Memorial Day

Ok, so, I was wondering what I could say today. And then I got to thinking about how tomorrow is Memorial Day and how Samantha mentioned the war on her blog. . . . At first I was going to say something in tribute for all of our armed forces personnel. But then I thought, well, there is a lot of that. I do appreciate all of the work that they do and I am very proud to teach a speech class at the army base here in Columbia (Fort Jackson). My current students are all great and 98% of them are military personnel. My thoughts wandered over the whole meaning of Memorial Day and how it can also be for something more personal. . .a time to remember those you love. So, I thought that I would combine those two ideas into a little mini tribute to my three older brothers. Our father had given each of my brothers the choice between college or military after high school. They each chose a branch of the military and so I thought that I would share with you all their boot camp graduation photos of a time long ago when they wanted to serve their country.


John 1980

John is 10.5 years older than me. He had really wanted to go into the Air Force and be a pilot but he has an astigmatism and so they wouldn't take him. So, his next choice was the Marines and he shipped off for Parris Island, SC, a year after graduation. I didn't get to go to this one because my parents didn't want to pull me out of school (he graduated in September). But they apparently had a great time. I remember my mother saying how shocked she was at the change in John: he'd gone from long hair and laissez-faire to buzz cut and disciplined. He kept calling her ma'am and her response was, "I am not a ma'am, I am your mother!" lol Of course, she did like it that some of his buddies couldn't believe that she was old enough to be his mother. John almost ended up in Beirut (I believe that was where) but a bombing occurred at the place where they were to be stationed and so he stayed in the States. He was stationed in Yuma, AZ, but the constant running took a toll on his knees and he ended up with a medical discharge. I am fairly sure that John would have made a good career out of it otherwise.


Chuck 1981

Chuck (named Charles like our father but he needed a nickname to avoid confusion) went right into the Navy after he graduated. In fact, he was part of the PA Governer's special unit (or something like that) and we went to Harrisburg to see him sworn in before he was shipped off to Orlando for boot camp. Chuck basically went through a similar training that you'll find in the movie, An Officer and a Gentleman. I got to go to his graduation ceremony but don't really remember much of it other than being impressed with the soldiers dress and skills and the ceremony. What I remember most is my first trip to Disney World because Chuck took me on all of the scary rides (Space Mountain, etc. -- give me a break, I was ten). He soon began his long career (he is still in) of hopping around the globe. I still have all of the letters that he ever wrote to me. And those from his wife, Lolita (we call her Jane), whom he met through some friends in the Philippines. Chuck also went to college but I think that the Navy is his true career. After all, he keeps reinlisting. He did go to the Gulf for Desert Storm and has been over to visit the troops for the current war over there but he is not in the line of fire. Currently stationed in Guam, I have no idea when he will join us civvies back here.


James 1983

Chuck was so happy with the Navy that I think Jim decided to follow suit. I would have to ask someone else what his reasoning had really been for the Navy but you can tell by the picture that he seemed happy with the choice at the time. Unlike some extreme changes in John and Chuck, Jim seemed to stay pretty much the same. I think that this was probably what caused him to be unsure about a military career in the long run. I do know that he had an incident when he was on a ship. . .there was some kind of wreck and his ship had to transport the bodies of those lost. Jim got duty over watching the bodies and whole situation was very traumatic for him. He fulfilled his 4 years and was a civvie for a while but he did give the military life another try. Unfortunately, it wasn't much better for him the second time. He just didn't have the same mentality as Chuck to pursue the Navy as a career nor did he take advantage of the chance for a college education. But I know that if he had been needed somewhere to fight, he would have gone. He was proud to have served and to have followed in his big brothers' footsteps.

I am proud of my brothers for serving in the military. I am glad that none of them has been on any front lines (Chuck has come the closest to such action) like our Uncle Bill who served two tours in Vietnam or our Uncle Irvin who served in WWII. Our uncles probably helped influence my brothers into their military over college choices. Our father didn't join because he was asthmatic but he did instill in all of us a sense of pride and loyalty. I had thought that I would follow Chuck into the Navy at one point and be an MP or a JAG but, in the end for various reasons, I obviously went the college route. They are encouraging their children to pursue either course (military and/or college) and are doing their best to pass on the values and lessons that they have learned in the military. Can I get a Hoorah for our troops?