Foo - On Memorial Day I will remember...

...my uncle Gary.

http://www.virtualwall.org/dt/TracyGD01c.jpg


On 06 June 1965, two HMM-161 UH-34 helicopters launched from USS IWO JIMA for a pre-dawn search and rescue mission, but the two helicopters apparently collided in mid-air at 0510 and both fell into the sea. Eight Marines were killed in the accident:

In UH-34D BuNo 148791
1stLt Gerald Otto McKay, pilot
1stLt Nicolaus August Doeden, copilot
Cpl Gary Dale Tracy, crewman
Pfc Curtis Lamarr Foster, crewman

In UH-34D BuNo 148820
Capt Paul Francis McNally, pilot
1stLt Allen Conrad Hertz, copilot
Cpl Frank Willard Wilson, crewman
LCpl Carl Edward McBee, crewman

I will remember Lt. Michael Ayotte who went down in his A-10 during training and Lt. Glennon Kersgieter, whose F18 Hornet crashed on take off from the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. Both were friends and class mates of mine.

My father in law, who passed on a decade prior. A member of the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion, he was one of “those damned Engineers” during the Battle of The Bulge and First Across the Rhine.

A man who was drafted out of high school and never finished his senior year, he fought, came home and lived a quiet life.

My grandfather, I never got to learn much about his military past (to him it was nothing more than "giving back to his country", and he didn't talk much at all anyways...trying to press him to talk just got you an earful for being disrespectful of one's elders), but I do know (mostly from asking my dad) was he was US Navy, and did fight in WWII, pacific.

He lived from that, he passed away a little over 11 years ago.

/salute that grouchy grandfather I love


As a sidenote, my Father served in Vietnam, US navy, HC7 (still alive). He gets a warm salute as well.

(Yeah I'm the first in at least a century of my family line to not have served in the Navy...I got tons of crap for it, but that was my decision)

I will remember that the French, even if taunted by the Bush Administration, swiftly kicked the British in the ass for us a couple hundred years ago.

I will remember my late husband's cousin Jason, who was killed in action in France in 1944.

And I will remember the countless obits of our fallen young which I have faithfully and painfully read these past four years.... :(

I will remember my Father in Law who was a Korean War hero, nearly killed trying to save a Marine who jumped out of his foxhole during an attack. I will remember my buddies, 1 from high school killed guarding an embassy, and 4 from my time in the Army who were killed in the attack on the Pentagon. I will remember all the young men and women who have served in all of our wars and made the ultimate sacrifice. No greater gift can one give to another.

I don't know if i will "remember" them, but the courageous passengers on Flight 93, that spared the country further suffering on Sept. 11th, never get the posthumous credit they deserve.

I will remember my grandfather, G.C. "Cecil" Moore. I only knew his as PawPaw. He had a heart attack a the wheel of his firetruck, but he got all the other heros on that truck to the fire.

http://www.dallasfirerescue.com/lod/lod.html

Lets not forget to thank all the fallen heroes in the fire and police departments as well.

James Egan Jr. - Officer, US MARINE CORPS. (MIA - Presumptive finding of death 1/21/1966, South Vietnam)

And my Grandfather, my Uncles... Dan, Jack, Archie.

I've had two soldiers who died in-hospital, and I have to say that those two days were my hardest so far as a physician. Both were massive, nothing-you-can-do type things, but it's truly heartbreaking to lose someone who's sacrificed so much and come so far.

I thought of you and your coworkers last night Doc. I watched a special investigative report about military doctors in Iraq on CNN.

Just thought of a quote that seemed appropriate...

"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived." --George S. Patton

Thanks from a grateful and deeply-appreciative American for those who have sacrificed so much.

I spent the weekend doing a lot for Memorial Day celebrations. Saturday my wife and I helped place new flags on the graves of about 45 veterans in a small local cemetery. Sunday morning our A.L. Post had a breakfast for Rolling Thunder riders, and we served about 140 breakfasts. Sunday afternoon I served on a color guard for a ceremony at the same cemetery. Monday at noon we had a ceremony at the Post, and I served on that color guard as well.

Tomorrow (well, it's past midnight) will be more of a time for quiet reflection for me. I may go down to Quantico National for a little bit. I'll spend my day thinking of those that have gone before me, leaving our freedom and liberty in their wake.

I remembered my uncle, who I was named after, who died shortly after his tour in Vietnam.

I also remembered my Grandfather, who was in the navy, who I'm also named after, who died long after his time of service in the navy and the NYPD.

My father, still alive, gets a salute for his service in the Navy.

I have never celebrated memorial day until today only in one aspect.
I have a new healthy Grandson born May 28, 10:00 P.M. A wonderful remarkable gift, yes that is celebration.
But otherwise personally for me it is a day of rememberance with the Marines I served with as well as others.
This day always makes me sad. For me it is a time of mourning,tears,and soltitude.

Man, that little dog is not to be underestimated! :beer:

LOL, thanks.

Thread cleaned up.

Now from me....thanks to everyone that has given their lives or just part of their lives to make this a better place for me and for others.

Friends I have flown and drank with. Good times. So raise a shot of Jerimiah Weed (the official fighter pilot shooter) to some guys who died doing what they loved doing. To Chuck, Lance, Al, JP, Chris, and Paul.

My father, Lt. Col. James. E. Barron , Jr. (Korean War-Germany & France)


R.I.P.


Best man I ever met. Died in a VA hospital.

I'll add one to the list that hit close to home... COL Brian Allgood, Medical Corps, US Army. An orthopedic surgeon. Died 20 January 2007 in Iraq when his Blackhawk helicopter was shot down. And even closer to home, MAJ Mark Taylor, Medical Corps, US Army, a general surgeon (my specialty) killed in an RPG attack in Fallujah on 20 March 2004.

Best wishes for my uncle who did three tours in Vietnam as a Ranger/SF operator and is now happily retired. His son, my cousin, who is also a Ranger and currently a surgeon in the Green Zone.

my daughter sent this to me thought I would share it.
Represenative of even today just a different place and era.




http://www.grunt.com/enewsletterpro/t.aspx?S=1&ID=310&NL=3&N=274&SI=2396&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.operationmom.org%2fToOurParents.html

SFC Clinton Wisdom - KIA 08NOV2004 vicinity Baghdad
SGT Don Allen Clary - KIA 08NOV2004 vicinity Baghdad


Rest in peace my brothers. You've gone on to a far better place than this world will ever be again.