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Memorial Day
Here in the United States today is Memorial Day, a day of remembrance for the multitudes who gave their lives in the defense of our country. Created in 1868 after the bloodbath which was the American Civil War, this national holiday is observed somewhat nonchalantly by the majority of our populace who use it as a three-day weekend designed to gorge on beer, whiskey, and vast assortments of grilled fare. Not that there's anything wrong with that concept; yet I wonder if many of us take a few moments of prayer or silent contemplation for those we have lost forever.
My great uncle lost his two sons, my first cousins once-removed, in one horrid week in 1945. World War II was winding down in the Pacific. Cousin Barron was on the bridge of a destroyer escorting the heavy cruiser U.S.S. Indianapolis during the invasion of Iwo Jima. The ship took two Japanese torpedoes broadside, one in the forward powder magazine. Split in half, she went down nearly instantaneously, taking most of her crew down with her. Barron was one of the unlucky ones. A week later, Cousin Clarence, whose nickname was "Speedy", flew his B-24 Liberator with eight crew members into the side of a mountain on New Guinea. He was being pursued by a Japanese Zero; one engine of his aircraft had been knocked out of commission and another was on fire. The weather was atrocious - deep advection fog covered the island and hid mountains and airfields alike. My great uncle never got over the loss of his boys. He lived to 103 and spoke fondly of them each and every day as if they were still alive. Then the tears would come... The wreckage of Speedy's plane was discovered by a team of anthropological naturalists in 1992. Say what you will about the U.S. government, I assure you mortuary and crash investigation teams were top notch. All of the deceased's' families were invited to Arlington National Cemetery one fine Spring morning. The government spent several hours debriefing us, then they took and expertly answered questions for another hour. We were all relieved to learn that death had come in an instant for our poor family members. There was no suffering. Then it was time for the funeral. Black Jack, the same horse who was harnessed to John F. Kennedy's caisson, was in full regalia. He was prancing and chafing at the bit. A coffin containing the few bones discovered at the crash site was draped in the American flag. A large Honor Guard marched slowly in exquisitely-timed meter beside the caisson. I was one of about two-hundred family members who, in respectful and contemplative silence, followed our soldiers, sailors, and Air Force members to the grave site. A large white marble crypt awaited the coffin. Remarks were made by the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Armed Services, a twenty-one gun salute was fired in perfect synchrony, then Taps was played. The flag was folded and handed to my other first-cousin, Jane, the sister of Barron and Clarence whom she had lost so many years ago when they were all young and vital. It was an unforgettable experience made indelible by the melding of the immense sadness with the military precision which honored our dead so powerfully. Then the tears came... I wonder if other PPRuNers would care to comment on their losses. There is something wonderfully cathartic about it. - Ed |
Originally Posted by cavuman1
…. flew his B-24 Liberator with eight crew members into the side of a mountain on New Zealand. He was being pursued by a Japanese Zero …
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I for one was not aware that Japanese aircraft overflew NZ. Is there a thread there somewhere. RIP the crew of the B 24
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Whooops ... thanks for the reminder to send emails to a handful of ex-Mil buddies in the US. Especially the Cmd Sgt Maj, who is still full of shrapnel ... and now cancer. I raise a glass to ALL those who served, whether they ‘survived’ or not. |
Additional Information
recceguy - the Zero's range coupled with that of the Liberator explain your sarcastic reference. I was given to believe that my cousin had flown nearly four hundred miles in his crippled aircraft after having been attacked. Neither I nor the U.S. government made any reference to an attack occurring anywhere close to New Guinea. Do you take pleasure in picking nits or can you think things through as Wander00 attempted. I have a dead family member here and take exception to your unnecessary and petty commentary.
- Ed |
The same people who tell you that Japanese Zeros flew over New-Zealand, will tell you that US forces did enter and liberated Berlin, simultaneously with the Red Army. And I heard it, more than a couple of times.
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Hey, guys, let’s stop the nitpicking. This is a serious Thread topic. Let’s have some respect and dignity, eh? |
Thanks for sharing your story.
Sorry for your families loss, but proud of their sacrifice. Really really sorry about the unfortunately typical PPrune troll-type responses above. |
Cavuman1
What Camelspyyder said + 1 |
Merci Beaucoup
MPN11, camelspyder, and Shack37: you have my sincere and genuine thanks for your understanding and support. It's a good thing that, according to his profile, recceguy lives on the otherwise uninhabited Clipperton Island - there would only be room for his rudeness and ego there; other lifeforms would feel unwelcome! Il est vraiment le pisse-froid...
- Ed :D |
Agreed with the sentiments expressed. There is a time and a place for a bit of banter but this is not it.
I have only previously had a vague understanding of memorial day and so read the Wiki entry. Staggered to read that over 600.000 died in the Civil War, more than 10 times the number who were killed in Vietnam. No wonder that the shadow of that bloodbath is still evident in the US I hope that those who are mourning a family member find time for quiet reflection away from the barbecues and drinking that the OP describes |
Email this morning in response to my earlier one to friends in the US happily confirms that "Grandpa" (ex-USN in WW2) is celebrating his 96th birthday today!
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Originally Posted by cavuman1
(Post 10159141)
Here in the United States today is Memorial Day, a day of remembrance for the multitudes who gave their lives in the defense of our country. Created in 1868 after the bloodbath which was the American Civil War, this national holiday is observed somewhat nonchalantly by the majority of our populace who use it as a three-day weekend designed to gorge on beer, whiskey, and vast assortments of grilled fare. Not that there's anything wrong with that concept; yet I wonder if many of us take a few moments of prayer or silent contemplation for those we have lost forever.
My great uncle lost his two sons, my first cousins once-removed, in one horrid week in 1945. World War II was winding down in the Pacific. Cousin Barron was on the bridge of a destroyer escorting the heavy cruiser U.S.S. Indianapolis during the invasion of Iwo Jima. The ship took two Japanese torpedoes broadside, one in the forward powder magazine. Split in half, she went down nearly instantaneously, taking most of her crew down with her. Barron was one of the unlucky ones. A week later, Cousin Clarence, whose nickname was "Speedy", flew his B-24 Liberator with eight crew members into the side of a mountain on New Guinea. He was being pursued by a Japanese Zero; one engine of his aircraft had been knocked out of commission and another was on fire. The weather was atrocious - deep advection fog covered the island and hid mountains and airfields alike. My great uncle never got over the loss of his boys. He lived to 103 and spoke fondly of them each and every day as if they were still alive. Then the tears would come... The wreckage of Speedy's plane was discovered by a team of anthropological naturalists in 1992. Say what you will about the U.S. government, I assure you mortuary and crash investigation teams were top notch. All of the deceased's' families were invited to Arlington National Cemetery one fine Spring morning. The government spent several hours debriefing us, then they took and expertly answered questions for another hour. We were all relieved to learn that death had come in an instant for our poor family members. There was no suffering. Then it was time for the funeral. Black Jack, the same horse who was harnessed to John F. Kennedy's caisson, was in full regalia. He was prancing and chafing at the bit. A coffin containing the few bones discovered at the crash site was draped in the American flag. A large Honor Guard marched slowly in exquisitely-timed meter beside the caisson. I was one of about two-hundred family members who, in respectful and contemplative silence, followed our soldiers, sailors, and Air Force members to the grave site. A large white marble crypt awaited the coffin. Remarks were made by the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Armed Services, then Taps was played. The flag was folded and handed to my other first-cousin, Jane, the sister of Barron and Clarence whom she had lost so many years ago when they were all young and vital. It was an unforgettable experience made indelible by the melding of the immense sadness with the military precision which honored our dead so powerfully. Then the tears came... I wonder if other PPRuNers would care to comment on their losses. There is something wonderfully cathartic about it. - Ed Have I missed something though - re NG / NZ??? TN. |
Originally Posted by tarantonight
(Post 10159615)
....
Have I missed something though - re NG / NZ???. |
The Commander-in Chief noted the occasion with this tweet:
Happy Memorial Day! Those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today. Best economy in decades, lowest unemployment numbers for Blacks and Hispanics EVER (& women in 18years), rebuilding our Military and so much more. Nice! CG |
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/28/w...ew-guinea.html
A World War II Mystery Is Solved, and Emotions Flood In
Goes on . .. A few weeks ago, Ms. Christie’s phone rang as she was shopping for groceries in Folsom, Calif. Her sister was calling to say that Lieutenant Kelly’s plane — nicknamed Heaven Can Wait — had been found.“I literally walked outside Whole Foods, and I burst into tears,” Ms. Christie said. “And I’m like, where did this come from? I didn’t even know my uncle.”Heaven Can Wait is one of 30 United States aircraft retrieved by Project Recover, a six-year-old nonprofit that collaborates with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, or D.P.A.A., the arm of the Pentagon tasked with finding and returning fallen military personnel.The group says its recoveries show how new sonar and robotics technologies make it far easier to find planes that crashed at sea, and that were once thought lost for good. |
Memory Deficit
By way of explanation regarding the amendment of my original post which initiated this thread, I ask for your understanding. Some of you might even empathize with the uncoordinated gymnastics of a nearly eight-decade-old brain. I meant to type New Guinea; my addled brain typed New Zealand. Sic Semper Tyrannis, yes? Sorry! Correction made. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming... :)
- Ed |
Hey, we all get ‘fat finger’ at times, especially when using iPad! Even our resident Senior Citizen, Danny42C, at 96-yo, has been known to have the occasional typo!! I do, however, like your last phrase about regular programming. . I have used that myself occasionally! |
...Danny42C, at 96-yo, has been known to have the occasional typo!! |
Memorial Day is a confusing day for too many Americans.
The percentage of the population entering military service has declined over the decades and thus the numbers of families who lose loved ones has also decreased. That adversely affects the understanding of what the Day is all about. Far too many see as a long holiday, good shopping bargains, and picnics. A great many think it is the time to thank ALL Veterans for their service when it is the 11th of November which is reserved for that purpose. Memorial Day is when we remember all those who have died in service to our Nation while in the military services. It is a somber, serious, day of mourning for a great many number of families across the Country. For those of us who served in combat and lost friends it is a very special day of the year for us. As this is the Military Aviation Thread....of all places I would think there would be some sense of sensitivity to a post about a personal account of losing a family member during war time. If it had been a post about a Lancaster headed to Germany rather than an American B-24 in New Guinea....would that prevent such a snarky comment about American involvement in the Second World War? Perhaps a visit to Cambridge or to the American Hanger entry at Duxford might serve to remind some of you of one part of the American involvement in the Second World War. I, along with several other folks, help tidy up a British Cemetery in Ocracoke, North Carolina....and our Coast Guard Station there looks after it as well. There is just a few Royal Navy Sailors buried there and at Buxton....but we show respect to them all these years after the War. |
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