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Message started by Ruttly on 01/02/20 at 08:30:50

Title: Heroes
Post by Ruttly on 01/02/20 at 08:30:50

Everyone has heroes , myself included. My list is unique for many reasons. Here's a few Henry Ford,Steve McQueen,Willie Nelson just to name a few. But on 1/1/2020 at 1400 hrs we lost the type of hero that only could have been a member of "The Greatest Generation". Yes a super proud WWII veteran of the war in the South Pacific. He tops the list of my heroes at #1, he was my father. R.I.P. Poppa. Much Love. Prayers are welcome.
Thank you for taking time to read this.
Ruttly

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by Armen on 01/02/20 at 09:56:03

Ruttly,
I'm sorry for your loss. I'm sure you were very proud and lucky to have him as a dad. I've read about the battles in the South Pacific and they must have been truly horrible.
Godspeed.

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by MMRanch on 01/02/20 at 14:09:50

a super proud WWII veteran of the war in the South Pacific.

I believe Ronald Reagan said it best : "Our Freedom is never more than One Generation from being Lost"

It seems your Father understood what it takes to maintain Freedom . God Bless our Service-Men , including your Dad . Salute !

Being in the Service awakens a person for the rest of their Life .

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by verslagen1 on 01/02/20 at 15:53:00

My father served in the Korean war and I lost him last March.

My father in law served in WWII in the Aleutians and Tarawa and I lost him over ten years ago.

They are big shoes to fill, I pray for your strength.

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by jcstokes on 01/02/20 at 17:03:20

They were a brave and courageous generation, both volunteers and conscripts, and they stopped some very nasty ideologies from running the world. My sympathies he must have had a good long life.

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by Ruttly on 01/03/20 at 16:43:41

When you read WW2 stats it becomes overwhelming and almost unbelievable. American serviceman from all branches numbered well over 16,000,000 , that's right million. At one point WW2 vets were dying at a incomprehensible number of over a thousand a day for ten years and that was about 10 to 15 years ago. Five years ago it was just under five hundred a day and if I had to guess today it would be about half of that. I won't bother with his duties as such. He led a full life and out lived both his wives and passed a month after his 95th birthday. Thanks to all that read this and special thanks to those that replied. Want to see a big smile , thank a soldier for serving their country. Just do it anyways it the right thing to do !

:'(

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by jcstokes on 01/03/20 at 23:48:23

They were also the older chidren and adolescents of the great depression roughly 1930-35, many knew tough times.

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by Ruttly on 01/04/20 at 12:27:02

Your so right JC they grew up during the depression years. My mother could make a 3-31/2 lb meatloaf with 1 lb of ground beef. It was great , the stone soup of meatloafs usually served with 1 slice of bread (for wiping your plate clean) and a large pile of mashed potatoes n gravy , nothing went to waste. It was called Depression Loaf and I wish I had the recipe. She had a saying
Use it up , wear it out , make do or do without
I heard that a million times
My fathers caretaker is from New Zealand I think it was called V Town , a true walking talking angel who has already earned her wings , just hasn't received them yet.

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by jcstokes on 01/04/20 at 13:10:46

Ruttly, try googling Depression Meat Loaf, or www.tasteofhome.com depression meat loaf.

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by Ruttly on 01/04/20 at 17:10:01

Thanks JC I found a bunch of recipes and even found one “to be served with a slice of bread”. Absolutely going to try one soon , I was amazed to find it that easy. Thanks again !

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by stewmills on 01/06/20 at 15:22:03

Sorry for your loss, Ruttly! Prayers for you and your family!

Hate to be just catching this so late...been in China on business and preoccupied with the holidays, kitchen remodel, sick for a week, blah, blah....

My dad is too young for WWII but did serve in Vietnam. My WWII hero is my great Uncle Jack who is still with us at age 97 and going strong. He served as a communications officer supporting the Navajo Code Talkers in the Pacific Islands and he passed me several of his WWII mementos to include a bracelet hand carved by his Navajo counterpart from metal from a downed Zero, a Japanese Arisaka 99 sniper rifle, a bayonet with the wooden handle burned off in a tank fire which he replaced (in the field) with windshield plexi from a downed Zero, and a 2 page handwritten and signed account of all of these items. Really cool stuff and even more cool to have the stories with them...that's where you realize what a real hero these guys were.

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by jcstokes on 01/06/20 at 21:12:11

Ruttly, I'm wondering if your fathers care giver came from Vogeltown, near New Plymouth.

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by Ruttly on 01/07/20 at 09:19:49

JC , I'll find out today !

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by Serowbot on 01/07/20 at 09:31:13

See post title,... hear Bowie..
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEqSOst1dg8[/media]

RIP all our heroes... 8-)

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by HAPPYDAN on 01/08/20 at 10:07:02

Ruttly, I do feel for your loss. My father also island-hopped across the Pacific, ended up at Clark Field fending off banzai attacks after Big Mac retook the Philippines. He passed in 1975, when I was a SGT in the 82nd at Fort Bragg. He would never talk about his experiences, but I could tell they were not fond memories. They did what they had to do, and did it well.

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by springman on 01/08/20 at 19:29:12

My condolences Ruttly. Yep, my dad also served in WWII. He enlisted in the Navy at age 17. Man, I was still a baby at 17.

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by Ruttly on 01/18/20 at 10:04:37

What a day. Rounding the corner into the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno,CA as your going thru the gate you are looking at grassy hill with the flag pole a top. Thought I was doing good till I noticed the flag was at half staff and honor guards preparing. Greeting guests seemed to quell the emotions. Some of the guests I haven't seen for 45 years , lots of catching up to do. The priest shows up and as I'm greeting him I realize he is the same priest the gave my father Annointing of the ILL formerly known as Last Rites. Military honors came first , I think when he played TAPS everyone in the chapel seemed to loose their composure. A seriously talented horn player , absolutely perfect made you weak in the knees. Followed by the Flag Folding and Presentation, to my brother. All in front of a table holding his photos, military hat, dog tags ,medals & misc items. I've been to several memorials here before but this was my first military funeral. A very emotionally moving experience that I felt needed to be shared. He is in good company,buried not far from his cousin and not to far from Admiral Nimitz and 140,000 other serviceman.

Thanks for reading and replies

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by MMRanch on 01/18/20 at 12:19:56

Wow Ruttly

On one of our Texas trips , YouzGuyz had us help with a military funeral. Our job was to hold a flag , sounds simple enough.

I didn't even know the service person we were burying but before the service was through I was fighting a loosing battle to hold back tears. I wish everybody in the USA could experience the reverence of such an event. We had escorted the body from a church where the service was held . I'll never forget it .

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by ohiomoto on 01/18/20 at 15:06:00

Goodspeed Poppa Ruttly

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by Ruttly on 01/20/20 at 09:44:14

MM , Yes a military funeral service is meant to be special to honor our keepers of our Freedom. And should be experienced by everyone. It is intense , very emotional and if the playing of TAPS doesn’t deeply affect you , you may not be human !

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by Ruttly on 01/20/20 at 10:45:13

As a child I was in the Cub Scouts , 2 different troops of scouts would arrive at that cemetery at 2:30 in the morning , about 50 of us would put a flag on every grave of the 161 acres and be done before sun up and remain there for Memorial Day Services. Setting up tables & chairs then removing it all at the end of the day. It made for a real long day,but no one let it show and no one complained. I grew up about a mile away and it was a honor to be asked to help. Little did I know about what it meant at 7 years old , I just knew it was the right thing to do. Every time I pass thru those gates it is a different experience but never a bad one , you may leave saddened but the sense of National pride and knowing you are not left alone to grieve !

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 01/20/20 at 11:27:56

On a kindle the font is so small that, with the line under the thread title it confuses the eye and
Heroes suddenly looks like
Herpes,

Took me a while to work up the nerve to look...
Sorry..

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by youzguyz on 01/20/20 at 12:47:49

Ruttly, My condolences to you. It is hard to lose a hero.

Like many others, my father served during WWII. European Theater. He only spoke to me about it once.. when I told him I was joining the Navy. And he said that was the only reason he was saying anything about his experiences.
He was an artillery forward observer. Horribly dangerous job.
He was also at the Nuremberg Trials.
My military experience was nothing compared to what he did and saw.

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by youzguyz on 01/20/20 at 12:58:58

2E3C2E3C31222D202B630 wrote:

MM is referring to a Patriot Guard Riders mission. The PGR is national organization that is hard to explain, unless you belong. I have been riding with them for almost 9 years, and have done over 500 missions.
It's worth a look if you have some time you can spare.
https://www.patriotguard.org/

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by Ruttly on 01/21/20 at 20:08:19

Youzguyz , I have great respect for you and all the other volunteer groups that assist with these military funerals. Thank You. Funny thing is after the services I had gone back to the chapel to pick up all the flowers so the next service could get ready and I found myself talking to a couple on a bike that were in a volunteer group too. Where I live is about 100 miles to get to a National Cemetery, 1 south , 1 north and 1 to the west so any volunteering will have to wait till I retire. Till you have been to one you won't understand why myself and others so highly regard them, these volunteers are true patriots !

Title: Re: Heroes
Post by youzguyz on 01/22/20 at 03:25:41

Ruttly, Not all PGR missions terminate at a National Cemetery. If the deceased is an honorably discharged veteran, and the family requests it, the veteran can receive military honors at any cemetery.
The PGR also does funeral missions for 1st responders.

They also do missions that aren't funeral related:
Homes for our Troops (and other organizations that build houses for disabled veterans). We have been called on to escort the veteran to ground breaking and key presentation ceremonies.

Honor Flights: Escorting older veterans to the airport for trips to Washington DC to visit the memorials.

And other stuff.

So, get on their mailing list. Maybe there is a mission you can do at some point in time.
One of our motto's: "Do what you can when you can". There is no quota, no dues, no pressure.

All you need is respect.. and you got plenty of that!!

https://www.patriotguard.org/ca-state-page/