Wheelgunner840
Member
This Memorial Day, I plan on not only remembering all those who gave their lives in battle, but also those who served, and came home, carrying with them all the horrors of war. These brave men and woman lived out their lives after the wars, having to live with those memories up until they passed on. I would like to take a minute to tell you about a man who was very special to me.
Uncle Bill was my grandmother's brother. He was a part of my life from the time I was born. He served in the Phillipines during WW-II. I have a picture of him standing in front of the family house in his uniform back around 1942. I am not completely sure of the date of the picture, but he was very young. I don't know if it was taken before he left home, or when he returned. I was told that he was not the same person when he returned from the war. He never spoke about it to anyone.
Uncle Bill was quite a character. He was a great mechanic. He was the type of man that bought something new, and took it apart immediately to make it better. I cannot even begin to tell you about all the modified tools and machinery that surrounded his workshop, garage, and house. He never married, and lived in the family house taking care of his father (my great grandfather). After my great grandfather died, Uncle Bill remained in the family house alone until my grandfather died, leaving my grandmother a widow. She moved into the old family house with her brother.
We learned many important things from Uncle Bill while we grew up. He had us riding the tractors and lawnmowers with him from the time we could walk. He passed on mountains of knowledge about machinery, tools, etc. He was a quiet, reserved man who only spoke when he needed to. He was 86 years old when he went into the hospital to have an aneurism repaired. He died two days later. I never got to say goodbye, or thank you for teaching me so much about life.
For the past 15 years since he has been gone, I have tended to the family property that was left to my parents. I have painted the chain link fence surrounding it, and have mowed the lawn and kept up the grounds. I am usually there alone, working in his work shop or garage.I think of him often. I look over (and use) many of the tools that he showed us how to use when we were growing up. He was a stickler for "A place for everything and everything in it's place." Whenever I use a tool, and place it down wherever I have just used it, I get a very strong feeling that tells me to put it back where I found it, and I do.
Uncle Bill bought a Willy's Jeep in 1960. I have always owned and loved jeeps. When he died, the jeep had not been touched for at least 5 years. It sat for another 15 or so years in a garage that was very wet (leaking roof). For the past 2 years, I have set to restoring that jeep. The one that we rode in when we were just 5 or 6 years old. The jeep that Uncle Bill used to pull untold number of bushes and stumps over the years. The jeep that was as much a part of him as anything else.
Well, I have it up and running, and today, I am going to drive it everywhere. I will be flying an American flag from the back of it, and will think about him all day.
If your listening Uncle Bill, I want to say "Thanks". I wouldn't be the man I am today without having had you in my life, and the country would not still be free without the service of you and others like you.
Oh, and Uncle Bill, the jeep is running fine!
WG840
Uncle Bill was my grandmother's brother. He was a part of my life from the time I was born. He served in the Phillipines during WW-II. I have a picture of him standing in front of the family house in his uniform back around 1942. I am not completely sure of the date of the picture, but he was very young. I don't know if it was taken before he left home, or when he returned. I was told that he was not the same person when he returned from the war. He never spoke about it to anyone.
Uncle Bill was quite a character. He was a great mechanic. He was the type of man that bought something new, and took it apart immediately to make it better. I cannot even begin to tell you about all the modified tools and machinery that surrounded his workshop, garage, and house. He never married, and lived in the family house taking care of his father (my great grandfather). After my great grandfather died, Uncle Bill remained in the family house alone until my grandfather died, leaving my grandmother a widow. She moved into the old family house with her brother.
We learned many important things from Uncle Bill while we grew up. He had us riding the tractors and lawnmowers with him from the time we could walk. He passed on mountains of knowledge about machinery, tools, etc. He was a quiet, reserved man who only spoke when he needed to. He was 86 years old when he went into the hospital to have an aneurism repaired. He died two days later. I never got to say goodbye, or thank you for teaching me so much about life.
For the past 15 years since he has been gone, I have tended to the family property that was left to my parents. I have painted the chain link fence surrounding it, and have mowed the lawn and kept up the grounds. I am usually there alone, working in his work shop or garage.I think of him often. I look over (and use) many of the tools that he showed us how to use when we were growing up. He was a stickler for "A place for everything and everything in it's place." Whenever I use a tool, and place it down wherever I have just used it, I get a very strong feeling that tells me to put it back where I found it, and I do.
Uncle Bill bought a Willy's Jeep in 1960. I have always owned and loved jeeps. When he died, the jeep had not been touched for at least 5 years. It sat for another 15 or so years in a garage that was very wet (leaking roof). For the past 2 years, I have set to restoring that jeep. The one that we rode in when we were just 5 or 6 years old. The jeep that Uncle Bill used to pull untold number of bushes and stumps over the years. The jeep that was as much a part of him as anything else.
Well, I have it up and running, and today, I am going to drive it everywhere. I will be flying an American flag from the back of it, and will think about him all day.
If your listening Uncle Bill, I want to say "Thanks". I wouldn't be the man I am today without having had you in my life, and the country would not still be free without the service of you and others like you.
Oh, and Uncle Bill, the jeep is running fine!
WG840
