So Long Marine

[I luv herfrds]

Family friend passed away on Monday afternoon and had his funeral today. He was 90.
Survived Iwo Jima. We rarely talked about it, but we did once and I could see how it changed his mood so I never brought it up again.
Met him almost 20 years ago as our mail carrier. Super nice and friendly guy, always stopped to visit with anyone who was waiting at their box.
He always loved introducing me as "The lady that changed his truck tire in nothing flat." They could not figure out their new trucks spare tire.

His kids shared some of their most favorite memories. Everyone really enjoyed these stories. Had lots of laughs.
The tears all came up at the cementary after the Honor Guard did the final tribute. His grandsons who are in the Army presented his wife the American flag.

Will sure miss him and his stories.

 

[Red Bull Breeder]

Not many of them left. God Bless them.

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

Not many of them left. God Bless them.

+1

 

[Ryder]

Not many of them left. God Bless them.

+1

In honor of this gentleman and in honor of a very brave friend of mine who fought there and died a few months ago.
+2

 

[tistis]

Service is more then a word ........... Less we forget

 

[greybeard]

Semper Fi to an Old Corp Marine. Your friend has a new billet now.

From the last stanza of the Marine Corps Hymn:
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven’s scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.

 

[HDRider]

America is made great by folks like him.

 

[gimpyrancher]

I wish we had treated them better in life. God bless him.

 

[ifarm26]

Buried my great uncle on March 27th. He was 90 and a WWII Army veteran. Last WWII vet that was in our family. Simple prostate biopsy led to his demise! While doing the procedure he had a heart attack. Still drove everyday and went to Bojangles for breakfast a few times a week.

 

[melking]

Second to all the post. Farewell old friend.

 

[I luv herfrds]

Thank you everyone. :tiphat:

I was thinking about him today and when I was on the ambulance taking him to the heart department at the hospital. We were in the back talking and laughing the whole way. I do not remember what we were talking about, but when I turned him over to the nurses I told them to take care of our Marine. Gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. He told me I will see you later honey. His wife and son were just coming in when we were leaving and they thanked me for taking care of him. I told them I would do anything for them.

Talked with him a lot about the history of our county. He loved exploring different areas.

 

[Caustic Burno]

Family friend passed away on Monday afternoon and had his funeral today. He was 90.
Survived Iwo Jima. We rarely talked about it, but we did once and I could see how it changed his mood so I never brought it up again.
Met him almost 20 years ago as our mail carrier. Super nice and friendly guy, always stopped to visit with anyone who was waiting at their box.
He always loved introducing me as "The lady that changed his truck tire in nothing flat." They could not figure out their new trucks spare tire.

His kids shared some of their most favorite memories. Everyone really enjoyed these stories. Had lots of laughs.
The tears all came up at the cementary after the Honor Guard did the final tribute. His grandsons who are in the Army presented his wife the American flag.

Will sure miss him and his stories.

Uncle made the beach landings on Guadalcanal Iwo Jima and Okinawa passed away in 2000.
I have a lot of the pictures he took on Okinawa. They weren't supposed too.
My daughter has his dress blues in a glass case.
He never talked serious about the battles but once or twice.
May God grant your friend peace and comfort.
Those were special men.

We have one of the first Navy Frogmen they became Seals that attends our church.
We visit several times a week he is the last surviving WWII vet I know he made the landing ahead of the marines on
Okinawa. Was wounded planting explosive charges.

 

[I luv herfrds]

Friend had pictures of both flag raisings on Iwo. He said the only time he got mad at his first wife (She passed away years ago from cancer) was when she threw out a couple jars he had with the black sand from Iwo. He still has 3 jars of the sand.

 

[Caustic Burno]

Friend had pictures of both flag raisings on Iwo. He said the only time he got mad at his first wife (She passed away years ago from cancer) was when she threw out a couple jars he had with the black sand from Iwo. He still has 3 jars of the sand.

I have the pic's of someplace on Okinawa and they have dead Japs piled up like cord wood.
My uncle always said Iwo was heII and Okinawa was were heII went.
One of the few times he talked about a battle on Okinawa the Japs had ran out of ammo.
The Japs made a banzai charge with sharpened bamboo spears and Samurai swords, said they killed everyone of them
as none would surrender.

 

[TexasBred]

I've got one uncle still alive...He's either 93 or 94. Served in WWII and was involved in the Battle of the Bulge. Never has said much about it or maybe everybody just never bothered him with it. Still as spry as a young chicken. Great attitude, still works in his machine shop everyday just to stay busy. Always said his proudest moment was getting the big do machine a valve that was on one of the space shuttles. Got another uncle who fought during the Korean War and is in his 80's. He too has never had much to say about it. Thank God both have always had great attitudes, no mental or physical problems as a result of serving.

 

[Caustic Burno]

I've got one uncle still alive...He's either 93 or 94. Served in WWII and was involved in the Battle of the Bulge. Never has said much about it or maybe everybody just never bothered him with it. Still as spry as a young chicken. Great attitude, still works in his machine shop everyday just to stay busy. Always said his proudest moment was getting the big do machine a valve that was on one of the space shuttles. Got another uncle who fought during the Korean War and is in his 80's. He too has never had much to say about it. Thank God both have always had great attitudes, no mental or physical problems as a result of serving.

TB it was the generation like none other.
Dad served in the USN WWII and Korea had an uncle at Pearl on 12/7/41 USS Nevada another at the Marinara turkey shoot
as well as the Marine Sergeant uncle that made beach landings in the South Pacific.
When they got together you never heard complaining or excuses.
Everyone's dad I knew growing up served.
I know these men saw some of the most horrific things imaginable.
Somehow they seemed able to cope and repress what they had been through.
I never heard my uncles or dad ever raise their voice over anything.
Never in my life did I see a group as calm and totally meant what they said.
There was something very special about that generation they lived from the horse and buggy on the farm to a man on the moon.
No other generation has lived through two World War's, Korea a depression like no other.
Dad would be 100 in September sometimes I just sit on the porch and ponder what they saw and accomplished.

God Bless them for what they sacrificed for us all.

 

[TexasBred]

When they got together you never heard complaining or excuses.Everyone's dad I knew growing up served. I know these men saw some of the most horrific things imaginable.

Never had thought that much about it but both of these guys have the sweetest personality. Always a smile, a kind word or just a wink....very easy going. Guess there is a lot of peace inside knowing you did what you could. Still amazes me how in those time people just dropped what they were doing and went and signed up for "service". Glad to see we have a volunteer army now...the cowards no longer have to run.