Large Scale Central

In Memorium

As we begin this long holiday weekend, I know that many of you will enjoy the time with friends and family – and hopefully get a chance to run a few trains. But please take a moment to remember those who gave the ultimate in the performance of their duty.

Bo never made it back. Mike did, but only as a shattered shadow of his former self. I made it home unscathed, at least physically. This is a story I wrote over ten years ago about the three of us, and of our best friend Suzie. I pull it up and re-read it each Memorial Day just to remember what I lost.

link to story

For all the guys like Bo and Mike who paid a terrible price,

In loving memory,

Bob

“The last duty of those that return from war is to remember those that do not” 34

There were 10 of us that morning. 3 hours later there were 7 of us on the medivac. Now we try and get together every year in Branson, MO.

Boomer K. Founder I.A.R.R.R. said:

“The last duty of those that return from war is to remember those that do not” 34

Bob, We lost many in that time era.

Boomer one day most will appreciate your referrals to section 60

Ken They don’t provide an I’m sorry button and a Thank you is so inappropriate.

Thanks to all who have served

All gave some,

Some gave all,

Lest we never forget…

We all deal with PTS differently. Some do it by reaching out to those with the wounds that don’t show, and some do it by turning away, because it is still too painful.

Bob, that’s a great story, thanks for sharing it.

I met a guy in a restaurant the other day. A fellow Vietnam Vet. We both were wearing hats that gave us away as such. As we spoke, I asked him if he would have worn that hat forty years ago. He smiled and said, no.

“Honor” is a stronger word than ''Memorial". Extreme “HONOR” is how we should show respect to those that gave and give this freedom to us.

Hold this freedoms dear. It is fragile and preserved by those who will and have put it above themselves.

After my Dad, WWII, passed, I now notice more Korean Vets in the Obits. I guess after that, us Vietnam survivors are next.

We should cherish every day we have left as a blessing.

Thank you to each and every one of you who served to keep this country free and great. I’m just a city boy who grew up poor (but really didn’t know it at the time!) and thanks to this great country I’m blessed with a wonderful life and I’m so very thankful.

I had the fellow next door ask me the other day why I always fly the flag on my porch. My reply was that I would not be where I am today without the opportunity that this country gave me.

So thank you for your service to the United States that allows me to live free and pursue my “American Dream”.

Mocrownsteam

Mike McCormack

Hudson, Massachusetts

Lou Luczu said:

After my Dad, WWII, passed, I now notice more Korean Vets in the Obits. I guess after that, us Vietnam survivors are next.

We should cherish every day we have left as a blessing.

Lou,

Indeed we are! I received a statistic from an old friend I served with in the 9th INF DIV…“If you are a Vietnam vet alive today, then consider yourself ““lucky””. Because you are the last 31% of all of those that ever served there and still here.”

A Co. 3/60th, 9th INF DIV

Mobile Riverine Force

Mekong Delta, RVN 1966-1967

Last week I had the honor to photograph Navajo Warrior, Mr. Daniel Yazzie. 98 years old.

74 years ago today he was marshaling in the south of England in prep for the biggest day of his life. On June 6th 1944, he hit the beaches of Normandy in the early assaults. He received his first Purple Heart that day. Several months later, he received his second. Later he fought on into Germany.

I don’t know how many “D Day” solders that came ashore under fire, survivors are left. Their can’t be very many. The veterans department says that we are loosing 430 WWII vets a day. If you were 18 when you hit the beaches in 1944 you are now 90 yr. old.

David Taylor

US Army 1969 - 1978

E5 Regular Army

Great tribute, Dave.

Explaining Memorial Day to the Grandson

The grandson stayed the night with us Friday. This morning we got up and I took him with me to Tractor Supply to get some fertilizer and weed killer. As we walked up to the door I recognized a fella I rode motorcycles with ten years ago. He was with the DAV selling Buddy Poppies. I gave them a donation and pinned the flowers to our shirts. Allan was distracted by the store but once we were back in the car we had the following conversation.

A: “Papa Boomer why are we having flowers”?

B: “Because Monday is Memorial Day. That is when we remember some good people who died.”

A: “But why?”

B: “Well a long time ago a bunch of bad people got together and went around messing up other people’s houses, stealing their food and breaking their toys. Some very good people told them to stop but they wouldn’t so they fought a war. Eventually the very good people won but a lot of them died in the fighting.”

A: “So we wear flowers?”

B: “Yes, where they died the flowers grew because they were heroes.”

A: “Heroes? Did Batman fight too?”

B: "Yes and so did Superman.

A: “They didn’t die?”

B: “No they lived and still do”

A: “So we wear the flowers to thank them too?”

B: “No that is Veterans Day. Memorial Day is to thank those that died.”

A: “Papa Boomer how do we thank the good people if they are dead?”

B: “We will leave that until you are little older. It is complicated.”

He sat quietly with that serious look he has when he is thinking hard. After a few minutes I heard this whispered from the back seat.

A: “God, please thank the good dead people for me.”

Kids do see things in the simplest terms. In a few years I will have a more serious talk with him about it. For now I think he gets it pretty good for a four year old.

David I met a few years ago one of the Navajo code Talkers, just briefly and they to me are sacred warriors, I think the last one passed last year, it was a grat honor to meet one.

Boomer, not much can be said after your wise beyond his years grandson. To all the families of the men who gave their lives, My utmost respect and most humble gratitude for their sacrifice, This weekend will for our family a remembrance to all of them

When I was in high school, I met a man who had flown in the Esquadrille Lafayette, and later in our fledgling Air Corps, during Big One. That was during the fall of 62, so he was in his 70s. I knew him for a time at church, he was one of my friend’s grandfathers. For some reason, he opened up to me, and told me some of his stories. After I got to know him a bit, I said that I had heard that some pilots had nightmares about their experiences. He said that was true. I asked him if he ever had them. He said yes. I then asked him when was the last time that he had one. He said, “Last night.”

That was a bit much for this young 14 year old to process. He moved to Seattle a few months later and I lost track of him. Quite a guy. Even at 70, he looked every bit the fighter pilot.

In 1995 I escorted my old man to his 50 year reunion with shipmates from the Natrona, a naval supply ship. They sat off shore on all the big Pacific battles. I heard many a story about the war that Dad never spoke about. He was a Chaplain and had entered service later in life than ‘his boys’ had.

They told me many stories and personal fears that their Chaplain helped them resolve. That gave quite an insight to what it means to serve.

I offer my true gratitude to all who have served, be it in war or peace. You were there, ready to sacrifice, if need be.

This day is for those who gave all.

Sincerely,

John

John Caughey said:

In 1995 I escorted my old man to his 50 year reunion with shipmates from the Natrona, a naval supply ship. They sat off shore on all the big Pacific battles. I heard many a story about the war that Dad never spoke about. He was a Chaplain and had entered service later in life than ‘his boys’ had.

They told me many stories and personal fears that their Chaplain helped them resolve. That gave quite an insight to what it means to serve.

I offer my true gratitude to all who have served, be it in war or peace. You were there, ready to sacrifice, if need be.

This day is for those who gave all.

Sincerely,

John

John,

Thank you for this story. My son (Iraq combat Veteran) will be escorting me to my 50 year Reunion of the 9th Inf Div in Ft. Riley, Kansas next week.

A Co. 3/60th, 9th INF DIV

US Army, Mobile Riverine Force, Mekong Delta

RVN 1966-67

Last May, I had the honor and privilege to escort my Dad, a WWII and Korean Navy Vet on an Honor Flight to Wash, DC. to visit the WWII Memorial.

Here’s our return to Pa. after the visit:

There were tears in some of those old guys eyes.

Great portrait of a great warrior, Dave… Well done and a great honor for you to have been able to do the portrait…