Legal Bill

I miss my Uncle John. He always had great stories about his time in the Navy. He enlisted in 1929 or 1930. At first he hated it. But he stuck with it, stayed in the Navy for years and rose to the rank of Chief Petty Officer before he mustered out in 1940 or 41. The day the Japanese attacked Perl Harbor he announced to the family that he was reenlisting because we were at war. The rest of the family couldn't understand what he was talking about. People were confused about the attack and why it happened. My uncle knew what it meant immediately. He had served with men who died in the attack. He served on supply ships and destroyers and had run-ins in the South Pacific with the enemy, including a kamikaze attack. I wish I had talked with him more before he died.

ralper

Tomorrow I'm heading down to Olney, Maryland for the funeral of my Aunt Francis. Francis was the wife of Uncle Stanley. He is about 96 years old and is the sole survivor of the torpedo attack on the engine room of the USS Canberra. He was an engineer on a break on deck when the ship was torpedoed. Everyone in the engine room was killed. When the ship was returned to port, Uncle Stanley volunteered to go into the engine room to help bring out the bodies. For a number of years after that Uncle Stanley wouldn't let my grandmother Kosher meat (soak the meat in salt water) in his presence. Uncle Stanley never spoke too much about his wartime experience. My father was in the Army Air Corps and my Uncle Ben was an optometrist in the Army. Both told stories about those years, but Uncle Stanley never said much. I do understand.

Tomorrow he is laying his wife to rest. They would have been married for almost 70 years. From a very big family, she was my last remaining Aunt, and Uncle Stanley is my last remaining Uncle. I won't ask Uncle Stanley about his wartime experiences ever, no one ever did. I'll just say the Mourners Kaddish along with the rest of the family and pray that Uncle Stanley still has some time with us.

dlq04

Thanks for sharing; I don't recall you ever mentioning your relatives connection with the service before. I've mention mine several times, so there no need to repeat them again.

MsPerky

Sorry for your loss, Rob. And yes, thanks for sharing. I suppose you will not be in Olney long, but if you can, PM me to get together for a drink or something. Olney is only about 20 miles from DC.

ralper

Dave,

I've posted a photo of my mother and father's wedding day. He in his Army Air Corps dress uniform she in a rented gown. I don't talk much about my relative's military service except to note that my father, many of my uncles and cousins served honorably. during World War II, the Korean War and the war in Vietnam. Thankfully, they all made it home.

Deb,

I'd love to get together but I'm arriving late tonight, going to the funeral and cemetery early tomorrow and heading home. I won't be in Olney very long. Next time. Thanks anyway.

Rob

canberra

Resurrecting this thread with a prayer for all those lost and affected by the events of December 7, 1941.

Godspeed. May nothing like it ever happen again.

Emil St-Hilaire

X 2 Godspeed.

ralper

Amen.

S2KRAY

The Navy lost the most sailors, 2008. We were there and it is was very emotional for me. My Dad and his brother served in the Navy under Halsey in the Pacific. They were determined to win. I also served in the Navy. RIP to all who perished.

dlq04

I am ashamed to say I forgot to put the flag out today and its right there on my calendar. None-the-less its meaning will never be forgotten with me.