REMEMBERING THOSE WHO GAVE ALL

[Uncle Phil]

Let us remember today those military folks who gave all for our freedom - and their families that were left behind.

As has been said before about military service -

"All gave some but some gave all"

 

[SupraSabre]

 

[John OoSTerhuis]

My father. WWII veteran of the South Pacific. Deployed to Korea when the war broke out, while we were stationed in Beppu, Japan. 24th Inf Div, 19th Inf Regt. Received a battlefield commission. Listed as MIA 1 Jan 1951, declared KIA years later when his remains were finally recovered. Buried at the National Cemetery, St. Paul, MN. Requiescat In Pace, and honor….

 

[Bikeric]

On my way over to Normandy tonight Uncle Phil. I catch the 8.30 boat to Cherbourg and stay at a friend's place so we can go the the DDay services at the Beachheads. I generally spend all of June there. We support the new British Normandy Memorial and also visit Omaha and Utah regularly to pay our respects to those who gave all. We are also friendly with Madame Gondree at Pegasus Bridge Cafe and take her a couple of packs of Cornish Fairings (Ginger Biscuits that she loves). We were there for most of the major 5 yearly celebrations and the Normandy Veterans at all the beachheads are getting fewer and fewer every year. It's great to see how the young French children help to tend some of the graves and put flowers on them.

 

[Bikeric]

My father. WWII veteran of the South Pacific. Deployed to Korea when the war broke out, while we were stationed in Beppu, Japan. 24th Inf Div. Listed as MIA 1 Jan 1951, declared KIA years later when his remains were finally recovered. Buried at the National Cemetery, St. Paul, MN. Requiescat In Pace, and honor….

RIP Sir.

 

[Oldbikefixr]

Aside from myself, there's only one vet remaining....a nephew retired in NW Tennessee. All the rest have gone into the West. Miss them, every one.

 

[Uncle Phil]

On my way over to Normandy tonight Uncle Phil. I catch the 8.30 boat to Cherbourg and stay at a friend's place so we can go the the DDay services at the Beachheads. I generally spend all of June there. We support the new British Normandy Memorial and also visit Omaha and Utah regularly to pay our respects to those who gave all. We are also friendly with Madame Gondree at Pegasus Bridge Cafe and take her a couple of packs of Cornish Fairings (Ginger Biscuits that she loves). We were there for most of the major 5 yearly celebrations and the Normandy Veterans at all the beachheads are getting fewer and fewer every year. It's great to see how the young French children help to tend some of the graves and put flowers on them.

That's one thing I would really like to do myself.

 

[Weaselinsuit]

My dad was RCAF. He passed in May of 2022.

He liked to prank his relatives by showing up at the door in full flight suit including helmet. He was generally a pretty quiet reserved guy so it was nice to see the sense of humour occasionally sneak out.

We have Remembrance Day on November 11th each year but no reason why we can't spare a thought for everyone, regardless of nation, a second time.

 

[John OoSTerhuis]

That's one thing I would really like to do myself.

BTDT 1978, met Madame Gondree at Pegasus Bridge Cafe also.

 

[Bikeric]

BTDT 1978, met Madame Gondree at Pegasus Bridge Cafe also.

Hi John, was that Arlette, the current owner, or her Mother, Therese? Mother was a German speaker and listened in the German soldiers who were in the Cafe, the she would tell anything of interest to the Resistance.

 

[John OoSTerhuis]

Hi John, was that Arlette, the current owner, or her Mother, Therese? Mother was a German speaker and listened in the German soldiers who were in the Cafe, the she would tell anything of interest to the Resistance.

It was the mother. She enjoyed showing her scrapbooks to us. I was with my son and his Boy Scouts troop on a bicycle tour of the Normandy Coast, the beaches, cemeteries, battlefields and towns. Wonderful, though sobering, memories for the boys and we adults/soldiers.

John

 

[Igofar]

It's not how they Died, but how they Lived.

 

[ST Gui]

A cemetery not to far from me has a ceremony every year that I attend. Small and respectful. I've attended for a number of years now. The pipes always get me.

 

[Bikeric]

It was the mother. She enjoyed showing her scrapbooks to us. I was with my son and his Boy Scouts troop on a bicycle tour of the Normandy Coast, the beaches, cemeteries, battlefields and towns. Wonderful, though sobering, memories for the boys and we adults/soldiers.

John

Yes, I still have a tear in my eyes when visiting the cemeteries, especially the American one at Colleville sur Mer at Omaha. I never met Mother, but Arlette is about 84 or 85 and she still don't take many live prisoners! We love her to bits...

 

[Slydynbye]

I make a yearly trip to the National Cemetary in San Bruno on Memorial weekend.
My wife says "But you don't know anybody buried there" Sigh...
I wrote the check for up to and including my life , luckily it was never cashed. I honor those who were not as lucky.

 

[Uncle Phil]

I wrote the check for up to and including my life , luckily it was never cashed. I honor those who were not as lucky.

Yep, those of us who did 'write the check (USMC 1971-1973) feel very fortunate that 'it was never cashed'.
Unfortunately for some, they 'cashed the check' afterwards as a result what they saw and experienced.
May they all rest in peace!

 

[John Anthony]

Thanks for your post, UP. I lost my best friend in the Vietnam war. He gave his life so others in his squad could live. God bless all of those who put their lives on the line to defend our freedoms.

 

[John OoSTerhuis]

I wrote the check for up to and including my life , luckily it was never cashed. I honor those who were not as lucky.

Nicely put. Thank you.

Regards, John