26 June 2005

A ROUGH NIGHT

29/06/05 03:30 PM

Last night's blog must have blown my mind. I had a very difficult time getting to sleep. The last time I looked at the clock it read 0345 and I laid there wide awake.

Remember the lyrics to that old song, "I Believe"?; "I believe that every time a rain drop falls, a flower grows. I believe that someone in the great somewhere hears every prayer. I believe that every time a new born baby cries, or sees the skies, I believe, I believe", (or words to that effect).

Last night's blog was entitled, "I Am A Believer". Believe me when I say, "I AM"!

My Mother, God love her, taught and raised her six children to believe in our Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ. Fran and I did our very best to do the same thing with our children. I am sure, in my heart, that each of them will turn to Him when troubled.

I don't want to press my beliefs on anyone. To each his own. I would like to think that the people of this world would turn to their God in their hour of need. Enough said!

The night before last, I received a phone call from Port Charlotte, Florida from a former resident of Canastota. He receives our village weekly newspaper, The Bee Journal, and he read my article I wrote concerning the jackets I have in my custody for a couple of former "Chosin Few" survivors.

The fellow that called, John Relyea, informed me that his VFW Post has a member that fits the criteria to receive one. The fellow's name is Joe Quick, and his comrades want to surprise him with one of the jackets. I informed John, that it would be in the mail the next day. So it was. Two down and one to go. I know that I'll receive another request soon. I hope Joe Quick enjoys wearing his. I am sure he will wear it with great pride.

Frisco called me at 0800 this morning, and I didn't want to get up. I don't believe I slept more than 4 hours. I adhered to her command, and the deck as ordered. I was debating whether or not I was going to go to the "Y" for my exercises. Fran had an appointment to give blood for either today or tomorrow at 1300 hours, but she had to call the Red Cross because she forgot what day.

That left me hanging out on a limb. I was out in limbo land. After great consideration I decided that seeing as how I lost so much sleep last night, that I would take it easy and sleep the morning away. I tried hard, but all I got was a good rest.

It turned out that her blood donor appointment was for today. After she gave blood we returned home and I killed some time playing cribbage on the computer. At 1445 I made my way over to the Municipal Building to visit with my favorite gals, Lois and, her sister, Nancy. I think I mentioned it before, they both work in the Town of Lenox Offices.

Today is Lois's birthday, I sang Happy Birthday to her as I entered her office. I won't give away her age. it's not polite for a gentleman to divulge that sort of information. It will suffice to say that she doesn't look her age. She and her sister are two beautiful ladies that I hold in very high esteem.

Frisco just escaped from her quilting room, and inquired if we could go out for supper this evening. After a quick accounting of my cash flow, I informed her that I would be delighted to have her company at the diner. It is much too hot to cook over a hot stove. It looks like we might get some rain. I hope so, the grass around the neighborhood is turning yellow. We really need the rain.

The village is in mourning today, the son of our local miniature golf course, and ice cream parlor owner, was killed in a head on collision on Route 5, just a short distance from our village. He crossed over a double line and hit a large bus head on. He was 22 years of age. Such a tragic loss. He was well known throughout the area and was a good, decent young man.

Tomorrow morning at 1100 hours our Honor Guard will perform another Military Funeral for one of our Korean War veterans. I may beg out of it tomorrow, as I am sort of leery about getting heat stoke. There are times we must wait for 2 hours, or more, before the funeral procession arrives at the cemetery. When it's this hot. and at my age, it's kind of dangerous.

The time is 1710 hours, and Frisco is getting hungry. I'l finish this up upon our return. Back again. Frisco had a cold turkey sandwich and a cup of soup, and I had myself, being it's Wednesday, and I live in an Italian Village, the traditional Wednesday Spagetti Dinner. It was pretty darn good. I cleaned up my plate. My mother would be proud of me.

I have about 15 more minutes before I'll have to cut this short. The national news will be coming on, and I enjoy sitting back and finding out what's going on in the world. It's usually pretty much the same, no good news, all they have to report is a world that's full of tragedy. Good news is bad news for television media. They are now reporting on how the terrorists are going to poison our food supply, particularly the milk supply. An ounce of some sort of toxin will kill millions of us. Have your milk tested, regularly.

It has been nice chatting with you good folks tonight, but I have put the damper on. I am taking too much of your busy time so I'll sign off with my usual salutation -- God Bless, Keep the Faith. -- Sailor Jack.

I AM A BELIEVER

28/06/05 09:44 PM

Another hot day in Central New York. The temperature reached 94 degrees for the second day in a row. We have been in the 90's for almost a week now.

Frisco and I arrived home from the legion a short while ago, and received a i chat call from our son, Dave. As I expected he set me straight on the definition of "blog". He personally prefers my definition, "biography log". We chatted awhile about my run in with my marine buddy, Bob Arnold, and how we discovered that we both participated in the last invasion of the war, the invasion of Kume Shima.

It was a hell of battle, I tell you, when they seen us coming over the horizon, they ran like the devil and hide. I say this in jest, war is easier to talk about, when you're joshing.

After Dave signed off, I began settling in on some work that had to be completed on our War Memorial project. Another friend of mine, Deno Dolci, called and informed me that a classmate of his, back in high school, name was not on the list of names to be inscribed. I was just finishing up my conversion with him when Commander Dave was paging me on i chat once more.

I accepted his call while I was still on the phone, and Dave could see and hear me talking with Deno. Being the kind of guy I am, I can't do two things at one time, I inadvertently hung up on Dave. It was just a matter of seconds, when he reconnected his call.

He wanted to know what the date was when we invaded Kume Shima. I told him, "it was 60 years ago, you expect me to remember the date?"

He replied, "I did a little research, and I was just wondering if you remembered".

I said, "It was late in the war, sometime in July, I think".

"Well", he responded, "You wrote your blog, 'Okinawa and Kume Shima Revisited' on June 26th. The date of the invasion of Kume Shima was June 26th, 1945. Sixty years ago, to the day. How's that for coincidence?"

"I'll be damned", I said, "What a coincidence".

To think that my marine buddy, Bob Arnold and I was 'standing tall' at a Wishing Well, and unknowingly brought up our experiences at Okinawa. I mentioned the fact that I was rather proud to have participated in the last invasion of WWII, the small island of Kume Shima 50 miles away from Okinawa.

To my surprise I discovered that Bob was in the Marine Expeditionary Force that our amphibious force had laid rocket fire support for prior to their landing . The action was short and sweet, there was just a small detachment of Jap troops ashore and most of them where old men. None the less, it was a job that had to be done. We did not know what we would encounter, but that's the way war is. We were fortunate, and pleased, that we did not meet with heavy resistance. At the same time, we made history -- the last invasion of War World II.

I'll have to call Bob, and let him know that someone brought us together to share a memory of an event that took place sixty years ago to the day.

I'm an awful strong believer that, somewhere in this universe, somebody is guiding us down the path of our lifes. Was it a coincidence? I don't believe so. I want to believe that somewhere, someone, is leading us down the road of life, and in His own way saying to us, "Well Done, my faithful servant, Well Done."

With that, I am going to call it a night. Thanks Dave, you have given me much to think about tonight. God Bless -- Keep the Faith. Sailor Jack

OKINAWA AND KUME SHIMA - REVISITED

26/06/05 10:09 AM

Today at 1700 hours, the Legion's Honor Guard will muster for a Memorial Service for yet another one of our World War II comrades, and a member of our American Legion Post. John Vaccaro, 83, has passed away, and will be buried with full military honors tomorrow morning.

It's sad when you learn of their passing. I have known John for over 25 years. He loved to come to the Post Home a few days a week and play poker. It' a ritual type of thing, they gather and reminisce about "the good old days", and play a little penny ante poker to pass the time. John's chair will be empty now, but another legionnaire will join their ranks in the near future. Life must go on.

I am not a gambling man, so I doubt if I will ever join them. It nice to know that we have a place where we can come together, and enjoy the camaraderie, that only those who have served in the military know.

Yesterday I spent 3 hours at Wal Mart manning the Wishing Well. I have been the only one that has been manning the station since June 12th. I was about ready to take my leave, when another old friend, Bob Arnold, of WWII came in. He walked up to me and rendered a snappy salute and said, "I am ready to relieve you, Sir",

What a nice surprise. He was decked out in his Marine Corps League uniform, and said that he had noticed that I was the only one manning the station. We stood there together doing our own bit of reminiscing about the Battle for Okinawa. I happened to mention to him that I had the distinction of participating in the last invasion of World War II.

I mentioned that we escorted a marine expeditionary force to a small island 50 miles away from Okinawa, and about the story I wrote of my shipmate, Irving Krutchick, who made a remark, "Anybody got a comb?" as 2 Corsairs flew in low to photograph the operation. When I mentioned Kume Shima, his eyes lid up, and he said, "I'll be a "SOB". I was in that expeditionary force".

He asked me again the name of the island, I said, "Kume Shima". He pronounces it "Ku mi" and I pronounce it, "Ku me".
He was there, it felt good to talk with a fellow that shared a part of history with me. I also discovered that his division was attached to our naval amphibious force that was to invade the Island of Kyushu. What a small world. I wonder if "someone" brought us together yesterday, to make our day. We were part of the occupation force that landed in Sasebo and Nagasaki, Japan. Their orders were the same as ours, instead of an invading force, we became an occupation force.

I don't particularly like to talk about those days, but yesterday it felt good to talk with someone that was there. Someone who could understand your feelings, and your heartaches.

I have known Bob for a good number of years, somewhere between 10 to 15. We were never close friends, just passing acquaintances. Be assured that we will be a lot more closer in the years ahead. SEMPER FI, Bob, Keep the Faith.

This morning Frisco and I had breakfast over at Anne Marie's Family Diner with Mary and Bob Orr. The place was really busy this morning, and it should be, they serve wonderful meals. The time right now is 1045 hours, and I sat right down after we got home to write this blog.

Somebody tell me, what is the meaning of the word "blog"? Biography Log, or what?

It reminds me of when I first entered the Navy, back in '44. I had to learn the english language all over again. Sailors don't talk like humans. I am beginning to wonder about "bloggers". Even when I type the word "blog" the little red under score line appears to tell me they don't understand what I am talking about. I am going to ask Commander Dave if there is a dictionary available pertaining to the bloggers language.

Yesterday afternoon, after I arrived back home, I sat down and got caught up on some "Thank You" letters to people who have donated to our War Memorial. I also sent Stan Smith, a former marine, and a "Chosin Few" survivor, a copy of the Canastota Bee Journal. I wrote an article concerning him, and the jacket that he received from me with the "Chousin Few" logo on the back of it. I thought he would like to joke around with his friends there in Oregon about how well known he is in Central New York.

As long as I was in a writing mood, I also wrote to my sister, Isabel, in Spokane Springs, Washington and sent her a batch of articles that were in the local papers concerning the War Memorial. I had promised her that I would do so, but I never seemed to have the time. That's just an excuse. There is no excuse! You have to make the time, stop what your doing and get whatever is to be done, done. There I told myself off. I feel better now.

I didn't feel up to typing up this blog either, (there's that little red mark under the word blog again), but I sat down and decided to let my mind run wide. Talk about this, talk about that. It might be interesting, then again it might not. Who cares, I know I am not going to be interrupted, so I just chatter on.

I really don't want to force myself upon you. It is now 1115 hours and I have other duties that I must look into. With that I"ll close, asking each of you to Keep the Faith. -- Sailor Jack