Thread: Memorial Day 2005

We are reminded that they died so that we could live and continue to cherish the things they loved ---God, country and family.

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
"Moina Michael"

There is a price to be paid for freedom, be it ours or a neighboring land that seeks their own freedom and democracy.

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Hopefully we will all use this thread to share remembrances through this Memorial Day.
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I think too many people forget the sacrifice our military past present and future give so that we can enjoy the freedom of this great nation. God Bless all those who serve.

Marine Corporal Charles Gene Abrell, 19, of Terre Haute, Indiana, won the Medal of Honor in Korea for sacrificing his life while leading an assault on enemy positions.

The nation's highest decoration for valor was awarded to the youthful Marine for extraordinary heroism on June 10, 1951 at Hangnyong, where he hurled himself bodily into an enemy bunker with a live hand grenade, killing himself and the enemy gun crew in the explosion.

Corporal Abrell was the 14th Marine to receive the Medal of Honor for Korean fighting. Born August 12, 1931 at Terre Haute, he attended public schools in Las Vegas, Nevada, before enlisting in the Marine Corps August 17, 1948 at the age of 17.

Following recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina, he was assigned to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and also served aboard the USS Noble before going to Korea with the First Marine Division.

He was in action at Inchon, Seoul, Wonsan, Chosin Reservoir, and Hanghum, before the assault on a hill near Hwachon in which he was killed.

Corporal Abrell also was awarded the Letter of Commendation with Commendation ribbon with Combat “V”, the Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Occupation Service Medal with Europe clasp, Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, and the United Nations Service Medal.

Originally Posted by GlenC

I think too many people forget the sacrifice our military past present and future give so that we can enjoy the freedom of this great nation. God Bless all those who serve.

I have always believed that Veterans Day is the day when you pay tribute to all that have served. Memorial Day is the day when you pay tribute to only those that made the ultimate sacrifice. Just my thoughts..

This is for all the sailors on the USS Forrestal that fought against the fire that took so many of their lives. God Bless all the sailors that lost their lives and may he be always with their families and friends to comfort those that remained. Indeed, not to be forgotten.........as all those lost in service of God and Country.

http://members.tripod.com/~MrHugs2/forrestal.htm

Originally Posted by labill

This is for all the sailors on the USS Forrestal that fought against the fire that took so many of their lives. God Bless all the sailors that lost their lives and may he be always with their families and friends to comfort those that remained. Indeed, not to be forgotten.........as all those lost in service of God and Country.

Here are your boys, labill

Marvin J. Adkins * Everettt A. Allen * Gary J. Ardeneaux Tony A. Barnett * Dennis M. Barton * Robert L. Bennett

Mark R. Bishop * James L. Blaskis * William V. Brindle

Bobby J. Brown * Jerry D. Byars * Marvin F. Campeau

Jack M. Carlan * Daniel G. Cavazos * Ray A. Chatelain

Richard D. Clendenen * William D. Collins * Robert B. Cotton

James L. Crenshaw * Mario C. Crugnola, Jr. * Robert J. Davies

Thomas J. Dawson, Jr. * Jerold V. Despard * Edward R. Dorsey

Joseph G. Dugas * Paul A. Dupere * John S. Duplaga

Walter T. Eads * James A. Earick * John T. Edwards

Gerald W. Farrier * Kenneth L. Fasth * John J. Fiedler

Russell L. Fike * Harold Fontenot * Johnnie L. Frazier

Gerald G. Fredrickson * Herbert A. Frye * Ramon Garza

Robert E. Geller * Richard H. Gibson * Laurence J. Gilbert

William T. Gilroy * Larry E. Grace * Russell A. Grazier

Charles C. Gregory * William C. Hartgen * Robert L. Hasz

Richard A. Hatcher * William K. Hinckley * Stephen L. Hock

Larry D. Holley * Calvin D. Howison * Philip L. Hudson

Julius B. Hughes * Donald N. Hugo * Ralph W. Jacobs

Donald W. Jedlicka * William B. Justin * Thomas M. Kane

Charles D. Kieser * Joseph Kosik III * Edward L. La Barr

Wade A. Lannom, Jr. * William Lee * Robert C. Leonberg

John T. Lilla * Arnold E. H. Lohse * Charles E. Long

William E. Lowe * Kenneth W. Lozier * James S. MacVickar, Jr.

Ralph E. Manning * Earle E. McAuliffe, Jr. * Brian D. McConahay

George C. McDonald * Frank C. McNelis, Jr. * William V. McQuaide

Allan R. Metz * George D. Miller * Edward A. Mindyas

Hubert H. Morgan, Jr. * Leroy Moser * James E. Neumeyer

Gary E. Newby * James E. Newkirk * Ronald R. Ogring

Thomas D. Ott II * Wayne H. Ott * Richard L. Owens

Richard T. Pinta * Raymond N. Plesh * John C. Pody

Ernest E. Polston * Douglas A. Post * Robert M. Priviech

John M. Pruner * Robert A. Rhuda * Charles R. Rich

Jerry P. Rodgers * Dale R. Ross * James M. Runnels

Harvey D. Scofield * Joseph C. Shartzer * William J. Shields

Richard M. Sietz * David W. Smith * Richard T. Smith

John F. Snow * John C. Spiess * Nelson E. Spitler

Johnny W. Spivey * Gerry L. Stark * Walter E. Steele

Wendell W. Stewart * Robert A. Stickler * Kenneth D. Strain

Robert H. Swain * Delton E. Terry * Norman A. Thomas

William F. Thompson * Richard J. Vallone * Robert J. Velasquez

Juan A. Velez * George E. Wall * Harold D. Watkins

Gregory L. Webb * Gerald A. Wehde * Judson A. Wells, Jr.

Richard L. Wescott * Edward J. Wessells * Fred D. White

Kerry D. Wisdom * Robert L. Zwerlein

Not to be forgotten...

A Shadow on the Wall

It was 2:00 a.m in the morning, when he came upon the wall...
a dark black "V" of granite, it stands not very tall.

The timing was premeditated, he had to be alone...
for it's very hard to hear, a voice that's etched in stone.

He paced those wings of black, looking for a friend...
and to reflect upon a moment in time, to a place where they'd once been.

Then the panel suddenly appeared, and the voice was once again heard...
a long lost friend had been found, among the whisper of his word.

In the silence of the night, it echoed from the wall...
"You can let it go now, and thanks for coming to call"

And then he moved away, the silhouetted wall began to fade...
but looking back he noticed......his shadow.... it had stayed .

Then came May 22, of 2004...
his shadow had moved to Bremond, to see the final door.

No longer only a voice, a voice only etched in stone...
his friend had come home now, no longer all alone.

Thirty-six years had passed, since he last stood beside his friend...
but now in Bremond Texas, a long journey would finally end.

Back once again with family, a family that waited so long...
beside his Mother and Father, that had taught him right from wrong.

Now my friend, my comrade in arms, my shadow can finally rest...
of all the friends I may ever have, you'll remain my very best.

I have met your distant friends, and what a brotherhood they are...
and now we are also like family, and will never stray very far.

And now to the final line, as many hearts begin to mend...
it is a privilege and an honor, to have you "Ham", to have
you as my friend.

Mike "Tiny" Readinger - VV68

Hannah's dad just left last Thursday for his second tour over seas...God Bless Him...........Before leaving Hannah, our granddaughter for those who don't know, wanted her dad to paint her up like him....Thought I would share it with you....

Thanks VV68.....the link I posted earlier had their names listed there too, and reading the names with the bagpipes playing I could scarcely read them thru the tears. Always effects me that way.

Shellback.....I"m guessing you've seen the post I made. I had you in mind too when I posted it. No one got off without the scars, whether they were physical or mental. Thanks for your service.

My Dad...Pat Bales, was a 23 year old Marine in the Korean war. He did one tour of combat and came home. After 4 months of thinking of his friends still there he re-enlisted after getting the Marines to promise that he would be sent back to Korea with his old unit....and did another tour of combat duty. I knew none of this until Mom told me after he died because he never talked about it. When I was growing up and would whine about something he would always tell me.."the service will make a man out of you and break you of all that whining". Then when I was 16 and a couple years shy of possibly being drafted and going to VietNam I overheard him telling a friend that he would volunteer to go in my place even at the age of 42 if they would let him so I would never have to experience the terrible things he did. My Dad was a hell of a man!! All the veterans on this board and across the country have my never ending gratitude for giving my children and grandchild a free and secure land to live in.