Memorial Day was begun to honor the Americans who served us when we were drawn into war. It began in 1866, beginning with ‘Reconciliation Day’ in May after the end of the Civil War. It continued through the First World War and the Second, from Korea to Viet Nam, Iraq and, now, Afghanistan. Poppies, from the battlefields of Flanders in France and Belgium, became the symbol of Memorial Day.
‘Service’ is the euphemism we give to that term when a young American accepts the risk of giving everything for our country. Our soldiers and sailors, for as long as their term lasts or as long as the needs of the country require it, have accepted the duty to preserve and protect us by taking on the cloak and the uniform of the military, to leave safety and family to go in harm’s way in our name, and all too often, to not come home or to come home transformed by the harm that has come their way.
Please take a moment on this Memorial Day to honor those who served all of us. Please add the names of those you wish to honor and forward this poppy to others so that they may add the names of those they wish all of us to remember on this Memorial Day, 2010. If you like, please send me an email at jack@jackwlondon.com, and I’ll help you add names. You can share it on Facebook or paste the website http://jwlbookscom.wpenginepowered.com/category/blog/ into an email and send it on to those whom you know will appreciate your thoughtfulness. However you choose to honor our men and women, please know that I want to honor them with you. With your help, let us share their memories and this symbol now, through Memorial Day, and beyond. It’s the least we can do.
To you honored men and women, on this Memorial Day season, 2011, we thank you for your service and honor your sacrifice and devotion to duty on our behalf
1. Kenneth Black, B-24 belly gunner in the Pacific in WWII;
2. Bud Babcock, wounded in Belgium, 1944
3. Leroy Carver, an ambulance driver in World War II;
4. Jay Carver, Chaplain, Korean Conflict, Viet Nam
5. William ‘Bill’ Oppenheim, WWII Pacific;
6. Jack Bivens, Korea and WWII;
7. Ronald Bivens, Viet Nam;
8. Marty Martinez, Pilot, Viet Nam;
9. Gerald Skow, WWII ;
10. Richard Skow (his brother), WWII;
11. Robert Skow (his brother), Korean War;
12. Byron Cagle, Viet Nam;
13. George J. Arin , – Korean War;
14. James M Morin Jr
15. Anthony W. Morin, Viet Nam;
16. Joseph Furman WW2 Post Exchange Officer Washington DC;
17. Susan King Furman WW2 RN Walter Reed Medical Center;
18. Ed Green, Hawaii;
19. Howard Edmundson, Hawaii;
20. Bob Ferris, Hawaii;
21. John Lindner, Hawaii;
22. Fred White, Iwo Jima, April 12, 1945;
23. Lee Barghaer, Iwo Jima 1945;
24. Jack Wrightman, Iwo Jima, 1945;
25. Wayland, Iwo Jima 1945;
26. Whiteman, Iwo Jima, 1945;
27. Danny Mathis, June 1, 1945, Iwo Jima;
28. Jack Nelson, June 1, 1945, Iwo Jima;
29. Dick Schroeppel, Iwo Jima, 1945;
30. Al Sherren, July 8, 1945, Iwo Jima;
31. Robert Carr, July 8, 1945, Iwo Jima;
32. Phil Schlamberg, august 14, 1945, Iwo Jima;
33. Chester Jordan, company commander in the 47th Infantry,;
34. John (Johnny) Carson, Lt. Viet Nam 1968;
35. Jack Barton Levy with the 1st Marines, died at the invasion of Iwo Jima;
36. Adlai “Ed” Schmidt;
37. Eldom Schmidt;
38. Ruben Schmidt;
39. John Rodney Heichel, Pilot; POW WWII;
40. Joseph Heichel, Pilot; POW WWII ;
41. Byron “Dutch” Heichel; “Reckless Mountain Boys”‘ Pilot; POW WWII-Japan;
42. Lynn Jones; Pilot in the Flying Tigers ;
43. Jerry Lee Frimml-Iraq ;
44. Cecil Turner, radio operator in World War II;
45. Bill Ogan, Vietnam;
46. Miles Henderson, killed in Iraq;
47. Waybourn Wilson Gunn, Army Air Corps WWII;
48. William Wilson Gunn, Army WWI;
49. Miles Henderson, Iraq, KIA 11-2006;
50. Larry Miller, Viet Nam
51. John House, Viet Nam
52. Louis B. Schmeltzer, USN, WWII
53. Louis B. Schmeltzer, Jr., USMC, Viet Nam
54. Stephen Collins, USN, Beirut
55. David Hall, USAF
56. T.M. Duff, USA, WWII
57. J. Chase Fielding, USA, POW, WWII
58. Fred Smith 8 th Army Air Corps WW II 1944
59. Major General Eldon Bargewell Vietnam, Iraq and commander of Delta Force
60. Billy Lee Plummer, PFC, Iwo Jima, 1945
61. Edward J. Tillistrand, Marine veteran of the battles of Tarawa and Saipan;
62. Joseph Catale, Decorated Marine Veteran of the Pacific.
Please add to this list and keep it going or send to me and I’ll be happy to add names for you. It’s the least we can do.
Jack Woodville London