Memorial Day is on us again. During my 73 years on this planet the US has engaged in 2 major wars-Korea, Vietnam-numerous smaller conflicts, Young Americans have gone in Harms's Way-and paid the ultimate price.
My family has been little touched by the wars of the United States, few served, few lost. My mother once mentioned a cousin by marriage who was MIA in the Bulge, she said my long gone paternal grandmother told her she lost an uncle-or a great uncle-or a couple of them-at Gettysburg, Union troops. My paternal grandfather-never met him-was a Marine 1896-1902, my old man was Quartermaster Corps WWII, I was in for Vietnam, no other veterans in my family at present.
Tjhe real meaning of Memorial Day is best summed by Charles Johnson Post, author of "The Little War of Private Post", his account of his experiences in the Cuban Campaign of 1898. The Spanish-American War is a rather minor league affair compared to the Civil War and the bloodlettings of the 20th
Century, but as Post reminds us
"Whether a man falls with 20,000 others in some grand battle or all by himself on a lonely outpost, he is a 100% casualty to himself. What more is there to give ?"

Quote: "All gave some; some gave all"20230526_115327.jpg

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And so it goes...

A time for remembering them all.

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No baby we aint

I took this picture at Bourne National Cemetery a few years ago!

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Remember those that made today possible...
We just got back from decorating the family graves... the soldier is my grandfather... never met him.. WWI Sgt in France Sanitation train..
The cemetery is for the Grand Army of the Republic... Civil War veterans.. I read every stone that was still legible... never forget

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Death? Smile back...

Our town has kept its Memorial Day celebration on the traditional day, May 30 each year. Our squadron of the Sons of the American Legion is supposed to have some members marching in the parade, and I will be driving one of the trucks since I can't march anymore. When we reach the town cemetery I'll represent the Sons of the American Legion on the podium since I'm the Vice Commander and the unofficial public relations officer.

I've posted this before; please say so if you find it wearisome.

Family gone for their cause:

Pvt. Thomas P. Carroll; DOD 7 Aug 1857, Carlisle Barracks, PA

Pvt. Thomas Whittle; KIA Apr 1862, Shiloh, Tennessee

Pvt. John Benjamin Hersey; d smallpox, 7 Dec 1862

Pvt. Levi Linton; KIA 9 May 1864, Rocky Face Ridge, Whitfield Co. GA; Co E, 64th Ohio Inf.

Pvt. William Thomas Judkins; KIA 18 Jul 1864 Coosa River, Greenport Al. fighting a Union cavalry raid

Pvt. Otho Linton; served 1861–1864, KIA 8 Aug 1864, Atlanta Crossroads, GA; Co. E, 52nd Ohio Vol. Inf

Pvt. Jeremiah Linton, brother of Otho, died in ACW

Pvt. John S. Hugunin; 22 Aug 1864, Petersburg, Dinwiddie Co. VA, Co. E, Co. A, 81st NY Inf.

Pvt. Alfred Hugunin; died POW 5 Sep 1864, Andersonville, Sumpter Co. GA

Pvt. Edward Linton; died POW 5 Oct 1864, Andersonville, Sumpter Co. GA; Co. C, 22nd Pa. Cav

Pvt. David James Hugunin; died 24 Oct 1864 VA

Pvt. Thomas Linton; KIA 5 Feb 1865, Dabney's Mill, Hanover Co. VA

Pvt. James I Carroll; DOW 20 Jul 1912, Co B 8th Md Inf

Pvt. Harry L. Reinisch, III, KIA 8 Mar 1945, near Ossenburg Germany; 137th Inf, 35 Div

Bugler Howard I. Carroll, my grandfather
117th Trench Mortar Battery, 42nd (Rainbow) Division, WW1, 1917 – 1919
The 117th fired more rounds than any other AEF trench mortar battery, supporting every infantry regiment in the Rainbow and for other divisions in their sectors at
(1) Lunéville sector, Lorraine, February 21 to March 23, 1918;
(2) Baccarat sector, Lorraine, March 31 to June 21, 1918;
(3) Esperance-Souain sector, Champagne, July 4 to July 15, 1918;
(4) Champagne-Marne defensive, July 15 to 17, 1918, where from the most advanced position in the Allied lines, overrun seven times in 48 hours, they stayed at their guns and killed 2,400 enemy infantry and destroyed 25% of the German tanks, according to General Henri Gouraud, Commander, 4th French Army;
(5) Aisne-Marne offensive July 25 to August 11, 1918;
(6) St. Mihiel offensive, September 12 to 16, 1918;
(7) Essey and Pannes sector, Woevre, September 17 to 30, 1918;
(8) Meuse-Argonne offensive, October 12 to November 1, 1918;
(9) Meuse-Argonne offensive, November 5 to 10, 1918;
The 117th stood before Sedan with the most advanced units of the AEF, and earned more battle streamers for their flag than any other unit in the AEF except the 1st Division, which had an equal number, and participated in the Rhine Occupation
His awards: Victory Medal with 5 bars, Occupation Medal, Croix de Guerre
Granddaddy Irvine died after the war from effects of being gassed.


Capt. Donald L. Gambrill, my father’s best friend, best man and my Godfather,
Lead Pilot, B-24, 830th Bomb Sqd, 485th Bomb Group (Heavy), WW2
55 missions over France, Germany, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Romania, Austria & Italy
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross (2), Air Medal (3), Purple Heart
KIA 10-Apr-45

My Dad was a B-24 engine mechanic during WWII. After finishing his maintenance work, he'd go along with the flight crews on their check flights, sort of a guarantee he did the job right. He hated B-24's, calling them "Torches" and "Flying Coffins" for their propensity to burn and the difficulty of bailing out of them. The gasoline tanks were above the crew, pretty much dooming them if a fire started.
On 10 Apr 1945, Captain Gambrill was lead pilot for the mission with the Squadron Commander for copilot and an extra navigator. Coming off the target near Lugo, Italy, heading for the rally at 22,000 feet, his plane was hit by flak on the forward bulkhead of the open bomb bay, starting a raging fire there. Normally, the navigator and bombardier bail out the nose wheel, two gunners go out the rear camera hatch, and the other seven crew go out the bomb bay, now engulfed in flames, inaccessible. The plane stayed wings level, decreasing speed and descending to a lower altitude for one to two minutes according to the after action report from other aircraft on the raid, and seven men were seen to leave the plane, the last being the copilot who went out through the cockpit window right after the plane exploded into multiple pieces.
At the crash site, one body was found on the ground with an unopened parachute, three burned to death in the rear fuselage wreckage, and three others apparently were killed by the Germans on the ground. The three survivors, one a POW and the other two successfully E&E, all reported they were fired on by the Germans while descending in their parachutes. Don's body was found still strapped into his pilot's seat in the nose wreckage. He apparently remained at the controls to buy his crew time to escape.
Earlier, Dad wrote to him saying "Don, you've done your duty, come home!" Don said he had to stay, because "I have to train these kids they're sending over here now. They don't even know how to transfer gas." He was twenty years old when he died.

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

This image brings me to tears.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Another...All have my gratitude......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

'He's Home': Missing 73 Years, Medal of Honor Recipient's Remains Return to Georgia

'He's Home': Missing 73 Years, Medal of Honor Recipient's Remains Return to Georgia | Military.com

Thank you Army Cpl. Luther H. Story.

"The dead watch to see what we will make of the lives they were denied."

Memorial day. It's to remember and honor those who gave their lives for our country.

It's personal for me.

My high school ROTC buddy, Army 1/LT Ed Cribb. KIA in Vietnam:



My college fraternity brother, Air Force MAJ Chuck Walling, KIA in Vietnam:



May God bless them, and all who gave their last full measure of devotion.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

God Bless All Veterans, but especially those that "Gave All" . We used to have a family get together usually a BBQ. I remember several times watching my Dad step away for a second, look up in the sky and tip his glass. Guess if you were lucky enough to make it home you could feel a bit guilty or just sad for those that did not. Thank you all very much and thanks "Pop" for giving us a great country.

His beloved NRA hat and service ribbons. USN 11/41-12/61

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Patrick G. Fitzsimmons, 190th AHC, KIA August, 1970 responding in an OH-58 to a Viet Cong probe of our perimeter. Fitz was a good friend.

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My Department went to a local ceremony. I drove the rescue squad.

I was proud to represent my agency, and to pay my respects to those who fought and died for our freedoms.

We know that it's not about BBQ's and parties.

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BTDT, Got The T-Shirt

My Godson, PVT Andrew Jon Shields
Combat Medic
KIA by a roadside IED in Afghanistan
May 31, 2008
RIP beautiful boy.

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

I live in a small township, lot of square miles but still holds that small town feeling. Today, we had a parade! First one in quite a while, did I mention we are a small town? The Marching Band came from a nearby High School, we bribed them with pizza. The parade stepped off at noon, sharp. First, the colors, proudly carried by a local Scout Troop. Followed by the Scouts. Then, the marching band. Next up, 3-4 kids on bikes, a couple of older folks on tricycles, a fancy go kart, a couple of ATVs, an old pick up advertising the Power Show in July and it closed with a FarmAll tractor! From the firehouse, around the circle, a stop in the circle, the National Anthem, a speech by the Pastor of our only Church, a prayer by the scouts, raising the flag to full mast and back to the firehouse. It probably took me longer to type about it that the whole parade took.

What struck me, during the Anthem, prayer and hoisting the flag, you could have heard a pin drop. Hands over hearts, hats and caps doffed in respect, it is truly great to be here.

If you are ever nearby, please, stop by.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

That's a good parade on this special day...Americania

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And so it goes...

It sounds like a parade I attended several years ago in Sand Lake MI. The township volunteer fire department participated as well. Sand Lake is a little West of Tawas.