But in this case I am making an exception… Wandering Neurons lost his father this week, and sent me this and allowed me to post it. I believe it is worth sharing.
This Wednesday morning my father quietly “slipped the surly bonds of Earth” in his sleep. He’d been having problems breathing over the weekend, his doctor had him him admitted to the hospital on Tuesday. According to my stepbrother, he was his usual ornery self, cracking jokes, teasing the nurses, and enjoying a good appetite that evening. Early the next morning the nurse found that his heart had stopped. He was 89 years old and I was making plans to visit him in just a few weeks.
My father was a veteran of WWII, serving in the European Front: Germany and France. He was an enlisted member of the US Army and served his time in a cannon battery as jeep driver, and communications maintainer (telephone/telegraph wiring) among other things. While serving in the war, he earned a Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge. Returning from the war to his hometown of Nashville, TN, he took over the family’s men’s clothing business after his father died unexpectedly at a young age, and helped the business survive and grow during his 51 years of leadership, until he sold it to my cousin several years ago. Additionally, he actively supported the Kiwanis Club, Boy Scouts of America, competed in the Jewish Olympics in Israel in the 1960s on the shooting team (trap and skeet). Even though he was a businessman, he still found time to tinker in his workshop, actively shoot trap, skeet, sporting clays and International Bunker, receiving many awards, supported both public and private shooting fields, sailed, was a horseman, and many other things that I aspire to do.
He will be laid to rest this Sunday in his hometown that he never left, and my wife and I will be in attendance with the rest of our family and friends. I miss my father and am proud to be his son.
Present, ARMS!
Order, ARMS!
V/r,
Wandering Neurons
Another of the Greatest Generation has passed… May he rest in peace.
May he Rest In Peace.
I am sorry for your loss. I appreciate his service to this country, and may he rest in peace.
My dad did that “driving, stringing wire” thing.
Those guys often strung wire ahead of an offensive, and often had the offensive swarm up around them.
My condolences.
Ed, thanks for mentioning your dad and tieing in how they operated in front of most of the other units. Even higher risk of exposure!
My condolences.
Rest In Peace, Sir.
Fair winds and following seas on his journey.
Thanks all, I’ll pass these along.
OldNFO, thank you for honoring my Dad and posting this for me as a Guest.
All, your sincere words and thoughts are appreciated. The weather presently fits my mood, gloomy and rainy, but family is here, my wife, sister, brother, friends, and family.
Sure you’ll be keeping your dad close in your heart.
Peace to your family, Wandering Neurons. Great people leave big holes. Fill it with the good memories.
R.I.P.