U.S. President Woodrow Wilson penned "Armistice Day" in 1919, U.S. Congress made it a national holiday in 1938. It is also, by the way, celebrated in other countries such as the U.K. and France, but not in Germany (although recently they have participated in France's Armistice Day celebrations).
"We don't mark this day each year as a celebration of victory, We mark this day as a celebration of those who made victory possible. That is why we fight -- In hopes of a day when we no longer need to." (President Obama in a speech at Arlington National Ceremony, 11, 11, 09)
We all know veterans, veterans who served domestically, those who served overseas, and those who served in foreign wars. A friend at work was in the Navy in Vietnam, he was a corpsman for the Marines. Each July he retreats into a shell -- the sights and sounds and memories of friends lost are still too much to bear. Today I met a man whose father served in France, Italy and Northern Africa. Only 6 of his original regiment returned -- his father suffered only from malaria and shell fragments in a finger. Suffered physically -- mental suffering is always harder to measure. His troop was trapped for seven days on a mountain in Italy when his son was born -- somehow a friend was able to get word to him. War is hell -- but sometimes there is a little piece of heaven tucked in.
Carl H. Chorman graduated from Harvey High School in June of 1944. He was a mere freshman when the U.S. voted 82-0 and 388-1 allowing President Roosevelt to declare war on Japan. In those 2 1/2 years much had occurred in the war.
German spies were arrested in New York City. The WAVES were authorized. Rationing was in full force and wages/salaries and prices were frozen. There was a plot in Tehran to assissinate President Roosevelt. Over 20,000 US soldiers had been killed, 50,000 wounded, 27,000 were missing and 27,000 had been captured. And Operation Overlord -- the allied invasion of France (D-Day, Normany Invasion) was finally launched and succeeds.
German spies were arrested in New York City. The WAVES were authorized. Rationing was in full force and wages/salaries and prices were frozen. There was a plot in Tehran to assissinate President Roosevelt. Over 20,000 US soldiers had been killed, 50,000 wounded, 27,000 were missing and 27,000 had been captured. And Operation Overlord -- the allied invasion of France (D-Day, Normany Invasion) was finally launched and succeeds.
On August 15, 1944 Dad enlisted in the United State Navy, entering the service on August 29. I'm not sure what occurred between graduation in June and August but I'll assume there was much handwringing, discussion and tears -- I'm sure that Edwin and Lucy were not thrilled to send their oldest son off to war, as no parents are.
At 5'10" and 143 pounds with 20/20 vision, listing interests in model plane building, photography and sports, leadership experience via his position as a patrol leader in the Scouts, Dad joined the Navy, volunteering for aerial gunnery.
Sworn in in Cleveland Ohio, a quick stop in Detroit Michigan and then he headed to Jacksonville Florida for Boot Camp training, then off to Memphis Tennesse for Arms school, Aviation Radioman's and Airborne Radar Ops School, and back to Jacksonville's Naval Air Gunners School where he passed instruction for operating all types of machine guns and was recommended for Operational Training (air to air firing) to qualify as an air combat crewman. He scored well in his classes (including swimming) and continued on his studies in Banana River, Florida -- near current day NASA.
Now having been promoted in grade and completed his combat aircrewman operatational trining in at least two different types of aircraft and now being qualified to wear the aircrew insignia he was granted 30 days leave.
It's now September 1945. The war in Europe has entered Germany. Hitler departs Berlin to the Wolf's Lair, never to return. Germany has "unconditionally surrendered" and the country is divided into 4 zones by the allied forces. From D-Day to VE-Day 776,967 Allied forces were injured, of those 141,590 were killed. But for now, all seems good in Europe. The war in the Pacific was not quite yet decided.
Back from leave, Dad is transferred to Alameda, California, Patrol Bombing Squadron Ninety Nine. The U.S. Navy has successfully blockaded Japan. The U.S. Army has invaded Okinawa. France if fighting in Vietnam. Russia and others have declared war on Japan. The atomic bombs have been unleashed.
And finally Japan too, surrenders.
Dad spends the next months of his service at the 12th Naval District Staff Headquarters in San Francisco on shore patrol. His Combat Aircrewman Designation is revoked on December 1, 1945. He was granted an Honorable Discharge on July 11, 1946.
Dad didn't serve in the Pacific or Europe theatres, but he served none the less. He was not a war hero, yet he served with honor. And he chose to marry our Mom on Armistice Day -- we now call it Veteran's Day.
Happy Veteran's Day Dad.
Happy Anniversary Mom.
God Bless and thanks to all our Veterans who fought for this country now and in the past. Without them we would not be here today.
A beautiful history. Happy anniversary Mom.
ReplyDelete