Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Remembering Grandpa and all of the other heroes on Veteran's Day

This is my grandfather, who served twice in the U.S Navy, first in the 1920s and then again during World War II, volunteering even though he had five kids at home to support. Or perhaps because he had five kids at home to support (<sarc>). A child of the Depression, Grandpa built his family's two-story house by hand, himself.

The picture below is Grandpa on Guam in 1945. He was then serving on the destroyer the USS Ellet.

At right is one of his ribbon commendations after a series of actions including the Battle of the Philippines, the invasion of Guam and Saipan.

My Dad told me that the Ellet had a proud history including involvement with the Doolittle Raid, the Battle of the Coral Sea, Guadalcanal, and later Iwo Jima. The Ellet also survived a near-miss from a Kamikaze and rescued several ships that had hit mines later in the war.


On Veteran's Day, we salute all of our veterans and active duty personnel, those who have passed on like Grandpa, and those who are still with us.

Thank you all. The greatest nation on Earth, the greatest nation ever seen on this planet, owes each of you an immeasurable debt.

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7 comments:

  1. Anonymous5:50 PM

    thank you to your Grandfather and all who have served and sacrificed for our nation

    Frank G

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  2. directorblue6:54 PM

    Thank you, Frank - and my God bless all of the brave men and women who have served this country.

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  3. BobM7:37 PM

    These were men of steel, and I thank God for giving them the strength and will to serve and to save Western Civilization.

    My father was a 20mm gunner and radioman on a DD in the Pacific, that coincides roughly with your grandpop's time in service. I can't recall the hull number. He made it back home alive. My wife's grandfather was not so lucky. He died when a kamikazi struck the engineroom on his DD, the USS Butler.

    We owe these men more than we could ever hope to give them!

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  4. Unknown8:59 PM

    Touching tribute, but "the greatest nation on Earth, the greatest nation ever seen on this planet"? Lol. 'Nuff said.

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  5. Unknown8:59 PM

    Touching tribute, but "the greatest nation on Earth, the greatest nation ever seen on this planet"? Lol. 'Nuff said.

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  6. suek8:10 PM

    " Lol. 'Nuff said."

    Really? Who has been greater?

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  7. Anonymous8:12 PM

    Very touching Doug-I salute all of these selfless men, my dad and uncles included.

    Man, the stories
    MM

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