SEMPER FIDELIS
21/05/05 06:06 PM
The time is now 1300 hours, and I have just returned home from Dave Tabor's funeral. The funeral service was completed by 1145. Our Honor Guard. and members of Post 600 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars conducted the Military Honors. This was the first time we teamed up jointly to render this service. It went off pretty good. I had a difficult time, emotionally, when I presented our nation's flag to one of his daughters. I did managed to perform the duty without breaking down.
When the services were over, the family invited us to the reception that was being held at the St. Agatha Social Center. We had a very good lunch and after having my fill I looked up the gentleman I told you about in my last post. He had driven all the way from Virginia to give a final salute to his old comrade in arms.
I spotted him over in a corner, and I went up to him and said, "You will have to excuse me, but I believe I am having a senior's moment. I forgot you name."
"Horsecollar", he said.
"Horsecollar?'. I asked. "Do you spell it like it sounds?"
"Yup". he replied.
"What's your first name?" I inquired.
"That's it - Horsecollar . Horsecollar Smith"
"You're joshing me", I told him.
"Ask my wife, -- Honey, tell him what my name is".
"Horsecollar", she said sweet and smilingly.
"I'll be damned", I replied. "Horsecollar Smith. I'm going to write more about you on my web page.
I inquired if Dave had been awarded his Silver Star Medal in the action he was referring to last night, when he told me how both he and Dave were wounded and their Corporal had died in Dave arms.
"Yup", he said. "Our company had been hit hard , just about everyone was either wounded or killed. Our CO requested reinforcements, and non essential personnel from the rear were ordered up to reinforce us. We held our position but paid a hell of a price". This action took place in the Battle for the Solomon Islands.
I shook his hand, bid him farewell and said, "Semper Fidelis Mate" (Semper Fidelis , Marine Corps motto "Forever Faithful")
I had occasion to speak with another comrade from WWII, and he informed me that Frank Mariano, another fighting marine, is having a very difficult time at the Veterans Hospital in Syracuse. Frank fought in some very, very tough battles in the Pacific. He also fought in the Korean War. Frank is being treated for skin cancer at the VA, but his daughter informed this fellow, that he is experiencing terrible Flashbacks of his fighting days in the Pacific. He informed me also that they have to restrain Frank so he doesn't harm himself, or perhaps others.
They believe that perhaps his Flashbacks were brought on by the medication he received. They are monitoring him closely.
My prayers are with you Frankie, hang in there, Keep the Faith.
It's strange how you can bury those thoughts and memories of so long ago, and yet have them surface, to haunt you, when you least expect it.
On Monday morning our Honor Guard will be rendering full military honors at the funeral for another World War II veteran, Conzetti (Connie) Finocchario. Connie was 92 years young when he reported to the Staff of the Supreme Commander of us all. We will miss him.
It is going on 1515 hours, and I want to rest my weary head before I have to report for my next assignment. The Bishop needs his personal guard to escort him at the Confirmation Mass that commences at l715 this evening. I think I'll retreat to my trusty couch and pay it a visit.
I may return later this evening and chat some more. We'll see. In the meantime take good care of yourselves, God Bless, and Keep the Faith. -- Sailor Jack
FAREWELL COMRADE
20/05/05 06:50 PM
The time is now 1850 hours, and Frisco and I have just returned home from dinner. We ate a little later tonight as I had to go to a Memorial Service for on old friend, Dave Tabor. I mentioned Dave in my last post. He was loved by all who knew him. He will be buried tomorrow morning with full military honors.
Our Honor Guard, from the Legion, will rendered those honors. Tomorrow will be a hectic day for me. The burial will begin with a service at the Funeral Home, followed by a burial Mass that will be celebrated at St. Agatha Church at 1000 hours. The actual burial will take place around 1100 hours at St. Agatha's cemetery where the Honor Guard will fire three volleys, Taps will be played, and I will present our nation's flag to a member of his family. It is a sad duty to perform, but very gratifying to all concerned.
There was a very large crowd at the funeral home when I arrived at 1645 hours. I left the funeral home at 1730 and returned home to pick up my bride. We went over to the Family Diner for our usual Friday meal, and on the way home we passed the funeral home once more and there was still a large crowd there.
I was introduced to one gentleman, and his wife, who drove all the way from Virginia to attend the funeral. He was a fellow Marine who had known Dave since their days together in the battle for the Soloman Islands. They were both in the same Company of Marines and each of them were seriously wounded in the same battle. The gentleman told me how Dave held their mortally wounded Corporal in his arms until he died . In that action Dave was awarded the Purple Heart and the Silver Star Medal for his heroic actions during the battle.
As I have mentioned before, those who have fought and served together in combat are a band of brothers. Dave and his friend have kept in touch with each other for over 60 plus years. He travelled here from Virginia to render his friend and comrade one final salute.
The earlier part of this day was very hectic also. I began my day with my usual activities at the "Y", and my journey around Wal Mart. On my way home I stopped at that quaint little village, Wampsville. I also made stops at the High School, one of the churches in town and Radio Shack to pick up 3 sound mufflers to use on the microphones for the Memorial Day Services.
I am not done as yet, I also went to WMCR Radio and asked if I could be interviewed on our War Memorial Project. They were happy to grant me an interview and it is set for Tuesday, May 24th at 1000 hours. There is just no rest for the weary. If you want something done, give it to a man that is busy, he'll find time to get it done.
I am so tired of hearing that lame excuse "I don't have the time." You can do anything, if you put your mind to it.
Oh, well, not everyone is like me. Thank God.
By the way, while I was at WMCR Radio I inquired if they have any equipment around from the "old days". The station owner asked "Just what is it you're looking for?'
I told her I have two 45 second spot announcements that were recorded on the reel to reel tapes. What got her attention was when I told her that they recorded by Eydie Gorme, the wife of Steve Lawrence, Eydie was a good singing vocalist back in the '60s.
We were taking heavy casualties in Vietnam at that time, and the Navy dispatched the Hospital ship COMFORT to the area. They had a critical shortage of nurses and we were ordered to recruit as many as possible. Eydie Gorme, and her husband, happened to be in Detroit at that time and I went over to the Hotel Cadillac and requested an audience with her.
The desk clerk inquired, "What is your reason for speaking to her?" he asked. I told him I was on assignment and needed her assistance in recruiting some nurses. He gave her a call on the phone, explained why I wanted to see her and she said, "Send the sailor up." I explained my mission and showed her the script I had written. After reading it she said she would be delighted to help in the effort.
My Commanding Officer forwarded the spot announcement to the Bureau of Pubic Information in the Navy Department, and a short time later we received a letter informing us that the spot was being disseminated nation wide. I received a Letter of Commendation from Washington for my outstanding devotion to duty.
I still have two copies of the old tapes, but I have no way of playing them. The station owner asked me to bring them Tuesday, and she would see if they can put them on cassettes. I hope they can as I would like my children to hear them. I can't even remember what I wrote. That was forty some years ago.
Boy, times goes by fast when you're having fun.
I enjoyed my tour of Recruiting Duty, but I often wonder how many of those we recruited never made it home.
Frisco is sitting on the couch watching Dr. Phil, and she is busy making some quilt patches. My legs are beginning to bother me and I hate to ask her to take my support socks off. The phone just range and it was the Commander of the Legion checking up to see if I had done the work he didn't have time for. I informed him not to worry everything is set to go for Memorial Day. When I hung up I said to Frisco, "Hon, would you mind taking off my socks?' She said a few words with her eyes, as only she can do, and then said out loud, "Climb in your chair."
"Ah, that feels so good," I said as she pealed off my support hose.
Her retort was, "Now you now how it feels when you remove a girdle.." She always get in the last word.
Tomorrow night I get to put on my 4th degree Knights of Columbus regalia because the Bishop of Syracuse is arriving to preform a confirmation ceremony. I'll look like an Admiral with with my fore and aft cap loaded down with white feathers, my red cape, my tuxedo and my trusty sword. It's quite a colorful crew. The confirmation Mass commences at 1715 hours and will probably end around 1830.
That will give me 30 minutes to get home, change clothes and get over to the Legion. Tomorrow night we are having our installation of officers dinner. The dinner is being prepared by our Auxiliary and they do a super job. The dinner starts at 1900 hours, so I'll have to rush.
I am tired of typing, and I am running out of words. So my good friends, and I truly mean that, I leave you with this thought of Oliver Wendell Holmes:
"I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving. To reach the Port of Heaven, we must sail sometime with the wind, and sometimes against it; but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor."
With that thought in mind, I take my leave wishing everyone the best in life. God Bless, Pray for Peace, and Keep the Faith. -- Sailor Jack
A DAY OF REMEMBERANCE
18/05/05 01:57 PM
Memorial Day is fast approaching, and as it does my heart grows weary. It is not something new with me, I have had, (for a lack of proper words), "these feelings" since the days of WWII. It seems that the older I get, the more vivid my memory becomes. I believe in my heart, that my son, Commander Dave knows from which I speak.
In his post yesterday morning, he writes: "May 17th, I can't let this date pass without noting that it was on this day in 1987 that former shipmate ET3 Kelly Quick was killed along with 36 others aboard USS STARK."
This young sailor he was referring to, was killed along with 36 other sailors aboard the STARK, when the ship was hit and heavily damaged by an air to surface missile in the Persian Gulf. The young lad was cross-decked to Commander Dave's ship, the STEPHEN W. GROVE, a sister ship of the STARK, to assist in repairing vital equipment on board the GROVE.
Commander Dave has often spoke of this fine young man, that carried out his assignment and duties eagerly, with a smile on his face. When the young sailor completed his assignment aboard GROVE he returned to the STARK. It was just a matter of days, after he returned to duty that the STARK was hit, and young Kelly Quick was one of the casualties.
The above incident took place 18 years ago, and Commander Dave cannot let this date pass by, without remembrance of ET3 Kelly Quick.
There is an old song entitled "There's Something About A Sailor", and another one that comes to mind, "Shipmates, Stand Together" that depicts the camaraderie of navy men. It is true also in the other branches of our armed forces. We are a proud band of brothers.
Yesterday morning we also lost another one of our World War II veterans. David Tabor, 87 years of age, a proud, tough Marine who fought and served with the elite Edson Raiders in the Soloman Islands passed away quietly at his home. Dave was active right up to the end. He was getting ready to repair some of our flag poles that are set up for our Memorial Day Service. When he didn't report, the Commander of our VFW Post went to check on him. He discovered Dave dead in his home. Dave was the recipient of the Silver Star and Purple Heart medals. His burial, with full Military Honors, will be held this Saturday. Farewell, Comrade.
So there it is, each year at this time, my mind tells me it's time to pay them homage. They were my shipmates. they were my friends. We played together, laughed together, cried together and fought together. A very special breed of men.
Speaking of a special breed of men, I am inserting a few more lines, that are being added at 0845 hour, in tribute to another branch of the Navy, that I had the distinct privilege of serving in. We are best known as "The Silent Service".
On "60 Minutes", a CBS program, a report on the collision of the attack submarine USS SAN FRANCISCO that had hit an undersea mountain at a speed of approximately 40-45 knots was aired. Frisco called my attention to it, and I immediately halted all activities to hear first hand the story as told by her Captain and some members of her crew.
It was a harrowing tale of a crippled submarine fighting to rise from a depth of 550 feet. Her crew had been throw against instruments, hatches, and bulkheads. Aboard submarines there are no soft spots. Their forward ballast tanks had been ruptured and they had a difficult time attempting to rise to the surface. A May Day call was sent and a helicopter was immediately dispatched to attempt to save the life of one of her crew who was critically injured.
When the helicopter arrived the crew was working desperately cutting away railings leading up a 20 foot latter from the mess deck just aft of her conning tower. They were attempting to host a stretcher with their injured shipmate strapped on it, but stretcher was too wide and would not go through the hatch leading topside. The young submariner died shortly after their failed attempt. The skipper of the sub released the helicopter from it's mission and the wounded submarine limped back to Guam., where she was temporarily repaired for her return voyage to her home port.
The skipper of the submarine lost his command, and took full responsibility of the incident. The Navy faulted him for not checking all the charts available to him. The chart he and his crew were utilizing was a chart they were given for this particular mission by the Navy Department.
The Chief of the Boat was pained deeply at the loss of one of his crew, and you could see and feel the pain in his heart for a lost shipmate.
I mentioned to Fran that it was a miracle that the SAN FRANCISCO was able to surface. The most dreaded call in the Silent Service is, "Gray Lady Down". A salute goes out to them from me, and, I am sure, all Submariners. In my book they are "The Keepers of the Faith".
These last 5 paragraphs were inserted immediately after that segment of the CBS program ended.
It is now 1600 hours and I haven't had my nap. I don't think I would be able to nap anyway. I do have to go to the Legion at 1900 tonight for a quick check on our preparations for Memorial Day. Everything seems to be in place, and hopefully, we're ready to get underway.
Stopped in and saw Lois this morning, and we have received more donations. What is so encouraging is that we are receiving long distance donations. The news is out there. Today we had donors from Canton, Ohio, and Old Forge, NY along with several local donors. We have even received some pledges from VIPs, whom I will not name at this time.
Lois has been giving me the notes and letters that accompany the checks. I enjoy reading about their feelings on this project. I just know that the community will not fail us. We will reach our goal!
I personally believe that we will receiving an increased volume of donations when Memorial Day is over, and we break ground for the foundation of this beautiful monument. The public will be well aware by then, that we have Aaron Sykes, a noted sculptor, working with us.
Things will be snowballing by then. Everybody will want to contribute. Remember how you use to build a snowman? You would start with a small snowball and roll it into a hugh ball of snow. Hence the word "snowballing" -- we're on a roll! Let'er rip!!! I smell SUCCESS!!!
Well my good friends, I am going to take my leave and relax for a short while before my bride rings the dinner bell. Pray for Peace.
God Bless and Keep the Faith. -- Sailor Jack
HIGH PLACES
16/05/05 05:47 PM
What a tremendous day it has been. Aaron Sykes, sculptor extraordinare, has reported for duty. We met with this young man shortly before 1000 hours this morning, and had a very informative discussion with him. He is a very, very talented young man.
He is willing to help us in our endeavor, and will be e-mailing me as to when he will be available for the ground breaking ceremony. I would like to do it the first week in June, but he wants to check his schedule. He informed me that it would be the first thing he'll do when he gets home. He lives in Philadelphia, PA, about a 5 hour drive from here.
Farrell Miller, the site man, and Bob Clarke, the artist and designer, along with our town supervisor, "Rocky" DiVeronica, and myself, covered just about everything we had hoped to cover, and then some. My hopes have skyrocketed, how can we fail, with a man of this caliber in our corner.
After our discussions, we went to Clark Memorial Park so that Aaron could view the site. The four of us, on the committee, concurred with his recommendation as to where the memorial would be most visible, and provide the best viewing space for the public at our ceremonial services. He requested an overhead site view of the area, and will prepare for us, a 3 dimensional drawing of his proposal. We are all looking forward to that.
We finished up a little after 12 noon, and everybody went their separate ways. I invited Aaron out to lunch, and the two of us went over to my favorite eating place, Anne Marie's Family Diner. There, I learned a little more about this fine gentleman. He has a good taste for fine foods. After looking the bill of fare over, he ordered Liver and onions, with bacon. A man after me own heart. I love liver, smothered with onions and bacon also. As it turned out, we had identical meals. We also ordered home fries and beet salad. The only thing that was different was that he drank a coke, and I had a cup of coffee.
Just before he and I went to lunch, Lois, our treasurer, informed me that she had received checks from California, Florida and Cazenovia, NY. How about that. The news is being spread far and wide. Each of them mentioned that they read my article in the Madison Neighbors Magazine of the Syracuse Post Standard.
When I returned home I discovered two e-mails, informing me that they had checked my web site and discovered that somebody absconded with my Service Member List. I found out about it yesterday, and I informed Commander Dave about it. He was surprised that it was gone. We had brought it up to date, and I printed copies of it. It's still in my computer, but it went AWOL from my web site. Dave told me he would have it back on line before night fall.
My two e-mail friends, were seeking information about some of their relatives names. They each wanted to know if three (3) of their family members were on the list. In each case 2 names were, and 1 wasn't. I e-mailed them back and requested that they send me a copy of the missing man's discharge papers. One of the missing names, was a personal old friend of mine. He has passed on now, and if she can't find his discharge papers I'll personally check it out at the Veterans Agency in, (yes), Wampsville.
Frisco and I have our shuffleboard tournament tonight. We play at 1900 hours (remember, that 7 p.m.) and we should be back home by 2000 hours, or 2030 at the latest. I want to get back as soon as possible, as I told Commander Dave that we would be back home by then. Right now it's 1600 hours, and I haven't had my nap as yet. I arose early this morning, earlier than usual, because I couldn't sleep any longer. The cat was bothering me, and I was anxious to commence my day. This is the day I have been waiting for. Believe me, it was worth the wait. All good things come to those who sit and wait.
I'll be back with you later this evening to bring you up to date. Stay tuned. I'm back, Fran rang the dinner bell, and I awoke from a sound nap. It's now 1747 hours according to my trusty little time piece above my desk top. I have time to chat for a few minutes before we head over to the legion.
I guess I really should throw some hot water in my face to wake up. The reason I say hot water, is because it's cold in the house. I wonder if we paid we our heat bill? I had my blanket over me, but I'm chilled to the bone. It had been raining while I was napping and it still looks dark and cloudy out, I guess I am going to have to put my shoes on. Frisco is anxious to get to the legion. We don't play for another hour but she just ordered me to get my act together. I guess she's going stir crazy, she has been cooped up in the house all day.
Like Dugout Doug, "I Have Returned".
Frisco and I played a tough game, but lost to a tougher opponent. Oh well, there is always next week. I heard some good news, along with some sad news while we were at the legion. I'll give you the sad news first, and end up on a happier note.
The sad news is that we have lost another one of our comrades. Dave Taber, a World War II veteran, passed away this morning at his home. I don't know the particulars of his passing, but I will be notified sometime tomorrow morning. He was a quiet man, with a fighting heart. I'll tell you more tomorrow.
The good news is that Bob Clarke, the fellow that designed and sketched our Memorial had another appointment at his place of employment at 1300 hours today. He would have liked to stayed and gone to lunch with us at noon, but it was appointment he dare not miss. I don't know if I have mentioned it in some of my previous discussions with you, but Bob is an Associate Professor at Mohawk Community College. Today he was informed by the President of the College that he has been awarded a full Professorship at their institute of learning. He is a proud and happy man tonight. Couldn't happen to a nicer fellow. Congratulations, Bob.
Well I guess that is about it for tonight. I have had a full day, a short nap and the good fortune of having someone, in High Places, watch over me.
Keep the Faith, my friends, and pray for Peace. Sailor Jack