PEARL HARBOR - THANKS ED AND OTHERS

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Byrdman

New member
Just got a comical email from my friend and neighbor, Edward "Ed" Harrell. You have to love this Man. One of the few living survivors of the USS Indianapolis....and author of his book "Out of the Depths".

A great read for your winter reading by the way, particuarly as we approach Pear Harbor Day.

Just a quick note to thank Ed and the many of his days (like our "young friend Dusty") and others...for allowing us to be the free people of America that we are.

Ed's great read can be found at: http://www.indysurvivor.com/

Dec 7 is on us. Find and hug an old Vet of that era. We owe our freedom to these folks.

God Bless America

Byrdman
 
looks to be a great read. I may have to get it and think about who to give it to . Best to be given to some young well feed spoiled soul who does not understand why his life is so easy.
 
They were/are called the greatest generation for a reason. Although, my dad is a WWII vet, he didn't see action as he was assigned "state side". Anyone visiting Honolulu owes it to themselves to visit the Arizona Memorial & Visitor Center. It is truly awe inspiring.

The wreck is STILL leaking bunk oil. But it is somewhat ironic that so many Japanese tourists visit it daily.
 
Thanks for the reminder. "normally" we join a ret Army special Forces Col. and his next door neighbor (94 years old) who was at Pearl Harbor. Our Col. friend and his wife are in Mexico, and I need to check with the Pearl Harbor vet to see if he needs an escort to NAS Pensacola for the cerrimonies. We have had lunch with him and a deminishing number of survivors for the last 10 Pearl harbor days. It is a most interesting experience. One of the actual planes he flew in is in the Museum, and several of us hoist him aboard that plane each year for "old times sake".

He grabbed a 30 cal machine gun and hand held it shooting at the Japenese Zero's as they bombed the airstrip during the first two waves of the attack. He also had two carriers knocked out from under him when he was in the air. Definately the "Greatest Generation"!
 
My father-in-law was in the Navy, and was in the Pacific, missing Pearl on Dec 7 though. He was a pharmacists mate on the USS Rixie, a hospital transport ship. He is a great man.

Salute and thanks to our armed forces veterans.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
marvin4239":cyymgdhd said:
The statement they were called the Greatest Generation is interesting
Click to expand...

A good read is the book entitled The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw. The book is a compilation of personal experiences of those who "lived" the Great Depression and WW II. (Be thinking of some of our more "senior" C-Brats). I read this book several years ago and wouldn't hesitate to read it again!
Since the publishing of this book, Tom Brokaw published a sequel which I have not read yet that is entitled "The Greatest Generation speaks: letters and reflections".

(I suspect that Tom Brokaw was the one who initially coined the phrase "The Greatest Generation". If he wasn't, he certainly brought the phrase to the forefront.)
 
I recently watched "Band of Brothers" and it got me thinking about my Dad, who served in the 2nd Army, 9th Infantry during WW2. He had made a scrapbook of his time during his service, and I found a number of letters home to his Mom & Dad. One of these was dealing with the loss of a close friend, and how he wanted his parents to be strong and not too worry about him. "I need to be here, We need to be here, we cannot have people who live with the terror they have faced", "our service and sacrafice will prevail".

When reading this I notice the date of the letter and realize my dad was just 21! I'm not a writer by any stretch, but I wish I could express the depth of feeling I had when reading this, and other letters in his scrapbook.
It is a wonderful sense of Family, Honor, Pride when looking at his things.

Thanks for this thread, there are a bunch of great people here!

Merry Christmas

Bob
 
Some great notes. Interesting in AZ now as I posted this the first time and fly out today. Sherryl and I have visited most all of the sites in Hawaii to include the USS AZ and Hickman (sp?) Field. Great stuff and well worth the individual guides as to not miss as much of the little stuff. Yes, I would re-do the entire trip.'

Now, where is our Brother in Arms Dusty hanging out today? Should be on the way back from a Casino trip if he is on schedule...? Maybe

Byrdman
 
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