@KA9FFJ,Thank you very much, I feel it's my duty, Somtimes I feel Memorial Day has denigrated into everything but what it's supposed to be about. Sorry just an opinion, not a rant.
As a side bar to the members that have and will contribute to our national holiday, let me first thank all of you for keeping Memorial Day and the true meaning and sprit of what Memorial Day means. The VVA,( Vietnam Veterans of America) and the IVAV,( Iraq Veterans, Afghanistan Veterans) are asking for those interested, a moment of silence at 3 PM Memorial Day.
@buflosab ~ Thanks for sharing that. I will be observing a moment of silence at 3PM Monday.
My father in law participates in the annual "Run For The Wall" bike run every year. He rides to California to start the central route and ends up in D.C 10 days later. Over 1,000 bikes arrived at the Memorial Wall today.
This is all good stuff guys. Glad to see Memorial Day means more to us than a BBQ, etc. Please remember the families of those who will never be coming back...
My Dad is a hero from WWII. He won't admit it - but like all those who serve past and present - they are true American heroes. Dad was one of those guys who came back with a box full of medals which he packed away in the bottom dresser drawer in his bedroom. He never spoke about the medals ... I just happened to be nosing around one day as a kid, and spotted the box. I was quite impressed and asked why he never showed them to me - or talked about his time in the war. And like most from the Greatest Generation, he either downplayed his accomplishments or simply glossed over them. He wasn't one for bragging. At least when it came to his time in the war. And I guess most real American heroes who served in the military are pretty much the same. It's seldom those quiet heroes who served their Country with honor and distinction that brag about their heroics and tout their time in action. And it's these quiet heroes who we honor today.
@ghostsofpompeii, Thank you to your Dad,and thank you to you for posting a truly inspirational story about one of many veterans that served our in a quite and dignified manner.
My great uncle(Grandma’s Brother) is on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in D.C.
Private Jerald John Almanza. Lost his life to an explosive booby trap. His brother David also served in Vietnam, but made it home. I actually reconnected with my Uncle David recently and I often wonder what my uncle Jerry was like.
@ocpunk714, maybe you have already done this,but you can request a name rubbing of your great uncle from the wall in DC. The volunteers are pretty good about fulfilling request. The Vietnam Memorial Fund is still missing about 3,000 pictures of those killed in the war. Glad your great uncle had a picture submitted by grateful family members.
@0cpunk714, below is a picture of a name rubbing, this was my D.I at Ft. Benning, he was killed a year after he turned us into something that resembles soldiers, I arrived in Vietnam 3 months after his death.If interested you can go Vietnam Veterans of America or Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund website and they should be able to walk you thru or direct you how you go about getting a name rubbing. You of course have to know full name,were he was born,Year of his death, and what number and section of the Wall his name is located. Wall is divided into west and east, depending on year of death. Might sound complicated, this info is readily available. If I can help please let me know.
@ocpunk714, actually now that I saw your great uncles picture, you can request a name rubbing at the bottom right of of the picture. I should have looked before I probably confused you.
Well I will keep my fingers crossed,I've made a few requests and 90% of the time they came through, then their was a drop off as far as granting my request. Let me know how it works out for you.
Learning a bit more about my Uncle. He died so young like so many others. There are many nice things said about what his service was like and what it meant to our country on this site I found.
Sorry for the flood of stuff. This is all relatively new since the last couple years, I’ve been doing a lot of family research. I did AncestryDNA and that’s how my Uncle David actually found me online.
@ocpunk714, no man it's very interesting, that is awesome, I did some research on my own and have something to add about your uncle. I will pass it along tomorrow, I too have unloaded a lot on you today. Talk to you later.
Comments
Solemn Reminder.
My father in law participates in the annual "Run For The Wall" bike run every year. He rides to California to start the central route and ends up in D.C 10 days later. Over 1,000 bikes arrived at the Memorial Wall today.
Private Jerald John Almanza. Lost his life to an explosive booby trap. His brother David also served in Vietnam, but made it home. I actually reconnected with my Uncle David recently and I often wonder what my uncle Jerry was like.
http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/795/JOHN-J-ALMANZA?page=2
This also intrigued me. My uncle Jerry is on a national list of Latinos who were casualties of the Vietnam war. So many brave lives.
http://aplh.webs.com/Vietnam%20War%20Casualties%20(A)-2.pdf
Sorry for the flood of stuff. This is all relatively new since the last couple years, I’ve been doing a lot of family research. I did AncestryDNA and that’s how my Uncle David actually found me online.
http://www.cacti35th.org/regiment/kia/kia_details.php?person_id=255