[GreenKeys] re: veterans memorial info request on Vets day, 2007

[Keith Densmore]

This time of year is good for reflection. Here in Canada, we recognize 
Rememberance Day every Nov. 11
My grandfather, who was the gentlest man I ever had the priviledge of 
knowing,  served in the Canadian Army from 1914-1918. During those awful 
four years he lived in the trenches and witnessed things we cannot possibly 
imagine. He was gassed in 1917, spent two weeks in a field hospital and 
re -joined his unit until the end of WWI.  The respitory damage followed him 
for the rest of his life and he eventually died of lung failure many years 
later.
And for those enemies of our way of life, I cannot help be reminded of the 
lyrics of an old Irish song--
"But their sons have sons, as brave as where their fathers"...

Peace to us all,

Keith, VE3TS








 ----- Original Message ----- 
From: <KC0NNC at aol.com>
To: <W7TTY at readysetsurf.com>
Cc: <greenkeys at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, November 11, 2007 6:21 PM
Subject: [GreenKeys] re: veterans memorial info request on Vets day, 2007


> My father Harry Eugene Smith was stationed on the Ralph Talbot destroyer, 
> in
> Pearl Harbor December 7th 1941, a day that will live in infamy.
>
> His present ham call sign (and only ham sign since he was a ham from 
> shortly
> after the war ended to the present day)  is W0WUR, his wife, now deceased, 
> (my
> mother Margery Louise Moylan carried the call sign of W0GQO).
>
> Best rate he carried was Machinist's Mate First class,  date of joining 
> the
> Navy was 1939.  date of discharge due to a heavy build up of lead in the 
> ass
> (while dodging a .25 cal jap strafing run while on deck on General 
> Quarters,
> when  in the Guadal Canal offensive) as he now comments after 
> participating in 17
> major sea engagements in the south pacific theater,   "the only good thing
> about zigging when you should have zagged, and getting your ass shot off, 
> was
> that the very pretty nurses on the hospital ship working on your buttocks 
> while
> you laid on your tummy, was that they would give you all the vanilla ice
> cream you asked for"
>
> Oh well, perhaps this was "off subject and requested point" but I am proud 
> to
> say that I did accompany my dad to his 65th anniversary of getting jap 
> bombs
> dropped on or near the Ralph Talbot  (this reunion was almost a year ago 
> now)
> in Pearl Harbor, to attend what was probably his last Dec. 7th reunion.
>
> Any one reading this would do well to visit the USS Arizona and Missouri 
> (as
> we did) and thereby develop an appreciation for the true freedom we enjoy.
>
>
> I hope to return there several times in the balance of my life.  I feel I 
> owe
> it to those who did not return home. By the way; if you ever have the
> opportunity to visit Pearl Harbor, be sure and visit the Punch Bowl, MIA 
> cemetery
> just a few blocks from downtown Honolulu, it will alter your perspective 
> on life.
> Just as seeing the movie "Saving Private Ryan" did as well.
>
> God Bless America.
>
> and best regards to all reading this note
>
> Harvey E. Smith
> 2020 Baculite Mesa Road
> Pueblo, CO., 81001-2456
> 719 406 9735
>
> fka WA0BBG
> nka KC0NNC
>
> HarveyEsmith at aol.com
>
> KC0NNC at aol.com
>
>
> 73's
>
>
>
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