in Arizona…then when he finally might get home some IDIOT put sand on the runway at Hector Field so the F-4’s couldn’t land and he was going to Grand Forks…well yippee..that didn’t happen either.
I think it was a long flight for him…something about taking apart part of the divider in cockpit to get a better view of where they were heading.
1979 Trip to California.
F-4 Aircraft as seen out the window of another F-4 Aircraft.
Thank you honey for your service to our country, although I may bitch and moan about all the alone time I do appreciate your sacrifices.
If you are a Veteran…Thank You for your service.
In my family we have four Veterans.
My baby brother and his son were/are both in the Navy. My Dad was in the Army and served in Korea. My husband was in the Air Force and North Dakota Air National Guard for 26 years.
A few years ago the traveling Vietnam Wall was in a nearby town. It was an awesome experience. Since my husband served during the Vietnam era we know how hard it was to be a soldier and a soldiers family during that time.
Here is a link to the wall where you can search for soldiers who gave their lives in Vietnam. In some cases there are comments…by old girlfriends, sisters, brothers and fellow soldiers. On Vincent Shepersky’s page I read a note from an old friend of mine who has since died by his own hand after serving in Vietnam.
There were three soldiers from the Park Rapids Minnesota area on the wall a few years ago.
Donald Green died May 31, 1966.
Vincent Lloyd Shepersky died August 14, 1969.
Gary Lee Rehn died November 9, 1967.
Since then James Wesley Ashley’s name has been added.
James Wesley Ashley died June 1, 1967
Gary Lee Rehn’s body was never recovered. You can still get POW/Mia bracelets.
Take some time to thank a soldier or to read about one on the Vietnam Wall this Veteran’s Day.
Thanks to all out there who have served in the Armed Forces. A special thank you to my husband!
Far Guy was in the Air Force and in The North Dakota Air National Guard for 26 years. This photograph was taken in 1978 when he was part of a load crew that was in an International Competition called William Tell sponsored by NORAD.
We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would harm us. – George Orwell
It rained yesterday just like summer. Someone once told me when it rains it is tears from heaven. It must have been a good day for dying.
Our friend Joe from Indiana the WWII Veteran left this world early in the morning Friday.
That little town in Indiana will never be the same without him. Happy Trails Joe..it was an honor to be your friend!
During his last few days, Sue would bring the horses over to the yard so he could see his friends from his bed near the window.
I wrote about Joe on Veterans Day 2012. Sue said Joe liked what I wrote:)
Thanks to all the Veterans!
I have a friend named Joe. Joe is a WWII Veteran.
Joe received the Distinguished Flying Cross.
For heroism and extraordinary achievements in aerial flight as a Combat Aircrewman of a Patrol Bomber Squadron TWENTY EIGHT during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Southwest Pacific War Area from Jan 25 – April 6 1945. Participating in twenty missions during that period.
Joe also was in active combat from April 6 –May 26 1945. He was 19 years old
From the White House:
To you who answered the call of your country and served in its Armed Forces to bring about the total defeat of the enemy, I extend the heartfelt thanks of a grateful nation. As one of the Nation’s finest, you undertook the most severe task one can be called upon to perform. Because you demonstrated the fortitude, resourcefulness and calm judgment necessary to carry out that task, we now look to you for leadership and example in further exalting our country in peace.
Signed Harry S. Truman
Joe shared with me his survival kit that he was issued.
Joe is an extraordinary individual…I am proud to call him my friend:)
This won’t happen again for another hundred years..and it is Veterans Day too!
We should never forget about the fight for freedom.
The granite is cold under foot.
My Dad and my Uncles..one of my Uncles is left behind buried on a foreign shore. I believe it broke my Grandmothers heart when he was killed in action in 1944.
Far Guys Uncle Jimmy.
Far Guys Uncle Archie.
The names..the granite blocks form a walkway..a walkway of soldiers names.
ALL GAVE SOME……………………SOME GAVE ALL
All photos taken the The Veteran’s Memorial Park in Park Rapids Minnesota.
If you are a Veteran..Thank you for your service to our country! :)
My Dad was in the Korean War, he was in Korea when I was born. He spent a cold miserable winter there without proper boots or clothing. I think he still moves his toes all night long..to keep them from freezing. Sometimes the snow would cover the foxholes just like a blanket and he would have to dig himself out in the morning.
My Dad on the right and one of his friends, this was taken in the Enlisted Club in Tokyo, Japan where he was sent on R and R.
I would like to thank all the Soldiers in my life, my Dad, my husband, my baby brother and my nephew. Army, Air Force and Navy Veterans. My nephew is presently active duty in the Navy. Happy Veterans Day to all the soldiers out there! :)
