Memorial Day 2025

BLACKHAWKNJ

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Memorial Day is coming up. For most of my 75 years on this earth young Americans -I was one of them -have raised their right hands, swore to "support and defend......." and gone In Harm's Way.
My family has been little touched by the wars of the United States, few served, few lost. My paternal grandfather-never met him ,alas-was a Marine 1896-1902, my old man Army WWII, my uncle by marriage Navy post WWII, yours truly, Vietnam. My mother told me my long gone maternal grandmother told her she lost an uncle-or a great uncle-or a couple of them-at Gettysburg, Union troops, my mother mentioned-only once-a cousin by marriage who was MIA in the Bulge.
The real meaning of Memorial Day is best summed up by Charles Johnson Post, author of "The Little War of Private Post", his memoirs of his experiences in the Cuban Campaign of 1898. A rather minor affair compared to the Civil War and the bloodlettings to come 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 ?"
 
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Neither of my Grandfathers served and no record of previous generations. My Father was the age to have served in WWI but did not. All of those generations were landed farmers.
But my generation has been 100% Both of my sister's Husbands did, one was Marines in Korea, the other career Navy and Airforce from WWII to Vietnam. two of my ex's served in Vietnam. Thankfully all returned.
 
to the best of my knowledge all U.S. family veterans returned alive on both sides... last conflict they served in was WWII.. and they have all passed.. so this weekend I always pay tribute to those that came before and served when called... my grandfather that I never met.. WWI Sgt... Sanitation train ambulance corp..
 

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My town has two memorial services. I go to one to remember my uncle who signed up on November 11, 1942 and went MIA on November 11, 1944.
RIP Uncle August.

wyo-man
 
Grandfather was in the ambulance Corp in WWI in France, Dad was a WWII Seabee in the Pacific, I repaired Bombers and tankers in SEA, son retired from Marine & Navy reserves with tours in the sandlot. All made it through unharmed. The husband of the girl across the street where I grew up wasn't so lucky. Killed 10 days from rotation from VN. RIP, Mac.
 
Our town celebrates the traditional Memorial Day, May 30. Our Sons of the American Legion will be marching in the parade and I'll be driving one of the vehicles since I'm too decrepit to march.
 
My mom and grandmother decided many years ago that they wanted to be in DAR. To do so they had to prove they were direct descendents of some one who fought in the Revolution. Caleb Baker was my many greats grandfather. An ordained minister, he served in the Revolution.

A great great great grandfather, William Louis Marshall Savoy, fought (on the wrong side) in the Civil War. Later founding the small town of Savoy in northeast Texas.

An uncle fought in the Pacific during WWII from island to island. He died by his own hand when I was young and wouldn't talk about his time overseas other than to say he saw and did things that no one should ever have to see or do.

Dad served during Korea, but was stateside in San Francisco operating an anti aircraft RADAR to fend off any potential attack on the US by the ChiComs. One cousin served in Germany in the 70s when they thought the Russians were coming across at any minute. Fortunately neither of those fears were realized. A young cousin served in Afghanistan.
 
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To all those who returned in body but were lost in soul. So many took their own lives in basements, closets and discreet corners. So many could never talk about Normandy or La Drang. Fireworks, the celebration of freedom and the reminder of horror. Lest we forget!
 
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