Dad was born to Scottish immigrants in Weymouth MA and he grew up in Quincy MA
My Grandfather worked for Bethlehem Steel at the Fore River Shipyard
Helping to build many famous ships of WWII

Dad was not brilliant, but he was smart and an extraordinarily hard and industrious worker

He went into the Naval Reserves to avoid the Korean draft
and stayed in the reserves for 35 years and eventually made CWO4
He was finally let go in a RIF in the 1980’s

He started as a lineman for the telephone company and retired in middle management
with No degree at all (he said he majored in Pool & Cards)

He also built our house from a plan found in a magazine and maintained it himself

Dad was a partier before I was born
But the birth of a handicapped son changed his life forever

He never once made me feel like he did not love me
and went out of his way to make me feel “Normal”

If he bought my sister skis for Christmas, I got them too
And then he spent hours in our basement modifying them
so I could at least attempt to use them

Whenever something confused my father, he did not understand something,
or he got frustrated with any of us; he would throw up his hands and exclaim
“Whatever”

Sometimes with a smile and sometimes in exasperation

In February of 2002, my father died of Alzheimer’s disease
As his mental faculties were slipping away, and he KNEW it,
We would hear him say WHATEVER more and more in his frustration.

When the National Veteran's Cemetery people called for an inscription
They probably expected the usual “Proudly served his country” text

But the family quickly communicated by phone
And we all unanimously agreed that what Smitty would want on his marker
was simply the word that had been his own,

WHATEVER

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Compact 9mm Just my $0.02

You are lucky to have had such a man as a father.

Some of us are forced to look at our fathers and realize, "Well, we need bad examples in life as much as we need good ones."
My father taught me firsthand many things never to do, which is valuable in its own way.

God bless.
Your dad sounds like one hell of a Man.

Mine was a Scotsman too, they don't make em like that anymore.

Like mine, amen.

Cool story.

My grandfather was also "Smitty". He worked in the steel mill in Detroit when my mother was very young.

Also served in WWII in Japan. As kids, we would ask if he ever shot anyone and he would reply "i don't know, but i shot at plenty". He never seemed to want to talk about it.

As he approached retirement age, he sold his "filling station" and mechanic shop and bought a farm. Only around 200 acres. I started helping him every summer when i was about 12 and did this all through college. It was an experience that I'll never forgot. It's funny that I don't remember a lot of my childhood, but I can remember riding in the truck with him, or taking naps in the old farmhouse when it was too hot, or raining. He was very patient with me. I only recall one major screw up when I forgot to fold the wings in on the anhydrous applicator when i pulled up to the fuel barrel that stood on a stand. When I pulled out to leave, i hit a support angle and the tank came down. Didn't lose the fuel, but had to get a new stand and hire a boom truck to lift the tank in place. He never yelled or got mad about it.

He was a great man. i still think of him almost every day and he's been gone for a while.

Jeff Smith;
What a wonderful remembrance.

Thank you for this post. Today I remember my father, who died of lung cancer in 2007 at age 84. I am trying to live up to his example.

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I was lucky enough to have lunch with my Father today.

Born in 1921, married in 1941, drafted in 1942, served 33 months in the ETO until VE day. He came home to his wife and son whom was born while he was in the ETO. My brother was almost 30 months old by the time he first saw our father.

Dad went back to work at the job he left in 1942 ,made me in '47 then built our house by 1951 or 2.

His story continued like millions of other WWII veteran fathers. Work was steady and our life was good. At the end of the 20th century he was still working for the same company as a contract worker as he had actually retired in 1985. At the end of 2001 the company decided to let their last contract employee go. That was Dad. He had racked up 61+ years and an exceptional career along the way. I also worked for the same company from 1965 to 2000 when most of the company's manufacturing was sent to the west coast and Mexico.

We have still managed to continue working togeather at our new employer. I started at the begining of 2001 and Dad at the begining of 2002. I have been lucky to have him as a Father, mentor and friend. Dad turned 91 this past April and is still going. I hope I can look forward to a few more years of his company and friendship.

LTC

Thank you for this wonderful story on your dad...it makes us all appreciate the good dads a little more.

BTW...I've been reading this forum for years and I have to say that is about the most moving and insightful post I have read since I joined...thank you

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

Thanks for sharing. That made my day.

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Eccentric old coot

My Dad was known as "Smitty" too. He was orphaned at 4 years old then adopted by an Aunt. My Grand father was a machinist and so was my Dad. He worked at a place that built aircraft engines during the war.
He continued his trade till he died in '83. I wish that i knew one half as much as he did. Crazy sense of humor and dedicated husband and Dad. I still miss him and think about him often.
Peace,
Gordon

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better have that checked

Thank you all for your Comments & Likes

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Compact 9mm Just my $0.02