I wanted to thank those Men and Women who have laid down their lives so that I may live the life that I do. I hope everyone has a great, and safe, Memorial Day.
Showing posts with label WWII. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WWII. Show all posts
Monday, May 31, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Wednesday Hero
This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Cindy
John "Jack" Agnew (Right)
506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
John "Jack" Agnew, one of the original members of an Army unit that operated behind enemy lines in World War II and is often credited with having loosely inspired the movie "The Dirty Dozen", has died at age 88.
Agnew belonged to the Filthy Thirteen, an unofficial unit within the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. He was pronounced dead last Thursday at Abington Memorial Hospital after becoming ill at his home in the Maple Village retirement community in Hatboro, where he and his wife moved about a year ago, his daughter Barbara Agnew Maloney said.
You Can Read The Rest Of The Article Here And More Info On The "Filthy Thirteen" Can Be Found Here
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived
This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Wednesday Hero
This Weeks Post Was Suggested & Written By Debbie In Honor Of Her Great Uncle.
Sgt. William Robert Cain
August 1, 1922 - July 4, 1944
William Robert Cain (August 1, 1922 - July 4, 1944) was a husband to Genevieve (Anderson) and the only son of Cleveland and Margaret Cain. He was the baby brother to three sisters, Lena Mae, Anna Phyllis (who died in 1932) and Lora Genevieve.
He was born in the town named after his ancestors called Cainsville, Missouri. He grew up, went to school and played baseball there until he decided to join the U.S. Army. He made the decision to join the Army after graduating high school earlier in the year of 1940 but he would not be turning eighteen until August so he waited and enlisted right after his 18th birthday.
The letter his parents received was dated August 27, 1940 asking them to fill out before a Notary Public, Postmaster or Justice of Peace an Age Verification and Consent Papers and sign BOTH PAPERS in PEN or INK. They were asked to kindly give this their immediate attention as this young man cannot be enlisted till the papers were returned.
Sgt. Robert Cain, (lovingly called Billy Bob by his family and Doc by the Army men), enlisted in August, 1940 and ranked as Sergeant in the medical corps. in charge of hospital on shipboard. His last duty was at Letterman Hospital, Presidio, California. In all he had been assigned to four different ships and made 34 trips over the ocean, the last one a supply ship called SS Jean Nicolet. Sgt. Cain was serving aboard the SS Jean Nicolet when it was attacked by the Japanese on July 2, 1944. The Jean Nicolet was sunk and Sgt. Cain was one of many men taken hostage. He was also one of many men who were tortured for two days before he was killed or died in the Indian Ocean.
From Debbie: I have heard family stories about him, one of which of course if how he died in WWII and that he received the Purple Heart of which I am very proud of. More stories where about how he loved his family. I personally, as his Great Niece, have the love of medicine and caring for others as he did. I am a nurse. This is why it means so much to me that he is remembered as well as the others who were on the Liberty Ship Jean Nicolet that fatal day!
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived
This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Wednesday Hero
This Weeks Post Was Actually Written By Sgt. McGowen A Year Before He Passed Away. He Was Suggested By His Granddaughter, Leigh, To Honor Him.
Sgt. Charlie McGowen
August 22, 1921 - December 5, 2009 
1940-1945
In 1942 he was drafted into the Army Air Corps. He was sent to England. His trip there took him through Warrior, Alabama, Ft. McClellan, Ft. McPherson, Gulf Port, Mississippi, Chanute, Salt Lake City, El Paso, Alamorgoro, and New York City. Then he took the Queen Mary to the Fifth of Clyde in Scotland. Upon arriving he was sent to the Wending base in England. In his military service he was part of the World War II: 32 Bomb Group 578 and 579 Bomb Squadron Second Air Division, 8th Air Force, ETON 117 Wending, Norfolk, England. While stationed in Wending, he went to Piccadilly Circus in London. While he was there he visited the American Red Cross Center with friends. The center was Rainbow Corner. While there he was introduced to a lovely English lady named Margaret (Peggy) Johnston. It was love at first sight. They were married on January 13, 1945. They moved back to Alabama after the war and raised six children. They have ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived
This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Final Inspection
As you sit today safe at home with your family celebrating this day. Please remember those who fight far from home to protect us. And those that gave their lives.
FINAL INSPECTION
The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass.
"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
The Solider squared his shoulders and said
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint.
I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just to steep,
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgement of his God.
"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
...Author Unknown
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
War Hero Can Keep His Flagpole
RICHMOND, Va. (Dec. 9) — A 90-yearold
Medal of Honor winner can keep his 21-
foot flagpole in his front yard after a homeowners
association dropped its request to
remove it, a spokesman for Democratic Virginia
Sen. Mark Warner said Tuesday.
The Sussex Square homeowners association
likewise has agreed to drop threats to
take legal action against retired Army Col.
Van T. Barfoot, Warner spokesman Kevin
Hall said.
The association had threatened to take
Barfoot to court if he failed to remove the
pole from his suburban Richmond home by
Friday. It had said the pole violated the
neighborhood’s aesthetic guidelines.
Neither Barfoot’s daughter, Margaret
Nicholls, nor homeowners association
president Glenn Wilson has returned telephone
messages.
Dropping the issue effectively ends a request
that White House press secretary
Robert Gibbs on Monday called “silly.”
Warner and Sen. Jim Webb, both Virginia
Democrats, had rallied behind Barfoot,
a World War II veteran.
In a letter last week, Webb urged the association
to “consider the exceptional nature
of Col. Barfoot’s service when considering
his pride and determination in honoring
our flag.”
Barfoot’s fight also has lit up veterans
bulletin boards and blog sites supporting
him.
Barfoot won the Medal of Honor for actions
while his platoon was under German
assault near Carano, Italy, in May 1944. He
was credited with standing up to three German
tanks with a bazooka and stopping
their advance.
He also won the Purple Heart and other
decorations, and served in Korea and Vietnam
before retiring from the service in
1974.
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