Lo, There do I see my Father Lo, There do I see my Mother and My Brothers and my Sisters Lo, There do I see the line of my people back to the beginning Lo, They do call to me They bid me take my place among them in the halls of Valhalla Where thine enemies have been vanquished Where the brave shall live Forever Nor shall we mourn but rejoice for those that have died the glorious death.
My father turned 19 sleeping in the snow at the Battle of the Bulge under Patton. Scored a Purple Heart. Helluva man, not much of a father, possibly due to that experience. a modern tragedy.
My dad's first battle was Ia Drang in 1965. He was part of the relief force. He was a great dad and my best friend. He just wasn't around much my first 12 years.
My Dad was at sea 6 months of the year when I was a kid. I think he always felt a little bit guilty about that. He needn't have worried. Unlike my brother, I knew he was a great Dad and that the only reason he was gone was that he was providing for his family, which included my ingrate brother included.
While I often resented my father for his distance from me, I always remembered that it was family custom to always warn that they were taking flash photographs so my father could leave the room. My father lost an ear drum to friendly fire, a tank cannon blast at night that actually killed one of his comrades from the concussion, and he suffered terrible headaches if exposed to a flash. Walk a mile in someone's mocassins......
I’ll have one for yours and one for mine. He’d have been 89 tomorrow. I’ll sweeten things with a couple My Father’s cigars in their honor as well. As with yours, great dad, great friend once I matured enough to see how dumb I was and wasn’t around much until I was in high school. Cam Rahn Bay, 1965-66.
My father earned his 3rd CIB in nam as a medic. While stationed in fart Riley my squad leader was ex 7th air cav and I heard some things from someone that been there, done that in Ia Drang.
Cheers to your Dad and a cheer to you! Dad’s leave a hole in the heart when they are gone. I hope yours is filled with memories, fun stories & good times!!
Alittle Johnny Walker Black and an overtheshoulder heads up to salute your father - until you meet again. My father was shot down at 17 because he had an arrhythmia. The doctor told him to put on 20-30 lbs and they wouldn’t be able to hear it. That’s what he did to fight in WW2 - my grandmother always told us it was the proudest day of his young life.
How about I start tonight with a mug of coffee and more tomorrow. Kenny, I saw your reply about how much your Dad was away for the 12 years. I was away from my kids for most of my nearly 21 years in. So, that being said, from a father's perspective, it sucked being away that long. The good news is you had a great relationship with him for years.
That means its been roughly 10 years I been following you about the internet, WC. I found you a few days before you lost your pops. Been a hell of a ride. Cheers to your pops.
From our family of veterans to yours...tomorrow marks our son's birthday (Army veteran). Will raise a glass to your father as well as our son. Bless you, Ken.
A toast to your father Kenny, a toast to my father whom left his mortal coil fifteen years ago, served in the Army Air Corp then the Air Force flying cargo and bomber planes, even toted Patton around for four months in a C-47 around Europe. He served for 30 years until his retirement. They were great men, from a lowly private to most generals. Men we don't see today.
Here's to your Pop and all the good years you did have with him. I think I've told you, Ken, that my Dad joined The Corps at age 17, in 1917. He did 7 years, then another 5 in USArmy. Our daughter did 8 in USNavy. That's just how it is in some families.I know you're as proud of your Pop as I am of my daughter, and if you were my brother I'd be just as proud of you for havin' served. Even if'n you were a REMF. ;^)
A true American hero, Ken. You should be very proud. I'll be lifting a glass of beer or 2 in his memory tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteWe will! Fair winds and following seas.
ReplyDeleteGlady done.
ReplyDeleteMy glass is full and raised for thee.
ReplyDeleteTowards death do we all charge full of cheer.
He looked sharp in that uniform, good thoughts!
ReplyDeleteNo sense in waiting to do tomorrow what can be done now...
ReplyDeleteOne shot of Makers Mark....done
-Brooks
I concur. And Maker's Mark is a good choice.
DeleteLo, There do I see my Father
ReplyDeleteLo, There do I see my Mother and
My Brothers and my Sisters
Lo, There do I see the line of my people back to the beginning
Lo, They do call to me
They bid me take my place among them in the halls of Valhalla
Where thine enemies have been vanquished
Where the brave shall live Forever
Nor shall we mourn but rejoice for those that have died the glorious death.
Melk
My father turned 19 sleeping in the snow at the Battle of the Bulge under Patton. Scored a Purple Heart. Helluva man, not much of a father, possibly due to that experience. a modern tragedy.
ReplyDeleteMy dad's first battle was Ia Drang in 1965. He was part of the relief force.
DeleteHe was a great dad and my best friend. He just wasn't around much my first 12 years.
My Dad was at sea 6 months of the year when I was a kid. I think he always felt a little bit guilty about that. He needn't have worried. Unlike my brother, I knew he was a great Dad and that the only reason he was gone was that he was providing for his family, which included my ingrate brother included.
DeleteCheers, Dad. Cheers, Mr. Lane.
That's him on the right.
DeleteWhile I often resented my father for his distance from me, I always remembered that it was family custom to always warn that they were taking flash photographs so my father could leave the room. My father lost an ear drum to friendly fire, a tank cannon blast at night that actually killed one of his comrades from the concussion, and he suffered terrible headaches if exposed to a flash. Walk a mile in someone's mocassins......
DeleteHey Kenny, how do we paste a photo?
DeleteNo clue. I can't do it either.
DeleteIt will be done. Alemaster
ReplyDeleteWill do, gladly.
ReplyDeleteI was the same age when I had my picture made in the same getup. Turned 18 about a week later.
ReplyDeleteI will raise a glass of Old Grand Dad 114 to your Dad tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteMy old man served in Japan during WWII and passed several years ago on Pearl Harbor Day. I'll raise another one to him.
I’ll have one for yours and one for mine. He’d have been 89 tomorrow. I’ll sweeten things with a couple My Father’s cigars in their honor as well. As with yours, great dad, great friend once I matured enough to see how dumb I was and wasn’t around much until I was in high school. Cam Rahn Bay, 1965-66.
ReplyDeleteAnother glass lifted!
ReplyDeleteIa Drang as in We Were Soldiers Once-And Young?
ReplyDeleteYup, uh-huh.
DeleteBuy Jack a bone.. Thanks for years of entertainment, my friend.
DeleteMy father earned his 3rd CIB in nam as a medic. While stationed in fart Riley my squad leader was ex 7th air cav and I heard some things from someone that been there, done that in Ia Drang.
DeleteSalud!
ReplyDeleteMay god bless his soul and yours as well.
ReplyDeleteCheers to your Dad and a cheer to you!
ReplyDeleteDad’s leave a hole in the heart when they are gone. I hope yours is filled with memories, fun stories & good times!!
Will do.
ReplyDeleteMy condolences, Ken. July 13th was 9 years since my own father died.
ReplyDelete--Tennessee Budd
Seriously looking fellow, even at 17. Here's to you and your father, Wirecutter!
ReplyDeleteDa Boga
ReplyDeleteAlittle Johnny Walker Black and an overtheshoulder heads up to salute your father - until you meet again. My father was shot down at 17 because he had an arrhythmia. The doctor told him to put on 20-30 lbs and they wouldn’t be able to hear it. That’s what he did to fight in WW2 - my grandmother always told us it was the proudest day of his young life.
ReplyDeleteDone
ReplyDeleteHow about I start tonight with a mug of coffee and more tomorrow. Kenny, I saw your reply about how much your Dad was away for the 12 years. I was away from my kids for most of my nearly 21 years in. So, that being said, from a father's perspective, it sucked being away that long. The good news is you had a great relationship with him for years.
ReplyDeleteThat means its been roughly 10 years I been following you about the internet, WC. I found you a few days before you lost your pops. Been a hell of a ride. Cheers to your pops.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. Two, even.
ReplyDeleteI salute. He looks ready to take on the world.
ReplyDeleteI turned 18 in Basic, but I looked like a scared little kid in my picture, as opposed to your dad. Cheers to your father, I miss mine every day.
ReplyDeleteThat serious young man, too small for his cap. We were all that serious young man one day.
ReplyDeleteAnd then, too soon, we got old. Semper fi.
Where did the "Handsome" gene go...LOL Good Man...like my pop...
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for your loss. Tonight I raise glass of Bulleit in his honor. Tomorrow it will be Knob Creek. God bless you both.
ReplyDeleteJeffersonian
I will set a reminder to as well.
ReplyDeleteFrom our family of veterans to yours...tomorrow marks our son's birthday (Army veteran). Will raise a glass to your father as well as our son.
ReplyDeleteBless you, Ken.
A toast to your father Kenny, a toast to my father whom left his mortal coil fifteen years ago, served in the Army Air Corp then the Air Force flying cargo and bomber planes, even toted Patton around for four months in a C-47 around Europe. He served for 30 years until his retirement. They were great men, from a lowly private to most generals. Men we don't see today.
ReplyDeleteWill do Kenny
ReplyDeleteThere were giants in the earth in those days.........
ReplyDeleteI am sorry for your loss. I hope that his death was easier than that of my father.
ReplyDeleteHere's to your Pop and all the good years you did have with him.
ReplyDeleteI think I've told you, Ken, that my Dad joined The Corps at age 17, in 1917. He did 7 years, then another 5 in USArmy. Our daughter did 8 in USNavy. That's just how it is in some families.I know you're as proud of your Pop as I am of my daughter, and if you were my brother I'd be just as proud of you for havin' served. Even if'n you were a REMF. ;^)
Belated Condolences for this day, Kenny.
ReplyDeleteDon't be offended. I had to lift my glass of water. But it was spring water at least. --nines
ReplyDeleteTo the blessed memory of our fathers. Mine would have been 95 this year, but he died when he was in his 91st year. I miss him every day.
ReplyDeleteTill Valhöll, sir.
ReplyDelete"He was a great dad and my best friend."
You were BOTH fortunate men in that.
I was the fortunate one. I learned a lot from him.
DeleteWill do. Grateful for his service!
ReplyDeleteRaising a glass to Pop as I read this. - Deb
ReplyDeleteMissed the timing, raised a glass anyway, because why the heck not? God bless him and keep him!
ReplyDelete