1931 flamingo
Well-known member
USN 65-69 Memphis NAS TD-A School, Newport OCS instructor.
Paul in CT
Paul in CT
Veterans Day
- Thread starter Mulletwagon
- Start date
Tom Endy
Well-known member
The Santa Anita A's of Arcadia, California honored the veterans in their club a few years ago by first identifying each veteran and making a list, Then each month, starting with the earlier service dates we published a one page bio of each that appeared every month in the club newsletter. The series ran for 25 months. Each article was written in the first person as if the veteran was telling his story.
We were honored to have several veterans who served in WWII. One was in the army and was in the Battle of the Bulge and later crossed the Rhine under fire, another was a Marine and was in the invasion of Iwo Jima, and a third was in the Merchant Marines and had his ship sunk. He was one of four survivors and was in a life boat for over 30 days in the Atlantic. We celebrated his 100th birthday shortly before he passed away.
Of the three only the Army vet who was in the Battle of the Bulge is living today, He is 95 and still drives his Model A and still comes to club functions.
We took it a step further and created a section on our web site with all the bios posted. You can view them by going to www.santaanitaas.org. Click on the veterans window on the home page.
This was a worthwhile effort that I would encourage other Model A clubs to do. Put someone in charge who can do the ghost writing each month and interview the veteran. Have the veteran provide a photo of himself while in uniform to be included in the article.
Tom Endy
We were honored to have several veterans who served in WWII. One was in the army and was in the Battle of the Bulge and later crossed the Rhine under fire, another was a Marine and was in the invasion of Iwo Jima, and a third was in the Merchant Marines and had his ship sunk. He was one of four survivors and was in a life boat for over 30 days in the Atlantic. We celebrated his 100th birthday shortly before he passed away.
Of the three only the Army vet who was in the Battle of the Bulge is living today, He is 95 and still drives his Model A and still comes to club functions.
We took it a step further and created a section on our web site with all the bios posted. You can view them by going to www.santaanitaas.org. Click on the veterans window on the home page.
This was a worthwhile effort that I would encourage other Model A clubs to do. Put someone in charge who can do the ghost writing each month and interview the veteran. Have the veteran provide a photo of himself while in uniform to be included in the article.
Tom Endy
Cape Codder
Well-known member
USAF 1961 - 1969 RAF Lakenheath 5 1/2 years then Volk Field, Wisconsin 2 1/2 years
MA Air National Guard 1973 - 1997
Aircaraft Mechanic - F-100's, F-101's, F-106's & F-15"s.
MA Air National Guard 1973 - 1997
Aircaraft Mechanic - F-100's, F-101's, F-106's & F-15"s.
henry's 31
Well-known member
Us army-24 years retired
Roger Green
Member
U.S. Forest Service, 1976-2011
copgib
Member
U.S. Navy from 1972 to 1992 , 20-years Retired. My duty stations include : USS Kitty Hawk CV-63, Subic Bay in Philippines, San Diego Calif, Okinawa, Japan, NAS Bermuda, NAVFAC Iceland and NAS Key West, Florida. Once retired from Navy, I became a Deputy Sheriff in the Florida Keys for 13-years.
JollyRoger
Junior Member
US Navy 6 years 1982-88, supporting the Subsurface Fleet Boomers and Fast Attack boats out of Charleston SC, and, briefly, out of Diego Garcia.
ed thibodeau
Senior Member
USAF, 1954-1958 Japan Korea
Marcus
Well-known member
Chief Warrant Officer - 4; US Army retired (1969 - 1995); Combat tours (Three) Vietnam; Grenada; Panama; Desert Shield/Storm. Duty stations Fort Bragg,NC; Nuernberg and Bad Kreuznach, Germany; Washington, DC; Only Army Officer ever assigned to Charlestion Naval Station as Commander, Defense Investigative Service. Proud and honored to serve;
Gladly serve again. Just retired again as the Director, Eighth Judicial District Drug Court. Still playing with Ol' Clyde, 1929 CCPU, and too many other toys!
Wife: Margretha, 1970 - 1991, retired as a Major; served at Fort Bragg, NC; Nuernberg, Germany; Bad Kreuznach, Germany; Fort McClellan, AL; DLI, Presidio, CA; Fort Huachuca, AZ; Washington, DC, Fort Belvoir, VA; Fort Myer, VA; Commander, US Army Recruiting Command, Jacksonville, FL. Proud to serve and willingly do it again. Still my best friend, loves Ol' Clyde (and all the other toys), and tolerates my "addiction."
Gladly serve again. Just retired again as the Director, Eighth Judicial District Drug Court. Still playing with Ol' Clyde, 1929 CCPU, and too many other toys!
Wife: Margretha, 1970 - 1991, retired as a Major; served at Fort Bragg, NC; Nuernberg, Germany; Bad Kreuznach, Germany; Fort McClellan, AL; DLI, Presidio, CA; Fort Huachuca, AZ; Washington, DC, Fort Belvoir, VA; Fort Myer, VA; Commander, US Army Recruiting Command, Jacksonville, FL. Proud to serve and willingly do it again. Still my best friend, loves Ol' Clyde (and all the other toys), and tolerates my "addiction."
JoeCB
Senior Member
US Navy 69 -73 - USS Graham County LST 1176 / APG 1176. Looking at some of the other Navy vets postings we could have crossed paths somewhere along the line...
1931 Flamingo, you could well have been one on my instructors at Newport OCS school in 1970. Came out a shiny new Ensign and reported aboard The "Graco" in the Med. Did another Med cruise then shipped out again on the Graham Cty. with a load of Navy Sea Bees ( ACB-2) to support building the very first air strip on the then deserted island of Diego Garcia, middle of the Indian Ocean ( Jolly Roger and GaryWA) where you there in 1971. On this mission our little LST "steamed" independently (by ourselves) completely around the world... 41, 000 miles at a brisk 14 knots.
Upon return home , Little Creek, VA. the ship was converter to a Patrol Gun Boat Tender, we were assigned three Patrol Gun Boats (PG's). Escorted them across the Atlantic to new home port of Naples Italy. Where I was discharged as a civilian. All in all quite an adventure.
1931 Flamingo, you could well have been one on my instructors at Newport OCS school in 1970. Came out a shiny new Ensign and reported aboard The "Graco" in the Med. Did another Med cruise then shipped out again on the Graham Cty. with a load of Navy Sea Bees ( ACB-2) to support building the very first air strip on the then deserted island of Diego Garcia, middle of the Indian Ocean ( Jolly Roger and GaryWA) where you there in 1971. On this mission our little LST "steamed" independently (by ourselves) completely around the world... 41, 000 miles at a brisk 14 knots.
Upon return home , Little Creek, VA. the ship was converter to a Patrol Gun Boat Tender, we were assigned three Patrol Gun Boats (PG's). Escorted them across the Atlantic to new home port of Naples Italy. Where I was discharged as a civilian. All in all quite an adventure.
Gary/IA
Senior Member
1963-1965 1st Infantry Division (The Big Red One) Adjutant General's Corps. I had the job of interviewing and checking records for correctness of many retiring WWII and Korean Vets from the Division. Many were very gracious and would share their war time experiences as we examined their records. I felt so humbled as I sat daily in the presents of heroes.
At that time, there was not a lot of respect from some in society for anyone in uniform. I wish those people could have had the opportunity I had, they would have formed a different opinion of our servicemen. I often wonder how those that spit on returning soldiers feel now when the nation honors our Vets with pride and enthusiasm.
I apologize for the editorial.
Love and respect to all who served.
At that time, there was not a lot of respect from some in society for anyone in uniform. I wish those people could have had the opportunity I had, they would have formed a different opinion of our servicemen. I often wonder how those that spit on returning soldiers feel now when the nation honors our Vets with pride and enthusiasm.
I apologize for the editorial.
Love and respect to all who served.
Dave Mellor NJ
Well-known member
Navy, 68-72 USS Arcturus AF52 10 Med Cruises and 4 Caribbean cruises bringing fresh food to the fleet at sea
